The progression of the four seals is from lust to conquest (the first seal) to civil war (the second seal) to famine (the third seal) to pestilence and death (the fourth seal). This is the natural progression of man’s inhumanity to man. In other words, God simply allows human sin to come full circle, turn in upon itself, and self-destruct.
– Grant Osborne on Revelation 6 in Revelation (BEC)
The primary theme is divine sovereignty, as the Lamb initiates the event, and in three of them the divine passive “was given” (6:2, 4, 8) controls the action. This means that the activities of the horsemen take place only as authorized by God.
– Grant Osborne on Revelation 6 in Revelation (BEC)
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.– William Cowper
We may not always be very impressed with the church. All too often, we get frustrated with other Christians. We are embarrassed by what they do, or fail to do. In fact, sometimes they are the hardest people in the world to love. But we should never forget that Jesus loves these people so much that he gave up his life for them.
– Phil Ryken in Loving Jesus More
– James M. Hamilton, Jr. on Revelation 5 in Revelation (PTW)
To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.– William Temple
My worth is what I am worth to God; and that is a marvelous great deal, for Christ died for me. Thus, incidentally, what gives to each of us His highest worth gives the same worth to everyone; in all that matters most are we equal.– William Temple
– Grant Osborne on Revelation 5 in Revelation (BEC)
And is it possible, if we sought to model our own worship, whether individual or corporate, on what is portrayed here, that, as we declared the same truths about God as the heavenly beings do, the same Holy Spirit who is pictured as being before the throne would deepen and transform our understanding of God and His glory in a way that touches our whole being, in its spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and even physical components?
– G.K. Beale on Revelation 4 in Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
Hedonism, materialism, narcissism: these are some of the many loves that keep us from loving Jesus. Loving him more always requires us to love other things less.– Phil Ryken in Loving Jesus More
Brian J. Mikul 