"neither repented they of their murders"
(Rev. 9: 21)
"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev. 9: 20-21)
Murder will be the "order of the day" when the Apocalypse begins with the coming of the four horsemen, especially with the coming of the fiery red horse with his great sword. The above text comes when the seventh seal has been opened and the fifth trumpet thereof has sounded; But, the sins listed did not just then begin among earth's inhabitants at that time. Rather, much murder, death and destruction has already occurred between Revelation 6: 1 and 9: 21. The sins enumerated did not just start with the fifth trumpet but were prevalent throughout the entire time, from the coming of the four horsemen till the hellish locusts ascend from the bottomless pit. Widespread murder begins with the coming of the red horse rider but he continues right on through Rev. 9: 21 and beyond.
Here are specified the "deadly sins" of men in the day of trial and tribulation: idolatry, murder, sexual immorality, theft; And, the chiefest of all sins is a sin of omission, and mentioned twice in the above list of sins, the sin of "repenting not."
What are the immediate secondary causes of this murderous time? What are the effects of it?
As stated in previous entries, the coming of the four horsemen is for the purpose of bringing devastation upon a sinful world that has rejected Lord God and his Christ. Their coming is in order to "destroy the sinners" from off the earth. That first begins to happen when the second seal is opened and men are under the influence of the red horse rider. The Lord will kill them by bringing them first to kill one another, as we have said, and upon which we will yet enlarge.
Long ago the prophet Isaiah spoke of the time under the red horse rider and during the coming day of wrath and tribulation.
"They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty...Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it...And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." (Isa 13: 5-6, 9, 11)
Though the "they" (in "they come from a far country") had primary reference to the Persians and Medes who came to destroy the land of Israel, yet it is more fully applicable to the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and to the judgments of the "day of wrath" or "day of evil" described in the Apocalypse. Thus we may say that the four horsemen come from "the end of heaven," or "from the LORD" (as we see in Rev. 6) and are well described as "the weapons of his indignation," and their mission being "to destroy the whole land" and to "destroy the sinners" and "getting them out of the land." It is the beginning of the punishment described for the world in the day of judgment executed by God's "angels of vengeance" or "destroying angels."
As we have seen, it is a time of tribulation upon tribulation. (see our comments upon Amos 5: 18-20 in posting IV) Here is another verse that is like that one:
"Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake." (Isa 24: 17-18)
Escape "the noise of fear" (one trouble) only to "fall into the pit" (another trouble)! Then, somehow, after getting out of the pit, he is "taken in the snare" (another trouble). One tribulation pain after another, like the pains of a woman in travail. Says Dr. Gill: "the meaning is, that he that escapes one trouble should fall into another, so that there will be no safety anywhere." (commentary)
It is all part of the "day of evil," to the day when the Lord will "render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." (Rom. 2: 9) It is then that he will "repay tribulation" (II Thess. 1: 7) to the unbelievers. The words of the prophet are fitting for this great time of global tribulation: "woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves" (Isa. 3: 9)
Things That Bring Peace
"Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace." (Luke 14: 31-32)
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Rom. 14: 19)
What are the "conditions of peace"? What are "the things that make for peace"? Whatever they are, those things will not be present in the days of the four horsemen or in all the judgments of Christ's Apocalypse.
Of course, when we speak of the salvation experience as finding peace with God (Rom. 5: 1-2) we speak of the "conditions of peace" and of the "things which make for peace" with God. Peace has come through the coming of the Messiah, the "Prince of peace," through his sacrificial blood, and this is appropriated by faith in Christ and repentance (which is a turning away from sin and self to the Lord).
But, the texts above cannot be limited to what is true in regard to spiritual peace with God, but must include peace between men, including political peace between nations (so as not to war), which are nearly always based upon treaties or covenants between them. There are lots of ingredients or conditions for political peace as we all know. They are not dissimilar from what are the conducive elements of social peace in a village or community, or in a family. Today we speak of "global" or "world peace," of "national peace," of "civil peace," of "family peace" or "peace in the home," etc.
First, people must want peace; at least the greater majority of them. They want laws against crimes such as murder, theft, bearing false witness, etc. and therefore want those laws enforced by a police force sanctioned by the ruling authorities. In other words, people must want law and order. It begins here with the will and the choice. The problem is that people at the end of this age will not want peace because they are violent and implacable. Recall the words of the Psalmist:
"I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." (Psa. 120: 7)
When the majority of a society become implacable, violent, contentious, strifeful, vengeful, etc., peace cannot be realized. This is because "war" is "in his heart," in the heart of men who form the Omega generation. So wrote the Psalmist: "the words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords." (Psa. 55: 21)
Self preservation alone leads men to want safety and security of their persons against thieves and murderers, and such like, and there can be no peace without safety. Certainly no "tranquillity" or "quietness."
All societies have had a criminal element. Some have had many lawless people, others few. These are the openly wicked and cruel types, people who are vicious in their brutality against others. These are they who "love violence" (Psa. 11: 5), and who "eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence." (Prov. 4:17) During the time of the rider on the red horse men will be most violent on a scale not seen since the days before the judgment of the Deluge. So, what must happen to people, who naturally want strong enforcement of laws (designed to keep the peace), to all of a sudden, in the great tribulation, become so violent? Is everyone simply taking the law into their own hands by necessity?
In looking further into the conditions or necessary ingredients for obtaining peace, let us notice these words of the apostle.
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3: 14-18)
Who are they who "make peace"? We have already noticed the reference to the "conditions of peace" and of "the things that make for peace," and here we have a reference to those persons who "make peace." Jesus spoke of the "peacemakers." (Matt. 5: 9) Another question to ponder along this line would be - "who are the troublemakers"? The one implies the other.
Notice that worldly devilish wisdom does not produce a "peaceable" and "gentle" society with citizens who are "easy to be intreated," and "full or mercy," etc. There can be no peace in any society where the citizens are violent and intolerant. We see this on a small scale today in many large American cities, like Chicago, where murder is rampant and gangs rule; Gangs which are composed of those who love violence.
As stated, men are basically "implacable" (Rom. 1: 31; II Tim. 3: 3) because of sin and the rule and love of self. This fact will manifest itself on a large scale under the rider on the red horse. The Greek word translated "implacable" means "not to be appeased" or "that can not be pacified and rendered peaceable; inexorable; stubborn or constant in enmity." Heavenly wisdom, which men will greatly lack in the last days, is "easily intreated" but devilish wisdom is "not easily intreated." A world full of those who "love violence" and who cannot be appeased in their anger and hate! How terrible!
The wisdom that men will possess in the last days is devilish, not coming down from heaven, but what is ascending from Hades. God's wisdom is "gentle" and "peaceable" but devilish wisdom is fierce, cruel, intolerant, etc.
The apostle Paul spoke of "the bond of peace" (Eph. 4: 3). Christians know what this means in relation to one's standing with God, to one's peace with God. They have been "reconciled" to God by the blood of the Lord Jesus. The "bond of peace" is the thing that sustains oneness, agreement, and harmony between parties. In the case of salvation, the thing that "keeps the peace" between the believer and God is the union of the believer with the Lord Jesus Christ, who "himself is our peace." (Eph. 2: 14)
The "bond" of peace also involves a "covenant." Sociologists speak of the "social contract" that exists between citizens and other citizens, or with the government. In the old testament there is mention of "the bond of the covenant." (Eze. 20: 37)
The word "bond" in "bond of peace" is from the Greek word "syndesmos" and means "that which binds together, a band, bond." (Strong) This is what covenants, treaties, and contracts, etc., do; they are means of keeping unity and peace, of binding people together. But, men in the extreme last days will be "covenant breakers" on a very large scale.
Covenant-Breakers
"Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful..." (Rom. 1: 31)
"Covenant breakers" is from the Greek word "ἀσύνθετος" (adjective — asunthetos from suntithemi), with the negative prefix a, hence signifies "not covenant-keeping," i.e., refusing to abide by "covenants" made, "covenant-breaking," faithless.
"Note: Trench, Syn. lii, notes the distinction between asunthetos and aspondos, "implacable," the latter, in 2 Timothy 3: 3 only, being derived from sponde, "a sacrificial libation," which accompanied treaty-making; hence, with the negative prefix a, "without a treaty or covenant," thus denoting a person who cannot be persuaded to enter into a "covenant." He points out that asunthetos presumes a state of peace interrupted by the unrighteous, aspondos a state of war, which the implacable refuse to terminate equitably. The words are clearly not synonymous." (Vine)
When the overwhelming masses of mankind become wholly implacable, and breakers of contracts become the norm, then times will indeed be evil and full of tribulation.
Said the prophet Isaiah:
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." ( Isa 32:17-18)
Notice the words describing the real peace that will come when the Lord overthrows this evil world and replaces it with a most righteous state; "quietness" (including freedom from fear of evil), "assurance" (that all is well and all possibility of evil is gone), "habitations" and "dwellings" that are "peaceable" and "resting." But, in the time of the "Omega generation," or the last generation, at the time of the coming of the red horse rider, men will be almost universally suffering the very opposite of this description! There will be no peace for the rider "takes peace from the earth."
Strife In The Omega Generation
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (Jam. 3: 16)
"Where" is it indeed to be found in its most gross manifestation if it is not in the days when the four horsemen ride into this sinful world! Envy and strife, the things that destroy peace rather than "things which make for peace." In this time there will be nothing by "confusion" and bewilderment. Fear on every hand. In every place there is "every evil work."
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