Explore the terrifying and prophetic vision of the Four Horsemen in Revelation 6 in this powerful Bible teaching. As the Lamb opens the first four seals, the world is shaken by deception, war, famine, and death.
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Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another;
and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by
the beasts of the earth.
Job 39:19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with
thunder?
Job 39:20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
Job 39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the
clash of arms.
Job 39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from
the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
Job 39:24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come
to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
Job 39:25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
THE 1ST SEAL: THE WHITE HORSE OF DECEPTIVE PEACE.
Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Opinions on who is the first rider is include:
1) Jesus Christ
2) the advance of the gospel,
3) False religion
4) the antichrist,
5) the spirit of conquest,
6) government persecuting Christians,
7) Satan’s servants in general.
8) Not a person but a personification
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat
on it was Death, and Hades
The horsemen are not persons, but personifications, representations
manifestations, embodiments,
It’s not that the four horses will actually ride over the earth, but are symbolical
representations of things that will happen
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, …”
Daneil 11:21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give
the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by
Jeremiah 6:14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace,
peace!’ When there is no peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
THE 2ND SEAL: THE RED HORSE OF DESTRUCTIVE PUNISHMENT.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who
sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and
there was given to him a great sword.
Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom …”
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Albert Einstein said,”The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything
except our way of thinking. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking
if mankind is to survive.”
President Ronald Reagon once said, “Man has used every weapon he has ever
devised … It takes no crystal ball to perceive that a nuclear war, is likely … In a
nuclear war, all mankind would lose.”
Former Soviet president Brezhnev once said, “Only he who has decided to
commit suicide can start a nuclear war.”
THE 3RD SEAL: THE BLACK HORSE OF DIVISIVE POVERTY.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barleåy for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Lamentations 5:10 Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the fever of famine.
Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger;
For these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.
Matthew 24:7 “… And there will be famines …
Mark 13:8 “… and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Revelation 6:6 “… and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
THE 4TH SEAL: THE PALE HORSE OF DEADLY PLAGUES.
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.
Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But
Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
Revelation 9:20 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues,
did not repent …”
Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready
There’s no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you’ve been left behind
Acts 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this
to all by raising Him from the dead.
Step through the open door into heaven’s throne room in Part 3 of our Revelation series! In “A Visit to God’s Heavenly Throne,” we witness the breathtaking vision of Revelation 4 — the radiant One seated on the throne, surrounded by 24 elders, four living creatures, a sea of glass, and the ceaseless worship of heaven. Discover the seven awe-inspiring elements around God’s throne and explore four life-changing aspects of true praise: its permanence, the glorious Person we worship, the humble posture of worship, and its power to lift our perspective from earth to heaven. Be renewed in worship as Jesus is revealed behind the veil!
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Sermon Notes
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones
I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the
midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes
in front and in back.
Revelation 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like
a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature
was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying:
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
There are Seven Things Around the Throne of God
1. SEATED UPON THE THRONE IS THE TRIUNE GOD.
2. SURROUNDING THE THRONE IS A RAINBOW.
3. SITTING AROUND THE THRONE ARE THE 24 ELDERS.
4. SOUNDING FORTH FROM THE THRONE ARE LIGHTNINGS,
THUNDERS AND VOICES.
5. SPREAD BEFORE THE THRONE IS A SEA OF GLASS.
6. SITUATED IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE ARE THE FOUR
LIVING CREATURES.
7. SHARING PRAISE TOWARD THE ONE ON THE THRONE ARE
THE CREATURES AND THE ELDERS.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
1. THE PERMANENCE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:8 “… And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
Psalm 136:1 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:2 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Quote
When we are really in love, we don’t count the number of times we say “I love you!”,
especially if the one we love really loves to hear it.
The same way, God really loves to hear our words of love towards Him, even when
we only say “I love You” over and over again.
2. THE PERSON OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Lyrics “I Write The Songs”
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music, and I write the songs
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory
3. THE POSTURE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the
throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying:
The word “worship” means to prostrate one’s self,
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker.
Quote
There are times I get down on my face to pray and it’s like I just can’t even get my face
deep enough in the carpet. It just seems like I can’t humble myself enough before God
Revelation 4:10 “… and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne …”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
4. THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Praise is not praise unless it’s expressed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
“To a fool, foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness. The Bible tells us that fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are! As Proverbs 1:22 asks, ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.'”
Sermon Notes:
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners
delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.
On a hair dryer the warning: Do not use while sleeping.
On an iron the warning: Do not iron clothes on body.
On a chainsaw the warning: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hand.
On a microwave oven a warning label read, “Do not use for drying pets!”
On a wheelbarrow is the warning “not intended for highway use”.
A child’s baby stroller is labeled with the warning “do not fold with baby inside”.
A child’s clothing label reads “wash inside out and remove child before washing”.
On a jet ski: “Never use a lit match or open flame to check fuel level.”
On New Holland’s small tractors warning label: “Avoid death”
An adult Superman costume comes with this disclaimer : “warning this product
does not enable flight or super strength”.
On a bottle of drain opener has a label that says
“Warning: if you cannot read this warning label do not use this product”.
Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin …
Proverbs 1:32 (CJB) For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them,
and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of
death.
Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,….
1. THE SIMPLE OR THE NAIVE.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his
knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with
knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18 (VOICE) The naive are heirs to foolishness, but the clever are
are honored with insight.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are
of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Albert Einstein once said, “Only two things are infinite; the universe and human
stupidity. And I’m not sure about the universe.”
Proverbs 19:3 (NLT) People ruin their lives by their own foolishness…
Hosea 4:6 “My people perish from a lack of knowledge.”
Proverbs 1:4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and
discretion —
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple.
2. THE SCORNER OR THE SCOFFER.
Proverbs 1:22 “… For scorners delight in their scorning,
Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and
reproach will cease.
It doesn’t say, “Cast him off.” It says, “Cast him out.”
Proverbs 9:7 (VOICE) Whoever tries to discipline a scoffer should expect a hail of
insults in return.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not
listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 15:12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to
the wise.
Proverbs 21:24 A proud and haughty man— “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with
arrogant pride.
3. THE FOOL.
Proverbs 1:22 “… and fools hate knowledge.”
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
To a fool foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness.
Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 12:15a The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, …”
Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against
the Lord.
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, …”
Proverbs 16:22 “… it is pointless to try and instruct a fool.
Fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are!
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin …
Provebs 14:9 (MSG) The stupid ridicule right and wrong …
Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;
then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
2 Samuel 3:33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:”Should Abner
die as a fool dies?
“Old Man” is a song
This is a final farewell to a father, from one atheist to another.
The sun has left the sky, old man
The birds have flown away
And no one came to cry, old man
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
You wanna stay, I know you do
But it ain’t no use to try
‘Cause I’ll be here and I’m just like you
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
Won’t be no God to comfort you
You taught me not to believe that lie
You don’t need anybody, nobody needs you
Don’t cry, old man, don’t cry
Everybody dies
Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked,
while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
Acts 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.
Acts 17:34 However, some men joined him and believed,…”
“Ghost Stories” delves into Biblical accounts of supernatural or ghostly encounters to reveal greater truths about faith and fear. With passages like Matthew 14, where Jesus walks on water, and Luke 16, recounting the rich man’s appeal from Hades, this sermon contrasts common fears of ghosts with the Biblical command to fear and revere God alone. It encourages listeners to replace fear of the unknown with confidence in God’s power and presence.
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Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking
on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”
Most people believe that ghosts are the spirits of the living dead, and over 40%
of American adults claim to have been in contact with someone who’s died.
Of these, 78% claim that they saw a ghost, 50% heard one, and 18% claim to have
actually talked with them.
Students in a writing class were challenged to pen two sentence horror stories:
“Every night at midnight, I’d hear a faint cry for help until one night I let my curiosity
get the best of me and followed the voice. I ended up staring at a headstone with
my name engraved on it.” -Savannah Fernandez, ninth grade
“After working without rest, I finally opened my mother’s door and I lay there leaning
my head upon her cold shoulders. It was time to leave before the groundskeeper
found me, so I got up and reburied her.” -Jaser Flores, 12th grade
I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. As I stood in front of
the mirror, there was no one staring back at me.” -Lucas Smelser, ninth grade
GHOST STORY #1: Jesus Appears as a Ghost to His Disciples.
Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking
on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”
Luke 23:46 (KJV) “… and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Ghost or Phantom definition
1. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality;
2. The soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as
appearing to living people
3. Something that is not real and exists only in a person’s mind.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”
GHOST STORY #2: The Rich Man, Lazarus and a Ghostly Request.
Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
linen and fared sumptuously every day.
Luke 16:20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was
laid at his gate,
Luke 16:21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to
Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar
off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:23 (MSG) In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the
distance and Lazarus in his lap.
Luke 16:23 (TLB) And his soul went into hell. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in
the far distance with Abraham.
Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves
thrust out.
Luke 16:24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am
tormented in this flame.’
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received
your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and
you are tormented.
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed,
so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from
there pass to us.’
No one (spirit or ghost) can pass from heaven to hell or from hell to heaven.
Luke 16:27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him
to my father’s house,
Luke 16:28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also
come to this place of torment.’
Samuel Clemens “Mark Twain” said in a speech (quote)
A dying man couldn’t make up his mind which place to go to — both have their
advantages, “heaven for climate, hell for company!”
Luke 16:29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them
hear them.’
Luke 16:30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from
the dead, they will repent.’
The torment of the dead is that they cannot warn the living,
Luke 16:31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.
A Woody Allen movie character said:
“If only God would speak to me–just once. If he would only cough. If I could just
see a miracle. If I could see a burning bush or the seas part. Or my uncle Sasha
pick up the check.”
1 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles
GHOST STORY #3: Dead Saints are Raised and go to Jerusalem.
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
Matthew 27:52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had
fallen asleep were raised;
Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into
the holy city and appeared to many.
Our problem is we are afraid of things we should not be afraid of and we are
not afraid of things we should be afraid of.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
“The Ransom Payment and The Census Plague” is part of the “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals” sermon series. This message focuses on the instruction given to Moses in Exodus 30 regarding the census and the ransom payment required for each person. Through a deep dive into key Biblical passages, the sermon emphasizes that God owns the lives of His people and establishes the need for atonement. It highlights the equal ransom price for all, rich and poor, symbolizing that everyone stands equally before God and needs redemption. The message connects the Old Testament concept of ransom to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s sacrificial death, shedding light on the significance of atonement, repentance, and God’s divine ownership.
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Exodus 30:11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Exodus 30:12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number,
then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number
them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give:
half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs).
The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.
Exodus 30:14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty
years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord.
Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than
half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.
Exodus 30:16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel,
and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a
memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.”
I. THE CENSUS COMMAND.
Exodus 30:11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Exodus 30:12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number,
1. God Owns The Lives Of His People.
A.W. Pink comments:
When God numbers or orders anything to be numbered, taking the sum of them
denotes that they belong to Him, and that He has the sovereign right to do with
them as He pleases. The action itself says of the things numbered. ‘These are
Mine, and I assign them their place as I will.”
Isaiah 40:26 “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.”
Job 14:5 “Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom
II) THE WAR PREPARATION.
Exodus 30:14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty
years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord.
Numbers 1:2 Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their
families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male
individually,
Numbers 1:3 from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel.
You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
This is one place where the Scripture indicates that ONLY MEN should serve as
military combatants.
1 Chronicles 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number
Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:2 So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number
Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.”
1 Chronicles 21:3 And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred
times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants?
Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?”
1 Chronicles 21:4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore
Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 21:5 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David.
All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and
Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.
Zechariah 4:6 …’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Ephesians 6:10 … be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
1 Chronicles 21:14 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men
of Israel fell.
1 Chronicles 21:17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people
to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep,
what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my
father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”
A prisoner in the DC correctional facility said, “I am living among the biggest
crybabies in the world. Everybody here blames somebody else for putting him in jail.
One says, ‘I had a mean father; he put me here.’ Another says, ‘I went to a tough
school, the other kids put me here.’ Somebody else says, ‘Rich people put me
here, prejudiced police put me here, the establishment put me here.’”
They are all crybabies. I know who put me here. I put me here.”
Ezekiel 18:20 (NLT) “… The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the
parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded
for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own
wickedness.
III. THE RANSOM PRICE.
Exodus 30:12 “… then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, …”
Matthew 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”
1. The Ransom Must Be Given For Their Life To Avoid Death.
Exodus 30:12 “… when you number them, that there may be no plague among them
when you number them.
Exodus 12:12 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods
of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are.
And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you
to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
2. The Ransom Price Was Divinely Fixed.
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give:
half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs).
The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.
3. The Ransom Is The Same For All, Whether Rich Or Poor.
Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than
half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.
Alexander MacLaren states –
Thus there is but one Sacrifice for all; and the poorest can exercise faith and the
richest can do no more.”
Psalm 49:6 Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches
Psalm 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God
a ransom for him—
Psalm 49:8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever—
Psalm 49:9 That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.
Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels
of the ministry with the blood.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed
with blood …
Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the
vessels of the ministry.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood,
and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on
the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life
that makes atonement”
In its rejection of Christ, the plagues in the book of Revelation will come upon the world.
Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven
angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed
the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and
give Him glory.
4. The Ransom Money Pictures Christ.
1 Peter 1:18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
