Click Banner to go to main page

 

Revelation Study

By Rev. Richard Puckett

Text and Reference from Parson's QuickVerse and their helps, Pictures from through out the Internet not for resale!

Chapter 6

(Rev 6:1 KJV) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Verses 1-8. Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what appeared. A rider on a white horse. By the going forth of this white horse, a time of peace, or the early progress of the Christian religion, seems to be intended; its going forth in purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent his apostles to teach all nations, adding, Lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. The Divine religion goes out crowned, having the Divine favour resting upon it, armed spiritually against its foes, and destined to be victorious in the end. On opening the second seal, a red horse appeared; this signifies desolating judgments. The sword of war and persecution is a dreadful judgment; it takes away peace from the earth, one of the greatest blessings; and men who should love one another, and help one another, are set upon killing one another. Such scenes also followed the pure age of early Christianity, when, neglectful of charity and the bond of peace, the Christian leaders, divided among themselves, appealed to the sword, and entangled themselves in guilt. On opening the third seal, a black horse appeared; a colour denoting mourning and woe, darkness and ignorance. He that sat on it had a yoke in his hand. Attempts were made to put a yoke of superstitious observances on the disciples. As the stream of Christianity flowed further from its pure fountain, it became more and more corrupt. During the progress of this black horse, the necessaries of life should be at excessive prices, and the more costly things should not be hurt. According to prophetic language, these articles signified that food of religious knowledge, by which the souls of men are sustained unto everlasting life; such we are invited to buy, Isaiah 55:1. But when the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, denoted by the black horse, spread over the Christian world, the knowledge and practice of true religion became scarce. When a people loathe their spiritual food, God may justly deprive them of their daily bread. The famine of bread is a terrible judgment; but the famine of the word is more so. Upon opening the fourth seal, another horse appeared, of a pale colour. The rider was Death, the king of terrors. The attendants, or followers of this king of terrors, hell, a state of eternal misery to all who die in their sins; and in times of general destruction, multitudes go down unprepared into the pit. The period of the fourth seal is one of great slaughter and devastation, destroying whatever may tend to make life happy, making ravages on the spiritual lives of men. Thus the mystery of iniquity was completed, and its power extended both over the lives and consciences of men. The exact times of these four seals cannot be ascertained, for the changes were gradual. God gave them power, that is, those instruments of his anger, or those judgments: all public calamities are at his command; they only go forth when God sends them, and no further than he permits.

(vv. 6:1-19:21) These chapters record the horrifying events of what is called the "Great Tribulation." Though this seven-year period of time is one of retribution upon a world that has rejected the lordship of God, it is also a time of personal and cosmic redemption. The events of the Tribulation center or focus primarily upon three series of seven judgments each: (1) seals (6:1-17), (2) trumpets (8:1-9:21), (3) bowls (16:1-17). These series of judgments are best interpreted in their relationships to one another as being partially concurrent. This is sometimes called the telescopic view. This approach understands the seventh seal to introduce and contain the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet to introduce and contain the seven bowls. The seven trumpets, therefore, are the seventh seal, and the seven bowls are the seventh trumpet.

The better texts of the N.T. quote successively the four cherubim as saying merely "come" (NU, M omit and see). The invitation is apparently extended to the riders who materialize upon the opening of each seal.

6:1--19:21 LAST THINGS, Great Tribulation--Dispensationalists interpret these chapters differently than others. They believe the chapters describe the great tribulation (7:14; Mk 13:14-19), a seven-year period of intense persecution which, however, the church will not go through. In this view Christians will be "raptured'' to meet Christ in the air at the beginning of the tribulation period and will, during the seven years, be judged by Christ and assigned places of rulership for the millennial kingdom to be established at the end of the period. The dispensation of grace ends with the rapture, and a new dispensation of the kingdom begins, in which people are saved by joining the kingdom whose prototype was the Old Testament kingdom of Israel. Many dispensationalists see the tribulation as the final years of the Old Testament age. They expect the Jerusalem Temple worship to be restored and the antichrist to proclaim himself god in the Temple. Amillennialists and postmillennialists point out that Christians in the latter part of the first century faced great persecution and that throughout history there have been times of great tribulation through which the church has passed. They believe these events are apocalyptically described in the text (chs 4--19). A historical premillennial view of these chapters finds a prophetic reference to a period of great tribulation associated with end time events, but insists that Scripture does not support the idea that the church will escape it. Salvation by grace through faith is considered to be God's final plan of salvation. They do not expect a return to the Old Testament kingdom and its law, and whatever place God has for Jews at the end time, they will become God's people only by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. This view also understands these chapters to refer to first century experiences of the church and the recurring tribulation of the church throughout its history.

6:1-8 LAST THINGS, Great Tribulation--Popularly referred to as "the four horsemen of the apocalypse,'' this vision describes four destructive attacks on the earth. Amillennialists and postmillennialists believe the vision applies to all periods of history; premillennialists believe the vision refers particularly to the end time. The white horse and rider represent political might; the red horse represents warfare; the black horse represents famine; and the pale horse represents death. Some see the first rider as a symbol of the church or of Christ. Compare 19:11-16. Dispensationalists usually teach that the first rider is the antichrist. All can see that expanding political power often leads to war, which leads to shortages of staple goods and results in widespread death.

(Rev 6:2 KJV) And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

(Rev 6:3 KJV) And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

(Rev 6:4 KJV) And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

(Rev 6:5 KJV) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

(Rev 6:6 KJV) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

(Rev 6:7 KJV) And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

(Rev 6:8 KJV) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The appearance and description of the pale fourth horse is that of death. The pale, cold horseman relentlessly pursues his prey with renewed zeal. Hades, or the realm of the dead, follows after him.

Rev 6:8: 6:8 HUMANITY, Death--Persecution may bring war, famine, and death to God's people. Still, survivors must not give in to fear. God alone grants persecutors their power. All who oppose God's people may do so only as long as God permits. Ultimately, they face greater suffering than they have caused, and God's people face eternal life with the resurrected Christ.

(Rev 6:9 KJV) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Verses 9-11. The sight the apostle beheld at the opening the fifth seal was very affecting. He saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar; at the foot of the altar in heaven, at the feet of Christ. Persecutors can only kill the body; after that there is no more they can do; the soul lives. God has provided a good place in the better world, for those who are faithful unto death. It is not their own death, but the sacrifice of Christ, that gives them entrance into heaven. The cause in which they suffered, was for the word of God; the best any man can lay down his life for; faith in God's word, and the unshaken confession of that faith. They commit their cause to Him to whom vengeance belongs. The Lord is the comforter of his afflicted servants, and precious is their blood in his sight. As the measure of the sin of persecutors is filling up, so is the number of the persecuted, martyred servants of Christ. When this is fulfilled, God will send tribulation to those who trouble them, and unbroken happiness and rest to those that are troubled.

A martyred remnant is in view with the opening of the fifth seal. The position of the martyrs under the altar indicates that they have already been slain. On the other hand, their persecutors are still on the earth, as indicated by their petition. This fifth seal differs from the others only in that it reveals the result of the action of the seals. These martyrs are those who have been executed during the furious events pictured in the loosing of the first four seals.

Rev 6:9: 6:9-11 EVIL AND SUFFERING, Endurance--The deaths of Christian martyrs are precious enough to be likened to holy sacrifices. That a person has to die for faith in Christ is an evil caused by wicked persons who do not know the truth and who oppose God. They face eternal punishment, but the faithful martyrs will be rewarded.

6:9-11 PRAYER, Lament God is especially tuned to the cry of the persecuted. See note on Ex 2:23-24. The answer here is a delay, not in blessedness but in revealing the justice of their cause.

6:9 EVANGELISM, Persecution--It costs to be faithful to our gospel witness and testimony. True evangelism brings persecution. See note on 2:13.

(Rev 6:10 KJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Rev 6:10: 6:10 GOD, Judge--The sovereign and holy God will exercise His authority to judge. The picture of God developed all through this book is that of the God of supreme authority and power, who holds all persons accountable to Himself, finally accomplishing His own purposes in the end. He will avenge the martyrs in His judgment, because He is true and faithful.

(Rev 6:11 KJV) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

(Rev 6:12 KJV) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Verses 12-17. When the sixth seal was opened, there was a great earthquake. The foundations of churches and states would be terribly shaken. Such bold figurative descriptions of great changes abound in the prophecies of Scripture; for these events are emblems, and declare the end of the world and the day of judgment. Dread and terror would seize on all sorts of men. Neither grandeur, riches, valour, nor strength, can support men at that time. They would be glad to be no more seen; yea, to have no longer any being. Though Christ be a Lamb, he can be angry, and the wrath of the Lamb is exceedingly dreadful; for if the Redeemer himself, who appeases the wrath of God, be our enemy, where shall we find a friend to plead for us? As men have their day of opportunity, and their seasons of grace, so God has his day of righteous wrath. It seems that the overthrow of the paganism of the Roman empire is here meant. The idolaters are described as hiding themselves in their dens and secret caves, and vainly seeking to escape ruin. In such a day, when the signs of the times show those who believe in God's word, that the King of kings is approaching, Christians are called to a decided course, and to a bold confession of Christ and his truth before their fellowmen. Whatever they may have to endure, the short contempt of man is to be borne, rather than that shame which is everlasting.

The precise nature of the plagues embodied in the opening of the sixth seal is difficult to understand. Whether earthly atmospheric conditions cause darkening of the heavenly lights or the lights themselves become the actual objects of upheaval is not clear. What is clear is the presence of dramatic natural upheaval occurring as a part of the judgment of the Tribulation.

Rev 6:12: 6:12-17 LAST THINGS, Great Tribulation--The association of celestial disturbances with the day of the Lord was made by Joel (2:28-32) and Isaiah (13:6-10). Literal happenings like these have not occurred, so far as historical records reveal. Jesus spoke of similar disturbances (Mt 24:29) but related them to a period following a time of distress or tribulation. This passage is the first of several times in Revelation that such disturbances in the heavens are described (8:8--9:2; 16:8,17-21). These cosmic happenings are associated with God's direct intervention in wrath and judgment. If they are literal events, these occurrences belong to a future tribulation period, referred to by many as the Great Tribulation. Interpreters do not agree as to how literally apocalyptic language is to be understood. Some interpreters see the language here as a literary effort using familiar symbols to prepare people for the awesome finality of Christ's coming. Others argue that direct nonapocalyptic biblical warnings about future, intense, unparalleled tribulations upon the earth make it reasonable to take the celestial disturbances passages to be referring to a literal time of the future wrath of God upon the earth. In either case, God's Word contains a powerful warning about the severity of God's wrath against wickedness.

(Rev 6:13 KJV) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

(Rev 6:14 KJV) And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

(Rev 6:15 KJV) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

(Rev 6:16 KJV) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Rev 6:16: 6:16 JESUS CHRIST, Judgment--Jesus shares the Father's just anger at sin and will execute punishment on unbelievers.

(Rev 6:17 KJV) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?