“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind” (Revelation 6:12-13)

Death.  It is the final part of the journey from this age to the next.  Is this talking about what is to come in this age, or about what happens in the moment of death?  We shall find out.  More important is whether you are in the grace of Jesus.  Are you walking with Him or still playing the game of the rebellion in this age?  Come, live into the promise of the Lord and look forward to what is coming rather than looking forward with dread.

Lord, people in this age play games, but in death one sees fear in those who do not believe.  Let me not avoid the reality of death but see that I too shall pass through and then find out what all of this means.  The most important thing is that I follow You and walk with You always.  Guide me. Lord. on the path of salvation. Guide me to always be walking with You, my Lord and my God.  Guide me to live this new life of faith which You have given me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the grace and faith I need to not fear the little death.  I do not relish the idea, but I know it will come.  Help me to have great hope in what You have promised.  Lead me to live this life of faith boldly and to be guided by Your Spirit to grow into Your likeness.  Whether this verse refers to an end time prophecy, the end of my time, or both,  keep my eyes upon You above all things.  Amen.

“Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been” (Revelation 6:11)

The faithful will be martyred until Jesus returns.  Whether it is the literal death that comes in persecution or the many little deaths of the spirit that happen to one who is persecuted day after day, the wicked of this world seek to silence the voice of the Master.  They cannot and will not, but the attempts continue.  Look around and what do you see?  The hope of salvation in Christ is under constant attack.  Where will you stand? On the promises of God? Or with the persecutors?

Lord, give me that old-time religion.  I want to live and let live, but I find that this world is becoming increasingly hostile.  The world is pressing in, and it seems as though it does desire to still the voice which speaks the Gospel.  I need Your guidance to live faithfully amidst the wicked schemes of this world.  You have come to save.  Save me and those who will listen through the witness You provide through me.

Come, Holy Spirit, and reveal again the truth for all ages.  Help me to see clearly and not bow down to the idols of this age.  No matter the cost to me, for I know that You have born the true cost, help me to carry the cross You give me, for its burden is light.  Guide me in mercy and grace to be a bold witness amidst the hostility to the faith in my time.  No matter the cost to me, knowing it cost You everything, lead me to learn how to remain steadfast in faith according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

“They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”  (Revelation 6:10)

In each generation there are those who have been wronged by the wicked.  The righteous want vengeance.  But God says: vengeance is Mine. The Lord is not slow as some count slowness, but awaits the time when all things are complete.  This verse should be an encouragement to those who are persecuted.  The Lord knows and He will answer in His time.  All things are in His hand and He has promised to work them together for good for those who love Him.

Lord, in times of persecution, I want vengeance.  But do I know real persecution?  There are those whose lives have been taken in this age because of their faith.  I am still here, so do I know true persecution?  I should.  Standing firm in the faith will get me into trouble with those who want my voice stilled.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I walk humbly with You and stand firm in the faith You have given me, for blessed are those who ate persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing.  Fill me so that I am willing to hold fast and proclaim the faith no matter what.  I do not want to be a martyr but help me to be willing to pay that price if that is what it means to hold fast.  Whatever may come, lead me in Your goodness and mercy to know that in You alone is all hope and the only future worth living.  Lead me to learn what it means to be faithful.  Amen.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained” (Revelation 6:9).

There are those who have witnessed first-hand the wickedness against the church.  Just because you have lived in relative safety does not mean the church has not been under attack.  Both within and from without, there are those who are not faithful to the Lord.  People seek their own desire and wrap it up in nice religious garments.  The souls of the saints cry out against the wicked.

Lord, grant that I be counted amongst the saints.  Let me not rely upon my own merits but look deeply within my own soul to have Your Spirit uncover any place that remains in rebellion against You.  This is a matter of eternal life and death, and I too often treat it as though it were just a Sunday thing.  Guide me Lord in the way of everlasting life so that I may be found wholly in You.

Thank You, dear Jesus, for the salvation You accomplished, which You have given me by Your precious death and resurrection.  Apart from You, it is hopeless.  But You give me hope and a future.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life and help me to search deep within.  Make of me a true saint who is a witness in this world, giving testimony of the hope I have because of Your grace.  Lead me always in the grace You give.  Amen.

“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth” (Revelation 5:8).

This world is filled with terrors.  One of the certainties in this age is death.  We shall all die.  But there have been times when death seemed to have been even more prominent.  WWII and the years immediately following saw tens of millions slaughtered for political reasons.  The amount of slaughter in our time is on the increase.  Do not fear death, for it comes to us all, but fear the One who rescues us from the second death.

Lord, I have a natural fear of pain.  I recoil at the thought of painful things.  I do not like the death of loved ones who have gone on.  In the mystery of all these things, help me to see more clearly the reality of all that is going on around me.  Guide me through the mess of this world to know that in You, the author and finisher of my faith, there is true abiding and everlasting life.  Lead me in the right and good direction grace affords that I may always follow You.

My Savior, ever since Adam and Eve were banned from the garden, death has been a part of the human experience.  But You have told us that death is not the final answer.  Though I die, yet shall I live.  Guide me, Lord, in living the true life for which You died.  Help me work through my fears so that I live in the goodness of Your grace and mercy all the days of my life in this age.  Help me to look to You, Lord, and then help me to follow You.  Amen.

“When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”  (Revelation 6:7)

Will you follow the Lord no matter what comes?  Many seem to be good-time followers.  While things are moving along smoothly, all is well and good.  As soon as trouble comes, they bail out and move elsewhere.  A fourth time, the Lord bids you, “come”.  Through all that this life may toss your way, come, and serve the Lord.  You were created by Him, and you are His.  But He created you to, and for, love.  Will you come?

Lord, You know the struggles I have in this age.  There are so many things that get in the way so that I am sometimes unsure of which direction to go.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You would have me go and grant, by Your grace, that I would have the fortitude to hold fast to the gifts You have given me.  Lord, You know where I am and where I need to be.  You know the path set before me.  Thank You for being there every step of the way.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior, but also the judge.  You will pursue me to the ends of the earth.  Grant that I would learn from You and have the same fortitude and passion to follow You always and no matter what.  Guide me this day so that I stand firm against whatever may come my way that would lead me away from You.  Thank You, Lord, for being with me and showing me the way.  Lead me now and always in Your goodness.  Amen.

“Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:6)

In war lives are considered dispensable.  The priority is killing enemies and life is given less value.  Vast swaths of ground are destroyed, and the people go hungry.  Less food and hungry people mean the ones who are in control profit.  This is the way of wickedness.  We too have profited, for we eat cheap food and pay poor wages.  Only the Lord can bring true balance to the insanity of this age.

Lord, I do not want to confess that I have benefitted from the inequities of this world.  Help me to see things as they are and where possible, to make amends.  Guide me to be fervent in Your way of living and not adopt any other cause that moves in any direction that is away from You.  Lead me to live at peace, be fair, and seek for the welfare of others, especially the helpless and those who are victimized.

Lord Jesus, You came to save us all.  Amidst circumstances I cannot fully fathom, help me to live into the life to which You have called me.  Let me not answer anger with anger, but with peaceful self-control.  Help me to love even when others are hating.  Let me share what I have with those who may not be able to obtain what they need.  The world is at war with itself.  Give Your peace to me amidst the ways of this world.  Amen.

“When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand” (Revelation 6:5).

Judgement is built into creation.  It is not that the Lord waits to pour out a special dispensation, but that when one sins, recompense will come.  The recompense of sin is sloppy.  The seemingly innocent are stricken by their own sins or the wanton acts of another.  But who is truly innocent? And how does one dismiss the promise of the Lord that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord?

Lord, I think in terms of how I see things.  I forget that You are Lord of all.  Guide me, dear Lord, to live according to Your never-failing goodness so that I see things through Your eyes.  Bad things are going to happen in this world.  We will all pay the price for sin, but You have paid the price to free us from sin’s sentence of death.  Help me to learn how to be faithful above all things.  Guide me in Your goodness to know and trust that Your will shall be done.

Lord, I know that You will judge me.  Even though I am under Your grace, You love me enough to hold me accountable for how I act.  Let that be before my mind so that no matter what comes, I know that Your grace is a gift and that anything that happens in this age will be used to grow in me what You intend.  Help me to not slip back into conditional thinking, but live knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Amen.

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

Jesus told us that there would be wars and rumors of wars.  War has continued and accelerated since ancient times.  Most of the time there is a war going on somewhere in the world.  People want and so they take.  People have and they fight to keep.  Each century seems to get bloodier and more violent.  And we blame God for not stopping our violence?  We are offered peace, but violence is often our answer.

Lord, I too know how to be violent.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of peace.  Teach me how to resist that which causes violence.  Teach me how to become one who lives peacefully, loving my neighbor as myself.  Guide me in the way of eternity knowing that this age is going to continue to accelerate in war and violence.  We have spent generations entertaining ourselves with violence.  Guide me away from this world’s nonsense.

Lord Jesus, You came as a man of peace and now give the peace which surpasses all understanding.  Lead me away from the ways of this world and into Your presence.  Teach me how to live peacefully amidst the violence of this world.  I know these episodes of violence must come to pass but help me be attached to You and not to this crazy world.  Even when war and violence are all around me, help me to be a person of peace, for “blessed are the peacemakers”.  Amen.

“When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”  (Revelation 6:3)

The Lord is continuously inviting us to come and follow Him.  We wander.  We go the way of the world.  We lose interest and do not faithfully follow the way of the Lord.  Come into His presence and stay where the Lord would have you abide.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy and know that the Lord is Lord of all, and His invitation is not a suggestion.  Come, learn what this means to and for you.

Lord, I am so conditional and want things the way I want them.  Help me to understand that everything is in Your hands and that apart from You there is nothing of value.  If something bad happens to me in this life, what is that?  I have the promise of eternity.  Is this not why Saint Paul wrote,“ to live is Christ and to die is gain”?  It is not a death wish, just the reality of this age.  Help me to live in the real world.

Lord, strengthen the resolve of my faith.  Do not let me be enticed by the wiles of this age, nor fall for the temptations that are common.  Guide me through the maze of nonsense in this world so that I may learn how to be steadfast in faith no matter what comes.  Lead me in Your goodness and grace to see more clearly each day the hope and promise that You give me.  Guide me now and always, dear Savior.  Amen.