Bible Study of Revelation
Chapter 6
The stage has been set for the opening of the seven-sealed scroll. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God has now prevailed and is worthy to unloose the scroll.
It was noted by one commentator that this scroll was bound not by seven seals in a row along the edge, but rather arranged so that each portion was closed by a seal. Each portion of prophecy had to be opened one by one by un-loosening a seal.
The first seal verses 1-2
The rider on the white horse
Verse 1 “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.
Here again we must note that the thunder indicated a storm approaching, the storm of judgment.
Earlier in these lessons I repeated the thought that I had read that most, if not all, of this book of Revelation is found in other portions of scripture. The more I study the more I learn this is true.
These seals parallel the conflicts mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24
False christs (Matthew 24:5 and Revelation 6:1);
War (Matthew 24:6-7 and Revelation 6:3-4);
Famine (Matthew 24:7and Revelation 6:5-6);
Death (Matthew 24:9-10 and Revelation 6:7-8);
Martyrdom (Matthew 24:9-10);
Earthquakes (Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:12);
Jesus called these the beginning of sorrows or birth pangs. Indeed, the opening of the seals are the beginning of sorrows for earth and mankind that has been left behind.
It should be noted and remembered that the seven seals are revealed chronologically, covering the entire judgment period concurrently. This is often illustrated by a telescope with three sections; the larger one containing the two inner sections: that is, the seven trumpets proceed from the from the seventh seal, and the seven bowls proceed from the seventh trumpet.
One of the four beast told John to “come and see.” They did not need to explain what John was to see, the visual was enough.
The first seal
The rider on the white horse verse 2
Conquest by peace
Matthew 24:5 “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Verse 2 “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.
Some bible scholars seem to believe that this personage is Jesus.
Here are at least five biblical reasons why this personage is not Jesus:
1. As this rider begins the period of war, famine, earthquakes and death, Jesus comes to end all of that.
2. When Jesus returns He carries a sharp sword, not a bow.
3. This rider wears a crown, but it is the victor’s crown [stephanos]. This is the man-made crown woven of olive, oak, ivy, myrtle leaves or flowers, used as a wreath or garland. It is a temporary crown. When Jesus returns He will be wearing a crown also, but it is the diadem crown given for the king to wear while on his throne. This crown is given to Jesus by God the Father and is an everlasting crown.
4. This rider is carrying a bow without an arrow, showing that he has conquered by peace and not war. This peace is explained in Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
5. This rider in 6:2 is shown as appearing at the beginning of the Great Tribulation period and ushers in the many sorrows and judgments. The Rider in 19:11 comes at the end of the Great Tribulation period and after the judgments, brings in blessings on the earth.
We also see in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
The second seal
The rider on the red horse verses 3-4
Conquest by war
Verse 3-4 “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 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 give unto him a great sword.
Compare Matthew 24:6-7a And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
This is the same person as in verse 1. It is still the anti-Christ, but three and a half years later. I believe that it is at this point that Satan enters this man, and he becomes the Satan incarnate.
Whereas before he was influenced and promoted by Satan, he now is possessed and energized by him. This is evident by the many satanic, evil, miracles and deeds done by him.
The world thinks that times are bad now with all the wars going on, they haven’t seen anything yet. What we are seeing now is just the beginning of the end.
The third seal verses 5-6
The rider on the black horse
Famine
Verses 5-6 “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. 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.
Compare Matthew 24:7b “and there shall be famines” We are hearing a lot about global warming, and there may be some truth behind it. The problem lies in the misleading that it is caused by man. It is in reality, brought on by God, who is trying to show us who He is, and what He is capable of. This could indeed bring on much drought and loss of crops. This could lead to a world -wide famine.
The balances were used to measure out grain. A measure is comparable to a quart. The word denarius is used here in the Greek. A denarius is equivalent to about sixteen cents and was the going rate for a day of work. In Matthew 20:2-13 in the parable of the laborers where the word denarius is used.
What we find here in this verse is that it will take a day of work just to buy the meagerest amount of food for a day. Ordinarily, from sixteen to twenty measures were given for a denarius. If one bought wheat, it would be enough for one good meal; if he bought barley, it would be enough for three good meals, this is probably showing how a worker would provide for a family by buying the cheaper but less nutritious barley, but nothing would be left for buying oil or wine, considered a luxury for these times of famine.
When we see the words “see thou hurt not the oil and the wine,” we suddenly see that not all crops and not everyone will be affected by this famine. The olive tree and grape vine will not be affected by the famine and show that the wealthy will be able to survive the famine. Perhaps these wealthy people had their own olive groves and their own vineyards. This will show there will be a huge disparity between the rich and the poor. Today we see the middle class disappearing.
We need to remember that God often used famine to chastise His nation of Israel, and to punish their enemies.
The Fourth Seal verses 7-8
The Rider on the Pale Horse
Death, Famine, Hell
Verses 7-8 “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 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.
Compare Matthew 24:7b “and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (many) places.”
“Pestilences.” This word means diseases. The famine (hunger), sword, (war), and with death (pestilences, disease) are given to this rider to take the lives of one fourth of the people on earth. It will be so bad that the wild animals will resort to hunting humans for food. This could mean roaming packs of wild dogs looking for something to eat. Any time you have worldwide war, severe worldwide famines that cause wild animals to attack people, you no doubt will have a flood of diseases to follow. I googled the world population and it says that of this year, there were currently 7 billion people on the earth. This means that 1.75 billion people will die during the opening of this seal.
Is it no wonder that we ought to be warning our families, friends, neighbors and acquaintances about this approaching time?
The mention of Hades following with him leaves no doubt that those who are slain will be unsaved people, who will be cast into hell until they stand before the Great White throne of Judgment.
The Greek word used here for “pale” is the word “Chloros” and it is where we get our word “chlorophyll.” So, this pale horse is a pale green horse. This horse is the color of spoiled meat and rotting flesh. This rider will not be looking for the saved, who have been raptured, or the few who have accepted Jesus during the Tribulation Period, Instead, he will be hunting the great mass of people who are destined for an eternity in hell. Sadly, this horse and rider will go forth to harvest the souls of unbelievers to fuel the fires of hell.
It is important to show the progression of the method of destruction and death.
The rider on the first horse has a bow without an arrow (no weapon of death, but, meaning peace, a method to set up the people for what is to come): The second rider will carry a single large sword. The rider on the black horse will have two weapons—economic collapse and famine. This rider on the pale horse will have four weapons—a sword, famine, plagues, and wild animals. Things will get worse and worse, not better. Death claims the body while hades, hell claims the soul.
This is only the beginning of the Tribulation that is to come upon the earth.
The Fifth Seal verses 9-11
Martyrdom
Verses 9-11 “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: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and rue, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 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.
Compare Matthew 24:9-10 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Are these “souls under the altar” the martyrs of the pre-rapture time period such as those martyred in our day, or are they martyrs after the rapture and are of the tribulation period?
Seeing that the raptured saints and martyrs have already received their glorified bodies and seeing as these are souls or spirits without any substance could not wear robes, it is understood that these souls have been given a temporary body which will be replaced by a resurrection body at the time of the second resurrection.
Yes, I believe there will be people saved during this time-period, but they will pay a price; their very lives. There is a lot of disagreement on whether there will be people saved during the tribulation period. I won’t get into the discussion of whether people can be saved after the rapture or not, that is for another time and place. Let me just say, why wait? Why take the chance? This is the message that we should learn from this book. This is the message that we should be taking to our lost family, neighbors, co-workers or friends. Why wait? Why tempt God who is long suffering and patient now, but will be only be so for a short time?
The Bible Expository Commentary says this about this verse:
“Since their murderers are still alive on earth, these martyrs are apparently from the early part of the Tribulation, but they represent all who have laid down their lives for Jesus Christ and the cause of God’s truth, and they are an encouragement to all today who may be called to follow them. They assure us that the souls of the martyrs are in heaven awaiting the resurrection (Revelation 20:4), and that they are at rest, robed in heavenly glory.”
It goes on to say: But is it “Christian” for these martyred saints to pray for vengeance on their murderers? After all, both Jesus and Stephen prayed that God would forgive those who killed them. I have no doubt that, when they were slain on earth, these martyrs also prayed for their slayers; and this is the right thing to do. The great question, however, was not whether their enemies would be judged, but when. “How long O Lord? Has been the cry of God’s suffering people throughout the ages (see Psalms 74:9-10; 79:5; also, Habbakuk 1:2). The saints in heaven know that God will eventually judge sin and establish righteousness in the earth, but they do not know God’s exact schedule. It is no personal revenge that they seek, but vindication of God’s holiness and the establishment of God’s justice.” End of quote.
God was telling these souls that before any vengeance would come, there were still others who had to face the same martyrdom they had. But they are to rest in the fact that their deaths had not come about by will of the anti-Christ only, but by the foreknowledge and will of God. He was and is still in control. It seems like in our day the enemy is winning; but God will have the last say. And after all he who has the last say, has all the say.
So far we have noticed that the scene has shifted from earth (chapters 1-3) to heaven (chapter 4-6:11), where we have just finished. Now in verses12-17 the rest of this chapter the scene shifts back to earth for the sixth seal.
The Sixth Seal verses 12-17
We will now take this verse by verse.
Verse 12 “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;
The martyrs cried, “Avenge us!” but the unbelievers on earth will cry, “Hide us!” The opening of the sixth seal will produce worldwide convulsions and catastrophes, including the first of three great earthquakes (Revelation 6:12; 11:13; *16:18–19; Zechariah 14:1-4). All of nature will be affected: the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the heavens, the mountains, and the islands.
Here again we need to be reminded that the seven seals are an overall account of what will come in the final seven years. This earthquake is showing the same earthquake as found in Revelation 16: 18-19.
Compare this scene with Joel 2:30–31 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.”
Joel 3:15 “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Many people believe that these verses and many like them are showing a world-wide nuclear attack. I can certainly understand their seeing it like that. Personally, I believe that God doesn’t need our help in judging this earth and people. He is fully capable to do it by Himself. Also, it must be noted that God wants the credit and glory for His actions. If this was a man-made destruction, He wouldn’t get the credit. It would not be understood as God showing His wrath on a deserving, sinful, God rejecting people.
How much help did God get from man to open the earth and swallow up Korah and all of his followers? How much help did God need from man to bring fire and brimstone down on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? How much help did God receive from mortal man to execute judgment on the Pharaoh in Egypt? How much help did God need to bring in the flood in Noah's day?
I will not be so dogmatic that I fail to see it the other way, so here are the two different views:
1. Man-made; In the commentary of The Smart Guide to the Bible; the Book of Revelation by Duck and Richards says this, and I quote “This seems to another indication of a coming nuclear war. During a nuclear blast the wind is rapidly pushed out (displaced)] for several miles, creating a vacuum at the center of the blast site. Suddenly, this wind, like a giant tidal wave, rushes violently back onto the vacuum. The sky actually rolls up on itself, this explosion will be so great it will cause every mountain and island on earth to move.
That makes a pretty good argument for man-made disaster. And I can see why many people see it that way.
2. God is in control of man- made disaster. In the same commentary, the writers also had this to say; “Skeptics say that God will never allow these things to happen. They say it’s impossible to move mountains and islands. But the world will long remember that a 9.0 earthquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, that scientists said packed the energy of a million atomic bombs . It caused a tsunami with waves thirty feet high traveling at 500 miles per hour. The waves struck ten nations, killed more than one hundred thousand people, injured more than one half- million, and left millions homeless. Islands were moved from their original locations. One report said the Island of Sumatra, an island of about 30 million people and mountains 12,000 feet high, moved one hundred feet to the southwest. Another report said the earth wobbled in its orbit and time stopped for three microseconds. Don’t say God won’t let it happen, (or can make it happen), Be thankful for the grace that’s holding it back until His Church is out of here.”
The stars falling from heaven could also be interpreted as asteroids or meteors. It is easy to see that an early Christian would identify these as stars. We even call them “shooting stars.” God could, without any problem to Him, cause the earth to pass through a meteor shower that would cause great damage on earth.
Verse 15 “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;”
This is why I don’t think it will be a man-made disaster. Here we see the unsaved world recognizing it is the Almighty God and the wrath of the Lamb that is bringing the judgments. They will at last see that there is a day of judgment coming.
The practical effect of the judgment was fear in unbelievers from all walks of life. They called on the mountains and the rocks to fall on them and to hide them from God’s wrath. Their fear was so great they would rather be killed by a falling mountain than to face the wrath of the Lamb and Their wrath, referring to the anger of the Triune God. Again, this is not a picture of ordinary trouble but the period of greatest distress in world history.
This will be world- wide panic. Regardless of one’s status in life, all people will try to hide. Multitudes will leave everything behind and rush into caves and bomb shelters. Multitudes will flee the cities to hide in the mountains. Kings and princes will flee their palaces. Great generals and mighty men will turn and run in fear for their lives. People of every class will flee and hide. Survival will be man’s only concern. And the basic necessities of life will be scarce.
Dr. Vance Havner once said that the day would come when the most expensive piece of real estate would be a hole in the ground, and he was right.
We also see that at last all the unsaved world will admit they were wrong and know that there is a God in Heaven that demands all men to be saved or perish. However, these foolish people would rather hide from God and His Lamb than to accept Him as Savior.