American Christian University

Revelation 5:11  Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

These words relate to us the amazement with which John viewed the spectacle before him in heaven, as it unfolded, revealing to him this most profound prophecy. 

The action of 'looking' into a vision is something that we find throughout Scripture. When Jacob's association with Laban became troubled because of Laban's unethical behavior, Jacob told Rachel and Leah that an angel of the Lord spoke to him.

Genesis 31:10  "In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted."

Looking at the bronze serpent in the desert brought healing.

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

Daniel 7:9  "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze."

Revelation 5:11  Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

The joining of praises of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders is a choir of countless angels.  This enormous choir of countless angels surrounds the throne of God and everything that's gathered around the throne as if it unites all of creation in their praises.

Luke 2:13, 14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Daniel 7:10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

This fourth praise, or doxology, is brought by the multitude of angels and they all acknowledge and proclaim that the Lamb is worthy "to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise."  These are the seven excellencies that are ascribed to the Lamb, which, in its number testifies that it is a complete and perfect number of excellencies, and that these excellencies are also individually perfect in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:8 - 11 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let's look at these seven excellencies:

Power:

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

John 1:3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

John 17:2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Wealth:

II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich

John 1:4, 14 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 11:12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring.

II Corinthians 6:10 Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Ephesians 1:6 - 8 To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 2:6, 7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

James 2:5  Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Wisdom:

Psalm 107:43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

Daniel 12:10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

Hosea 14:9 Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Mark 13:14  "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."

Ephesians 1:6 - 8 To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 13:18  This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

Revelation 17:9  "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits

Strength:

Ephesians 1:9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Ephesians 1:19 And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength.

Isaiah 14:24, 27  The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand. 27For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Lamentations 3:37, 38 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Acts 2:23, 4:28 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 4:28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Acts 13:48  When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Romans 16:26 But now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him.

Psalm 22:19 But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Psalm 28:7, 8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. 8The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Isaiah 63:1  Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."

Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

Exodus 13:16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.

Deuteronomy 7:19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Joshua 22:22 "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day."

Matthew 26:64  "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

I Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Honor:

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

II Samuel 22:4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

I Chronicles 16:28, 29 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 18:3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Glory:

Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.

Exodus 15:11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

I Samuel 15:29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.

Psalm 63:2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Isaiah 6:3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 24:16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." But I said, "I waste away, I waste away! Woe to me! The treacherous betray! With treachery the treacherous betray!"

Haggai 2:9 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty.

Zechariah 2:5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.'

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."

Matthew 25:31  "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory."

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Praise:

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I Chronicles 29:20  Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.

Nehemiah 9:5 And the Levites … said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise."

Psalm 72:19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

Daniel 4:34  At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Romans 15:6 So that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

II Corinthians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

II Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

Philippians 2:11 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:13  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

This is the final of the five praises. Every creature "in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them" sang the praises of the Lamb.

I Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Psalms 148:2 - 13 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. 3Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. 4Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. 6He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. 7Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths. 8Lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding. 9You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars. 10Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds. 11Kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth. 12Young men and maidens, old men and children. 13Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Isaiah 24:14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD'S majesty.

Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 2:9 - 11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. 11And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jude 1:25 To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

[1]The five praises are linked in other ways. The first and fifth praises mention divine eternity: "who was and is and is to come" and "forever and ever." The first and second praises praise the enthroned One, the third and four praise the Lamb, and the fifth, both of them together.  The second and third are addressed directly to the Object of praise in the second person: "worthy are You", and give the reason for ascribing worthiness (creation, redemption). 

The last element of the second praise (power) is the first element of the fourth and the last element of the fourth (blessing) opens the fifth.  "Glory and honor" appear in the three praises that list divine excellencies (second, fourth, fifth), as do words expressing strength: "power" (dynamis), "might" (ischys), and "power (dominion)" (kratos). 

The second praise ascribes three excellencies to God, the fourth song ascribes seven (4+3) to the Lamb.  Another seven-fold list appears in Revelation 7:12.  The fifth praise ascribes four excellencies to God and the Lamb. 

The following is a table that illustrates the relations of the praises:

Scripture

Passage

Illustration

4:8

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

ETERNITY

4:11

Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive

WORTHY + 2ND PERSON

 

glory, honor, power.

LIST OF EXCELLENCIES

 

for You created…

REASON FOR WORTHINESS

5:9

Worthy are You to receive the book

WORTHY + 2ND PERSON

 

You were slain, and purchased

REASON FOR WORTHINESS

5:12

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive

WORTHY + 3RD PERSON

 

Power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, blessing.

LIST OF EXCELLENCIES

5:13

To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be blessing, honor, glory, dominion (power).

LIST OF EXCELLENCIES

 

Forever and ever

ETERNITY

 

The Greek verb lambano is translated as 'receive' but it can also be translated as 'take' since lambano is used in its infinitive form labein and can mean either passively or actively.  Since the Lamb's taking of the scroll is an active deed, some translations render this as 'take' and not 'receive'.  In doing so, it may require the reader to do research to find the parallelism of the wording of 4:11 and 5:12.

The seven-part expression of the Lamb's excellencies may be grouped into a first set of four (power, wealth, wisdom, might), describing the resources that qualify him to exercise divine rule over history, and a second set of three (honor, glory, blessing), describing the response to the Lamb's worthiness that is incumbent on all creatures everywhere in his dominion. Some commentators see the first four as God's properties that He transfers to the Messiah and the last three are properties what follows or happens in the offering of praise.

We see the four-three combination repeated several times in this prophecy, such as the first four of the seven seals, the trumpets, and bowls.

When every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea joins the song, our perspective, which began in adoration of the thrice-holy God from eternity past ("who was and is and is to come") is expanded to embrace eternity future: may the enthroned One and the Lamb receive blessing, honor, glory, and power "forever and ever" - literally, "into the ages of the ages."

Two classic descriptions of the whole created order are blended to emphasize the comprehensiveness of the adoring choir.  The whole created universe can be viewed vertically as falling into three regions: heaven, earth, and regions under the earth. Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. But an equally comprehensive description of all that God created is "the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them". (Exodus 20:11, Psalm 146:6).

Everything that God has created, he has created because of his will and his will is that each and every creature, everywhere, should glorify its Creator. Human rebellion has disrupted the paean of praise that the Creator is worthy to receive from all his subjects.  Hence it was necessary for the Lamb to be slaughtered in order to transform defiled slaves into pure priests who will lead the rest of the universe in celebrating the worthiness of God who created and the Lamb who redeemed.  The ceaseless praises of the four living creatures will be taken up by all creation and will extend indefinitely "into the ages of the ages."

Revelation 5:14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Our society has created many gods before which we bow down on a daily basis, and we are admonished to be aware of our vices and things that we glorify in the stead of Jesus Christ. The Second Commandment makes us aware of that danger and spells out clearly that we should not honor and worship God by and with any images, regardless whether these images are real or imaginary, except those images that He gave us by and through which we should worship him: the sacraments.

This revelation that John describes here points us to what is required to receive praises and worship, that is, who is worthy, or who has sufficient excellencies to be praised in this manner.  It is clear from the teaching of Scripture that there is no one who is worthy but Jesus Christ.  If we, then, idolizes some imaginary thing to be a ruling factor in our lives, be it only small or huge, then we take of the praises that ought to belong to the Lamb and we bestow them on that which is trivial, unworthy, and ungodly.

We ought to praise God and God only. This revelation shows us what that means. It's an life's commitment to Christ and no one else. Our praises are valuable treasures and our ability to bring them forth is a gift of God; therefore, they should only be brought to the throne of the Almighty God and as a thank offering for the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 6:1  I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"

Chapter six illustrates to us a series of visions that depicts the history of the world and church from when the gospel was given to the end of time.  In prophecy we can refer to the following Old Testament passages:

Zechariah 1:8 - 10 During the night I had a vision--and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. 9I asked, "What are these, my lord?" The angel who was talking with me answered, "I will show you what they are." 10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth."

Zechariah 6:1 - 8 I looked up again--and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains--mountains of bronze. 2The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3the third white, and the fourth dappled--all of them powerful. 4I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my lord?" 5The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south." 7When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, "Go throughout the earth!" So they went throughout the earth. 8Then he called to me, "Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north."

The way in which the Lamb breaks the seals is in itself a reflection of the phased revelation of the church from its infant times in the Garden to her bridegroom's majestic resurrection, ascent into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of the Father. Not until all the seals are broken can the contents be disclosed, preparing the reader step-by-step, or seal-by-seal, for what John will see when the last seal is broken.

The command from the living creature "Come" is not to summons John, but it is to summons the four horses with riders.  John was already summoned when Jesus called him "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this" in Rev 4:1.

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The horse was typically an animal for battle transport, white being the color of conquest.

Revelation 19:11  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The rider is ready for battle and with a bow he would be able to launch his arrows from a distance, swiftly delivering their messages. 

Psalm 45:3 - 5 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. 4In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. 5Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.

II Corinthians 10:3 - 5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

II Corinthians 6:7 In truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left

Ephesians 6:13 - 18 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God 18and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

II Timothy 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Revelation 6:2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The rider receives a crown of victory even before he rode out to battle as a sure sign that God's resolve to succeed has been placed upon his head. And as sure as God's will shall come to pass, so sure shall this rider be victorious over all the world.  He rode out as a conqueror that has already succeeded by the power of God.  This rider personifies the battle to spread the gospel all over the world and the victory that will be achieved.

Revelation 6:3  When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"

The second seal is bound to the first by the command given to the next horse and rider, namely, "Come."  These two seals are also bound by the fact that they send horses and riders into the world.

Revelation 6:4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

This rider has a fiery red horse, which symbolizes the bloodshed, war, and revolution that it will bring to the world. 

Isaiah 10:5, 6 "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath. 6I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets."

Isaiah 37:26 "Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone."

Daniel 5:19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.

Zechariah 1:8  During the night I had a vision--and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

Matthew 24:6 - 14 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

John 19:11  Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

Revelation 6:4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

These words illustrate to us this rider's ability to strike fear and terror into the hearts of the enemy of God.

 

 



[1] Reworked from "Triumph of the Lamb" by Dennis E. Johnson.