Chapter Six

THE REVELATION

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verse 1 only the Lamb is worthy to open the seals.

• four living creatures = executors of God’s judgment

• thunder = judgment

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verse 2 Christ (19:11) opens the whole affair so it doesn’t matter what follows.

• white horse = victory, heavenly mission

• crown = victory

• conquering (cf. Romans 8:37) (i.e. the going forth of Christ in the gospel)

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verses 3-4 the persecution of the saints from the conflict with the world

• fiery red = war, bloodshed

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verses 5-6 famine and economic hardship

• black horse = evil

• scales = to weigh food (cf. Eze. 4:10, 16)

• denarius = a day’s wages

• not harm oil and wine = famine not extreme

• Discrimination in labor and business added to the suffering of God’s people.

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verses 7-8 judgments upon society because it rejected the truth

• pale horse = death, ghoulish, yellow-green, sick

• death and Hades = defeated enemies in Revelation

• fourth of earth = not final, complete judgment

• sword = war

• hunger=famine

• death= pestilence

• beasts= wild

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verse 9 martyrs of truth (cf. Rev. 12:11; 20:4)

• Verse 10 no spite but justice (cf. 2 Tim 4:14; Gen 4:10)

• Verse 11 (cf. Rev. 14:13)

• Death is not the end; vindication will come according to God’s plan, timing, way (cf. Daniel 11:36, 45).

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verses 12-17 the wrath of the Lamb, judgment on the world of the ungodly

• This is not the end of time. Judgment on the enemy is seen as a dismantling of their world (cf. 2 Pet 2:5; Isa. 13:1, 10, 13; 34:4-6; Eze. 26:15, 18; 27:35; Jer. 4:23-25; Joel 2:31; Mat 24:29-31).

REVELATION 6: JESUS OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS

• Verse 12 great earthquake (cf. Isa. 29:6), black as sackcloth of hair (Isa. 50:3)

• Verse 13 stars of heaven falling is not a meteorite or nuclear missiles

• Verses 14-15 How could this all be literal and still have all these people to run and hide?

• Verse 16 contrast 2 Pet. 3:10 (also cf. Hos. 10:8; Isa 2:10-11, 19-22; Luke 23:30)

• Verse 17 (cf. Isa. 13:9; Nah. 1:6). The answer to the question here is found in chapter 7.

Chapter Six

THE REVELATION