Revelation 6:7-17 Three more judgments

•    Revelation 6:7-8 Opening the fourth seal releases an invitation to death and the grave who are given permission to take a quarter of humankind. There are four avenues of death. The first two are directly related to the previous scourges, war and food scarcity. Epidemics are not previously mentioned, but have been a staple of mankind throughout recorded history. It is only in the last century or so that modern medicine has managed to contain the most deadly plagues. And there are some latent diseases that if became widespread would be terrifyingly deadly. Examples include Ebola, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, dengue hemorrhagic fever, Yellow fever, Plague, Cholera, Meningococcal disease, Influenza, African trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis and leishmania/HIV co-infection. Reasons for potentially devastating plagues include modern transportation and migration mobility, and increasingly resistant strains of these diseases. The fourth avenue of death seems unimportant in the modern world. It is hard to see how wild animals could become a major cause of death, since many deadly predators are endangered or approaching extinction. Perhaps this remains to be revealed as the time draws near.

•    Revelation 6:9-11 The fifth seal is a change in direction. The righteous who were slain cry out to God for justice. There is no immediate consequence of this plea to those on the earth; the ominous dread of judgment hangs over their head. (Luke 18:2-8) This is articulated in Rev. 6:17. The white robes are explained in Rev. 7:14. They are given rest until the folly of man has been consummated , that all those who stand for Jesus are killed.

•    Revelation 6:12-17 The sixth seal appears to usher in a thermonuclear war. At least, the events are entirely consistent with it. Granted, this could be a direct judgment of God, but that seems out of place considering that the martyrs had just been told to wait for justice. Immediately after this catastrophic event, everyone on earth, from the highest to the lowest, expresses a terrified fear of certain judgment. Building bomb shelters might provide some protection from nuclear blasts, if they aren't too close, but who can hide from God or His wrath?