Revelation
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Revelation 6
Revelation 6
Commentary · verses 1-17
1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.
1And 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.
Commentary · verse 1
Christ opened the first seal and there was a thunder. One of the four creatures told John to come so he could see.
2And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
2And 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.
Commentary · verse 2
John saw a white horse, a man with a crown, a bow, and no arrows. The Conqueror on the White Horse was the man that would become the Antichrist. Notice the deception, everything about him appeared to be good: white horse, crown, bow...however he had no real power. He used a bow without arrows. Jesus uses words from His Mouth, which was called a two-edged sword. The Antichrist will be received by people as if he is the Messiah. Remember, the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the Holy Spirit (along with the Church) is removed (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). It made sense that the first event of the Tribulation (immediately following the Rapture of the Church) would be the revealing of the Antichrist.
3And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.
3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Commentary · verse 3
Christ opened the second seal and the second creature said "come."
4And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
4And 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.
Commentary · verse 4
The Red Horse was the Man of War. Notice, this person was given the power to take peace. This did not mean he caused war. It meant he could cause war if people did not obey. Some people believe this Red Horse was the war that was prophesied in Ezekiel 38, meaning these events took place during the second half of the Tribulation. If the events of Ezekiel 38 occurred in the first half of the Tribulation or if the second seal did not correspond with Ezekiel 38 and occurred early in the Tribulation, it could mean the Antichrist had Russia and those countries conquered early in the Tribulation so that there was peace. Whether the events from Ezekiel 38 took place early in the Tribulation or not, the first half of the Tribulation will be a time of peace and prosperity. How this time of peace will be created is up for interpretation. It could be due to some key wars disabling "superpowers" or to threats of war. Either way, the Man of War on the Red Horse will play a role in bringing about peace.
5And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.
5And 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.
Commentary · verse 5
The third seal was opened and a black horse appeared. The Black Horse was Famine.
6And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
6And 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.
Commentary · verse 6
Famine will cause people to locate where the food is, which will be Europe and Asia (which includes the Middle East).
7And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.
7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Commentary · verse 7
Fourth seal was opened and the fourth creature said "come."
8And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
8And 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.
Commentary · verse 8
The Pale Horse was Death. One quarter of the earth's population will be killed. Remember, the Holy Spirit will have been removed from the earth. The sword did not necessarily mean war. Individuals will lack conviction from their wrong acts and kill if they believe they can get away with it. Safety will be in numbers. It looked that one fourth of the world's population will be living in outlying areas where anarchy (sword), famine, and wild beasts will devour them. Today, eighty percent of the world's population lives in Europe and Asia.
9And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
9And 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:
Commentary · verse 9
The fifth seal was opened and John saw those who were martyred during the Tribulation...
10and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
10And 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?
Commentary · verse 10
...these people were specifically looking for Justice on those currently on the earth. These were not martyrs from before the Tribulation. Halfway through the Tribulation, the Antichrist will declare himself the Messiah and require people to worship him or be martyred. This fifth seal appeared to take place after the midpoint of the Tribulation, which may or may not have placed the previous three seals before the midpoint of the Tribulation.
11And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
11And 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.
Commentary · verse 11
White robes were given to the martyrs and they were told to rest "for a little time." There were still other martyrs who would join them, meaning the Tribulation was not over, yet.
12And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;
12And 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;
Commentary · verse 12
The sixth seal opening caused a great earthquake. The sun became black and the moon blood.
13and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.
14And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
13And 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.
14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15And 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;
16And 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:
17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Commentary · verses 13-17
The sixth seal represented the Day of the Lord, when Jesus physically returns at the end of the Tribulation. It appeared these six seals gave the order of six key events that happen from the beginning to the end of the Tribulation. The time between each event was not specified, so we do not know if the second, third, and fourth seals occur during the first half or the second half of the Tribulation...denoted by the "6" and the arrow.
Commentary · verse 17
This concluded the big picture chronological presentation of the events of the Tribulation. The third section will give a layered description of other events that occurred during this seven year period.
This chapter presented the perspective from earth of the big picture view of the Tribulation.