Apocalyptic Hope in a time of Crisis A reflection on Revelation 6 through 7:8 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible refresh for Dr.

Brad Miller here to give you a daily reading of the New Testament.

We use a Revised Common Lectionary to use the select verses for this very day.

We're in year C of a three year cycle.

We're in the Easter tide season.

We make the reading of the Bible understandable.

We use the message Version relatable.

We give you some points to ponder applicable.

We give you an action step to take with a prayer and we do all that in under 10 minutes.

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Let's get into our reading for the day from the Revelation 6 starting with verse 1 through chapter 7, verse 8 reading for the Message Unsealing the scroll I watched while the land ripped off the first of the seven seals.

I heard one of the animals roar, come out.

I looked.

I saw a white horse.

Its rider carried a bow and was given a victory garland.

He rode off victorious, conquering right and left.

When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second animal cry out, come out.

Another horse appeared, this one red.

Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each other's throats, killing one another.

He was given a huge sword.

When he ripped off the third seal, I heard the third animal cry, come out.

I looked a black horse.

This time its rider carried a set of scales in his hand, and I heard a message.

It seemed to issue from the four animals a quart of wheat for a day's wages, or three quarts of barley, but don't lay even a finger on the oil and wine.

When he ripped off the fourth seal, I heard the fourth animal cry, come out.

I looked a colorless horse, sickly pale.

Its rider was Death, and Hell was close on its heels.

They were given power to destroy a fourth of the earth by war, famine, disease, and wild beasts.

When he ripped off the fifth seal, I saw the souls of those killed because they had held firm in their witness to the word of God.

They were gathered under the altar and cried out loud prayers.

How long, strong God, holy and true.

How long before you step in and avenge our murderers?

Then each martyr was given a white robe and told to sit back and wait until the full number of martyrs was filled from among their servant companions and friends in the faith.

I watched while he ripped off the sixth seal A bone jarring earthquake.

Sun turned black as ink moon.

All bloody stars falling out of the sky like figs shaken from a tree in a high wind.

Sky snapped shut like a book.

Islands and mountains sliding this way and that.

And then pandemonium.

Everyone and his dog running for cover.

Kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every commoner, slave or free.

They hid in mountain caves and rocky dens, calling out to mountains and rocks.

Refuge hide us from the one seated on the throne in the wrath of the Lamb.

The great day of their wrath has come.

Who can stand it?

The servants of God.

Immediately I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, standing nearby with a firm grip on the four winds so no wind would blow on earth or sea, not even rustle a tree.

Then I saw another angel rising from where the sun rose, carrying the seal of the living God.

He thundered to the four angels assigned the task of hurting earth and sea.

Don't hurt the earth, don't hurt the sea, don't so much as hurt a tree until I've sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

I heard the count of those who were sealed.

144,000.

They were sealed out of every tribe of Israel.

12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben.

12,000 from Gad.

12,000 from Asher.

12,000 from Nephali.

12,000 from Manasseh.

12,000 from Simeon.

12,000 from Levi.

12,000 from Issachar.

12,000 from Zebulun.

12,000 from Joseph.

12,000 sealed from Benjamin.

Well, just a lot of incredibly interesting imagery here.

This is really a challenging vision that really speaks to times of crisis and the hope of transformation.

So, okay, let's just jump into it some points to ponder.

Economic justice in a time of crisis.

The third seal it talks about here reveals economic inequality.

It says, a quart of wheat for a day's wages, but don't lay a finger on the oil and wine.

This exposes how economic crises often protect luxury goods while basic necessities become unaffordable.

We see this pattern today in the housing crisis, healthcare access, food insecurity, where the wealthy remain insulated while the poor bear the burden.

A second point is about resistance and empire.

The martyrs under the altar represent those who held firm in their witness against the imperial power.

Their cry of how long?

Echoes through movements for justice, from civil rights activists to environmental defenders, from indigenous water protectors to Palestinian peace.

This isn't about passive suffering, but active resistance to systematic injustice.

Third point is about universal impact of crisis.

The sixth seal shows how systematic collapse affects everyone.

It says that kings, princes, generals, rich and strong along with every commoner.

This speaks to a modern global crisis and climate change and economic crises which ultimately impact all levels of society.

Yet the vision suggests that transformation, while universal, begins with protecting the vulnerable, that is the sealed servants.

Here's your action steps for today.

Identify a way that your community perpetuates economic inequality or environmental harm and choose some concrete action to address this, such as start some sort of a community food pantry or security program, join a local housing justice initiative or support indigenous led environmental protection or be an advocate for universal healthcare access.

Remember, apocalyptic vision should lead to present action.

We're going to pray in just a moment.

Just a reminder that we have a great resource for you.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.

You pick it up at our website, voiceofgod daily.com let's have a prayer.

Oh God, you are the divine transformer.

We live amid multiple crises, economic, political, environmental and social.

When we're tempted to despair, help us to find hope and resistance.

When systems seem unchangeable, remind us that transformation is possible.

Guide us in protecting the vulnerable while working for systematic changes.

Give us courage to hold firm in witness against injustice, knowing that your vision of justice will prevail in hope and determination.

We pray.

Amen.

It's good to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.

Look forward to helping me look for you.

Joining me again tomorrow.

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Till that time, I'm Dr.

Brad Miller.

Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.