Introduction
The Apostle Peter wrote in his second letter about the enduring power and value of the prophetic word and the divine operation of the Holy Spirit on its authors.
“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp s…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse Read More »
The first seal
“Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (2) Read More »
The second seal
“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.” (Rev 6:3-4 ESV)
The br…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (3) Read More »
The second seal (cont.)
Summary
The relative peace in the Roman heavenlies of the white horse seal epoch ends suddenly in the madness and vice of Commodus. After surviving an assassination attempt in the third year of his reign, treachery, murder and bloodshed become the theme of Commodus’ r…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (4) Read More »
The third seal
“When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.” (Rev 6:5 ESV1)
The black horse
In the black horse epoch of the third seal we see the natural c…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (5) Read More »
The third seal (cont.)
The Caesars
Summary
This black horse seal period was marked by mourning, distress, famine and plague. The impact of the general violence, bloodshed and brutality of the Caesars and the Praetorian military class was felt by the whole of Roman society, Patrician and Ple…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (6) Read More »
The fourth seal
Jesus, the Lamb (6:1), opens the fourth seal and the fourth of the living creatures calls on John to witness the fourth horse and the rider named (v8) “Death”.
Pale horse
The Greek for the phrase “pale horse” is hippos chloros. From this word, chloros, …
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (7) Read More »
The Fourth Seal (cont.)
The Caesars
Summary
The history of the Roman Empire can be divided into three distinct periods, beginning with the time of the Kings (625–510BC). Republican Rome (510–31BC) ended with the assassination of Julius Caesar and the ascension of Augustus (27BC). This m…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (8) Read More »
The Fourth Seal (cont.)
The Caesars
Pupienus Balbinus AD238On hearing the news of the defeat of the Gordians, the Senate hurriedly elected two men—Pupienus, a Senator, and Balbinus, a patrician—as co-regents. Pupienus marched against Maximinus and recruited German auxil…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (9) Read More »
The fifth seal
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those w…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (11) Read More »
