Revelation 6

“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”  Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another.  And a large sword was given to him.”  Revelation 6:3-4 (HCSB)

Several years ago, someone in my family researched our “roots.”  For as far back as we can search, someone in my family has been at war.  In the 1700s, the Wiggins fought in the American Revolution.  In the late 1800s, they fought in the Civil War.  They fought in WWII, and my dad is a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force.

These days, the world is at war again.  When I lived in California, occasionally, I led music for the Marine boot camp chapel at Camp Pendleton.  And every time I attended those chapel services,  I witnessed what seemed impossible for a Marine: surrender.  That is, many young soldiers surrendered their lives to Jesus’ command.  

A growing number of Religious scholars believe these are the last days.  Perhaps you have wondered if things could get worse.  Well, they can get worse.  And they will.

The Bible speaks of a time when the Lord will command that peace be taken from the earth.  Peace won’t be momentarily suspended or diminished to only reside in remote communities.  Peace will be taken entirely away.  People will slaughter each other.  This is not the kind of slaughter that pits political opponents.  It is that kind of desperate mayhem that we caught just a glimpse of in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans—complete chaos.

After the rapture of the Church, the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from the earth.  All mankind will be so completely and selfishly unrestrained that they lose control.  As bad as modern Islamic terrorism may seem, God’s Spirit still restrains evil from mankind for the most part.  

Our world comprises mostly simple, hard-working people who want to earn a living, raise a family, and live peacefully.  They can do so because they perceive that there is hope that their law-abiding efforts will advance their station in life and provide a better future for themselves and their families.  The Holy Spirit’s message to the world is that there is hope.  Hope in Jesus.  Without the Spirit’s message of hope, even the simplest of men will resort to unthinkable evil.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul states that when people say “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will come.  

Friends, know that while there is a general “peace” in the world today, it won’t always be so.  Furthermore, there is no true Shalom (Heb. “peace”) aside from the Grace and mercy of God through a saving relationship with Messiah Jesus.