Revelation Chapter Six

The Seven Seals

Revelation 6:1

“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come!’”

Revelation 6:1

“Lamb opened”

• This chapter begins with the Lamb opening one of the seven seals
• This seal is opened after the “open door” (1844) (compare Rev. 4:1; 5:1; 6:1)
• This Lamb is Jesus, the Lamb “slain” (Rev. 5:9)

“one of the seven seals”

• This seal is “one of the seven seals” and is actually the first seal since all of the other seals are numbered 2 thru 7  (Rev. 6:3,5,7,9,12; 8:1)

“one of the four living creatures”

• John also hears “one of the four living creatures”
• This is one of the creatures described as around God’s throne (Rev. 4:6-8, 5:8,11,14)
• Each creature is associated with a time period relating to the corresponding seal
• This creature is the lion since the other three creatures are each listed with their seals (Rev. 6:3,5,7)
• This lion represents “the Lion of the tribe of  Judah” (Rev. 5:5)
• This lion represents Jesus

“voice of thunder”:

• This implies it is heard by many
• This may be the first of the 7 thunders (Rev. 10:3,4) however, no one knows what these thunders are

Revelation 6:2

“And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

Revelation 6:2

• Historically, this verse represented the Apostolic church (A.D. 34-100)
• White = purity of truth
• “bow” = conquest
• “crown” = victory
• “conquering” = the spread of the gospel
• This prophecy is describing the spread of the gospel
• However, this event would occur again after 1844 since the book was not opened until after 1844, and the seals overlap the investigative judgment
• This prophecy was fulfilled in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when the gospel was spread across the world
• The “bow” represents spiritual warfare
• The “rider” represents the gospel conquering the world
• The “crown” represents the many victories won
• The “white horse” represents spiritual truth warfare
• The phrase “conquering and to conquer” means continuing to conquer or continued victory
• The creature is the lion of Judah which represents Jesus who will continue to conquer through His gospel to the end
• The last day time period of this seal begins in the late 1800’s

Revelation 6:3

“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’”

Revelation 6:3

• Jesus the Lamb slain now opens the second seal
• This is occurring in the heavenly throne room during the investigative judgment
• This seal is associated with the “second creature,” the ox (Rev.4:7)
• The ox:
• This ox will be associated with the time period which follows the lion
• This ox will be associated with the time after the reformation of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s
• This ox will be associated with warfare which will continue until the end of time
• This ox is described as a cherub in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:10 compare Ezekiel 10:14)

Revelation 6:4

“And out came another horse bright red, its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword.”

Revelation 6:4

• Historically, this red horse has been applied to the time A.D. 100 – A.D. 313
• This was a time of persecution for the church
• Red represented contamination of the pure white truth of the first seal with falsehoods as well as the bloodshed which occurred
• The sword represented the attacks on God’s people
• In the last days, this bright red horse represents warfare and bloodshed
• This is the second seal and also the second horseman
• Each of the first four seals are associated with horsemen
• The second seal represents global warfare both spiritual and literal
• This horseman is “permitted to take peace from the earth” so men could “slay one another”
• This horseman was given “a great sword”
• This event describes World War I and World War II
• In the last days this seal begins in 1914
• From 1914 thru 1975 over 100 million people died due to warfare
• The rider represents the countries involved in these wars
• The ox represents Satan who will cause both literal and spiritual warfare to continue to the end

Revelation 6:5

“When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say ‘come!’ And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hands”.

Revelation 6:5

• Historically, this verse was applied to the time period A.D. 313 - A.D. 538
• This time period was known for the uniting of Pagan and Christian teachings: the Sabbath was changed to Sunday
• The “black horse” represented falsehood
• The “balance” represented the union of church and state
• In the last days the third creature (a man) represents Satan the “man of lawlessness” (II Thess. 2:3)
• During the last days Satan will attack God’s law and change His Sabbath
• During the last days their will be a union of church and state
• The Greek word “zugos” translated “balance” means yoking together as with a yoke of oxen
• The yoking of church and state will result in a universal Sunday Law
• The third seal is connected to the Sunday Law
• This third seal represents the church-state union which will change God’s Law and the spiritual and literal famine which will occur during this time period
• Black represents the falsehood which is dominant during this time
• The false Sabbath accepted by the world
• The false Christ becoming accepted by the world
• This time period begins with the union of church and state represented by the “balance”
• The “rider” represents apostate Christianity which will bring about the church-state union

Revelation 6:6

”and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm oil and wine!’”

Revelation 6:6

• Historically, this verse has been applied to the time period of verse 5 (A.D. 313- A.D.538)   
• A “denarius” (about 11 cents) was equal to one day’s pay in John’s day
• This price for wheat and barley was very expensive (8-16 times normal) and implies a famine in the land
• In the last days there will also be literal famine when the Sunday Law is passed
• The Sunday Law will be the result of natural disasters leading to economic crisis
• These disasters will result in famine which will lead the world to think that God needs to be appeased, thus causing the Sunday Law
• The “harm” refers to the attack on God’s Law which occurred in the prior verse
• But the “wine” and “oil” are not to be harmed
• The “wine” represents Jesus blood spilled to save mankind
• The “oil” represents the Holy Spirit who is sent to guide us to the truth about Jesus
• God’s Holy Spirit will be poured out during this time in preparation for the latter rain to be poured out during the preliminary time of trouble
• The preliminary time of trouble will begin shortly after the reign of the 8^th king
• The third seal is characterized by famine both literal and spiritual
• This famine is caused by the man of sin (Satan) and will continue until the end of time

Revelation 6:7

“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’”

Revelation 6:7

• Historically, the fourth seal was considered the time period A.D. 538- A.D. 1517
• This is when Papal Rome dominated the world
• This was a time of persecution for God’s people
• The fourth living creature is the eagle
• The eagle represents God’s protection of His people (Exodus 19:4)
• This protection will be required during the fourth seal in the last days
• The eagle is linked to the last three trumpets called “woes” (Rev. 8:13)
• These three woes will require special protection for God’s people
• These three woes will occur during the last days
• The eagle and the trumpets are linked to events which occur after the third seal (Sunday Law)

• The eagle is also linked to the “woman” or God’s people at the time of the end (Rev. 12:14)
• The eagle is described as nourishing the woman for 3 ½ years (Rev. 12:14), which will begin with this seal during the last days

Revelation 6:8

“And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”

Revelation 6:8

• Historically, this prophecy has been applied to the time period A.D. 538- A.D. 1517 (the time of Papal Rome supremacy)
• This time period was known for the persecution of God’s people
• Papal Rome killed millions of people during this time
• In the last days the fourth horseman, the rider, represents Satan once he becomes the 8^th king
• The rider’s name is “death” = Satan
• The pale color also represents death
• Those who will die are those who reject Satan as their king
• The horse represents those who cause the death and destruction
• “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. " (The Great Controversy, page 624).
• “In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. " (The Great Controversy, page 624).
• Satan’s reign as spiritual leader of Christianity (8^th king) will overlap the 3^rd and 4^th trumpets
• When Satan reigns as the 8^th king he will have power over “a fourth of the earth”
• This one fourth represents those countries where Satan and his agents have total control
• This would include those countries currently under Papal control
• In these countries Satan will be able to kill those who reject him
• This would not include some democratic countries
• Satan will use many methods to kill God’s people:
• Sword
• Famine
• Pestilence
• Wild beasts
• The fourth seal begins with the reign of Satan (the false Christ) as the 8^th king

Revelation 6:9

”When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne”.

Revelation 6:9

• This text introduces the fifth seal
• The first four seals involve horsemen
• The last three seals do not
• The first four seals involve the four creatures
• The last three seals do not mention the creatures because the eagle has already begun His work with the prior seal (4^th)
• The four creatures depict the work of the protagonists in the Great Controversy in the last days:
• The Lion    ---  Jesus, the Lion conquering spiritually
• The Ox      ---  Satan, causing literal and spiritual war and physical destruction
• The Man    ---  Satan, the man of sin, causing literal and spiritual famine
• The Eagle  ---  God , the protector of His people
• Historically, this text has been applied to the Protestant Reformation (1517-1755)
• Those crying out represented those slain for God’s truth
• However, in the last days, this represents those slain after the reign of the 8^th king described in the fourth seal
• This will include all those slain after the 3^rd angel’s message and some of those slain during the 2^nd angel’s message
• These saints will be slain for “the word of God”:
• This can refer to God’s Word, which would then refer to the saints refusal to keep the false Sabbath
• This can also refer to Jesus as the Word, which would then refer to the saints refusal to worship the false Christ
• These saints will be slain for “the witness they had born”:
• This witness will be against the false Sabbath
• This witness will be against the false Christ
• God’s saints in the last days will “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12):
• They will reject the false Sabbath
• They will reject the false Christ
• The saints crying out for vengeance represent those saints killed after the reign of the 8^th king and the enforcement of the Sunday Law
• These same saints are seen praising God during the 3^rd plague for repaying their tormenters (Rev. 16:7)

Revelation 6:10

”they cried out with a loud voice, ‘O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?’”

Revelation 6:10

• These martyrs are asking God “how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood…?”
• This judgment will occur “on those who dwell upon the earth”
• This represents the wicked at the time of the end
• This judgment is described as “just” by these same martyrs in Rev.16:7
• Those who are repaid for their bloodshed are those who killed them (Rev. 16:6)
• Those who killed them are those who had the mark of the beast and received the plagues (Rev.16:2)
• The saints described here as martyrs are those killed after the fourth seal (8^th king)
• The saints killed here include all those saints slain after the third angel’s message occurs
• The third angel’s message (the enforcement of the Sunday Law) will occur after the 8^th king reigns since Satan will send out his angels to enforce it (Great Controversy,p.624)
• The question “how long?” is the same question Daniel asked in Dan. 12:6
• Daniel’s answer is found in Dan. 12:7,11,12
• John’s answer is found in the next verse

Revelation 6:11

“Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”

Revelation 6:11

• Historically, this text regarding the number killed has been applied to the martyrs of the Protestant Reformation
• However, in the last days, this text applies to God’s people who will be killed beginning with the reign of the 8^th king and ending with the close of probation
• These martyrs are told to “rest a little longer” which suggests a short time period
• “rest” here refers to the sleep of death
• This short time period encompasses the first part of the reign of the 8^th king
• At the end of this time period God is going to answer the martyrs request and begin the judgment of the wicked
• This time period of “rest” ends when “the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete”
• This number is complete when the last one of God’s people dies
• This occurs when the wise “shall fall” no longer (Dan.11:35)
• This occurs at the time of the end (Dan. 11:35), which is the “time of trouble” (Dan.12:1) and the “great tribulation” (Matt.24:21,22)
• These judgments (plagues) are poured out when the temple can no longer be entered (Rev.15:8)
• Since the temple cannot be entered this means that the investigative judgment has ended and probation has closed
• This verse means that God knows exactly how many of His people are going to die
• This verse tells us that God will begin to avenge His saints once His last saint dies
• These “brethren” will die up to the close of probation (Daniel’s time of the end, Dan.11:35)
• God’s people at the end of time are sealed with His mark on their forehead (Rev.7:4) and are called the 144,000
• Those who are living after the last martyr dies are called the 144,000
• The time period of the fifth seal begins with the 3^rd angel’s message (mark of the beast) and ends at the close of probation
• The time period of the fifth seal begins with the buy-sell enforcement of the Sunday Law and ends at the close of probation
• The time period of the fifth seal begins with the third angel’s message and ends at the close of probation
• The “souls” who are crying out represent all of God’s people killed after the reign of Satan as the 8^th king (the false Christ)

Revelation 6:12

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood.”

Revelation 6:12

• Historically, this seal has been applied to the time from 1755 to the end of time
• The “great earthquake” was in Lisbon, 1755
• The sun and moon darkened was in New England, May 19, 1780
• However, in the last days the 4^th seal applies to the 8^th king’s reign and the 5^th seal to the persecution of God’s people by the 8^th king after the buy-sell is enacted extending up to the close of probation
• This means that the sixth seal will overlap the plagues since they begin to be poured out at the close of probation
• The earthquake and the darkening of the sun and moon are connected to the events of the next four verses and should not be separated out as separate in time
• The event being described in Rev. 6:12-17 is the beginning of the Second Coming
• These same events are described by Joel and connected to the Second Coming (Joel 2:10,11,31; 3:15)
• These same events are described by Jesus and connected to the Second Coming (Matt 24:29) and occur “immediately after the tribulation of those days”
• Jesus clearly places these events in the heavens “after” the tribulation and not before it
• The tribulation is the “time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1) which occurs during the 7 last plagues
• The events of Revelation 6:12,13 will occur just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Revelation 6:13

“and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale".

Revelation 6:13

• Historically, this verse has been applied to the stars falling in New England in 1833
• However, the context of this verse suggests that the stars will fall along with the other events including the sky rolled up
• Jesus links this event to the Second Coming (Matt.24:29)
• The stars will fall again at the Second Coming

Revelation 6:14

“the sky vanished like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place".

Revelation 6:14

• The “sky vanished like a scroll”
• This event has not yet occurred
• This event will only happen at the Second Coming
• The sky will vanish and be filled with the hosts of heaven
• “every mountain and island was removed from its place”
• This earthquake will move the entire world
• This same earthquake is seen in the 7^th trumpet (Rev. 11:19)
• This same earthquake is seen in the 7^th plague (Rev. 16:20), where “every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.”

Revelation 6:15

“Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains”.

Revelation 6:15

• Everyone who has rejected salvation will hide from their Creator
• All the wicked no matter what their rank will try to hide from God just as Adam did

Revelation 6:16

“calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’”.

Revelation 6:16

• The wicked will recognize God and His Son
• God ,the Father, is seated on His throne (Rev.4:9)
• Jesus is the Lamb Slain (Rev.5:6) whose wrath has come
• God’s wrath is the 7 last plagues (Rev.15:1)
• This is the 7^th plague and the end of His wrath
• This is also the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:17)
• The wicked will call for the rocks to “fall on us”

Revelation 6:17

“for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?”

Revelation 6:17

• This is the great day of “their wrath”
• “their” refers to God, the Father, and to Jesus, the Lamb
• This is the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31)
• This is the day the 8^th king and his 10 kings are overthrown (Rev. 17:12-14)
• This is the day that only the 144,000 will be able “to stand before” (Rev. 7:1-4)
• This is the day of salvation for God’s people

Revelation 8:1

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half  an hour.”

Revelation 8:1

• Revelation chapter 8 continues the seven seals
• Revelation chapter 7 answers the question “Who can stand before it?”
• The answer is the 144,000
• The “Lamb” is Jesus who opened all the seals
• When this seal is opened there is “silence in heaven for about half an hour”
• There is silence because heaven is empty Jesus has gone to earth to get His redeemed
• This ½ “hour” would be about one week in prophetic time

Summary

• The seven seals can be seen as a historical overview from the Apostolic Age to the Second Coming or as a description of last-day events beginning with the investigative judgment in 1844
• The first four seals have both literal and symbolic applications:
• Gospel conquers
• Warfare
• Famine
• God’s protection
• The first seal depicts the white horse and rider “conquering and to conquer” (Rev.6:2) associated with the lion creature
• White horse --- God’s people after 1844
• The rider     --- The gospel
• The Lion      --- Jesus, the Lion of Judah
• The first seal represents the spread of the gospel throughout the world in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s
• The Lion represents Jesus and His gospel conquering until the end
• The second seal depicts a red horse and rider, global warfare and the Ox creature
• The red horse --- warfare and bloodshed
• The rider --- those countries involved in these wars
• “peace from the earth” --- WWI and WWII
• Ox --- Satan, who will cause spiritual and literal warfare until the end
• The second seal began in 1914 and is ongoing now
• The second seal will end when the third seal begins
• The third seal depicts a black horse and rider, a yoke, famine and the man creature:
• The black horse --- falsehood
• The rider --- Apostate Christianity
• The yoke --- church-state union which will pass a Sunday Law
• Famine --- literal and spiritual famine
• Man --- “the man of sin” (Satan)
• The third seal represents the famine both literal and spiritual which will occur during this seal
• The third seal will begin with the passage of the Sunday Law
• The third seal marks the beginning of the second angel’s message
• The fourth seal depicts a pale horse and rider, Death, one fourth, and the eagle creature
• The pale horse --- Those who cause death and destruction
• The rider --- Satan as the 8^th king
• Death --- the result of Satan’s reign
• One fourth --- countries ruled by the 8^th king
• Eagle --- God’s protection of His people
• The fourth seal represents the beginning of Satan’s reign as the world’s spiritual leader
• The fourth seal begins with the reign of the 8^th king and ends with the third angel’s message
• The fifth seal depicts souls slain crying out, judgment, white robe, and a number complete
• Souls crying out --- those killed during Satan’s reign as 8^th king, including all those killed after the mark of beast occurs
• Judgment --- God’s wrath after close of probation (plagues)
• The fifth seal depicts souls slain crying out, judgment, white robe, and a number complete
• White robe --- Christ’s robe of righteousness
• Number complete --- last martyr dies and probation closes
• The fifth seal begins during the reign of the 8^th king after the mark of the beast occurs (buy-sell enacted) and extends to the close of probation
• The fifth seal begins with the third angel’s message and extends to Daniel’s “time of the end” (Dan. 11:35)
• The fifth seal is the preliminary time of trouble
• The fifth seal ends with the beginning of the “time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1) and the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21)
• The sixth seal depicts a great earthquake, sun and moon darkened, stars falling, sky rolled up, wicked calling for rocks to fall on them, and the wrath of God and the Lamb
• Great earthquake --- earth’s final earthquake
• Sun and moon --- occurs with earthquake
• Stars fall --- occurs with sun and moon
• The sixth seal depicts a great earthquake, sun and moon darkened, stars falling, sky rolled up, wicked calling for rocks to fall on them, and the wrath of God and the Lamb
• Sky rolled --- occurs with stars falling
• Wicked calling --- occurs with above at the Second Coming
• God’s wrath --- includes all of the above and hail and fire
• The seventh seal depicts silence in heaven for half an hour:
• Silence --- heaven is empty, all the angels are with God above the earth
• Half an hour --- about one week, the time it takes to bring God’s people home?
• The seventh seal coincides with the Second Coming on earth

Traditional quick glance

1. Historically, this Seal represented the Apostolic church (A.D. 34-100)
2. Historically, this seal has been applied to the time A.D. 100 – A.D. 313.  This was a time of persecution for the church
3. Historically, this seal was applied to the time period A.D. 313 - A.D. 538.  This time period was known for the uniting of Pagan and Christian teachings: the Sabbath was changed to Sunday
4. Historically, the fourth seal was considered the time period A.D. 538- A.D. 1517.  This is when Papal Rome dominated the world.  Papal Rome killed millions of people during this time
5. Historically, this seal has been applied to the Protestant Reformation (1517-1755).  Those crying out represented those slain for God’s truth.  Martyr during this time.
6. Historically, this seal has been applied to the time from 1755 to the end of time.  The “great earthquake” was in Lisbon, 1755.  The sun and moon darkened was in New England, May 19, 1780.  Historically, this verse has been applied to the stars falling in New England in 1833