We sat around the campfire, enveloped in darkness, enthralled by the moment. My senses were engaged, and my thoughts crystallized. I was deep in the Colorado mountains with 20 of the most influential men in my life. This wasn’t our first trip, but it was the most formative trip we had taken together.
Danny, our leader, mentor, and friend, was teaching. In so doing, he was giving us a framework for every future interaction. “The choice is yours, in every situation, every interaction, each moment—you must choose to react or respond.”
What’s the Difference Between Reaction and Response?
It might seem insignificant, but the way we react or respond is fundamental to navigating life. Decisions come and go; daily opportunities arise, and each interaction requires us to react or respond.
- Reactions are often gut-level, quick, and emotional. An initial, knee-jerk reaction can get us in trouble because it’s usually driven by the flesh.
- Conversely, responding means taking a moment, prayerfully weighing options, and graciously deciding what to do.
Think about some recent situations – what’s your basic tendency? As you reflect on those moments, I’m sure the outcome hinged on whether you reacted or responded.
Also consider this: As we become more Christlike through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 1:6, 2 Cor. 3:18), the hope is that even our reactions will become more Christlike, without our having to think about them.
Nothing New Under the Sun
This quandary—to react or to respond—is not a modern phenomenon. The opportunity to react or respond transcends time, culture, and location. Scripture is replete with reactions and responses:
- Reactions: We all suffer the consequences of the reaction of the man and his wife in the garden (Genesis 3). We see how the nation of Israel reacted when spies returned from Canaan (Numbers 13-14). We see a reactive crowd stirred by the Pharisees to chant for the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23).
- Response: We praise God for Jesus’ response in His crucifixion: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen echoed this remarkable sentiment at his stoning (Acts 7:60).
Reactions and Responses in the Tribulation
Eschatologically speaking, the next great event for believers is the rapture of the church.
For all of humanity, it is the Tribulation Period (Revelation 6-19), where we will still see individuals reacting: “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).
Conversely, we see the believers’ response in Heaven to the Tribulation on Earth: “’Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just; for He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’ … And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’” (Revelation 19:1-4).
Unbelievers seek to hide and cry out in desperation; believers rejoice in the justice and righteousness of God. Even in the most horrific time in earthly human history, everyone has a decision to react or respond.
A Closer Look: Revelation 4-6
Let’s look at reaction and response in Revelation 6 by starting with the context in Revelation 4 and 5.
In Revelation 4, the Apostle John is summoned by the Spirit of God to a glorious scene—the throne room of Heaven—and witnesses things beyond human comprehension, let alone description. He sees the Father seated on the throne, living creatures continually worshipping at the throne, and elders bowing in worship and casting their crowns before His throne.
As the scene continues into Chapter 5, John’s heavenly vision expands. He sees the One seated on the throne holding a seven-sealed scroll. He hears a mighty angel proclaiming, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” John begins to weep—indeed, who is worthy?—but he is told, “weep no more.” One of the elders describes the Worthy One—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb who was slain. Believers recognize who the elder refers to— it is Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man. The chapter concludes with worship and praise for Jesus.
Jesus Alone Restores Our Relationship with God
Why is worthiness so important? Shortly after creation, a problem emerged in Genesis 3—the problem of sin, defined as disobedience to God’s commands. Sin created a rift, a broken relationship between the Creator God and humanity. Because God is holy, righteous, and perfect, He cannot be in the presence of unrighteous, unholy, or sinful beings. This issue of sin drives human history. God’s plan from the start was to provide a Substitute, a perfect Sacrifice, who would take away the sins of the world, to restore the relationship between God and humanity.
This restoration was achieved through the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus alone is worthy. He purchased salvation for all who place their faith in His sacrifice. You, too, friend, can receive a restored relationship with God and have eternal life with Him in Heaven if you trust in the completed work of Jesus. I urge you, if you have not already, to respond to Jesus today.
Seals 1-4: Judgment Poured Out
In Revelation 6, John, still in the Heaven’s throne room, writes, “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals” (Revelation 6:1).
This seven-sealed scroll, which was in the hand of the Father on the throne and given to the Lamb (Jesus) to open, is the title deed of the earth. As Creator and Sustainer of all things, God alone has the authority to create, destroy, and recreate the earth and everything in it as He wills. The scroll represents the tangible record of His ownership.
As the Lamb breaks the seals, God’s wrath is poured out on a rebellious humanity, which deserves judgment and is condemned by a holy God because of sin. As each seal is broken, a different aspect of God’s wrath and judgment is disclosed.
There’s much to say here, but let’s keep it simple:
- When the first seal is broken, a rider on a white horse appears. He carries a crown and goes forth to conquer. While this image harkens to Jesus in Rev. 19, do not be fooled—Satan is the great imitator, and this rider is the Antichrist, sent as judgment from God.
- When the Second Seal is broken, a rider on a red horse takes peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another (massive, global war).
- As the Third Seal is opened, a rider on a black horse holds scales, and the world’s economies are turned upside down. Inflation skyrockets, and a loaf of bread costs a whole day’s wages.
- Another seal is broken, and a fourth horse appears— pale green—ridden by the personification of Death, followed by Hades. This judgment claims the lives of one-fourth of the earth through famine, disease, and wild beasts.
With the breaking of just these four seals, death, destruction, and deception sweep across the earth as never before. These events are cataclysmic and global, but there is more wrath and judgment to come as more seals are broken.
Seal 5: Altar Souls
The Fifth Seal doesn’t unleash more wrath. Instead, the focus shifts to a response from Heaven. John writes, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been” (Revelation 6:9-11).
Who are these souls under the altar? They are given a white robe and told to rest and wait for their fellow servants, who were to be killed just as they had been. These are Tribulation saints, martyred for their faith. This martyrdom exemplifies the grace of God because it shows the world’s hatred of truth, proves that some will believe in Christ for salvation even during the most destructive time in human history, and removes His children from His wrath. John hears the martyrs’ response; they address God as the sovereign Lord, holy and true. They recognize He is the One in control, with authority over all things. He is a holy God, meting out justice in His wrath against sin. We see their submissive, right response to God’s wrath and judgment.
They ask, “How long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10) This is the opposite of what one might expect; they were most likely tortured, mocked, shamed, and beheaded for their faith and allegiance to Christ, yet they do not react with anger or seek personal revenge; they respond by entrusting all vengeance to the Lord.
Persecution Comes; We Remain Faithful
The martyrs’ response provides valuable insight to believers today. We must persevere despite persecution and hatred. Paul explains, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). As followers of Jesus, we must expect persecution and deception in increasing measure.
Friends, we must endure through persecution and continue to trust the Word of God. Knowing wrath and judgment are coming, let’s remain faithful. We do not know when the Rapture will happen, but we do know that we can make each day count in sharing the Gospel, mindful that even in the Tribulation, some will believe the Gospel! Praise God for His mercy!
Seal 6: The Reaction in Calamity
Next, God reveals the reaction of the wicked in the Sixth Seal.
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Revelation 6:12-17)
Could a worldwide earthquake be the cause of all this chaos? Darkness, falling stars, rolled up sky, fire, smoke, ash, collapsed buildings, leveled mountains, and vanished islands. The calamity is beyond imagination.
Notice how humanity reacts; they hide themselves and want rocks to fall on them for protection. It affects everyone—from kings to slaves—no one escapes the global catastrophe.
Their reaction is a temporary fix to an eternal problem. Their immediate response is escape and safety. They know it’s the wrath of the Lamb, yet they didn’t humble themselves. Instead, in pride, they believed they could find safety in caves and rocks.
The question is revealing: “Who can stand?” They acknowledge God’s authority and transcendence but don’t recognize His grace through the Lamb’s sacrifice. Jesus is standing before the throne, breaking the seals and pouring out wrath. If they had accepted His sacrifice for their sin, they too could stand before the holy and just Creator. Instead, they react with fear that morphs into anger as the Tribulation continues. We must note that the opening of the Seventh Seal triggers silence in Heaven and ushers in the next series of judgments: the seven Trumpet Judgments.
React or Respond?
Friends, the choice is yours: will you react or respond to God’s holy, righteous judgment? The Scriptures make it clear that a time of final judgment is coming because of sin. All of us have sinned and the wages (payment) for our sin is death: spiritual death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). We deserve punishment, but God longs for a close personal relationship with each of us and has made a way for us to be right with Him through Jesus.
Will you pridefully try to save yourself, or will you call on Jesus to rescue you from God’s eternal wrath and bring you into a relationship with Him? Remember, even in the worst times in human history, His grace and gospel still echo, and the offer of salvation remains.
Scripture is clear: the world is heading toward the Tribulation. Now is the time to respond to the gospel of grace and share the truth of Scripture with a dying, judgment-bound world. I urge you to seek Him while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6) and tell others this good news. Respond today!
