the Lamb opened one of the seals
The Lamb now initiates the steps leading to the eventual establishment
of His kingdom on earth. Thus begins a unique time in human history:
1) Severity
- Judgments more severe than ever before in history. The coming day is so
unique there is "none like it" (Mat. 24:21). This is the time of testing to come upon the world
(Rev. 3:10).
2) Wrath of the Lamb
- It is the wrath of God's
Son
which is now being manifested.
3) Final Flowering of Sin
- Humanism and Satanism will be at their apex on a global scale. The
descent of man
will be complete.
4) Ushering in God's Kingdom
- The systems of man will be swept aside making way for the Messianic
Kingdom on earth.
the Lamb taught about this time
Everything
which transpires from here forward is
completely
under the control of God. It is the Lamb,
Jesus Christ,
Who initiates the judgments. Hence, we are not surprised that He taught of
this time:
False Messiahs: Mat. 24:5,
11;
Mark 13:6;
Luke 21:8;
Rev 6:2.
Wars: Mat. 24:6-7;
Mark 13:7;
Luke 21:9;
Rev. 6:4.
Famines: Mat. 24:7;
Mark 13:8;
Luke 21:10;
Rev. 6:5-6,
8.
Pestilences: Luke 21:11;
Rev. 6:8.
Persecution: Mat. 24:9;
Mark 13:9-13;
Luke 21:12-17;
Rev. 6:9-11.
Earthquakes: Mat. 24:7;
Mark 13:8;
Luke 21:11;
Rev. 6:12.
Cosmic Phenomena: Mat. 24:29;
Mark 13:24-25;
Luke 21:11;
Rev. 6:12-14.
relation of seals, bowls, trumpets
Each series of judgments (seals, bowls, trumpets) consists of an initial six
judgments followed by a seventh. The seventh contains the next set of
judgments. The seventh seal contains the trumpet judgments and the seventh trumpet contains the bowl judgments.
See the lesson where we discussed the
Literary Structure
of the book.
the beginning of sorrows
The first four seals correlate with what Jesus described as "the beginning of sorrows" (Mat. 24:8).
come and see
Greek texts differ on whether the phrase
and see
is included.
If present,
John
is being addressed. If absent,
the riders
are probably being called to ride forth.
6:2 - a white horse
similarities with Christ
1)
Both ride a white horse
(Rev. 19:11).
2)
Both wear a crown (although Jesus wears many crowns,
Rev. 19:12).
3)
Both are "overcomers" (Dan. 7:25;
Rev. 3:21;
13:7;17:14).
differences from Christ
1)
The Lamb is loosing the seals, not riding forth.
2)
The Lamb wields a
sword,
not a
bow
(Rev. 2:12;
19:15).
3)
The Lamb rides at the
end
of the Tribulation, not the
beginning .
the rider is Antichrist
The beginning of birth pangs includes
false messiahs(Mat. 24:4-5).
He
looks
like a savior, but will be a
deceiver
who conquers by devious means.
a bow... a crown... to conquer
The
bow
symbolizes strength. The
crown
symbolizes authority.
He is
given
the crown and goes out as an "overcomer."
6:4 - the second seal
a red horse
Red denotes bloodshed. The horseman takes "peace from the earth." The initial success of the white horsemen eventually degenerates into
widespread war. This is a time of unprecedented bloodshed.
6:5-6 - the third seal
a black horse
"Black" is
melas,
which describes clothing used in mourning or the color of evil.
A quart,
choenix,
was the amount of food provided to a soldier each day.
A denarious
was a workman's average daily wage.
Men will work hard each day
just to have enough to survive.Oil and wine
may refer to luxury items or different types of crops which
are not harmed by the conditions of the famine.
6:7-8 - the fourth seal
a pale horse... Death and Hades
"Pale" is
chloro's
from which we get
chlorophyll
which describes the green pigments in plants.
Here it describes the pallor of sickness and death.
One fourth of the population of earth perishes. Using today's
population figure (6 billion) would mean
over 1.5 billion
dead!
(See the
world population clock.)
This number would be reduced by the believers taken in the
rapture prior to the Tribulation.
6:9-11 - the fifth seal
slain for the word of God
The "beginning of sorrows" has passed and now begins a time of unprecendented religious persecution, martyrdom and anti-Semitism.
The souls of the martyrs are under the base of the altar, reminiscent of
the pouring of blood at the base of the altar of sacrifice
(Ex. 29:12;
Lev. 8:15).
The harlot will persecute those who are Christ's for she is "drunk with the blood of the saints" (Rev. 17:6).
judge... those who dwell on the earth
As the
Goel
(kinsman-redeemer), Christ will eventually avenge His saints
(Isa. 63:3-4).
The phrase:
those who dwell on the earth
has special meaning in the book of
Revelation. It describes those who remain steadfastly opposed to God
throughout the judgments. They are not written in the Book of Life
(Rev. 13:8;
17:8).
Their citizenship is not in heaven
(Php. 3:20).
white robe
They are the overcomers who are given white robes which represent the righteousness
of Christ on their behalf
(Rev. 3:5,
18;
12:11).
6:12 - the sixth seal
the Day of the Lord
The signs which accompany the sixth seal indicate the Day of the Lord is
now underway.
The "thief in the night" has now arrived in judgment
(1Th. 5:2-10).
a great earthquake
"Earthquake" is
seismo's
which means "a shaking" and is used more broadly than just shaking the earth
(Mat. 8:24). Here even the
heavens
are shaken.
sun became black... moon became like blood
The darkening of the sun
may
be from the perspective of viewers on the earth--due to material ejected
into the atmosphere by the earthquake or the impact from asteroids or
meteors described in the next verse.
stars of heaven fell to the earth
"Stars" is
aste'res
from which we get the word
asteroid.
Probably asteroids or meteors are involved.
These cosmic disturbances are not mere hyperbole
(see the lesson where we discuss the
Interpretation of Symbols). Jesus predicted these signs prior to His Second Coming
(Mat. 24:29-30; cf
Mark 13:24;
Luke 23:44-45).
6:14 - the sixth seal
the sky receded
"Receded" is
apechori'sthe,
a term used to describe the
parting
of Paul and Silas from Barnabas and Mark
(Acts 15:39).
An enormous and terrifying site which we cannot explain, probably violating
the static laws of physics (which all miracles do)!
Not the ultimate passage of the heavens, which does not come until
Revelation
20:11.
every mountain and island moved
Huge convulsions leading to permanent geographical changes.
Worldwide mapping databases are instantly rendered useless.
6:15 - the sixth seal
kings of the earth
These are the kings which failed to "kiss the Son, lest He be angry" (Ps. 2:12).
great men... mighty men
The
great ones
and
strong ones
who do not occupy positions of rulership, but who influence and control
from positions of corporate power and wealth.
commanders
"Commanders" is
chilia's
meaning
one thousand.
Leaders over a thousand troops. Roughly equivalent
to a major or colonel.
every slave and every free
Every
category of people is included.
hid themselves in caves
They are gripped by intense fear as all man-made shelter proves useless.
6:16 - the sixth seal
from the face of Him who sits on the throne
The Father who is fully behind the events which the Lamb has initiated
having taken the scroll.
the wrath of the Lamb
The Lamb who was silently led to the slaughter
(Isa. 53:7)
now metes out wrath. He opens
each
of the seals bringing forth judgments. These judgments constitute
the wrath of God
-- something which the church is exempt from.
the great day of His wrath
This is the
Day of the Lord
which was to come as a "thief in the night." Jesus described this frightful day
(Luke 21:25-26).
See the lesson where we discussed
Related Passages and Themes.
has come
"Has come" is
el'then
which is in the aorist tense which normally denotes past time.
The wrath
has already
come -- this is what the earth dwellers are fleeing from!
For additional information on this topic, see the commentary.
