Revelation Revealed – Chapter 6
Introduction
After the throne room scene in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, now comes the three sets of judgments that are going to happen during the Tribulation period
i) Seal Judgment – 6:1-17
ii) Trumpet Judgment – 8:1-13; 9:1-21;
iii) Bowl Judgments – 16:1-21.
So the seven year tribulations of the end days start here. In chapter 5 we saw a sealed scroll with seven seals in the hands of the Father and the Lamb of God alone being worthy to break the seals. Now we can see the Lamb of God opening the first six seals in chapter 6 of Revelation. All of these being expressed in symbols, let us take the help of Jesus Christ who spoke of the last day events with His disciples to crack the meaning from Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
6:1- The Lamb opens the first seal and one living creature calls John in a thundery voice to come and see.
6:2-14 OPENING OF SIX SEALS
| Revelation | Matthew 24 | Mark 13 | Luke 21 | Denotation of the Symbol |
| 1st Seal – 6:2 – A White Horse One with a bow sitting on it A crown was given to him He went out conquering and to conquer. | 24:5 – Many will come in the name of Jesus and will deceive many | 13:20-21 – Some will come and say “Christ is here”, “Christ is there”. False christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders and try to deceive even the elect | 21:8 – Many will come in the name of Jesus and say, “I am Jesus”. | i) Man in White Horse = Anti-Christ = Imitates Christ who will also come in a white horse 19:11 (John 5:43; Daniel 9:27; 11:37). ii) BOW symbolizes deceit and lies (Hosea 7:16; Jeremiah 9:3) iii) CROWN – He does not have a crown for himself but a crown is given to him – power and dominion is given to him (Daniel 8:24; Ezekiel 23:42) Yeah anti-Christ will have power to deceive and overcome (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) iv) CONQUEROR – Yes, he is the ruler of the tribulation period. (Daniel 9:27) |
| 2nd Seal – 6:3-4 – A Fiery Red Horse The one sitting on it was given authority to take peace from the earth that people should kill one another a great sword was given to him | 24:6-7 – You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom | 13:7-8 – Hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom | 21:8-10 -Hear of wars and commotions. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom | War and blood-shed (outcome of letting loose the spirit of anti-Christ) Authority given to take away peace -avenger of God to execute wrath (Romans 13:4) Kill one another – Enmity between one and other’s neighbors and brothers (Zechariah 14:13; Ezekiel 38:21) a great sword given to him signifies the authority given to kill because of the wrath of God (Psalm 78:62). There will be great wars as prophesied (Daniel 7:7-8, 23-24) |
| 3rd Seal – 6:5-6 – A Black Horse The one sitting on it had a pair of scales in his hand A voice from the midst of the four living creatures said, “a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; do not harm the oil and the wine.” | 24:7 – There will be famines | 13:8 – There will be famines | 21:11 – There will be famines | Famines – (Result of wars) Pair of scales signifies scarce of bread and water (Leviticus 26:26; Ezekiel 4:10-17). A denarius is a full day’s wages for a laborer (Matthew 20:1-16). This denotes a drastic hike in cost of food supplies (Lamentations 4:4-8). Not harming the oil and wine means that there are no deaths but are left to starve (Luke 10:34) |
| 4th Seal – 6:7-8 – A pale horse The name of him that sat on it was Death Hades followed him Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. | 24:7 – There will be famines and pestilences | 13:8 – There will be famines and troubles | 21:11 – There will be famines and pestilences | Death and Hades – Sword, Hunger, Death and Wild Beasts Death is personified here and Hades, the dwelling place of the dead is said to follow (Psalm 49:14; Isaiah 14:9) One fourth people on earth die |
| 5th Seal – 6:9-11 – Souls of the Slain John saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony -They cried loudly saying, “How long, O Lord will it take for You to judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” A white robe was given to each of them. They were told to rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. | 24:8 – They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake | 13:9 – Watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. | 21:12 – They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. | Martyrs of Tribulation The souls of the martyrs are seen under the altar in heaven. These are not the martyrs of the church but of the forsaken church that goes through tribulation. Their souls alone are found there. They are not yet resurrected. As Abel’s blood cries for vengeance, so do the souls of the martyrs cry (Genesis 4:10; Hebrews 11:4) White robes given Many more multitudes will be killed as martyrs, and these souls have to wait for the fulfillment of their numbers and then these tribulation martyrs will be resurrected before the second coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4) |
| 6th Seal – 6:12-14 – Dreadful signs in the Nature – A great earthquake The sun became black as sackcloth of hair The moon became like blood The stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. The sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up Every mountain and island was moved out of its place. | 24:7 – Earthquakes in various places | 13:8 – Earthquakes in various places | 21:11 – Earthquakes in various places. Fearful sights and signs from heaven | Natural Disasters – Earthquakes and other havocs on planet earth like darkening of sun and moon, falling of stars, receding of sky and moving of mountains and islands |
6:15-17 – As an aftermath of the 6th seal, seven classes of people – i) Kings of the earth ii) Great men iii) Rich men iv) Commanders v) Mighty men vi) Every slave and vii) Every free man, realize that the wrath of God has come and they cannot withstand it, and they try to hide themselves up in caves and rocks of mountains, asking them to fall on these men and hide them from the face of the Father God who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb of God, the Son.
- Yet we see them calling on the caves and rocks for help rather than turning to the Creator.
- Earth quakes in Revelation – i) Sixth Seal (6:12) ii) Resurrection of the two witnesses (11:13) iii) Seventh vial (17:18-19)
- Signs in the Sun and moon in Revelation – i) Sixth Seal (6:12) ii) Fourth Trumpet (8:12) iii) Fifth Trumpet (9:2) and iv) Fifth Vial (16:10)
