Humans are curious creatures. We want to know.
It’s why children ask, “Are we there yet?” a hundred times on a road trip.
It’s why we scroll endlessly through social media.
It’s why we made Google a verb.
And when it comes to the end times — the last days — our curiosity reaches a whole new level. We’re drawn to it the way we’re drawn to a good mystery show. We want to figure it out, chart it out, predict what happens next.
But I believe we often approach Revelation in the wrong way.
- We let it create fear instead of building faith.
- We let it stir up escapism — the “get me out of here” mindset — instead of the faithful endurance Jesus calls us to.
Revelation wasn’t given to frighten us or help us avoid the world. It was written to help us endure the world — with courage, with hope, and with a heart that is faithful to Jesus until the end.
The Scroll and the Seals
In Revelation 4–5, John is taken into heaven’s throne room. He weeps because there is no one worthy to open the scroll — God’s plan for history. But then Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, takes the scroll.
This is the turning point of history. I believe this is the moment when Jesus, having risen from the dead, ascends to heaven and takes His seat at the right hand of the Father. The last days began at Jesus’ resurrection — which is why every generation since the apostles has rightly felt like they were living in the last days. Because we are.
When Jesus takes the scroll, all of heaven erupts in worship. Then, in Revelation 6, He begins to open the seven seals. The seals show us what God’s people can expect to experience between His resurrection and His return. The trumpets and bowls later in Revelation are not different time periods, but different perspectives — from the view of the world, of judgment, and of final salvation.
The message is clear: whatever we face is under God’s control.
Here’s what God’s people can expect:
Expect Things to Get Worse (6:1–8)
The first four seals reveal the four horsemen — conquest, war, famine, and death. They represent the cycles of conflict, bloodshed, and suffering that have marked human history and will continue until Jesus returns.
Notice that each horseman is “given” authority — a subtle but powerful reminder that these things are not random. God is still sovereign even over judgment.
Jesus described the same things in Matthew 24, calling them “the beginning of birth pains.” Like labor contractions, they will increase in intensity until the final day of judgment. But birth pains lead somewhere — to new life.
Expect Persecution (6:9–11)
The fifth seal reveals martyrs under the altar crying out, “How long, O Lord?”
This is not a vision of some distant future — this is happening now. Around the world, men and women are laying down their lives to bring the gospel to the nations. Revelation was not written to tell us how to escape persecution but to encourage us to endure it faithfully.
How do we prepare?
- Soak in Scripture. Let God’s Word shape your view of the world.
- Cling to His promises. Trust His timing, even when His delay is painful.
- Live on mission. Keep sharing the gospel so more can escape the coming judgment.
Expect a Final Judgment (6:12–17)
The sixth seal gives a sobering picture of the end — cosmic upheaval, the lights going out, the earth shaking. Humanity will cry for the rocks to fall on them rather than face the wrath of the Lamb.
This is the day God’s people have prayed for — when evil is finally judged and all wrongs are made right.
Expect God’s Protection (7:1–14)
Chapter 7 shifts the camera from earth to heaven to show us God’s perspective. Before the final judgment falls, God seals His people — marking them as His own.
This sealing does not mean we will be spared from suffering. Christians may lose their lives, but we cannot lose our souls. The 144,000 is symbolic — a picture of the full, complete number of God’s redeemed people.
And then John sees the great multitude — from every nation, tribe, people, and language — standing before the throne, clothed in white robes. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. This is the family of God from all ages.
Expect to Enjoy the Presence of Jesus Forever (7:15–17)
This is the ultimate hope:
“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore… For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is where the story is going — restored creation, redeemed humanity, eternal joy.
How Should We Live Now?
Knowing what to expect should change how we live:
- Spend more time in God’s Word and prayer. Anchor your heart in what is true.
- Share the gospel intentionally. Help others escape the judgment to come.
- Examine your own heart. Look for the fruit of genuine faith and evidence of the Spirit’s work.
Romans 8 reminds us that nothing — not tribulation, not persecution, not famine, not death — can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
So don’t let Revelation drive you to fear or to escape. Let it drive you to faithful endurance. The scroll is in Jesus’ hands. History is unfolding according to His plan. And one day, the Lamb will lead us home.
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MichaelStovall 