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Studies in the Apocalypse The first four Seals AD 96 - 303 Revelation 6:1-8 Opening the seals – Revealing internal events in the Roman empire 1 (6:1) Peace 2 3 4 5 6 (6:3) (6:5) (6:7) (6:9) (6:12) Civil War Distress Death Persecution Paganism Overthrown White Red Black Pale horse horse horse horse AD96 180 211 235 Souls Earthquake under altar 303 312 Rev.6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, Thunder indicates divine displeasure & the resulting Judgments 1 Samuel 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. AD96 - 180 Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) had a definite ego problem! In Imperial Rome the senate would deify an emperor upon death. However, like Gaius Caligula, and well attested by ancient writers, Domitian could not wait until death and deified himself. Upon his death, the Roman Senate was overjoyed . . . They assailed the dead emperor with the most insulting and stinging kind of outcries . . . Finally they passed a decree that his inscriptions should everywhere be erased, and all record of him obliterated (Rolfe 1992: 385). AD96 - 180 ROME, 18 September 96. Domitian, who has been conducting a reign of terror for the past three years, is assassinated as a result of a plot by his wife and two praetorian guards” (Chronicle of the world P.222) Rev.1:9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. The thunder of divine displeasure was about to remove Domitian AD96 - 180 “one of the four beasts” Gr. zoon - living creature They represent “The Redeemed” see ch.5:8-9 they appear in the following “Kingdom Visions” The throne in Heaven Ch.4 & 5 The White Robed Multitude Ch.7 The Lamb on Mount Zion Ch.14 & 15 The Marriage of the Lamb Ch.19 Why are the living creatures evident during the first four seals? During the period of the first four seals, the community of believers established by the spirit gifted Apostles were “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) in the Roman empire. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:20 AD96 - 180 The Horse in Roman social life The chariot races were the passion of all social classes and bound wealthy and poor together. There were keen rivalries between teams -- Reds, Whites, Blues and Greens. A Brief Social History of the Roman Empire Steven Kreis The Horse in Roman social life In the reign of the horse-crazed Caligula, the Emperor was a fanatical supporter of the green party. He spent hours in their stables, amongst the horses and charioteers, he even ate there. The public adored the top drivers. They were quite literally comparable to modern day sports stars. And, quite naturally, there was a huge amount of betting surrounding the races. Illustrated History of the Roman Empire The Horse - Key to Military success Denarius - 123 BC, MINERVA, Roman Goddess of War, driving a Four Horse Chariot 90 BC Denarius - 116 BC, Denarius - 105 BC, Minerva riding horse 154 BC Return of Marc Antony's Legionary Standards from Partia 18 BC SILVER Denarius, Augustus, 29 BC to 14 AD Denarius DOMITIAN, 81 to 96 AD PROBUS - 276 to 282 AD Horseman running down Enemy Soldier looks over Rome from the PiazzaVenezia Rev.6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Peace, - Truth Prospers AD96 - 180 Rev.6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse…. White = righteousness Isa.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. AD96 - 180 High point of the empire Nerva 96-98 Trajan 98 - 117 Hadrian 117 - 138 Antoninus Pius 138 - 161 Marcus Aurelius 161 - 180 (Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre) “were a man called to fix upon an epoch in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus" This is from AD96 to 180. (Gibbon - Decline & Fall) AD96 - 180 Rome 101. In the three years since he became emperor, Trajan has gained wide popularity with his public work schemes and generous benefits for the poor. At the same time he has promised not to to increase taxes. He is reforming the civil service to root out corruption and promote efficiency”. (Chronicle of the world P.225 column 1) AD96 - 180 Righteousness produces Peace James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Psalms 72:7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. Rome basks in peace and prosperity Travelling Emperor inspects his empire Rome 132 Hadrian has spent 12 of the 21 years he has reigned inspecting his empire and his army, marking his route with temples, basilicas and other Roman monuments. The emperor has taken advantage of an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity in Rome to inspect his vast empire. Hadrian the lawgiver Chronicle of the World P.229 AD96 - 180 Rev.6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Gen.49:22-26 Some men were drawn to Christianity by its purity, its simplicity, its insistence on brotherly love, the hope it held out of a good life here, and a happy one hereafter. Others were repelled, because to them there was something which was fearful and mysterious about the new religion which was spreading so secretly and so rapidly. (An outline of Christianity [Waverley] Vol. 2 page 4) Christian Churches in the First Century (46 shown) AD96 - 180 Christian Churches 2nd century (84 shown) AD96 - 180 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) “They were originally a small society of harmless enthusiasts, striving to lead a pure life and awaiting the return of their master. They inculcated submission to authority, save when it ordered them to be faithless to their Lord.” (An outline of Christianity [Waverley] Vol. 2 page 4) The Roman empire looked upon the church as an illegal society, to belong to which was in itself a punishable offence…… And so those who declined to offer so much as a grain of incense to the Genius of Rome and Caesar were suspected of disloyalty to the government; it was like insulting the flag. When, therefore, the Christians refused to worship the gods they were called “atheists,” and when they would not adore Caesar they were declared “enemies of the human race” (Ibid page 4) AD96 - 180 Although the empire was at Peace, a warefare was in progress, conquests were being made AD96 - 180 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Second Seal - AD 180 -211 Civil War Rev.6:3-4 Commodius 180 Caracalla 211 Pertinax 193 Geta 211 Didius Julianus 193 Niger 193 Septimus Severus 193 "Commodiana 189. The son of Marcus Aurelius believes he is the god Hercules and has renamed Rome 'Commodiana' after himself. He prefers killing captive men and animals, in his favourite role as gladiator, to running the empire. Instead of politics there are games lasting 14 days in which men are chained together and obliged to kill one another. By way of change there are deadly chariot races led by the drunken ruler. Senators and nobles must attend, for no-one is safe. Indeed, most citizens must now pay 'voluntary' sums to Commodus to avoid assassination". (Chronicle of the World page 237) AD 180 -211 Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Isa.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. AD 180 -211 " Rome February 212. Geta is murdered on the orders of his brother Carracalla, who proceeds to unleash bloody repression in Rome. Among the 20,000 victims is the famous jurist Papinian". (Chronicle page 238) "Italy 206. While provincial governors and commanders of legions embrace treatury and murder in seeking to gain the imperial purple, people live in fear". (Chronicle page 239) AD 180 -211 193AD The public discontent (in Rome) was soon diffused from the centre to the frontiers of the empire. The armies of Britain, of Syria, and of Illyricum, lamented the death of Pertinax, in whose company they had so often fought and conquered. They received with surprise and indignation the extraordinary intelligence that the pretorians had disposed of the empire by public auction; and they sternly refused to ratify the ignominious bargain. Their immediate and unanimous revolt was fatal to Julian, but it was also fatal to the public peace…. (Gibbon decline & fall vol 1 p.107) AD 180 -211 Rome 202 An edict is issued against Christianity in the Roman empire. All Christian or Jewish proselytising is forbidden, opening the way for local persecutions in Africa, Gaul and Egypt. (Chronicle p. 238) AD 180 -211 Third Seal - AD 211 -235 Mourning and distress Rev.6:5-6 Caracalla 211 Geta 211 Opilius Macrinus 217 Diadumenian 217 Alexander Severus 222 Murderous ruler widens tax base Roman Empire, 212 The year will be remembered for two things done by the 23year-old Caracalla: he had his brother and co-ruler murdered, and he has granted citizenship to all throughout the empire. The citizenship decree has a scarcely less ignoble motive: the new citizens do not get the vote, they simply lose their exemption from taxes. Caracalla: making his name AD 211 -235 “Caracalla was the common enemy of mankind. He left (A.D. 213) the capital about a year after the murder of Geta. The rest of his reign was spent in the several provinces of the empire ….. Each province was by turns the scene of his rapine (pillage) and cruelty. (Gibon - Decline and fall vol.1 P.132) The most wealthy families were ruined by partial fines and confiscations and the great body of his subjects oppressed by ingenious and aggravated taxes. (Ibid. P132) AD 211 -235 The senators, compelled by fear to attend his capricious motions, were obliged to provide daily entertainments at an immense expense, which he abandoned with contempt to his guards; and to erect, in every city, magnificent palaces and theatres, which he either disdained to visit, or ordered to be immediately thrown down. One dangerous maxim, worthy of a tyrant, was remembered and abused by Caracalla, “To secure the affections of the army, and to esteem the rest of his subjects as of little moment”. - (Gibbon) AD 211 -235 Mourning and distress Black = Mourning, distress, famine Jer.8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Jeremiah 14:2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. Lamentations 5:10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. Leviticus 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 45:10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Hurt - “adikeo” - to be unjust, to do wrong The diet of most people was frugal, based on corn (grain) oil and wine…. Cereals, mainly wheat, provided the staple food (Handbook to life in Ancient Rome p.342) AD 211 -235 Already by the second century BC, Rome was receiving large quantities of grain as taxes in kind from some of its provinces …… The collection of taxes by the tax collectors or publicans was open to fraud…… Tax collection was contracted out to the highest bidder, and many publicani were corrupt. (Handbook to life in Ancient Rome pages 46, 199) AD 211 -235 Hosea 12:7 ¶ He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? The Third Seal (AD 211 - 235) Rev.6:5….and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him Rev.6:5 And when he opened the third seal, I had a pair of balances in had his hand .6 And I heard a voice the third Come see. AndofI wheat beheld,for in heard the midst of thebeast four say, beasts say,and A measure and lo and a black horse; and he sat for on him had aand pair a penny, three measures ofthat barley a penny; balances in his seeofthou hurt not thehand. oil and the wine. Coin of Alexander Severus (222-235) - Symbol shows careful control to maintain a supply of corn) AEQUITAS AUGUSTI = Emperors Justice Rome 222 Pope Callistus is killed during an anti-Christian popular uprising. This is at a time when the church is undergoing great expansion and Christians are mostly tolerated by the authorities. They even have contacts with the powerful Empress Julia Mamaea, Mother of the emperor Alexander Severus. (Chronicle P. 240) AD 211 -235 Fourth Seal Pale horse Rev.6:7-8 Pale - gr. Chlorus the pale green colour the skin turns on the approach of death Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. During the period 235285, 39 men claimed to be Emperors - all were assasinated - they were known as ‘sons of death’ “He that slew the slayers slayer had the shortest respite before he himself was slain” - Gibbon Rome c.260 With wars raging throughout the empire and inflation rampant at home, Rome is facing a major economic crisis which is compounded by the political and military troubles now besetting the empire which have resulted in armies electing their own “caesars”. New coins are being produced in record numbers, but with their silver content reduced by more than 90 per cent. The depreciation of the denarius - combined with dangers on road and sea - has paralysed trade. Plague has broken out again and food production has been hit by drought. Famines have become commonplace. (Chronicle of the World - Page 245) And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Gibbon identifies the fourfold division of the empire 1. The praefact of the east. (Egypt, Persia & Thrace) 2. The praefact of Illiricum. (Pannonia, Dacia, Macedonia & Greece) 3. The praefact of Italy. (Italy and to the North as far as the Danube and Northern Africa) 4. The praefact of the Gauls. (Including Spain & Britain) Roman Empire under Constantine Times Atlas of European History (Page 42) Revelation 6:8 And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Headlines in the Chronicle Murderous end to female dynasty (235) Bloodthirsty Caracalla stabbed to death 217) Army kills debauched emperor (221) Roman soldiers kill their own general (269) Revelation 6:8 And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Division of Empire brings huge tax burden Rome 293…..Tax is being collected “in kind”: members of municipal senates are expected to find quantities of wheat and other produce from farms already depleted of workers who are being conscripted into the army in ever increasing numbers. (Chronicle p.247) Revelation 6:8. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. The Plague of Cyprian is the name given to a pandemic, probably of smallpox, that afflicted the Roman Empire from AD 250 onwards. It was still raging in 270, ... In 250 to 266, at the height of the outbreak, 5,000 people a day were said to be dying in Rome. (Wickipedia) Revelation 6:8 And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Barbarians move across the Danube Roman Empire 238 The first barbarian invasion of the empire came about five years ago, when the Germanic Alimanni raided the frontier of the upper Rine. Earlier this year the Goths and the Carpi, crossed the danube and invaded the province of Moesia. 1st seal - White Horse Peace in the empire - rapid spread of Christianity brings (AD 96 - 180) conflict between pagans & Christians 2nd seal - Red Horse Peace removed - a period of Bloodshead & killing (180 - 211) 3rd seal - Black Horse Mourning - distress - famine result from excessive taxation (211 - 235) 4th seal - Pale horse (235 - 303) Wholesale death within the empire Asia Minor 304 Since his purge of the army and the court in 302 Diocletian has issued four edicts at destroying Christianity in the Roman Empire. Churches dismantled, clergy arrested and Christians forced to sacrifice to the pagan Gods on pain of death (Chronicle p. 248)