The 4 Horsemen

The 4 Horsemen

Text: Matthew 24:21.             

Reading: Revelation 6:1-8.     

First Seal: The Conqueror.

“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

Second Seal: Conflict on the Earth.

“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”

Third Seal: Shortage on the Earth.

“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice during the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on the Earth.

“When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

The next event on God’s timetable is the rapture of the church.

But after the church is taken out of here, meanwhile, back on earth, there will follow a 7-year period like this earth has never experienced before. The Bible calls it the “Great Tribulation.” But remember what Jesus said about the “great tribulation” back in Matthew 24:21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

That is an amazing statement when you think of all the wars/famines/diseases/earthquakes/tornadoes/hurricanes/volcanic eruptions and natural disasters that we see today. You think of all the violence that have taken place all over this earth from the time of Adam and Eve, even until now, and Jesus said, add it all together, and none of it can compare to what the world is about to experience in the “great tribulation.”

Revelation chapter’s 6-19 paints for us a graphic picture of this horrific period, it is so terrible, frightening and horrible that you will think I am overstating the matter, until you see these verses for yourself.

In the Old Testament, Jeremiah said this about the tribulation: “Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labour with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labour, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” Jeremiah 30:6-7.

Daniel 12:1 goes on to say, “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”

What God gave to John in Revelation 6-19 is a vision of unspeakable horror. Chapter 5 tells of a 7 sealed scroll, the title deed to the earth. The question was asked: “Who is worthy to open that scroll, and reclaim ownership of the earth from Satan?” We find that Christ alone is worthy! The Lamb is also the Lion!

Now, in chapter 6, the scroll begins to be peeled back, and one at a time the seals are broken. And as the seals are broken, the horrors of the tribulation are turned loose upon the earth, and they unfold before our very eyes. If “grace” and “mercy” cannot bring men to Christ, sadly hell will!

          The first four seals involve the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. This is what we are looking at today:

1.    THE WHITE HORSE. Revelation 6:1-2.

“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

First Seal: The Conqueror.

Let us open the first seal and look at the first horseman on the white horse.     

“Thunder” = indicates a storm is coming. It is the sound of heavy hooves galloping this way! Who is this rider on the white horse, unleashed such terror on the earth at the beginning of the tribulation? Some might think it is Jesus Christ, but it is not, He does not come until the end of the tribulation.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself”
Revelation 19:11-12.

That is Jesus Christ coming at the end of the tribulation, but that is not the description given here in chapter 6. Matter of fact, the only likeness is the white horse. So, if the rider on this white horse in chapter 6 is not Jesus Christ, then who is he? I believe him to be the anti-Christ, a phony ruler.

In the Bible:

A white horse represents invasion. 

A bow is a symbol of power and warfare.

A crown indicates power. 

There is coming one last and final dictator to this earth:

He is the anti-Christ.

He is coming on a white horse as a copycat of Jesus Christ. 

He is Satan’s great deceiver, and his deception is so convincing, that even many of the Jews, will believe him, and will think that their Messiah has finally arrived.

He will come on a platform of peace, (notice: no arrows, just a bow) but this last world dictator will bring death and destruction to this earth. You say, how is that possible? How is this going to happen?

Notice it says, “a crown was given to him.” Yes. His power and his authority are given unto him. They are given to him by God. God does not give Satan power to cast his evil deeds upon the evil, but God will allow Satan to test men (like Job).

Note Revelation 17:17 “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfil His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” According to this verse, God will convince the rulers of the world to give their power to the anti-Christ.

Satan will think that he is in charge. During the tribulation, the devil will think he is calling the shots/running the affairs of earth, but it is God who will control it all. Even when confusion outwardly rules, God is on the throne and in full control.

In the “great tribulation” although man will still have some freedom to choose, by the end of time everything will be according to God’s sovereign plan.

        

2.    THE RED HORSE. Revelation 6:3-4.

“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”

Second Seal: Conflict on the Earth.

Red is the colour of blood and of war. The anti-Christ comes on a platform of peace, and one of the things that will push him to power, is his plan which seems to be workable for world peace. He will do something which has never been done, bring peace to the Middle East, but it will not last.

For at the mid-point of the tribulation, after 3.5 years, the second seal is opened, and the rider of the red horse will snatch the peace from the earth.

When you consider current events in the Middle East. Israel is now at war with Hamas, and Iran, among others. The warfront is on all sides, including the northern border. Ezekiel 38 & 39 are all about invaders from the north. The Biblical land of Magog is Russia, predicted to be peaceful until suddenly they invade Israel.  

Now, somebody remind me of the Middle Eastern nation that is the homeland and heart and soul of Russia. That is right, Iran! That passage in Ezekiel talks of horsemen, bows and arrows, the same language John used in his Revelation. Obviously, John is describing 21^st C. events using his 1^st C. language.  

The signs of the times are everywhere. Thank God if you are saved you will be long gone to heaven at this point!

It will come, first, in the form of nation against nation, and it will also come in the form of widespread violence, man against man. Magog is prophesied to bring ‘many others’ with them, possibly the Arab Israel haters from the entire Mid East. But Libya and Ethiopia, which are named in Ezekiel.  

The spirit of hatred will enflame the hearts of men. Remember, at this point the church has already been taken away, and there is no more salt to preserve, no lighter to illuminate. The Comforter and restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is no longer here. That spirit of hatred will be so plain that a man will slit his mother’s throat without blinking an eye. Brother will stab brother in the back, with no hesitation. Parents will turn against their own children!

Can you imagine the confusion, the madness that will rule? You think we live in a violent society now? Well, it is nothing compared to the wicked slaughter which will take place during the tribulation. Dead bodies will lie in the streets/groaning and suffering will be everywhere, and the stench of death will be in the air, (even has I write I see this daily on the news).

The Red horse speaks of discord.

3.    THE BLACK HORSE. Revelation 6:5-6.

“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice during the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Third Seal: Shortage on the Earth.

Total depravation as the black horse rides by, here is a time of famine. Here is a time of economic disaster and worldwide starvation. War spreads across the world from the middle-east, and food and fuel become more and more scarce.

“A pair of scales,” representing shortage of food during the tribulation, food will be weighed like gold. Whenever there is a storage of anything like fuel or food, the prices go up (so that the seller becomes richer and the poor stave), remember also only those that carry the mark of the beast will be able to buy.

“What is the mark of the beast?”
Answer: The main passage in the Bible that mentions the “mark of the beast” is Revelation 13:15-18.

“He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

Other references can be found in Revelation 14:9,11,15:2,16:2,19:20, and 20:4.

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand” Revelation 14:9

“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” Revelation 14:11.

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God” Revelation 15:2.

“So, the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image” Revelation 16:2.

“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” Revelation 19:20.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” Revelation 20:4.

This mark acts as a seal for the followers of the Antichrist and the false prophet (the spokesperson for the Antichrist). The false prophet (the second beast) is the one who causes people to take this mark. The mark is literally placed in the hand or forehead and is not simply a card someone carries.

The recent breakthroughs in medical implant chip and RFID technologies have increased interest in the mark of the beast spoken of in Revelation 13. It is possible that the technology we are seeing today represents the beginning stages of what may eventually be used as the mark of the beast. It is important to realize that a medical implant chip is not the mark of the beast.

The mark of the beast will be something given only to those who worship the Antichrist. Having a medical or financial microchip inserted into your right hand or forehead is not the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast will be an end-times identification required by the Antichrist in order to buy or sell, and it will be given only to those who worship the Antichrist

Verse 6 “A measure of wheat for a penny, and a measure of barley for a penny.”

This represents one day’s food supply in that day, and the penny represents one day’s wages at that time.  So, during the tribulation, a man will have to work all day, and it will be all he can do just to buy enough food for that day. It will be all a person can do just to keep body and soul together and alive.

Again, we already live in a world of everlasting hunger. We tend to forget, or not even believe that here in the land of plenty…but it is true. 1/3^rd of the world is starving, 1/3^rd is underfed, and if you have got enough to eat, you are in the upper third! But a world-wide famine is coming in the tribulation on an unmatched scale.

Verse 6 “And do not harm the oil and the wine.”

These represent the luxury foods of John’s day. The horseman was told not to tamper with these items. In the tribulation, the poor will get poorer, and the rich will get richer. The leading group of the wealthy will retain their riches through a moral sell out to the antichrist, and they will be the few who will carry on in normal fashion, as the vast majority are totally deprived.

The black horse represents starvation and deprivation like the world has never seen.

4.    THE PALE HORSE. Revelation 6:7-8.

 “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on the Earth.

How can we watch as the 4^th horseman rides by, and as we think of the word “Death?”   

Verse 7 “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a pale horse.”

“Pale” comes from Greek word that speaks of a ghastly green colour, it carries the idea of a body that has turned green and has become rotten with decay, and according to verse 8 during the tribulation, 1/4^th of the world’s population will die. Let that soak in. Right now, that represents well over 1.5 billion people! How will this happen?  

         

What an unbelievable chain reaction will take place then at this fourth seal opening:

First: The White Horse = dominion/antichrist.            

Second: The Red Horse = division/war/violence.

Third: The Black Horse = deprivation/famine/starvation.

Fourthly: The Pale Horse = death will come across all the world.

Death will come to over a billion people, it would be impossible to bury them all! But that is not the end of it. John saw 2 personalities associated with this pale horse, look again at verse 8:

          “And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

Notice the Capital ‘D’ Death, and Hell followed. This means that while death claims the body, hell claims the soul, after death comes judgment and hell, and no one will be able to escape.

Conclusion:

Although fear motivation is not the very best motivation to get saved by. When the preaching of the “love of God” does not bring repentance. We can only encourage people to come to Heaven. But sometimes we need to preach the “wrath of God” to bring people to repentance, so that they are saved from Hell.

The Bible says when Noah built that ark, he was moved with fear of what was coming. If you are not saved right now and this message scares you, you have got good reason to be afraid! For these 4 horsemen are ready to ride, they are saddled up, and soon will be upon those that have no fear of God and will not accept His love and grace.

The stage is set for the rapture of the church, and these seals will begin to be opened, and these 4 horsemen will ride.

          Jesus said, in the last days there will be a great increase in earthquakes, famines, and pestilence (incurable diseases). And you cannot watch the news today without seeing all 3 regularly. If you will pick up your Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other, it is hard to be blind to the fact that we are in the closing shadows of this age.  

If you are not saved, you better get saved now!

Inside the Ark

Inside the Ark

Text: John 1:17.  

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22).

When the lid has been removed so you can see the contents that fit inside the Ark:

1.    The two stone tablets of the Law (Deuteronomy 10:1-5).

2.    Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 17).

3.    The golden pot of 'hidden' manna (Hebrews 9:4).

Together these three items form the Testimony (Exodus 25:21); hence the Ark is called the Ark of the Testimony.

1.    The Stone Tablets of the Law.

The Ten Commandments were written on these two pieces of stone, by the finger of God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18; 32:16, 19; 34:1). The tablets of stone are also called the tables of testimony (Exodus 31:18), because they show us what God is like: jealous, caring, faithful and true. He is holy and righteous.

The Ten Commandments on the two stone tablets are the basis for God's covenant with the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5-7). They instruct what the righteous requirements of the law are, BUT there is no supply to help the children of Israel to obey the commandments. Because the children of Israel did not continue in their side of the covenant (it was impossible, Romans 8:3), God promised to make a new covenant.

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law into their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbour saying, 'Know the Lord', for they all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest among them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more” Jeremiah 31:33-34.

This is the New Covenant which Jesus has fulfilled by His blood (Luke 22:20). “When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law” Galatians 4:4. Jesus Christ has kept the law of God, loving the Lord His God with all His heart, and His neighbour as Himself.

Jesus had the law of God (the Ten 'Words' of God) in His heart, just as the Ark of the Covenant kept the stone tablets of the Testimony. The Word of God had become flesh and tabernacle among us, full of grace and truth (reality, Greek) (John 1:14). God undertakes to write His laws into our hearts and inscribe them on our minds, by sending forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 8:10-12).

2. Aaron's Rod that Budded.

A little history is required to begin with: the account is in Numbers 17.

God wanted to prove positively that Aaron was his choice for the priesthood (Numbers 17:5). A rod from the head of each of the twelve tribes was marked with the name of the tribe and placed before the Lord, at Ark of the Testimony (Numbers 17:4).

When Moses returned the next day, Aaron's rod had budded with blossoms and ripe almonds. God instructed Moses to place Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, “to be kept as a sign against the rebels” to prevent further murmurings and death (Numbers 17:10). That is the history.

The application comes in John 11. Jesus' friend Lazarus is quite seriously ill. Jesus loved the family: Lazarus, Martha and Mary. But Jesus did not go to see them straightaway, He waited two days. Martha cannot wait to tell Jesus what she thinks, meeting Him on the road. Mary was less vocal, but still made the same observation as Martha: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” John 11:21, 32.

It looks bad. Jesus has let everybody down, just what the 'press' wanted to 'publish'. It is in this very environment of death, despair and hopelessness, WHEN Jesus announces “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” John 11:25.

Jesus had no intention of preventing Lazarus from dying. He appears to have had every intention of waiting until he had died, so that people would see the glory of God that appeared in the Tabernacle, and that many would believe in(to) Him ('into' is the literal Greek)(John 11:40, 45).

Lazarus was not just a piece of wood, lopped from an almond tree somewhere, like Aaron's rod had been. What a sign of the Messiah! Who could doubt now that Jesus is who He says He is - the Resurrection and the Life? The Ark of the Covenant, which contained the budding rod that is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life!

Aaron's rod that budded was a sign of God's continued choice of Aaron as a priest (Numbers 17:5). But Aaron's priesthood was interrupted by his death. The Lord Jesus Christ, though, has a priesthood that is constituted with an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16).

3. The Golden Pot of 'Hidden' Manna (omer = 24 litres).

Manna was the food that came down from God to feed the children of Israel daily in the wilderness for the forty years of their journey to Canaan. It was given to the children of Israel in such a way that it required them to develop self-discipline. Manna only came in the early morning with the dew (Exodus 16:13-14). By the time the sun was up, it would have melted (Exodus 16:21).

It had to be gathered every day, any residue would breed worms and smell (Exodus 16:20), and they had to gather a double portion on the sixth day, because none would fall on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22-27). It was called 'Manna', because that is Hebrew for 'what is it'. It looked like white coriander seed and tasted like wafer biscuits made with honey (Exodus 16:31).

The Lord commanded Moses to fill an omer vessel with Manna and keep it for a memorial to future generations of how God fed them in the wilderness (Exodus 16:32-33). The Golden Pot would last for ever. It is round, indicating eternal; it is gold, indicating 'of God, divine'. The Golden Pot indicates eternal life. Our life needs to be “hidden with Christ in God” Colossians 3:3 and we need to know “Christ our life,” the Zoe (Greek) eternal life (Colossians 3:4).

The Hidden Manna was a memorial of how the Lord had sustained His people in an impossible situation.

Christ is real and applicable to every person in every age in every circumstance. “This is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” Jesus prays in John 17:3.

Who do men say that I AM? Part 2.

                     Who do men say that I AM? Part 2.

Text: Matthew 16:13-20.

           “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So, they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Caesarea Philippi is the turning-point of Jesus ministry, when the Gospel message, teaching, and ministry of Jesus changes from now on, because it is from this point onward that the shadow of the CROSS falls over the ministry of Jesus.

To discover how far the disciples have learnt from the lessons of Jesus, or to impress it upon them more deeply. Jesus asks them TWO questions:

1.    First question, “What are the result of My preaching, teaching, and the working of miracles?" “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

2.    Second question, “What impart have I made with you?” “Who do YOU say that I am?”

Verse 15.

“He said to them, “But who do YOU say that I am?”

         

          The time had now come for the disciples to make a decision about Jesus. Simon Peter was evidently the spokesman for the group. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16 (seen also in Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20). 

“You are the Christ,” which meant the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who was predicted in the Old Testament, and the Lord Jesus was the fulfillment of. Also “the Son of the living God.” Up to this point, that was the best confession and the highest tribute that could be made to Him. This is who Jesus is!

It is the first careful statement of the true ministry of Jesus from His disciples. Peter the spokesman of the 12, with faith, and boldness of heart.

Sadly, it was also, from this revelation, that many of the followers of Jesus left Him, for it opened to them a new understanding about the “Suffering Servant” of the Christ, and less of His “political power.” From now on Jesus was to speak of the CROSS more, and more, in His purpose of coming among them.

You can speak of Jesus as prophet, as a holy man, as a teacher, or as a spiritual leader, and few will object. But speak of Him as Son of God, with a divine nature, of the same nature as God the Father, and the people will line up to express their disapproval of Him.

This is the question to the Church, and the individual believer. Which is more important than other people's opinions, it is our OWN response to the question, and the challenge of Jesus. Jesus now narrowed the question. He turns to those that follow Him, to those who had been with Him.

          YOU have been with Me, YOU, have seen the healings, and heard my teachings, YOU, have seen my life, now: “Who do YOU say that I am?” Who is Jesus in OUR lives?

          Is He OUR Lord?

          Is He OUR Saviour and Master?

          Is He OUR healer?

          Is He OUR Provider?

          Is He OUR Coming King?

Verse 16.

          “And Simon Peter answered and said, “YOU are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

          Peter took the lead as so often he did, who must have discussed the Messianic characteristics of Jesus among themselves. Peter recognised and acknowledged openly the Lord's deity.

Jesus here spoke of Himself in the term “Son of Man,” yet; Peter answered using the term “Son of God.” The “Son of God,” marked Jesus' unique nature, and relationship to the Father God.

You are more than a man!

You are more than a prophet!

You are more than a good teacher!

          “YOU ARE THE CHRIST.” The Messiah, the anointed One of God!

          Peter recognises the important and eternal life of God as in this His Son, Christ Jesus. Peter a man, moved by the Spirit of God, and spiritual revelation, sees God clothed in human flesh.

          Peter sees, not by human nature, but by divine revelation. And Jesus clearly recognised that Peter was using more than human sight, but the spiritual insight of seeing, for “the pure in heart shall see God” Matthew 5:8, was God alone given.

          The “Christ,” the spiritual and political leader of Israel was not expected to be “divine.” Yet, Peter declared that He was, in the Person of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.

          TWO truths are expressed in this confession of faith:

1. That Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah expected by Israel, and foretold in the Old Testament. The conclusion of God's purpose for the salvation of the world.

You are the Christ, the Redeemer, and the Saviour of the world.

2. That Jesus is the Son of God, who stands in a unique personal relationship to the Father, and this makes Him “Divine.” 

          You are truly man, and truly God, unique in being, the God-Man.

Verse 17.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

          Jesus was filled with joy; that Peter, despite all appearances to the contrary, should have reached this conviction, which was the proof of “divine revelation.” “Son of Jonah,” must have been purposely used by Jesus, to denote Peter’s humble fleshly backdrop, to set off his spiritual proof of “divine revelation.”

          Peter’s confession of faith came by revelation. For only God by the Holy Spirit can give YOU light, and understanding of Christ's role in salvation, and of His Divine nature.

Only the Holy Spirit can make Christ known to any person. No man today can call Jesus “Lord” but by the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can take the things of Christ and reveal them to us. Jesus said, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you,” that is, “You did not learn it by being with Me.” But by knowing Me!

Verse 18.

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Let us look at this verse carefully. On what rock did Jesus build His church? There are those who say that it was built on Simon Peter. Well, obviously it was not, because there is a play upon words here. In the original Greek it is, “Thou art Petros (a little piece of rock), and upon this Petra (bedrock) I will build my church.”

Who is the Rock? The Rock is Christ! The church is built upon Christ. We have Simon Peter’s own description of this. In 1 Peter 2:4, referring to Christ, he writes, “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.”

And he remembers Isaiah 28:16, “… Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6). The church is built upon Christ; He is the foundation. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

Christ is the stone, and He says on this rock He will build His church. The church was still future when the Lord made this statement and did not come into existence until after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. “I will build my church” this was in the future.

The “gates of hell” refers to death. The word used for hell is the Greek word hades, the Sheol of the Old Testament, which refers to the unseen world and means “death.” The gates of death shall not prevail against Christ’s church.

One of these days the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. That shout will be like the voice of an archangel and like a trumpet because the dead in Christ are to be raised. The gates of death shall not prevail against His church.

Verse 19.

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Were they given only to Simon Peter? No, Jesus gives them to those who make the same confession made by Peter, those who know Christ as Saviour. If you are a child of God, you have the keys as well as any person has the keys.

The keys were the badge of authority of the office of the scribes who interpreted the Scriptures to the people (see Nehemiah 8:2-8). Every Christian today has the Scriptures and, therefore, the keys. If we withhold the Word, we “bind on earth;” if we give the Word, we “loose on earth.” No man or individual church has the keys, to the exclusion of all other believers. It is the Word of God that sets people free. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32.

We have a responsibility today to give out the gospel because it is the only thing that can save people. This is a tremendous revelation. Who is sufficient for these things? You and I have a responsibility that is awesome indeed!

Verse 20.

“Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

The Lord made this request because the mere knowledge of who He is will not save you. To find salvation you must know who He is and what He did and accept Him by faith.

Conclusion:

          Do YOU know Jesus by revelation?

Peter said,

          YOU are more than John the forerunner!

          YOU are more than Elijah the foreteller!

          YOU are more than Jeremiah the watcher!

          YOU are the ONE towards whom they ALL looked upon!

          YOU are the “CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”