The Revelation of the Apostle John

Chapter 6

The opening of the first six of the seven seals in order, and what followed afterward, 1-17.

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, like the noise of thunder, one of the four living beings saying, "Come and see." 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given to him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living being say, "Come and see." 4 And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him who sat upon him to take peace from the earth so that they should kill one another. And there was given to him a great sword.

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and behold, a black horse. And he who sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say, "A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius, and see that you do not hurt the oil and the wine."

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, "Come and see." 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And his name who sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 And white robes were given to every one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow-servants and also their brothers, who should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig-tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the chief captains, the mighty men, every slave, and every free-man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of his wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?"

Commentary

Matthew Henry Commentary - Revelation, Chapter 6[➚]

Notes

[v.4] - "so that they should kill one another" - In other words, "so that the inhabitants of the earth should kill one another."

[v.11] - "should be fulfilled" - The ASV reads, "should have fulfilled their course."

[v.15] - "hid themselves in the caves" - Reference, Isaiah 2:19.

[v.16] - Reference, Hosea 10:8.

[v.17] - Reference, 1st Samuel 6:20; Psalm 76:7; Malachi 3:2.

Top