Revelation Day 16 - The Problem of Evil

DAY 16
The Problem of Evil
Revelation 6:1-11

Suffering is one of the biggest challenges to Christian faith: how can suffering, pain, and evil exist if a good, all-powerful God exists?

The Bible itself constantly presses this problem of evil, maybe more than we're comfortable with. In its own unique way, Revelation confronts suffering, especially in these two chapters of Revelation 6 and 7. We’re going to see this week three key insights about suffering and Christian faith.

We’ve already alluded to the first insight: suffering is allowed. Suffering IS. Neither the Bible nor Christianity shies away from suffering as a fact of life. Revelation 6 confirms the fact of suffering by introducing us to the so-called four horsemen of the apocalypse. “Apocalypse” is just another word for “revelation.” In fact, it's the Greek word for revelation. In our culture, “apocalypse” has come to mean “destructive” or “end of the world,” all because of its connection to Revelation.

As Christ breaks each wax seal of the scrolls, another of the four horsemen is unleashed. Again, don’t try to pin these to a date. Revelation is not a calendar, it's a traveler's guide. These are insights about following Jesus in hostile territory. The horsemen tell us that suffering is a fact of life, even after Jesus is alive and in charge, even for his followers.

Each horseman symbolizes something. Some think the white horse represents Christ and the gospel peacefully taking over the world. But all the others correspond to something bad, so that’s a questionable interpretation. The white horse seems to represent the suffering from military conquest. The red horse symbolizes war and violence, maybe civil unrest. The black horse symbolizes famine and economic chaos. The pale, or green, horse symbolizes sickness and death.

The cosmic chaos of Rev 6:12-14 is probably not about actual blood moons or falling stars. Instead, it’s a word-painting about events so important and so catastrophic that it feels like the world’s ending. Such language was common in the Old Testament. If we say, “September 11, 2001, was an earth-shattering event for Americans,” we don’t mean planet Earth actually cracked open. John paints a picture of political chaos.

We end today with the fifth seal. Faithful saints - who suffered and died for being good! - plead with God, “How long? How long do we have to go without justice? How long until the wicked pay for their crimes?” They’ve survived a “great tribulation,” or stressful ordeal. They’re pressing God about the problem of evil! Their faith didn’t get them out of suffering, it provoked it!

Our faith cannot ignore suffering or dismiss it as unimportant. This is an awkward place to end the day, but that’s ok. Christians need to sit with the reality of pain. Even more, we need to sit with those who suffer. Our faith must find a way to include the reality of suffering.

REFLECT
How would you answer this question: how can suffering, pain, and evil exist if a good, all-powerful God exists?

PRAY
Our Father, I don’t have all the answers, but I trust that you are good and I believe that nothing is impossible for you. Help me to accept the reality of suffering. Help me to stay true to you when I suffer. Help me to love and comfort others who suffer. One day I’ll understand more. For now, I trust you. Amen.