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Revelation
Chapter Six
Revelation 6
What is to follow on earth now begins, when the seals are
opened. It will be remarked here, that John, standing in the ruin of the
assembly, gives prophetically all that passes from that failure till Christ
comes in chapter 19. There is no ascension no rapture, save as far as chapter
12 gives both together.
The first seals are simple; nor have I anything to offer very new upon
them: first, imperial conquests then wars, then famine, then pestilence,
carrying with it what Ezekiel calls God's four sore plagues (sword, famine,
pestilence, and the beasts of the earth). They speak of the providential course
of God's dealings, and hence the four beasts call attention to it; but they
have God's voice in them, the voice of the Almighty: that, the ear of him who
has the Spirit hears. These complete providential plagues, as spoken of in
scripture. Then direct judgments follow; but these are what we may call
preparatory measures.
I have to notice that in the full plagues of verse 8 the
whole Roman earth is not included. It is a fourth, not a third. The plagues
too, note, are limited in extent of sphere, not universal.
The saints are those whom God is really thinking of, and
they come in remembrance before other scenes are brought out. Those who had
been martyred for the word of God and their testimony demand how long before
they were avenged; for we have ever to do here with a God of judgment. Their
being under the altar means simply that they had offered their bodies, as
sacrifices for the truth, to God. The white robes are the witness of their
righteousness---God's declared approval of them; but the time for their being
avenged was not yet. I do not think giving white robes is resurrection. The
first resurrection is sovereign grace, giving us the same place with Christ
("for ever with the Lord "), consequent on His work and His being our
righteousness, which is alike to all of us. White robes thus conferred are the
recognition of the righteousness ('dikaioomata") [1] of the saints-hence are seen in chapter 19
at His appearing. "They shall walk with me in white, for they are
worthy." I am not denying that we are made clean, and our robes white in
the blood of the Lamb. But, even where this is said in chapter 7, I think it
refers especially to the way they have been associated by faith with the
suffering position of Christ. Here white robes are given them-their service
owned; but, for avenging, they must wait till a new scene of persecution had
brought them companions who had to be honoured and avenged like them. Still
this marks progress, and finds its causein the dealing of God to bring about
this new state of things, which issues in final judgment and setting aside of
evil. Here the judgments are providential.
The next thing to the claim for avenging is the breaking
up of the whole system of earthly government, and the terror of all on earth.
How clearly we see here that we are in a scene of judgment, and that God is a
God of judgment! The desires of the saints are like the desires of the Psalms.
We are not with children before the Father, with grace, with the gospel, and
the assembly; but with Jehovah, where God is a God of judgment, and by Him
actions are weighed. We are on Old Testament ground, that is, prophecy, not
grace to the wicked, though judgment brings in blessing.
The opening of the sixth seal brings an earthquake, that is, a violent
convulsion of the whole structure of society. All the governing powers are
therein visited; and, seeing all subverted, small and great think (with bad
consciences as they have) that the day of the Lamb's wrath is come. But it is
not, though preparatory judgments with a view to His kingdom are there. But God
thinks too of His saints on earth (where we must remember, the assembly is
never now seen) before the scenes which follow, whether judgments on the Roman
earth or the special workings of evil, to secure and seal them for that day.
[1] It
is very possible that the plural " righteousnesses " is a Hebraism
for righteousness. It is a common case in moral things. At any rate it is of
the saints.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》
Revelation 6
Chapter Contents
The opening of the seals, The first, second, third, and
fourth. (1-8) The fifth. (9-11) The sixth. (12-17)
Commentary on Revelation 6:1-8
(Read Revelation 6:1-8)
Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what
appeared. A rider on a white horse. By the going forth of this white horse, a
time of peace, or the early progress of the Christian religion, seems to be
intended; its going forth in purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent
his apostles to teach all nations, adding, Lo! I am with you alway, even to the
end of the world. The Divine religion goes out crowned, having the Divine
favour resting upon it, armed spiritually against its foes, and destined to be
victorious in the end. On opening the second seal, a red horse appeared; this
signifies desolating judgments. The sword of war and persecution is a dreadful
judgment; it takes away peace from the earth, one of the greatest blessings;
and men who should love one another, and help one another, are set upon killing
one another. Such scenes also followed the pure age of early Christianity,
when, neglectful of charity and the bond of peace, the Christian leaders,
divided among themselves, appealed to the sword, and entangled themselves in
guilt. On opening the third seal, a black horse appeared; a colour denoting
mourning and woe, darkness and ignorance. He that sat on it had a yoke in his
hand. Attempts were made to put a yoke of superstitious observances on the
disciples. As the stream of Christianity flowed further from its pure fountain,
it became more and more corrupt. During the progress of this black horse, the
necessaries of life should be at excessive prices, and the more costly things
should not be hurt. According to prophetic language, these articles signified
that food of religious knowledge, by which the souls of men are sustained unto
everlasting life; such we are invited to buy, Isaiah 55:1. But when the dark clouds of
ignorance and superstition, denoted by the black horse, spread over the
Christian world, the knowledge and practice of true religion became scarce.
When a people loathe their spiritual food, God may justly deprive them of their
daily bread. The famine of bread is a terrible judgment; but the famine of the
word is more so. Upon opening the fourth seal, another horse appeared, of a
pale colour. The rider was Death, the king of terrors. The attendants, or
followers of this king of terrors, hell, a state of eternal misery to all who
die in their sins; and in times of general destruction, multitudes go down
unprepared into the pit. The period of the fourth seal is one of great
slaughter and devastation, destroying whatever may tend to make life happy,
making ravages on the spiritual lives of men. Thus the mystery of iniquity was
completed, and its power extended both over the lives and consciences of men.
The exact times of these four seals cannot be ascertained, for the changes were
gradual. God gave them power, that is, those instruments of his anger, or those
judgments: all public calamities are at his command; they only go forth when
God sends them, and no further than he permits.
Commentary on Revelation 6:9-11
(Read Revelation 6:9-11)
The sight the apostle beheld at the opening the fifth
seal was very affecting. He saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar; at
the foot of the altar in heaven, at the feet of Christ. Persecutors can only
kill the body; after that there is no more they can do; the soul lives. God has
provided a good place in the better world, for those who are faithful unto
death. It is not their own death, but the sacrifice of Christ, that gives them
entrance into heaven. The cause in which they suffered, was for the word of
God; the best any man can lay down his life for; faith in God's word, and the
unshaken confession of that faith. They commit their cause to Him to whom
vengeance belongs. The Lord is the comforter of his afflicted servants, and
precious is their blood in his sight. As the measure of the sin of persecutors
is filling up, so is the number of the persecuted, martyred servants of Christ.
When this is fulfilled, God will send tribulation to those who trouble them,
and unbroken happiness and rest to those that are troubled.
Commentary on Revelation 6:12-17
(Read Revelation 6:12-17)
When the sixth seal was opened, there was a great
earthquake. The foundations of churches and states would be terribly shaken.
Such bold figurative descriptions of great changes abound in the prophecies of
Scripture; for these events are emblems, and declare the end of the world and
the day of judgment. Dread and terror would seize on all sorts of men. Neither
grandeur, riches, valour, nor strength, can support men at that time. They
would be glad to be no more seen; yea, to have no longer any being. Though
Christ be a Lamb, he can be angry, and the wrath of the Lamb is exceedingly
dreadful; for if the Redeemer himself, who appeases the wrath of God, be our
enemy, where shall we find a friend to plead for us? As men have their day of opportunity,
and their seasons of grace, so God has his day of righteous wrath. It seems
that the overthrow of the paganism of the Roman empire is here meant. The
idolaters are described as hiding themselves in their dens and secret caves,
and vainly seeking to escape ruin. In such a day, when the signs of the times
show those who believe in God's word, that the King of kings is approaching,
Christians are called to a decided course, and to a bold confession of Christ
and his truth before their fellowmen. Whatever they may have to endure, the
short contempt of man is to be borne, rather than that shame which is
everlasting.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》
Revelation 6
Verse 1
[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.
I heard one-That is, the first. Of the living
creatures - Who looks forward toward the east.
Verse 2
[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.
And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he
that sat on him had a bow — This colour, and the bow shooting arrows
afar off, betoken victory, triumph, prosperity, enlargement of empire, and
dominion over many people. Another horseman, indeed, and of quite another kind,
appears on a white horse, Revelation 19:11. But he that is spoken of under
the first seal must be so understood as to bear a proportion to the horsemen in
the second, third, and fourth seal. Nerva succeeded the emperor Domitian at the
very time when the Revelation was written, in the year of our Lord 96. He
reigned scarce a year alone; and three months before his death he named Trajan
for his colleague and successor, and died in the year 98. Trajan's accession to
the empire seems to be the dawning of the seven seals.
And a crown was given him — This, considering his descent, Trajan could have no hope of attaining.
But God gave it him by the hand of Nerva; and then the east soon felt his
power.
And he went forth conquering and to conquer — That is, from one victory to another. In the year 108 the already
victorious Trajan went forth toward the east, to conquer not only Armenia,
Assyria, and Mesopotamia, but also the countries beyond the Tigris, carrying
the bounds of the Roman empire to a far greater extent than ever. We find no
emperor like him for making conquests. He aimed at nothing else; he lived only
to conquer. Meantime, in him was eminently fulfilled what had been prophesied
of the fourth empire, Daniel 2:40; 7:23, that he should "devour, tread down,
and break in pieces the whole earth."
Verse 3
[3] And
when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
And when he had opened the second seal, I
heard the second living creature — Who looked toward the
west.
Saying, Come — At
each seal it was necessary to turn toward that quarter of the world which it
more immediately concerned.
Verse 4
[4] 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 given unto him a great sword.
There went forth another horse that was red — A colour suitable to bloodshed.
And to him that sat thereon it was given to
take peace from the earth — Vespasian, in the year 75, had dedicated a
temple to Peace; but after a time we hear little more of peace. All is full of
war and bloodshed, chiefly in the western world, where the main business of men
seemed to be, to kill one another. To this horseman there was given a great
sword; and he had much to do with it; for as soon as Trajan ascended the
throne, peace was taken from the earth. Decebalus, king of Dacia, which lies
westward from Patmos, put the Romans to no small trouble. The war lasted five years,
and consumed abundance of men on both sides; yet was only a prelude to much
other bloodshed, which followed for a long season. All this was signified by
the great sword, which strikes those who are near, as the bow does those who
are at a distance.
Verse 5
[5] 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 when he had opened the third seal, I
heard the third living creature — Toward the south.
Saying, Come. And behold a black horse — A fit emblem of mourning and distress; particularly of black famine, as
the ancient poets term it.
And he that sat on him had a pair of scales
in his hand — When there is great plenty, men scarce
think it worth their while to weigh and measure everything, Genesis 41:49. But when there is scarcity, they
are obliged to deliver them out by measure and weight, Ezekiel 4:16. Accordingly, these scales signify
scarcity. They serve also for a token, that all the fruits of the earth, and
consequently the whole heavens, with their courses and influences; that all the
seasons of the year, with whatsoever they produce, in nature or states, are
subject to Christ. Accordingly his hand is wonderful, not only in wars and
victories, but likewise in the whole course of nature.
Verse 6
[6] 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.
And I heard a voice — It
seems, from God himself.
Saying — To
the horseman, "Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther." Let there
be a measure of wheat for a penny - The word translated measure, was a Grecian
measure, nearly equal to our quart. This was the daily allowance of a slave.
The Roman penny, as much as a labourer then earned in a day, was about sevenpence
halfpenny English. According to this, wheat would be near twenty shillings per
bushel. This must have been fulfilled while the Grecian measure and the Roman
money were still in use; as also where that measure was the common measure, and
this money the current coin. It was so in Egypt under Trajan.
And three measures of barley for a penny — Either barley was, in common, far cheaper among the ancients than wheat,
or the prophecy mentions this as something peculiar.
And hurt not the oil and the wine — Let there not be a scarcity of everything. Let there he some provision
left to supply the want of the rest This was also fulfilled in the reign of
Trajan, especially in Egypt, which lay southward from Patmos. In this country,
which used to be the granary of the empire, there was an uncommon dearth at the
very beginning of his reign; so that he was obliged to supply Egypt itself with
corn from other countries. The same scarcity there was in the thirteenth year
of his reign, the harvest failing for want of the rising of the Nile: and that
not only in Egypt, but in all those other parts of Afric, where the Nile uses
to overflow.
Verse 7
[7] And
when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say,
Come and see.
I heard the voice of the fourth living
creature — Toward the north.
Verse 8
[8] 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.
And I saw, and behold a pale horse — Suitable to pale death, his rider.
And hades —
The representative of the state of separate souls.
Followeth even with him — The four first seals concern living men. Death therefore is properly
introduced. Hades is only occasionally mentioned as a companion of death. So
the fourth seal reaches to the borders of things invisible, which are comprised
in the three last seals.
And power was given to him over the fourth
part of the earth — What came single and in a lower degree
before, comes now together, and much more severely. The first seal brought
victory with it: in the second was "a great sword;" but here a
scimitar. In the third was moderate dearth; here famine, and plague, and wild
beasts beside. And it may well be, that from the time of Trajan downwards, the
fourth part of men upon the earth, that is, within the Roman empire, died by
sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. "At that time," says
Aurelius Victor, "the Tyber overflowed much more fatally than under Nerva,
with a great destruction of houses and there was a dreadful earthquake through
many provinces, and a terrible plague and famine, and many places consumed by
fire." By death - That is, by pestilence wild beasts have, at several
times, destroyed abundance of men; and undoubtedly there was given them, at
this time, an uncommon fierceness and strength. It is observable that war
brings on scarcity, and scarcity pestilence, through want of wholesome
sustenance; and pestilence, by depopulating the country, leaves the few
survivors an easier prey to the wild beasts. And thus these judgments make way
for one another in the order wherein they are here represented. What has been
already observed may be a fourfold proof that the four horsemen, as with their
first entrance in the reign of Trajan, (which does by no means exhaust the
contents of the four first seals,) so with all their entrances in succeeding
ages, and with the whole course of the world and of visible nature, are in all
ages subject to Christ, subsisting by his power, and serving his will, against
the wicked, and in defence of the righteous. Herewith, likewise, a way is paved
for the trumpets which regularly succeed each other; and the whole prophecy, as
to what is future, is confirmed by the clear accomplishment of this part of it.
Verse 9
[9] 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 when he opened the fifth seal — As the four former seals, so the three latter, have a close connexion
with each other. These all refer to the invisible world; the fifth, to the
happy dead, particularly the martyrs; the sixth, to the unhappy; the seventh,
to the angels, especially those to whom the trumpets are given.
And I saw —
Not only the church warring under Christ, and the world warring under Satan;
but also the invisible hosts, both of heaven and hell, are described in this
book. And it not only describes the actions of both these armies upon earth;
but their respective removals from earth, into a more happy or more miserable
state, succeeding each other at several times, distinguished by various
degrees, celebrated by various thanksgivings; and also the gradual increase of
expectation and triumph in heaven, and of terror and misery in hell.
Under the altar —
That is, at the foot of it. Two altars are mentioned in the Revelation,
"the golden altar" of incense, Revelation 9:13; and the altar of
burnt-offerings, mentioned here, and Revelation 8:5; 14:18; 16:7. At this the souls of the martyrs now
prostrate themselves. By and by their blood shall be avenged upon Babylon; but
not yet, whence it appears that the plagues in the fourth seal do not concern
Rome in particular.
Verse 10
[10] And
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?
And they cried —
This cry did not begin now, but under the first Roman persecution. The Romans
themselves had already avenged the martyrs slain by the Jews on that whole
nation.
How long —
They knew their blood would be avenged; but not immediately, as is now shown
them.
O Lord —
The Greek word properly signifies the master of a family: it is therefore
beautifully used by these, who are peculiarly of the household of God.
Thou Holy One and true — Both the holiness and truth of God require him to execute judgment and
vengeance.
Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood? — There is no impure affection in heaven: therefore, this desire of theirs
is pure and suitable to the will of God. The martyrs are concerned for the
praise of their Master, of his holiness and truth: and the praise is given him,
Revelation 19:2, where the prayer of the martyrs
is changed into a thanksgiving: - Thou holy One and true: "True and right
are thy judgments." How long dost thou not judge "He hath judged the
great whore, and avenge our blood? and hath avenged the blood of his
servants."
Verse 11
[11] 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.
And there was given to every one a white robe — An emblem of innocence, joy, and victory, in token of honour and
favourable acceptance.
And it was said to them — They were told how long. They were not left in that uncertainty.
That they should rest — Should cease from crying. They rested from pain before.
A time —
This word has a peculiar meaning in this book, to denote which, we may retain
the original word chronos. Here are two classes of martyrs specified, the
former killed under heathen Rome, the latter, under papal Rome. The former are
commanded to rest till the latter are added to them. There were many of the
former in the days of John: the first fruits of the latter died in the thirteenth
century. Now, a time, or chronos, is 1111 years. This chronos began A. C. 98,
and continued to the year 1209; or from Trajan's persecution, to the first
crusade against the Waldenses.
Till — It
is not said, Immediately after this time is expired, vengeance shall be
executed; but only, that immediately after this time their brethren and
fellowservants will come to them. This event will precede the other; and there
will be some space between.
Verse 12
[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;
And I saw —
This sixth seal seems particularly to point out God's judgment on the wicked
departed. St. John saw how the end of the world was even then set before those
unhappy spirits. This representation might be made to them, without anything of
it being perceived upon earth. The like representation is made in heaven, Revelation 11:18.
And there was a great earthquake — Or shaking, not of the earth only, but the heavens. This is a farther
description of the representation made to those unhappy souls.
Verse 13
[13] And
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.
And the stars fell to, or towards, the earth
- Yea, and so they surely will, let astronomers fix their magnitude as they
please.
As a fig tree casteth its untimely figs, when
it is shaken by a mighty wind — How sublimely is the violence of that
shaking expressed by this comparison!
Verse 14
[14] And
the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain
and island were moved out of their places.
And the heavens departed as a book that is
rolled together — When the scripture compares some very
great with a little thing, the majesty and omnipotence of God, before whom
great things are little, is highly exalted.
Every mountain and island — What a mountain is to the land, that an island is to the sea.
Verse 15
[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;
And the kings of the earth — They who had been so in their day.
And the great men and chief captains — The generals and nobles.
Hid themselves — So
far as in them lay.
In the rocks of the mountains — There are also rocks on the plains; but they were rocks on high, which
they besought to fall upon them.
Verse 16
[16] And
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:
To the mountains and the rocks — Which were tottering already, verse 12. Revelation 6:12 Hide us from the face of him -
Which "is against the ungodly," Psalms 34:16.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》
Chapter 6. Open Six Seals
Hide in Caves
Hide from the Wrath of the Lamb
I. The First
and Second Seals
II. The Third
and Fourth Seals
III. The Fifth
and Sixth Seals
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of The
New Testament》
Chapter Six General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To consider what may be the meaning of the different seals and their symbols SUMMARY
In this chapter the Lamb looses six of the seven seals on the scroll.I view the first four seals as revealing forces God would use to bringjudgment upon the oppressors of His people (1-8). Notice what is saidabout the different riders: "...a crown was given to him..." (the rider on the white horse) "...it was granted to the one...there was given to him..." (the rider on the red horse) "...a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying" (the rider on the black horse) "...power was given to them..." (riders on the pale horse - Death and Hades) Who had the power to give a crown, or to grant such authority? Who inthe midst of the four living creatures might have spoken? Who had thepower to give to Death and Hades? When we consider that Jesus is theruler of the kings of the earth (1:5), that He has the keys of Hadesand of Death (1:18), and that He was in the midst of the four livingcreatures (5:6), it seems apparent that the answer is Christ! I.e.,the horses and their riders were acting upon the authority and power given them by Christ. Therefore I suggest the following explanations for the first four seals: The white horse and its rider - Represents military conquest, such as God used to bring judgment upon Assyria (Isa 10:5-7,12-13,15-16) and Babylon Parthian warrior, renown for their use of the bow as a weapon, and who were dreaded enemies of the Romans. The red horse and its rider - Represents civil war, in which people would kill one another, such as God used in His judgment against Egypt The black horse and its rider - Represents famine, where necessities (wheat and barley) would be scarce, while luxuries (oil and wine) might be in abundance but of little interest to the hungry. God had used famine in His judgment upon Israel The pale horse and its riders (Death and Hades) - Represents death brought about by the sword, hunger, death (pestilence), and beasts of the earth. Such severe judgments God had brought upon Jerusalem in the past (cf. Ezek 5:17; 6:12; 14:21). With the fifth seal, we are told WHY God would bring such judgments.Souls have been slain for the word of God and their testimony, and whenthe time is right the judgments will begin. In the meantime, the soulsof the slain are comforted with white robes and told to rest (9-11). The sixth seal describes cosmic disturbances and the despair of those
trying to hide from God's wrath. Is this scene depicting the end of time (cf. 2 Pe 3:7-12)? The language is reminiscent of that used todescribe God's judgment upon Babylon (Isa 13:1-22) and Samaria 10:7-8). Jesus used similar language to warn the people of His day of
the impending destruction of Jerusalem to view it as referring to the judgment coming (perhaps in the form ofnatural calamities) upon those who persecuted God's people in the firstcentury, and how the guilty will not be able to escape in the day of the Lamb's wrath (12-17). OUTLINE
I. THE FOUR HORSES AND THEIR RIDERS (1-8)
A. FIRST SEAL - RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE (1-2) 1. The Lamb opens the first seal 2. One of the four living creatures says "Come" 3. John sees a white horse and its rider a. The man had a bow b. A crown was given to him c. The man went out conquering and to conquer B. SECOND SEAL - RIDER ON THE RED HORSE (3-4) 1. The Lamb opens the second seal 2. The second living creature says "Come" 3. John sees a fiery red horse and its rider a. The rider was granted to take peace from the earth, and for people to kill one another b. A great sword was given to him C. THIRD SEAL - RIDER ON THE BLACK HORSE (5-6) 1. The Lamb opens the third seal 2. The third living creature says "Come" 3. John sees a black horse and its rider a. A pair of scales is in the hand of the rider b. A voice in the midst of the four living creatures says "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." D. FOURTH SEAL - RIDER ON THE PALE HORSE (7-8) 1. The Lamb opens the fourth seal 2. The fourth living creature says "Come" 3. John sees a pale horse and its rider a. On the horse sits Death, and Hades followed with him b. Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth c. Power to kill with the sword, with death, and by beasts II. THE SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR (9-11)
A. THE FIFTH SEAL - SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR (9-10) 1. The Lamb opens the fifth seal 2. John sees under the altar those who had been slain a. For the word of God b. For the testimony they held 3. They cried with a loud voice: a. "How long, O Lord, holy and true" b. "Until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" B. THEIR CONSOLATION (11) 1. A white robe was given to each of them 2. They were told to rest a little while longer, until both their fellow servants and brethren would be killed III. COSMIC DISRUPTIONS IN THE DAY OF THE LAMB'S WRATH (12-17)
A. THE SIXTH SEAL - COSMIC DISRUPTIONS (12-14) 1. The Lamb opens the sixth seal 2. Cataclysmic events occur: a. A great earthquake b. Sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair c. Moon became like blood d. Stars fall to the earth, like ripe figs shaken from a tree by a mighty wind e. Sky receded as a scroll when rolled up f. Every mountain and island moved out of its place B. THE REACTION OF MANKIND (15-17) 1. Great and small, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and rocks of the mountains 2. They cry out to the mountains and rocks: a. "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" b. "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The four horses and their riders (1-8) - The souls under the altar (9-11) - Cosmic disruptions in the day of the Lamb's wrath (12-17) 2) Who opens each of the seals in this chapter? (1,3,5,7,9,12)
- The Lamb 3) What is seen when the first seal is opened? What was given to him?(1-2)
- A rider with a bow on a white horse - A crown, who then goes forth conquering 4) What is seen when the second seal is opened? What was given to him?(3-4)
- A rider on a red horse - Authority to take peace from the earth, that people should kill one another - A great sword 5) What is seen when the third seal is opened? What is heard? (5-6)
- A rider with a pair of scales in his hand on a black horse - "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." 6) What is seen when the fourth seal is opened? What was given to them? (7-8)
- Death riding on a pale horse, followed by Hades - Power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth 7) What is seen when the fifth seal is opened? What are they saying?(9-10)
- Souls under the altar who had been slain for the word of God and for their testimony - "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 8) How are they consoled? (11)
- A white robe to each of them - Told to rest a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brethren who will be killed was completed 9) What is seen when the sixth seal is completed? (12-14)
- A great earthquake, sun becomes black, the moon becomes like blood, the stars of heaven fall to the earth, the sky is receded as a scroll, every mountain and island moved out of their 10) What do the people on earth try to do? What do they say? (15-17)
- Hide themselves in the caves and rocks of the mountains - "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" - "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
－－《Executable
Outlines》
Open six
seals
Hide in caves
Hide from the wrath of the Lamb
I.
The first and second seals
1.
The living creature says “Come”
2.
The heresy of the white horse
3.
The fight of the red horse
II.The third and fourth seals
1.
The living creature says “Come”
2.
The famine of the black horse
3.
The death of the pale horse
III.
The fifth and sixth seals
1.
Slain because of the word
2.
Call out in a loud voice
3.
Shake of heaven and earth
──
Chih-Hsin Chang《an Outline of The New
Testament》