Can’t You Read the Sign?

Then I saw Him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky separated like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the military commanders, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of Their wrath has come! And who is able to stand? ” (Revelation‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

There’s a song from the 70’s by Five Man Electric Band that goes: “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind, do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” While the song is not about God’s judgment, I’m going to borrow their idea. Can’t you read the sign? We’ve reached the sixth seal of the scroll as the Lamb breaks it and reveals the events described in our focal passage. Notice the signs, a violent earthquake, the sun goes dark, the moon turns blood red, the stars fall like unripe figs when a violent wind shakes the tree, the sky rolls up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands are all moved from their places. Can’t you read the sign?

As we’ve noted over the past several weeks of studying these seals, Jesus clearly references similar or, as I believe, the same events in His response to the disciples’ question regarding the events leading up to the end of time and His return in Matthew 24. There’s little doubt that the events described in Matthew 24 and in our focal passage are very significant and would have a profound effect on anyone experiencing them. We’ll look at those experiences and their response, in just a bit. But for now, let’s talk about whether these are actual events or symbolic references.

A good place to start is with Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2. He clearly references the prophetic words of Joel 2: “For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord comes.” (Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

Notice how Peter references these “end time” events as he tells them in the very next verse: “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬) Yes, these catastrophic events are a precursor to the “Day of the Lord” or God’s divine judgment but notice how Peter uses them. They’re signs that should be heeded because they point to God’s impending judgment, “then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” In case you’re not catching it, Peter references these events as things that his audience has experienced or is currently experiencing. He sees their experiences (the cross, resurrection, earthquake, and related events) leading up to Pentecost and the powerful display of God’s Holy Spirit falling upon Jesus’ disciples as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

I don’t want any misunderstanding, so let me be very clear. I am not saying that the “great and remarkable Day of the LORD” has already come. I am saying that the events of Peter’s day and the events of our day are all a part of those same signs – they are the signs and precursors of that Day and we ought to heed them. As we’ve watched the events of the past few weeks unfold across the Middle East, the question of what’s next looms in our minds and hearts, doesn’t it? Peter used current events surrounding the crowd’s fear and apprehension at Pentecost to draw their attention to the warnings and promises of Joel’s prophetic words. He then presents them with a call to action, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!” Can’t you read the sign?

The cross of Christ is not normally viewed as an element of God’s wrath, yet that’s precisely what it was. The entire reason for the cross was God’s wrath toward and judgment upon man’s sin. While we ought to celebrate the victory of the resurrection, we must mourn the necessity of the cross. Peter sees the events surrounding the rejection of Jesus by the crowds, His subsequent crucifixion and the catastrophic earthquake, darkness, rending of the Temple veil, and the dead saints being raised as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy and the beginning of the end times. 

Yes, we’ve been living in the last days of God’s wrath for over two thousand years. I suspect that might surprise a few of you. Though we often ignore it, the Apostles and their disciples certainly didn’t. We keep trying to identify specific significant world events and relate them to the details in our text. Whether it’s a high impact earthquake, an unusual comet, an uncommon solar or lunar eclipse or any number of wars and terrorist attacks, we try to identify them with the final events of Revelation. But then life goes on, Jesus doesn’t return and we get distracted with ordinary life. We sound like the five foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable about the wedding (see Matt. 25:1-13). Can’t you read the sign?

Next, I want you to notice who is impacted by the events of the sixth seal. We find that kings of the earth, the nobility, the military leaders, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person is impacted by these events. The key phrase in this passage is “of the earth” and relates not just to the kings but to all of those listed. I’ve pointed out who was included, but did you notice who is missing, who’s not included? There’s a very stark contrast being presented here and we MUST not miss it. The people impacted by these events is EVERYONE who is “of the earth.” In other words, those who are a part of this earthly kingdom are the ones being impacted by the wrath of God. The people not impacted by these catastrophic events are those who are a part of God’s kingdom.

Do you know the safest place to be in a wildfire? Where the fire has already burned. Once the fire has burned up its fuel, there’s nothing left and it burns out and moves on. The fire may still be raging elsewhere, but if you stand where the fire has burnt out then it has nothing left to burn. Similarly, if you stand where God’s wrath has already burned up its fuel, then there’s nothing left to burn up and the fire goes out. The only safe place to stand in the path of God’s wrath is at the foot of the cross. His wrath has already burned up all sin that Jesus bore on the cross and there’s nothing left for His judgment and wrath to consume. When the sixth seal is opened, the only safe place to be standing is where God’s wrath has already been satisfied – at the foot of Jesus’ cross in the kingdom of our God.

Now, notice that God’s wrath falls on kings, nobility, military commanders, rich people, powerful people. All those who usually think they’re immune from God’s wrath due to their position, power or wealth. It falls on the enslaved and on the free, ALL who are “of this earth.” The only way to avoid His wrath is to not be “of the earth” or, as I said above, to stand in the one place that His wrath has already burned up all sin – at the foot of Jesus’ cross.

Consider this: “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” “You are a king then? ” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” (‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭36‬-‭37‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

Can’t you read the sign?

Finally, those who are “of the earth” try to hide from Their wrath and nobody is able to stand against it. There are several things to note in that: 1) they choose to hide from God in their sin, just as Adam and Eve did; 2) they would rather have the mountains and rocks fall on them and die than face Their judgment; 3) nobody “of the earth” is able to stand in the face of Their judgment, regardless of his/her position, power, wealth, status, achievement or even the lack of it. 

The story ends in much the same way it began back in Genesis. God blessed man, gave him what he needed and commanded him to avoid what would kill him. Man minimizes the consequences of his choices because he thinks he knows better than God what he needs. He thinks, “God must be lying about this and is just holding out on me.” He eats the forbidden fruit and thumbs his nose at God’s authority. Man is called out by God because of his sin but instead of owning up to it he tries to hide and minimizes his culpability and guilt. God seeks out man and man is unable to hide from God’s presence or His judgment. Things haven’t changed much, have they? 

But notice, these men and women would rather hide from God than be honest before Him. They would rather beg the mountains and rocks to fall on them than repent of their rebellion, pride and rejection of God. In essence, they would rather die than surrender to God’s will and submit to His love. That summarizes the differences between men and women of this world and men of women of His kingdom. It’s not about doing enough good to get into heaven, it’s about loving the King and wanting Him and His kingdom more than this world. Jesus described it as finding a treasure in a field and then selling everything you own to buy that field. Basically, God gives us the very thing we desire most. If we desire Him, that’s what we get. If we desire anything else more than Him, that’s what we get.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

The great day of Their wrath has come! Who is able to stand? Their wrath. Isn’t that interesting? This isn’t just God’s wrath, it is also the Lamb’s wrath. This is the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. But when His work of redemption is rejected then you reap the wrath of His judgment. We are unable to atone for our own sin because our lives, the works we try to present before God, are unrighteous and that sacrifice must be without blemish. Jesus didn’t die because He was sinful, He died because we are. His sacrifice was given on our behalf. But when we reject Him, His love, and His atoning death then His wrath is the only thing left.

And who is able to stand? While I believe this statement ultimately means that nobody is able to withstand His judgment, I think it also implies that nobody is able to stand in His presence in their own goodness and righteousness. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father. Who is able to stand? Not a single person. I willingly bow before my King. My prayer is that you will humbly and willingly bow before the King. But there are many, all of those who are “of this world”, who refuse to bow, but they are unable to stand in the face of His judgment. They WILL bow before Him, for who is able to stand? 

Can’t you read the sign?