REVELATION CHAPTER 6. OPENING SEALS

Because of the great number of metaphors, and cryptic concepts, it is unlikely that anyone has a definitive understanding of Revelation. Hopefully, I have been able to shed some light on a few things. God Bless

REVELATION

CHAPTER VI

“1 The opening of the seales in order, and what followed thereupon, conteining a prophesie to the end of the world.”

The Translators

OVERVIEW

Herein the first six seals of seven introduced in chapter five are opened. For the most part, they portray plagues and persecutions that will come upon the earth, culminating in the seventh seal opened in chapter eight. We cannot be sure if the seals are opened almost at the same time or gradually over time. As all the plagues are common to all generations, most likely the seals were opened one after another in a short period of time, and the plagues allowed to take their courses simultaneously. We might even regard the plagues retroactive, as such things have been extant since the fall of Adam.

V. 1

“1 And I sawe when the Lambe opened one of the seales, and I heard as it were the noise of thunder, one of the foure beastes, saying, Come and see.”

Jesus opens one of the seals and John heard the noise of thunder. Then one of the four beasts invited him to come and see what was revealed.

FIRST SEAL - ANTICHRIST

V. 2

“2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and hee that sate on him had a bowe, and a crowne was giuen vnto him, and hee went foorth conquering, and to conquere.”

This is the rise of Antichrist. He impersonates Christ. John wrote, “Little children, it is the last time: and as yee haue heard that Antichrist shall come, euen now are there many Antichrists, whereby wee know that it is the last time. They went out from vs, but they were not of vs, they would not doubt haue continued with vs: but they went out that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of vs.” (1 John 2:18-19) Thus, Antichrist went out from the body of believers, even the early church; not just one Antichrist, but many throughout the centuries, even now. Like Jesus, he rides a white horse (Revelation 19:11-16), but he has no real power except that which God gives him for a time; he has a bow, but no arrows. Unlike Jesus who has a sword (Revelation 1:16, 2:12, 2:16, 6:4 & 6:8), is a King and God, and crowned such from eternity, Antichrist acquires a crown and a kingship for a while, and goes forth to conquer, impersonating righteousness.

Caesarian Rome cannot be the Antichrist per se, but is of the spirit of Antichrist; for, it was already well established when Antichrist went out from the church (1 John 2:18-19). Antichrist, more specifically, is that which emerged when Caesarian Rome began to crumble; that being Papal Rome. When Caesarian Rome was taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8), then rose to prominence Antichrist, a product of the final phase of the fourth kingdom prophesied by Daniel; that of the Romans.

The rider of this white horse is Antichrist and the spirit of Antichrist, of whom John wrote, “…this is the spirit of Antichrist, whereof you haue heard, that it should come, and euen now already is it in the world.”(1 John 4:3) He goes out to deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9); to have everyone believe he is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. This diabolic ministry, “…is after the working of Satan, with all power and signes, and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse, in them that perish: because they receiued not the loue of the trueth, that they might be saued. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should beleeue a lye: 12 That they all might bee damned who beleeeued not the trueth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

SECOND SEAL - WAR & KILLING

Vs. 3 - 4

“3 And when he had opened the second seale, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was giuen to him that sate thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was giuen vnto him a great sword.”

John is invited by one of the beasts to observe the revelation of the second seal. A red horse goes out; the scripture explains the function of the rider of the red horse; to take peace from the earth and foment the spirit of killing. The emergence of this spirit began with Cain killing Abel; from that point forward, there has never been peace of earth, and killing has continued. War has been a constant state. Yet, the opening of the second seal seems to herald an unprecedented level of violence on earth. It pertains most directly to the Roman Empire (pagan Rome) that was extremely violent, cruel and warring, followed by the Holy Roman Empire which exceeded pagan Rome in its brutality. This is further exacerbated by numerous tribal wars and wars on other continents. All tallied, the number of years of war on earth to date is staggering. 

THIRD SEAL - FAMINE

Vs. 5 - 6

“5 And when hee had opened the third seale, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and loe, a blacke horse: and hee that sate on him had a paire of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the foure beastes say, A measure of wheate for a penie, and three measures of barely for a penie, and see thou hurt not the oyle and the wine.”

John is invited to come and see what the opening of the third seal reveals. The balances represent rising costs (inflation). Verse six describes food shortages: the meager sustenance that a person might avail themself; however, it allows for no excess, or accommodation for other basic necessities. It portrays a bare subsistence. Wikipedia lists all the known famines on earth. From the time of this prophecy to the present there is no time in history when there were no famines somewhere on earth. Yet, the prophecy suggest that not all food sources would be devastated. This is represented by the oil and the wine, which were not to be hurt.

FOURTH SEAL - DEATH

Vs. 7 - 8

“7 And when hee had opened the fourth seale, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, & his name that sate on him was Death, and hell followed with him: and power was giuen vnto them, ouer the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, & with hunger, and with death, and with the beastes of the earth.”

This speaks generally of the time from Adam’s fall onward; however, it likely has a more pronounced future fulfillment, perhaps in Caesarian Rome and Papal Rome’s persecutions of all who would not submit to either caesar or the pontiff. Those who would not were often starved, thrown to wild beasts or slaughtered with the sword. This spirit is that of Antichrist that rises up whenever opportunity presents itself; for example, the Nazi persecution and slaughter of six million Jews, sponsored by the Vatican, and the Croatian genocide.

FIFTH SEAL - THE MARTYRS

Vs. 9 - 11

“9 And when hee had opened the fift seale, I saw vnder the altar, the soules of them that were slaine for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a lowd voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest thou not iudge and auenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were giuen vnto euery one of them, and it was sayd vnto them, that they should rest yet for a season, vntill their fellow seruants also, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Souls (meaning persons) slain for the word of God would include Old and New Testament saints. However, John primarily addresses those killed from the first century onward for holding the testimony of Jesus Christ. In particular, they would be saints murdered by Caesarian Rome and Papal Rome, both of which enacted violent campaigns against Christians. Caesarian Rome’s persecutions, though desperately wicked, paled in comparison to those of Papal Rome, during which more than 50 million Christians were martyred. These were followers of Christ who refused to submit to the pope of Rome. Martyring Christians is still happening in certain countries today, where there is no tolerance for anything other than state religion.

We might regard the cry of the heavenly martyrs ongoing; that is to say even now they await God’s vengeance upon their persecutors. Yet, God asks them to be patient, for there are still more martyrs being added to the heavenly number. They are given white robes signifying their righteousness by faith in Christ; when their number is complete then will Christ return and avenge his people (Revelation 19).

SIXTH SEAL - THE DAY OF THE WRATH OF THE LAMB

Vs. 12 - 17

“12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale, and loe, there was a great earthquake, and the Sunne became blacke as sackecloth of haire, and the Moone became as blood. 13 And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth, euen as a figge tree casteth her vntimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty winde. 14 And the heauen departed as a scrowle when it is rolled together, and euery mountaine and Island were moued out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chiefe captaines, and the mighty men, and euery bondman, and euery free man, hid themselues in the dennes, and in the rockes of the mountaines, 16 And said to the mountaines and rockes, Fall on vs, and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?”

Upon opening the sixth seal there is a great earthquake followed by cosmic signs. Earth and heaven become unstable, and the great and lowly hide themselves for fear. Nothing can protect them; for, they recognize the hand of God, but do not humble themselves before him. Rather, they try to escape in caves and mountain fortresses, hoping the rocks will fall upon them and they will not have to face the Lamb, who is Christ Jesus. This is the day of the wrath of the Lamb.