Revelation 6

Chapter Introduction

The church, enduring suffering in the first century, found solace and encouragement in the vision of the Father on the throne, surrounded by a multitude of servants. The presence of the elders around the throne, symbolizing the saints across the ages, brought a sense of continuity and reassurance to the suffering church.

How did that help these folks suffering? They heard of this scroll in the hand of God – what did they understand it to be? It was more than just a scroll. It was a beacon of hope, a testament to God’s unwavering plan to restore all things. In this divine plan, God’s kingdom was coming, and no earthly kings, not even Nero, could alter its course.

Jesus, their savior, hope, propitiation, redeemer, and Lord, stepped forward and took the scroll. “Amen. Come quickly, Jesus! Bring it on, Lord.”

Revelation 6:1-2

The Four Horsemen, a striking image drawn from the angelic horsemen of Zechariah 1:8-11 and 6:1-8, are the first to be introduced. These four serve a crucial role, unleashing a relentless barrage of judgments that reverberate through the remaining part of the book, capturing our attention and stirring our curiosity.

The standard means of sealing a scroll is that the breaking of the seals is a precursor to the opening of the scroll. This opens the possibility that these seals may occur in the time leading up to the seven-year tribulation.

A seal, a mark testifying to the author’s identity, authority, and power, is a significant symbol. As Jesus breaks the seals, His worthiness is displayed with the full backing of the Father, who sealed the culmination of history and His final redemptive plan. The breaking of the seals is not just a precursor to the opening of the scroll but a profound testament to the unfolding of God’s plan for redemption and judgment.

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

The First Seal

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

(Matthew 24:4-5)

Throughout the Old Testament, when God moved on the earth, it was preceded by thunder, lightning, earthquakes, fire, wind, or the tops of mountains melting like wax. With each seal that is broken we see a purpose of the righteous, holy God worked out in the sinful world. We need to understand that no matter how bad we visualize this or see it, it's nothing compared to the reality it will become. At some point it may seem like God is unfair or going overboard. But God has been patient. This wrath has been stored up for some time. It's not just a matter of time, it's long overdue. Hebrews says,

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Lamb of God opened the first of the seven seals. Many have wondered what this looked like, and there are many thoughts on how it plays out.

Some think John breaks a seal and then looks at a scroll drawing.
By breaking the first seal, the scroll can be partially opened to the second seal, allowing the first part to be read.
The scroll is God’s final plan. All seven seals must be broken for it to begin. The seals lead up to that moment, testifying to the authenticity and intensity of what is coming. The seals may well be the final warnings.
Some overlay the seals, trumpet, and bowl judgments so they appear to take place contiguously. It is hard to imagine how the seals are envisioned for this belief.

One of the four living creatures said, ” Come and see.” He called forth the white horse and rider. This horse and rider had been given a crown and went out conquering and to conquer. Whether John was looking at a drawing on a scroll or looking at a vision within his vision, we don’t know.

This horseman is the first of the four horsemen of the apocalypse unleashed on the world. It is the first response of many to think this must be Jesus. However, the timing is wrong, and this rider’s purpose and works are inconsistent with Christ's. We tend to believe that good guys arrive on white horses and bad guys ride black horses. This isn't the movie, though. This rider only resembles Jesus, and he does so for deception. In reality, he is a counterfeit Jesus. The rider of this white horse is the antichrist. This “instead of Christ” will rise to power.

This rider is bent on conquest. He wants to take over the world. He holds a bow in his hand, a tool of war. But for now, there are no arrows associated with the bow. He is just a threat. We can see that as the world changes, people are being controlled by instilling fear. When the masses fear, they are pliable and open to manipulation and deception. For people living in fear, the threat of war or the idea that there were arrows to go with this bow was enough to lay down all resistance and bow before this power.

¹⁸Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:18-19)

⁵For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:5)

We live in a world where there are many antichrists. They are everywhere. I imagine people will get so used to seeing them and dealing with the junk they deliver to mankind they will no longer notice when The Antichrist arrives on the scene. This Antichrist will arrive on the scene and be praised by the world.

This rider is given a crown, a “Stephanos.” He didn't earn it, nor does he deserve it. It is the crown of victory, but no victory was won. Power was forfeited to this man. Make no mistake; it is God who gave this authority to him for a time. With his bow and crown, this man rides out as a conqueror bent on conquest. He won’t have to fire an arrow. He will be lifted and received by the world. They will conquer all for him, silence all opposition, and kill and imprison any who speak out.

This man will be revered as a great politician and leader. Initially, he would form alliances and a great confederation of nations. He will accomplish this through politics, lies, and deceit.

Revelation 6:3-4

The Second Seal

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Matthew 24:6-7)

Jesus opened the second seal. The second living creature said, “Come and see.” This fiery red horse and its rider were unleashed on the world. This rider was given authority to take peace from the earth. The sovereign God granted the power and ability to do this. No doubt Satan will think he is calling the shots.

The peace on the earth has always been a gift from God. When the day comes that John is previewing, God will unleash a rider that doesn't cause war but removes peace. It sounds the same, but there is a subtle difference. When God removes peace, sinful men will do what they do naturally. They will war against each other by greed and lust for power, money, and authority. It will be a free-for-all, each fighting for their piece of the creation.

This appears less military - the peace is taken from people, yet the resulting death will be no less significant. This peace comes from a walk with Christ. It’s no longer being at enmity with God. The absence of this peace is a persistent threat to an uproarious life. It is wars, rumors of war. It is a life characterized by fear. It is paranoia over what corrupt, greedy, power-hungry leader might burden you with next. It is senseless, baseless turmoil at the nation's colleges. It is gangs owning the streets. It is a tent city with no laws. Unrest will no longer be something you see on TV or the internet. It will be in your hometown, your neighborhood, and your family.

This rider was given a large sword. The word translated to “sword” is the word for a small sword or a large knife. This specific blade was made for killing and cutting flesh. Instead of a "large" small sword, this should probably be seen as an instrument of death, blood, and mayhem. It's a blade used up close and in your face. The "large" is this sword's great ability to bring this carnage to the world.

Since WW2, there have been over 150 wars. The nations of the earth spend trillions of dollars yearly in military spending. Millions upon millions have been killed in war throughout history. Now we have a conqueror loose on the earth with no restraint as peace is removed and men begin to war. This will be a war that no man has ever seen.

Revelation 6:5-6

The Third Seal

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8)

Jesus broke the third seal. At the breaking of the seal, the third living creature said, "Come and see." The third horse and rider were unleashed on the earth. This horse was black, the color of evil, darkness, and absence of light. Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. The scales indicate the marketplace and economy. Scales would be used to buy and sell food, no different than it is today. The voice of the living creature speaks out as if announcing a sale price but also gives a command or warning.

A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

A quart of wheat would be a daily provision for one man. You could make your money go further by buying a cheaper grain like barley. A denarius was a day’s wages for a common laborer. If all his wages went to feed him, it shows he could not adequately feed his family or pay his other bills. What we see here is not just hyperinflation but famine.

Those who used to buy wheat for less than an hour’s wage will now work all day for the same. In our day, a loaf of bread is worth about 5-10 minutes of labor. Can you imagine working all day to buy a loaf of bread? That’s not even getting anything to put on it.

The oil and wine won’t be damaged amid this famine and starvation. The finer things will still be available for those with money and means, the oil and wine. This is fascinating to consider in our world today. Those who are in power, making the rules and establishing the economy in which we live, don’t live by the same means. They tell us we need to sacrifice to give more of what we have to those who have little, yet they sacrifice nothing. We see a ruling class who feel no pain from the damage they’ve done.

Note: The World Economic Forum gathers to eat the finest meals from the finest chefs in the world. At the same time, they decide we need to quit eating beef and eat more bugs.

Our economy is becoming a one-world economy before our eyes. Every day, we draw closer to a cashless society. We are all tied closely together. It wasn't that long ago that America stood apart, alone, and far above others economically. We thought our economy and wealth could never be held hostage by the world. But here we sit in debt so deep we'll never recover. When any economy begins to teeter, we feel the effects. As America's debt grows, the world will swirl down with us.

Revelation 6:7-8

The Fourth Seal

Jesus broke the fourth seal, and the fourth living creature said, "Come and see." This unleashed the fourth horseman in the world. This horse was a pale horse. The word for pale is chloros. The word is used three other times in the bible, two of which refer to the color of the grass and the third to green vegetation. This horse being green implies it is sick or unhealthy. On this sick horse was a rider named Death, and Hades was on his heels. Death and Hell ride on the back of pestilence. Wherever the horse and rider go, the grave or Hades is close behind.

Those who follow the lamb have life and are headed toward paradise. Those who don’t will be chased and caught by death. Hades will follow.

At the onset of the Covid outbreak of 2020, there was mass doom and gloom. There was speculation of incredibly widespread death. Hospitals were supposedly going to be overrun, morgues overflowing with shortages of body bags and coffins. None of that happened. What did happen was it created fear and panic. For the first time in the history of the world, we quarantined healthy people and shut down the world. The effect on our culture was devastating, driving up mental illnesses and suicide rates. On top of everything, the church wasn’t prepared. This illness, which was very real, became politicized and remains so today. A virus brought this unbelieving world to its knees. If your hope is in this world only, a virus is to be feared greatly. Many still hope for some return to “normal,” but our 2019 normal is gone forever. A tiny virus has forever changed the world.

What will happen if, or when, there is a really serious virus? One of the disappointing highlights of Covid 19 is the effect it has had on the church. Statistics say that over 30% of people left the church and will never return. Some churches closed for good, and many will never recover. Pastors have turned on pastors. Divisions formed over whether to open or close, mask or no mask, abide by government restrictions or not. The church, seen as a lampstand to hold up the light, seemed awfully dim and confused in this dark time. How much worse will it be in a world where the church is gone? When this rider unleashes sickness and death on the world that finds its hope only in this world, it will be devastating.

This horse and rider will spread its plague and feed the grave, joining the first three. Verse 8 seems to be a summary verse of the effects of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The sword, hunger, pestilence, and wild beasts are the tools of judgment God uses. We see these spoken of in several places throughout the bible. Jerimiah spoke of these things:

When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14:12)

These plagues will bring large-scale death upon the earth. This rider was given the power to kill over a fourth of the earth. We don’t know if this fourth is geographical or a quarter of the population. There’s no reason to think this horse and rider won’t use its power to its fullest extent. There are nearly 8.1 billion people on earth as of 2024. Nearly 2 billion will be within the grasp of this fourth horsemen.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)

While all this seems to be evil unleashed on the earth, we would do well to remember that this is Jesus breaking the seals and the servants of God calling, "Come and see." This is happening by God's will.

So far, we have:

First seal: A political conqueror
Second seal: Peace was taken, initiating a great slaughter
Third seal: Hardship and famine
Fourth seal: Pestilence and widespread death

Revelation 6:9-11

The Fifth Seal

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹²And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13

As Jesus opened this fifth seal, we see a response in heaven to the events that happened on earth during the first four seals. Why were these souls under the altar? They were people who died for their testimony, who died for the gospel truth. They were “slain.,” a word meaning murdered indiscriminately and without mercy. There has always been martyrdom somewhere in the world. However, it appears it will become more acceptable.

This is the first we’ve seen of these souls under the altar. The picture is that of the brazen altar in which the body of the sacrifice was slaughtered, and its blood poured out at the base of the altar as an offering. The life is in the blood, and the lives of these martyrs are pictured as sacrifices. These are often considered the tribulation saints. Since the church was raptured before tribulation began, these are new believers coming to Christ after the rapture. We should note that this book isn’t written as a timeline, with all the events given in sequential detail. Remember that there is no reason to believe martyrdom won’t be on the rise in the days or years leading up to the tribulation.

Somehow, John can see these souls in his vision. They cry out for vengeance and ask, “How long?” It's not a matter of "if" but "when.” We can go back to the first murder and see the same "crying out" of the blood of one murdered for his faith. When Cain killed Able in Genesis 4, God said to Cain:

The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance and justice.

Those who spilled the blood of these martyrs were still running loose on the earth. The spilled blood and souls of these murdered saints also cry out for vengeance. Each of these martyrs was given a white robe and told to wait. More blood would be spilled, and more souls would cry out. Isn't it interesting that God's plan even involves His own people being killed for His name? God's plan and work are greater than we could imagine. During this time, God will use the testimony and lives of those who had just been saved in this tribulation period.

Imagine the shock of an unbelieving world when they see a new believer willing to die for their faith. What a testimony to a lost world. How many will see this and wonder if they are missing something?

Revelation 6:12-17

The Sixth Seal

The scroll is nearly open as Jesus breaks the sixth seal, at which point there is a great earthquake and a shifting of the cosmos. Most of John’s audience in Asia lived through earthquakes in that region and the shaking and eruption of Mt Vesuvius. As serious as those were, they pale in comparison to what John describes. John borrows the language of the Old Testament Prophets.

Joel spoke of the day of the Lord:

¹⁰The earth quakes before them,

The heavens tremble;

The sun and moon grow dark,

And the stars diminish their brightness. (Joel 2:10)

Isaiah spoke of the day of the Lord coming against Babylon:

¹⁰For the stars of heaven and their constellations

Will not give their light;

The sun will be darkened in its going forth,

And the moon will not cause its light to shine. (Isaiah 13:10)

Jesus spoke of days like these, after which the sign of the Son of Man would appear in heaven.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)

There is some thought that the eruption of a volcano would darken the sky and bring about many of the same effects. However, it would be somewhat local. The volcanic eruption they knew of may be the picture they could apply worldwide. The earth seems to be reeling, possibly from the impact of an asteroid. Will the earth be stoned by a meteor shower for its blasphemy? John said the stars of heaven would fall like overripe figs from a tree. The sky would burst open as if under pressure. Perhaps the billowing clouds of hot gases and ash from a volcano would give the appearance of a receding sky. However, a nuclear blast or a meteor impact would do the same. Isaiah saw the same:

⁴All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,

And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll;

All their host shall fall down

As the leaf falls from the vine,

And as fruit falling from a fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4)

John notes that every mountain and island will move from its place. It appears that no part of the earth will be untouched. No person will go unaffected. Where are the kings so wise in their ways? Where are the politicians with answers to everything? Where are the media moguls who want to direct our thinking? Where are the rich and famous who believe they control this world? Where are the scoffers and mockers and those filled with hate? The rich and poor, slave and free, as well as the powerful and weak, will all seek refuge from the wrath of the lamb. John speaks that the prophets of old had spoken many times that man would hide themselves from the Lord on that day.

Hosea spoke of the days the Lord would move against Samaria for her idolatry. In those days, the Lord would bring destruction upon them:

They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

And to the hills, “Fall on us!” (Hosea 10:8)

The Lord gives voice before His army,

For His camp is very great;

For strong is the One who executes His word.

For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;

Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11)

***

Before breaking the seals, all eyes were on heaven, upon the throne and the lamb that was before. It is the throne of the creator, the Almighty, and Sovereign over heaven and earth. There are many small thrones and supposed thrones, but none will compare, only one will stand, and only one will matter on that day. In great contrast, the attention is shifted to the earth as the first four seals are broken. As the scroll is unveiled in the heavens, the effect on Earth is drastic and devastating.

1st seal: Conquest.
2^nd seal: War, but also peace is taken
3^rd seal: Famine
4^th seal: Plague or Pestilence

At the opening of the fifth seal, our attention is drawn back to the throne to see heaven's response to the first four seals.

5^th seal: Martyrdom of saints

At the breaking of the 6th seal, our attention is drawn back to earth again. While the martyrs were crying "avenge us" to God, those on earth were hiding from this cataclysmic event. Suddenly, money and class make no difference. Slave and free, rich and poor, the mighty and the humble are hidden together in caves. In the beginning, they will believe they are hiding from the forces of nature, but they are hiding from the wrath of God. They are hiding from being exposed to God's judgment.

6^th seal: The Earth is Rocked.

It's a stubborn and rebellious heart that cries out to a mountain and rocks during calamity instead of crying out to God. This may be the first time they've ever acknowledged God in their life. This is the response of a sinful man exposed to God's holiness. This has been happening since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord.

Men and women will protect their pride and lives by hiding from God. In doing so, they are choosing an eternal separation from God. Because they choose sin and separation from an eternal God, they will receive an infinite punishment.

Who can withstand the wrath to come? How can anyone stand in the presence of the lamb? How can anyone stand to the judgments of God? In our flesh, in our natural state, we can't. But, in our redeemed state, by the blood of the lamb, we are saved and can stand before God. And not just stand, but be welcomed, be clothed, and seated at the table. The redeemed will dine with the Lord in a great celebration. Those who are found in Christ will enter into their inheritance.

The faithful church, the Lord said:

¹⁰Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev 3:10)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Revelation