As John watches, he sees the Lamb begin to break the seals and open the scroll He has taken from the One seated on the throne (6:1). When the first seal is broken, one of the four living creatures shouts, “Come” (6:1). This command summons a rider on a white horse carrying a military bow (6:2). John sees this “conquering” rider given a crown and watches him ride off to “conquer” (6:2).
Next, the Lamb opens the second seal. As He does, John hears the second living creature say, “Come” (6:3). In response, a rider on a “bright red” horse appears. This rider, who carries a “great sword”, is “given permission to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another” (6:4).
The opening of the third seal is once again accompanied by a shout of “Come” from a third living creature (6:5). Suddenly a rider on a black horse appears, holding a “pair of scales in his hand” (6:5). John hears an unidentified voice from “the midst of the four living creatures” (6:6). This voice announces the sobering news that grain and barley will become incredibly expensive, due to their scarcity (6:6). However, the rider on the black horse is warned not to harm the supplies of oil and wine (6:6).
When the fourth seal is opened, the fourth living creature repeats the call to “Come” (6:7). Suddenly, a sickly pale horse arrives, ridden by one named “Death” and followed by one named “Hades” (6:8). These two are granted “authority” to kill a quarter of the earth’s population through war (“sword”), famine, disease (“pestilence”), and wild animals (6:8).
When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees the “souls” of those who “had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne” (6:9). These souls, who are “under the altar”, cry out with loud voices; they ask the “Sovereign Lord” how long they must wait for Him to “avenge” their deaths by punishing “those who dwell on the earth” (6:10). In response, these martyrs are each “given a white robe and told to rest a little longer” (6:11). Justice from God will only come when “the number of their fellow servants and their brothers” are also “killed as they themselves had been” (6:11).
The opening of the sixth seal triggers “a great earthquake” (6:12). The sun goes dark (“became black”), the moon turns blood red, and stars fall to the earth like figs shaken off the tree by a fierce “gale” (6:13). As the skies and ground are altered, the inhabitants of the earth—both the mighty (“kings”, “generals”, “rich”) and the poor (“slaves”)—hurry to hide themselves among the “rocks of the mountains” (6:15). In their panic and desperation, they call out to the mountains, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb” (6:16). It’s clear that “the great day of their wrath has come” and no one can withstand it (6:17).
What is Revealed about Jesus?
Jesus sovereignly unrolls and controls the events at the end of world history. Jesus, the worthy Lamb, opens the scroll and unrolls future events. While on earth, Jesus predicted the events that would signal His second coming and the “end of the age” (Matthew 24:3-35; see also Luke 21:10-36).
Now, as Jesus opens the first six seals, we see what He predicted begin to take place. The first seal (6:2—white horse with a conqueror) matches what Jesus foretold about the rise of “wars” between “nations” and “kingdoms” (Matthew 24:6-7). The second seal (6:3-4—red horse removing peace) lines up with “rumours of war”, a global sense of tension that accompanies deadly conflicts (Matthew 24:6-7). The third seal (6:5-6—black horse signifying scarcity of food) fits Jesus’ words about “famines” (Matthew 24:7). The fourth horse (6:7-8—pale horse bringing widespread death) matches Jesus’ words about the deadly effects of wars and famines (Matthew 24:6-8). The opening of the fifth seal (6:9-11) points to the persecution and martyrdom His followers will face for their allegiance to His Word and their witness for Him (Matthew 24:9-14). The sixth seal, which brings a “great earthquake” on earth and cosmic disturbances in the heavens (6:12-17), matches Jesus’ promise of earthquakes (Matthew 24:7) and dramatic changes in the heavens (Matthew 24:29-30). Jesus foretold the “sign” of His return would include the sun going dark, the moon turning blood red, and stars falling like figs from a tree (compare Matt 24:29 with Rev 6:12-13). The finale of world history rolls out just as Jesus said it would.
Jesus allows faithful followers to be martyred on earth but brings them safely to heaven. The opening of the fifth seal reveals a group of martyrs in heaven. When they cry out, asking God for justice against those who killed them, they receive an unexpected response: “Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been” (6:11). Jesus knows and allows lethal persecution to take the lives of His faithful followers. However, He assures them justice will be served, and they will be safe in heaven (see 7:13-17). As believers living in the latter times, we should not expect to be exempt from experiencing the wrath of people who oppose the Lamb. Still, we can rest assured the Lord will execute judgment and bring us safely home to His heaven.
Jesus’ coming will be a cause for great mourning and panic for those who oppose Him. The global reaction to the signs of Jesus’ return is panic and distress. Those who dwell on the earth realize “the great day” of the wrath of God and the Lamb “has come” (6:16-17). People try to hide but realize that withstanding the wrath of God is impossible (6:16-17). Jesus foretold this would be the case. As He explained to His disciples, “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt 24:30; see also Zech 12:10). Sadly, while the people on earth panic when seeing and sensing the Lord’s wrath descend upon them, they do not repent of their sins or trust in God’s mercy (see 8:20-21). There does not appear to be a widespread turning to the sovereign, saving God during the great tribulation (see also 2 Thess 2:1-12, especially verse 11-12).
How Can We Keep the Words of this Prophecy?
We can expect terrible times in the last days. Revelation 6 gives a graphic display of Paul’s words to Timothy: “But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1 NIV). While the “last days” encompass the entire span of history since Pentecost (see Acts 2:16), the finale of the “last days” will turn increasingly dark and deadly. As we get closer to Christ’s coming, we should expect the “birth pains” to intensify (see Matt 24:8). While this truth seems ominous and frightening, it helps us recalibrate our expectations and fortify our souls to endure. [Note: Some interpreters contend the Rapture of the Church has already taken place before the opening of the seven seals. While this is a glorious possibility, the plain reading of Revelation 6 indicates some believers will still be on the earth when the fifth seal is opened (6:11). As I will explain when we get to Revelation 7, I see the flow of the book indicating all believers are Raptured and rescued after the opening of the sixth seal (see notes on Revelation 7).]
We must stay faithful to God’s Word and vocal in our witness even in terrible times. Jesus’ last command before ascending to heaven instructed believers to be His witnesses “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:18-20). Even in the midst of severe persecution and great carnage on earth, Jesus wants us to remain true to His Word and vocal in our witness. When Jesus spoke of the coming persecution preceding His second coming (6:9; Matt 24:9-10), He still emphasized the priority of witness: “And the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14).
We can rest knowing God will bring about justice and bring us safely home to heaven. When the fifth seal is opened, John sees “the souls” of Christians martyred for their adherence to the Word and their witness for Christ (6:9). John hears them crying out to God for justice; they want Him to “avenge” their deaths (6:10). Their appeal for justice is not denied, but delayed. They are told to “rest a little longer” until more Christians are killed (6:11). With the opening of the sixth seal, the wrath of God begins to come upon those who dwell on the earth (6:17). The prayers for justice prayed by the suffering people of God (6:16) begin to be answered powerfully with the opening of the seventh seal (see 8:1-5; 9:13-21). Here is a reminder that God will execute justice in the time of His choosing. We can rest in knowing that while He does not shield us from lethal persecution, He will deal with those who persecute His people. He will also make sure the full “number” of believers make it safely home to dwell in His presence in heaven (6:9-11).
Reflection Questions:
- How do Jesus’ words to the martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11 both sober and strengthen you?
- Jesus expects us to bear witness for Him even in difficult times. Will you pray for the grace and courage to be His witness this week?