“The Seven Seals”

Chapter 6

Revelation

By: Michael FronczakBible Study Resource Center

564 Schaeffer DriveColdwater, Michigan 49036

mikefronczak@gmail.com

Copyright © 2005, 2007

Revelation 6

Jack Van Impe Introduction: As we begin chapter six, which introduces the Tribulation hour upon earth, a word of explanation is in order concerning the placement of signs. Some sincere Christians say, "Matthew 24:14 states that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come. Since there are some tribes who have not yet heard, Jesus Christ cannot return." Such people have their signs in the wrong place, because the Rapture is a signless, timeless event. Let's investigate this statement further. What relationship exists between the Rapture and prophetic signs? None. Are you shocked? The Rapture is only an evacuation of believers before the great judgment of the Tribulation hour. It is a meeting in the heavenlies and not Christ's return to the earth. Since His first coming was to earth, His second coming must also be to earth. The Rapture, then, is not a coming to earth, but a meeting in the clouds. Seven years later we return with Him, and all the signs point to this coming when He returns to earth.Watch the simplicity of this next statement unfold. Take two Bibles and place them side by side. Open one to the Book of Revelation, chapter 6, where the signs begin. Then open the other to Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 or Luke 21. Compare the signs in these chapters with those found in the Book of Revelation. The inescapable conclusion? They are identical! The texts are practically the same. The Church is raptured in chapter 4, verse 1, and believers-represented by the twenty-four elders in verses 10 and 11-are placing crowns at the Saviour's feet before the signs and judgments of the Tribulation hour begin in chapters 6 through 18. The signs, then, are post-Rapture and pre-Revelational. In other words, they are fulfilled after the Rapture and before the Revelation-after Christ calls His saints home to heaven and before He returns with them to earth. Not one sign needs to be fulfilled prior to the Rapture, because all the signs point to the Revelation, or the revealing of Christ to the earth. Thus, there is a period of seven years following the Rapture during which every sign can be adequately fulfilled. This, of course, is the Tribulation hour, after we Christians have been raptured. At this point every believer should praise the Lord, because the next statement is utterly fantastic. Since the signs point to Christ's return to earth, and since we believers return with Him, then the logical deduction is that all signs point to our return with Christ. Presently the signs are casting their shadows. They are all beginning to be fulfilled. Imagine! The prophecies that take place after we believers are gone and which indicate that we will return with Him are already beginning. If the signs indicate that we are coming back with Jesus soon, and we are still on earth, how very, very soon must the Rapture then occur to take us out of this earth so that, seven years later, we can return with Him! Presently a number of the sealed judgments contained in this chapter deserve special emphasis. Each will be discussed thoroughly later. First, in verse 2, we discover a rider

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on a white horse. This coincides with Jesus' statement in Matthew 24:3-5, when His disciples asked Him, What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. This rider on the white horse, depicting the first seal judgment, is a counterfeit. Satan always attempts to do everything that the Lord Jesus Christ is going to do. The Lord is seated on a white horse in chapter 19, verse 11, when He returns with you and me to the earth. Thus, seven years before Christ returns, the Antichrist also mounts a white horse. This event is identical to the sign of Matthew 24:3. Next one should note verses 3 and 4: And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. This is the second sign Jesus mentioned: that there would be wars and rumors of wars (see Matthew 24:6).Verses 5 and 6 state: And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. This is a picture of mass starvation and agrees with Christ's third sign: There shall be famines (Matthew 24:7). In verses 7 and 8 we are told, And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. The fourth seal judgment agrees with Christ's statement: [There shall be] pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places, destroying thousands, yea millions (Matthew 24:7). Verse 9 states: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. This is the fifth sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24:8 and 9: These are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Finally in verses 12-16, John tells us, And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. The sixth seal is the sixth sign Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:29: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.Thus, it is evident that Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain the same signs as the Book of Revelation. However, one must realize that each sign is completed or fulfilled after

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chapter 4, verse 1, where the Church is called to heaven in the twinkling of an eye through the phrase, Come up hither. As previously stated, these signs that are to be fulfilled after we are gone are already transpiring. We see them before our eyes daily in world events. Today's "Bible Headlines" indicate that you and I will soon return with Jesus. However, we must first go home via the Rapture in order to return soon. Surely this momentous event is at the door! I think you know that the foregoing discussion of prophetic signs in relationship to the Rapture and the Revelation has given us a panoramic view of chapter 6. Now let's delve into this portion of God's Word more deeply. In chapters 6 through 18, we witness firsthand the events which take place upon the earth during the Tribulation. The presentation occupies nearly two-thirds of the Book of Revelation-a total of thirteen chapters. One should also note that three additional Bible verses graphically describe this hour of horrendous judgment: (1) Jeremiah 30:7: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it; (2) Daniel 12:1: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book; and (3) Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. These texts inform us of the fact that the Tribulation will constitute earth's bloodiest hour. There will not have been anything in past centuries to equal it, neither will there be any event in the future to match the judgment unleashed upon our planet. The catastrophic calamities arrive through a series of twenty-one judgments which are described as seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. At the outpouring of each bowl, a new judgment is released. The seal judgments are found in Revelation 6:1 through 8:1. The first six are located in chapter 6. Chapter 7 is a parenthesis, and the seventh seal judgment takes place in chapter 8, verse 1.1

McGee Introduction: As we come to chapter 6, the scene shifts to the earth, and the question naturally is: What happens on the earth when the church leaves? The Great Tribulation takes place, and that is the subject of chapters 6–18. The opening of the seven-sealed book is the subject specifically of chapter 6 through verse 1 of chapter 8. These seven seals open up the Great Tribulation Period. The Lord Jesus breaks the seals, and the four horses ride forth. We will see the martyred dead during that period and the coming of the day of wrath. In a very orderly way, the seventh seal introduces the blowing of seven trumpets (see Rev. 8:2–11:19). The blowing of the seventh trumpet introduces seven startling persons (see Rev. 12–13). The beast out of the sea introduces the seven bowls of wrath (see Rev. 15–16). The last bowl of wrath brings to us the burden, or the judgment, of Babylon, and that brings to an end the Great Tribulation Period (see Rev. 17–18), and then Christ comes to the earth.

It is interesting to note that upon Babylon are the first and the last judgments. Babylon, at the Tower of Babel, represents the first organized rebellion against God (see Gen. 11:1–9). Babylon also represents the last rebellion against God, both religiously (see Rev. 17) and politically (see Rev. 18). This brings to an end man’s little day on this earth.

1 A Message of Hope from Dr. Jack Van Impe, Commentary on The Book of Revelation, Van Impe

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The important thing for us to keep before us is the One who is worthy to open this book. He is directing everything now. As we were told at the beginning, this is the Revelation, the unveiling, of Jesus Christ. He is no longer walking among the lampstands, for they have all been removed from this earth. He is no longer the High Priest, standing as intercessor, but He is now the executor of God’s will upon the earth as He opens the seals of the book. All the judgments of the Great Tribulation usher forth from the seals out of which come the trumpets, the persons, and the bowls.

The Great Tribulation is triggered from heaven. Jesus Christ directs the entire operation. This is the reason that Psalm 2:9 says, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron….” Many will say that they don’t like all this. Do you have a better suggestion as to how He should put down the rebellion on this earth? If you do, would you pass it on to the Lord Jesus? How do you think He should put it down? Suppose He came like He did more than nineteen hundred years ago. Do you think they are ready in Moscow, in the Kremlin, to turn authority over to Him? How about in any other country? How about in our country? I’m telling you, they are not about to turn it over to Him in Washington, D.C. Neither of our political parties is interested in putting Jesus Christ on the throne. They have some very unworthy men on both sides who would like to be on the throne. My friend, may I say to you that He alone is the One who is worthy. And how is He going to come to power? Exactly as the second psalm says: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.” We are going to see that taking place from now on in the Book of Revelation—this is judgment on the earth.

The church will be delivered from this period of judgment. Why? Is it because they are such nice, sweet, Sunday school children? Oh, no. They are sinners, but they are saved by the grace of God. Only those who reject the grace of God go into the Great Tribulation Period. This is my reason for believing that God has raised up the medium of radio in our day to get the Word of God out to the ends of the earth. He is going to let them all hear the gospel, and when they make their decision, that will decide whether or not they are going into the Great Tribulation.

Chapters 4–5 were but the preparation for that which was to follow—the judgment of the earth. In chapter 4 we saw the throne and the triune God; in chapter 5 we saw the book and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are certain factors that are brought into focus which increase the intensity and the ferocity of the Great Tribulation:

1. The Holy Spirit will restrain evil no longer. Do I mean that He will leave the world? No, He won’t leave. He was in the world before the Day of Pentecost, but on the Day of Pentecost He assumed a new ministry of baptizing believers into the body of Christ, a ministry of indwelling them, of filling them, and of leading and guiding them in this world. He will take the church out of this world, but that does not mean that He is going to leave. He will still be here, but He will not restrain evil any longer. In other words, man is going to have his little day during that period, and so is Satan. This is the reason I don’t want to be here.

2. The true church, as light and salt, will be gone from the earth. Although the church has very little influence in the world today, it still has a little, but when it leaves the earth, there will be none left.

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3. The Devil knows that he has but a short time. He is going to make hay while the sun shines. He is going to take advantage of it during this period, and God is going to give him free rein.

4. Evil men will be free to carry out their nefarious plans. In other words, Antichrist will be able to take over this earth for a brief period of time.

5. There will be direct judgment from God. We see that here in v. 17, which says, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

I do not think that the Great Tribulation breaks suddenly like a great tornado. The opening of the seals is gradual, logical, chronological. They are opened one at a time. The Book of Revelation makes sense, my friend.

As we come to the text of this chapter, may I make the statement very carefully that, from chapter 4 on, this is speaking of the future. Now if it is future and if we today are in the time of “the things which are,” the period of the church, we cannot drag any of the seals, the trumpets, the bowls, or the persons up into our own day. I do believe we are seeing the setting of the stage, but I do not think that any of these things are taking place today. Yet we find that a great many persons are interpreting this section in just that way. It is sensationalism, of course, and I guess it gets listeners and sells books, but it surely isn’t according to the way John put it down here. I simply want to lay it down as an axiom that from chapter 6 on it has reference to the future, and none of these things has come to pass as yet.

The section of Revelation which deals with the seven churches could be fitted into history, but you cannot fit any of this which follows into history. The differences between the two great systems of interpreting prophecy—the futurist and the historic viewpoints—really become manifest at this point in Revelation. The historical theory takes the position that all of this is history and can be fitted into history. It is quite interesting to me that many who hold the historical viewpoint assume that this is future from here on, or a little farther down they make it future—in other words, they just can’t fit it into history. The amillennialist tends to fit everything from here on into history. As a result, there are about fifty different systems of interpretation, according to Dr. Walvoord, that have come out of the historical viewpoint. My friend, forty-nine of those are bound to be wrong, and personally, I think the other one is also wrong!

I went to a seminary that was amillennial, where they attempted to fit the rest of Revelation into the historical, or the amillennial, viewpoint. It became ridiculous and even comical at times. For example, when we reached the place where Scripture says that Satan was put into the bottomless pit, we were taught that that has already taken place. I asked the professor, “How do you explain the satanic activity that is taking place today?” He replied, “Satan is chained, but he has a long chain on him. It is like when you take a cow out into a vacant lot and tether her out on a long rope and let her graze.” That was his explanation! And my comment was, “Doctor, I think Satan’s got a pretty long chain on him then, because he is able to graze all over the world today!” It really makes some Scriptures seem rather ridiculous when you follow the historical viewpoint.

May I say very definitely that John has made it clear that we have now come to future things, and anything from here on through chapter 20 is still future. We are following a

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chronological order here, and it is very logical. You simply cannot say that these events are taking place today, and you cannot fit them into history.2

The worship in Revelation 4 & 5 is preparation for the wrath of God in Chapters 6-19. This may appear strange to us—that worship and wrath should go together—but this is only because we do not fully comprehend the holiness of God or the sinfulness of man.

In no previous period of mankind have “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ.”

(Rev 11:15) 15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever..

As we embark on the next 14 action-filled chapters that detail the “70th Week” of Daniel, recognize that the style of communication has been engineered to provide a timeless message of truth to every generation, not just to those who are alive when these events occur (13:9, 16:15, 22:7, 18-20 highlight the timelessness of the message). These chapters (6:1–19:21) record the horrifying events of what is called the “Tribulation” and the “Great Tribulation.” Though this seven-year period of time is one of retribution upon a world that has rejected the lordship of God, it is also a time of personal and cosmic redemption. The events of the Tribulation center or focus primarily upon three series of seven judgments each: (1) seals (6:1-17), (2) trumpets (8:1-9:21), (3) bowls (16:1-17). These series of judgments are best interpreted in their relationships to one another as being partially concurrent. This is sometimes called the telescopic view. This approach understands the seventh seal to introduce and contain the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet to introduce and contain the seven bowls. The seven trumpets, therefore, are the seventh seal, and the seven bowls are the seventh trumpet.

“The four horsemen of the apocalypse” Popularly referred to as “the four horsemen of the apocalypse,” this vision describes four destructive attacks on the earth. Amillennialists and postmillennialists believe the vision applies to all periods of history; premillennialists believe the vision refers particularly to the end time. The white horse and rider represent political might; the red horse represents warfare; the black horse represents famine; and the pale horse represents death. Some see the first rider as a symbol of the church or of Christ. Compare 19:11-16. Most teach that the first rider is the antichrist. All can see that expanding political power often leads to war, which leads to shortages of staple goods and results in widespread death.

2McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:939). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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BackgroundChrist’s unfulfilled mandate (Isa 61:1,2) as our “Avenger of Blood” (Isa 61:2) is about to begin.

The dispensational gap between Luke 4:19 and Isa 61:2

(Luke 4:17-20) 17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

(Isa 61:1-2) 1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Regeneration = going back to Geneses (Gen 3:15).

This is real – real in the since that it is going to happen and real in the since that they are real rulers etc. these events are going to actually transpire, the events are on the horizon. Luke 4:18-21 and Isa 61:1-2, what the Bible doesn’t say!

Man tells us that the world is getting better;God says it will become increasingly worse.

Man says that peace among nations is close at hand;God says there will be wars and rumors of wars, kingdom against kingdoms...

Man expects to win the battle against disease, famine, and hardship;God says there is to be fearful judgments of disease, famine, and hardship.

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Some suggest that these judgments will occur simultaneously. This can’t be. The seven trumpets do not begin until the seventh seal is opened, and the seven bowls do not begin until the seventh trumpet is blown.

Chapters 6-19 concern the judgments and players of the events often referred to as the Tribulation, a period of time covering seven years. But as Ryrie points out:

There is no problem in outlining the events of these chapters; the difficulty comes in determining the sequential order of those events, particularly the relation of the three series of judgments to each other. Do the judgments of the seals (chap. 6), and of the trumpets (chaps. 8-9) and of the bowls (chap. 16) follow each other in succession, or do the trumpets and /or the bowls recapitulate the judgments of the seals with greater intensity? In other words, do the trumpet and bowl judgments follow the seals as different and distinct judgments or do they picture the same judgments? To this writer’s understanding they all follow in chronological sequence and there is no recapitulation.3

Discussing this same issue, Everett Harrison writes:It has been claimed by some commentators that these three successive septenary series of three judgments are a recapitulation of the same events. That is, the trumpets review what the seals previously set forth, but with greater intensity; and the vials review the same events, characterizing them with even more severity. I have not been able to accept this view. For one reason, the sequence in each series is altogether different, and this alone, it seems, makes the concept of recapitulation impossible.4

Though this was discussed in the introduction to this study, let me summarize the make up of chapters 6-19. Chapters 6-19 cover the Tribulation events with chapters 6 (the seals), 8-9 (the trumpets), and 16 (the bowls) forming the chronological backbone and following one another sequentially. The others chapters give us important information about the key players in the drama of these end time events from the standpoint of heaven and earth. Ryrie has an excellent explanation of this.

The other chapters reveal vital information about the period but are not arranged in chronological order. They either cover the entire period, or spotlight an event within the period, or survey the first or last half of the period. The chapters in this section are arranged like a conversation on the telephone between two persons. They start telling the story in order (chap. 6) but soon there is an interruption to fill in some information (chap. 7). Then the order of events is resumed (chaps. 8-9), then some more fill-in (chaps. 10-15). There is a return to the progressive order of events (chap. 16) and finally more detail (chaps. 17-19). Sometimes the fill-in runs

3 Charles Ryrie, Revelation, Moody Press: Chicago, 1968, p. 43.4 Harrison, Electronic Media.

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ahead of the story and at other times it backs up to add or emphasize pertinent information.5

There is a remarkable similarity between the progress of chapter 6 as a whole and the description given by our Lord of the end of the age in Matthew 24:4-31. In both passages the order is (1) war (Matt 24:6-7; Rev 6:3-4), (2) famine (Matt 24:7; Rev 6:5-6), (3) death (Matt 24:7-9; Rev 6:7-8), martyrdom (Matt 24:9-10, 16-22; Rev 6:9-11, (5) the sun darkened, the moon darkened, and the stars falling (Matt 24:29; Rev 6:12-14), (6) a time of divine judgment (Matt 24:32-25:26; Rev 6:15-17).

Judgment Chart

Judgments

JudgmentSeries

Identified

JudgmentSeries

Interrelated

The Seven Seals(6:1-8:6)

1. Antichrist 2. War 3. Famine 4. Death 5. Martyrs’ prayers 6. Great earthquakes

7. Announcement of Trumpets

The SevenTrumpets(8:7-9:21)

1. A third of vegetation burned 2. A third of the sea judged 3. A third of fresh water judged 4. A third of the luminaries darkened 5. Increased demonic activity 6. A third of mankind killed

7. Announcement of Bowls

The SevenBowls(15:1-16:21)

1. Malignant sores 2. Sea turned to blood 3. Fresh water to blood 4. Men scorched with fire 5. Darkness over the kingdom of the Beast 6. Invasion from the east 7. Greatest earthquake and widespread destruction

5 Ryrie, Revelation, p. 44.

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Revelation 6:1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

[I saw] John saw it; he was transported ahead in time to see this. It may have been hard to describe some of the things he saw using the images, thoughts, and language of his day.

[one of the four living creatures saying, Come and see]: When the subject concerns heaven, the elders speak. When it concerns the earth, the living creatures speak.

[Come] erchomai, (G2064), Proceed. Ordered by one of the living creatures. The middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses; to come, of persons, to come from one place to another, and used of persons arriving, to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public; to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto; to go, to follow one.

He breaks the seal, and says, “Go.” Although the King James Version gives the impression that an invitation is given to John to “Come and see,” the phrase “and see” should be omitted, and since the order issues from heaven, the proper translation is “Go.”Older translations do not have “and see” (mistranslation) only come releasing someone to go forth.

And so the first thing that takes place upon the earth once the church has been taken out, the moment this first seal is broken, the antichrist comes forth on a white horse. He is the false Messiah, the false Christ. And he begins to conquer over the earth, bringing the earth under this sphere of his power and control. Because we are told, and again to prove that Satan is still in control of the world, we are told in Revelation thirteen, that Satan will give to Him his throne and his authority. So He is going to turn the earth over to the antichrist, but we see his emergence here, the first thing after the church is gone.

Now according to Paul in second Thessalonians two, talking about the antichrist, he cannot come forth until the church is out of the way. "For that which hinders shall hinder until it is taken out of the way and then shall the son of perdition be revealed." So he can't be revealed until the hindering force is removed, which is the Spirit of God within the church of Jesus Christ.

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Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth"(Matthew 5:13). What is salt? It was a preserving influence. It was a preservative. Jesus is saying the church is preserving the world. They use the salt in the meat in those days to kill the surface bacteria, because they didn't have refrigeration. So the meat was salted to keep it from rotting, from putrefying. So when Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth," they understood that we are an influence to keep the world from getting rotten. But He said, "If the salt has lost its savor than it is good for nothing and will be cast out and trodden under the foot of man"(Matthew 5:13). And if you will look at those nations that have fallen to communism, in every one of them the church had died. As far as its influence was concerned, it was dead; the salt had lost its savor.

The church is the only preserving influence in the world today. If it were not for the church, even the United States would be down the tubes already. Now they hate us because we are restraining them from all of the evil that they would love to be doing. We do form and should form a restraining force in the world. If a person said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were here." Rejoice. You have a purifying influence where you work. If they make fun of you saying, "We can't do it because look who is here, holy Joe." Rejoice. That is what God wants you to be, a purifying influence. Keep them from telling those filthy stories. Keep them bragging over their filthy acts. Make them embarrassed for the evil things that they do. You are the salt of the earth. You are to be a preserving influence.

If we cease to be that preserving influence, we will cease to be. If the salt loses its savor, it is good for nothing. The Lord is saying you are only good for one thing and that is preserving the world. The moment the church is removed, that preserving influence is gone and right on the scene comes the antichrist. "That which hinders shall hinder until it is taken out of the way and then shall the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who goes forth with all deceiving and lying" and so forth.

So right in order, the church is there in heaven having been caught up. The first seal is opened, which is really one of the first orders of business in heaven, and the antichrist comes forth conquering to conquer, bringing the world under his control. Now for the first three and a half years he is going to be hailed as a savior. The world is going to say, "Aha, you see. We told you all the time the problem was those rotten Christians. They kept us from all the prosperity and everything else."

[heard] Found 33 times in Revelation; hear 7 times; and heareth 2 times.

[thunder] Found 10 times in Revelation.

Van Impe: At this command, the apostle sees the One who is worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof, the blessed Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus, beginning the work of judgment. Immediately John hears the noise of thunder-a sign of impending catastrophe- as well as one of the living creatures (angels) saying, Come and see. The

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words, and see, are not in the original, just the word Come. It is a command given to the rider on the white horse, the infamous Antichrist. His time has arrived!6

Revelation 6:2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

1st Seal: The White Horse—The Overcoming Conqueror

As John watched the events after the opening of the first… seal by the Lamb, he saw a white horse with a rider holding a bow, wearing a victor’s crown (stephanos), and going forth to conquer. Because Christ in His second coming is pictured (19:11) as riding on a white horse, some have taken it that this rider in 6:2 also must refer to Christ, as the white horse is a symbol of victory. Roman generals after a victory in battle would ride a white horse in triumph with their captives following. The chronology, however, is wrong, as Christ returns to the earth as a conqueror not at the beginning of the Tribulation but at the end of the Tribulation. Also the riders on the other horses obviously relate to destruction and judgment, which precede the second coming of Christ by some period of time. This guy is traveling in bad company.

A better interpretation is that the conqueror mentioned here is the future world ruler, sometimes referred to as Antichrist though Revelation does not use this term. He is the seed of Genesis Chapter 3.

(Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

He is probably the same person as the ruler of the people mentioned in Daniel 9:26. This ruler has a bow without an arrow, which many feel indicates that the world government, which he establishes, is accomplished without warfare (see comments on Rev. 13:4). The future world government begins with a time of peace but is soon followed by destruction (1 Thes. 5:3). In general, the seals, trumpets, and bowls of divine wrath signal the terrible judgments of God on the world at the end of the Age, climaxing in the second coming of Christ.

[Horses] = judgments (2 Kgs 6:15-18; Jer 46:9-10; Joel 2:3-11; Nahum 3:1-7; Zech 1:8-11; 6:1-7).

[Bow] Darts, arrows (Eph 6:6) vs. sword (Rev 19:15; Eph 6:16; Mt 10:34).

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1) Symbol of Nimrod the hunter? (traditional symbol) 2) Same word as signified the promise to Noah (this seems to be missed by most commentators) A sign of the covenant between God and mankind.Hebrew: qesheth (H7198); (LXX) Greek: toxon (G5115)

1) bow; 1a) bow (for hunting, battle); 1b) bowmen, archers; 1c) bow(figure of might); 1d) rainbow.

Law of first mention:

(Gen 9:13) I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

(Dan 8:25) And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

The rider is, indeed, the “Prince that shall come” (Dan 9:26). His career begins as a peacemaker, with the covenant of peace with Israel (Dan 9:26-27): He shall confirm (enforce) the covenant with (the) many for one (the 70th) week, but in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease...

(Dan 9:26-27) 26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Word antichrist = “in place of” not against.

[Crown] stephanos, (G4735) the victor’s crown, not a diadem (G1238). Christ will wear a diadem, the crown of a sovereign, reigning monarch (Rev 19:12).

Rider is not Christ: this guy is in bad company. He will resemble Christ; it is interesting how many commentators are also fooled! Furthermore, this one is called by the living creatures; hardly fitting for Christ Himself.

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[conquering, and to conquer] = nikao (G3528) overcoming, and to overcome: Ezek 14:21; Mt 24:5; Mk 13:6; Lk 21:8; Isa 14:16,17. Bloodless conquest.

The blood comes soon after.

White horse? John 5:43. (Overcomers? Mt 16:18 vs Dan 7:21; Rev 13:7.)

(John 5:43) I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Can the antichrist bring peace?

(Isa 57:20-21) 20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

When Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a man of peace, he did not ride in on a conqueror’s white horse, but on a donkey. When he returns as a conqueror at the end of the Tribulation Period, he will ride on a white horse. Notice that the Antichrist does not ride in on a donkey in peace, but rather on a horse in conquest.

Reasons this cannot be Christ(1) This occurs too early in the Tribulation. At this time Christ is in heaven rewarding His bride while at the same time pouring out wrath from the throne mentioned in chapter 4:2. Christ’s coming on a white horse is at the end and is the culmination of the Tribulation. Also, note that Revelation 6:16 views the Lamb as still in heaven.(2) Further support that the white horse rider is not Christ is the parallelism with the other three horses which are instruments of judgment. Each rider is an instrument of evil and judgment on the world. The Lamb is viewed as the One who opens the seals allowing the riders to go forth and would not be one of the riders.(3) In Revelation 19 no more judgments follow. Christ’s own coming puts an end to the Tribulation judgments. Here, however, the judgments of the entire Tribulation have yet to unfold. (4) The crown which this rider wears is the stephanos crown, a single crown and a victor’s crown, not the diadem crown of a sovereign. In chapter 19 the white horse rider wears many crowns, and they are the diadem crowns—the crowns of sovereignty.

McIlvaine makes the penetrating observation that the authority given to the riders of the four horses to kill with sword, famine, death, and wild beasts extends to all four equally or as a group. This would make impossible identifying the first rider as Christ and the succeeding riders as forces of evil, but would tie them together.

Van Impe: Satan has always tried to duplicate the works of God. Back in the day of Moses, the demon-possessed magicians of Pharaoh were able to accomplish the same

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miracles as Aaron. This has always been Satan's ploy. He is not the creator-God is. All he can do is imitate or fake the works of the Almighty. This rider appears at the outset, or beginning, of the Tribulation period. There can be no such hour without him. Since he is the master counterfeiter, who is he imitating? The answer is found in chapter 19, verses 11 through 16, which describe Christ's return at the conclusion of the Tribulation. The fake begins it and the Saviour ends it. John says, And I saw heaven opened. This is the second time an opening appears in heaven (see Revelation 19:11) to provide an exit for Christ and His bride as they return to earth. As heaven is opened, John beholds a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. This is the coming of the true Christ. Since our Christ is God, the Antichrist also proclaims himself as God. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). We will study this hypocritical creep later. Presently let's just skim the surface.The Antichrist comes to power through an international peace pact (see Daniel 9:27). This is why the horse's rider has a bow but no arrows. The Antichrist conquers through diplomacy as a king, hence, the crown. In fact, when he takes control over the nations via a world government, power [is] given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations (Revelation 13:7). The Antichrist is rapidly followed by three additional riders of judgment. Together, these four horsemen of the apocalypse bring heartache upon the globe such as has never been experienced in the annals of history. The Antichrist is called the Beast because of his character (chapter 13, verses 2 and 3), because he ascends out of the abyss (chapter 17, verse 8) and because he receives his power, his throne, and his authority from Satan (chapter 13, verse 2). The Antichrist's ascendancy to world leadership signals the unleashing of the remaining twenty judgments.The peace that was made by the first rider is broken by the one who mounts the red horse. This, of course, is in harmony with the first rider's-or Antichrist's-program. Daniel 9:27 outlines the peace package as well as its failure: And he [the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. When peace is confirmed, the Jews will feel at ease to conduct sacrifices without fear of war. However, in the midst of the week, or literally in the middle of the heptad, the contract is broken. The term heptad in the original means "seven years." As decade means "ten years" in English, so heptad means "seven years" in Hebrew. Now we understand more fully why the Tribulation covers a timetable of seven years-simply because Daniel 9:27 states that the Antichrist will make his proposal for a

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heptad-seven years-and then break it in the midst of the heptad, or after three and one-half years.7

Chuck Smith: And so the first thing that takes place upon the earth once the church has been taken out, the moment this first seal is broken, the antichrist comes forth on a white horse. He is the false Messiah, the false Christ. And he begins to conquer over the earth, bringing the earth under this sphere of his power and control. Because we are told, and again to prove that Satan is still in control of the world, we are told in Revelation thirteen, that Satan will give to Him his throne and his authority. So He is going to turn the earth over to the antichrist, but we see his emergence here, the first thing after the church is gone. Now according to Paul in second Thessalonians two, talking about the antichrist, he cannot come forth until the church is out of the way. "For that which hinders shall hinder until it is taken out of the way and then shall the son of perdition be revealed." So he can't be revealed until the hindering force is removed, which is the Spirit of God within the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth"(Matthew 5:13). What is salt? It was a preserving influence. It was a preservative. Jesus is saying the church is preserving the world. They use the salt in the meat in those days to kill the surface bacteria, because they didn't have refrigeration. So the meat was salted to keep it from rotting, from putrefying. So when Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth," they understood that we are an influence to keep the world from getting rotten. But He said, "If the salt has lost its savor than it is good for nothing and will be cast out and trodden under the foot of man"(Matthew 5:13). And if you will look at those nations that have fallen to communism, in every one of them the church had died. As far as its influence was concerned, it was dead; the salt had lost its savor. The church is the only preserving influence in the world today. If it were not for the church, even the United States would be down the tubes already. Now they hate us because we are restraining them from all of the evil that they would love to be doing. We do form and should form a restraining force in the world. If a person said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were here." Rejoice. You have a purifying influence where you work. If they make fun of you saying, "We can't do it because look who is here, holy Joe." Rejoice. That is what God wants you to be, a purifying influence. Keep them from telling those filthy stories. Keep them bragging over their filthy acts. Make them embarrassed for the evil things that they do. You are the salt of the earth. You are to be a preserving influence. If we cease to be that preserving influence, we will cease to be. If the salt loses its savor, it is good for nothing. The Lord is saying you are only good for one thing and that is preserving the world. The moment the church is removed, that preserving influence is gone and right on the scene comes the antichrist. "That which hinders shall hinder until it is taken out of the way and then shall the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who goes forth with all deceiving and lying" and so forth.So right in order, the church is there in heaven having been caught up. The first seal is opened, which is really one of the first orders of business in heaven, and the antichrist comes forth conquering to conquer, bringing the world under his control. Now for the

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first three and a half years he is going to be hailed as a savior. The world is going to say, "Aha, you see. We told you all the time the problem was those rotten Christians. They kept us from all the prosperity and everything else." Of course, all the wealth of the Christians will be left here and be divided up by the world and everybody will be having great days as they come in to plunder the goods of the Christians. And the antichrist will offer his new economic programs and his new peace proposals and they will say, "Yes, the church was responsible for all of the wars. Now that we got those warmongers out of here, we can have peace here on the earth." And he is going to come in with peace and prosperity and the big program and they will think that this guy is it. This guy has saved the world. The world was ready to go down the tubes, but this man has saved the world. He will be hailed as the Messiah or the savior. "He goes forth conquering and to conquer", but after three and a half years things change.8

2nd Seal: Red Horse—War

Revelation 6:3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

[Come and see] The four horses and riders are each summoned by one of the four living creatures. Each of the four horsemen is introduced to John by one of the four beasts, each of the beasts introducing one of the horsemen.

Revelation 6:4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

[red] is associated with terror and death: the red dragon, red was the color most associated with war and bloodshed (hence the “red planet” is named Mars for the Roman god of war). (12:3) and the red beast (17:3). Cf. Mt 24:6,7; Mk 13:7,8; Lk 21:9,10; Dan 11:36. [Sword] Machaira (G3162). Ezek 38:21; Jer 25:15-33 (29); Micah 7; Dan 11:33The “sword” was often a symbol of judgment by war in the Old Testament and later literature.

With the breaking of the second seal a red horse appeared with a rider empowered to take peace from the earth (cf. “the red dragon,” 12:3; the “scarlet beast,” 17:3). In contrast

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with the first rider who has a bow without an arrow this second rider carried a large sword. This again was a picture of political power with the rider as the world ruler. Think of a world with no peace in it!

Van Impe: One of the nations that marches during this period of time is Red Russia. How interesting that a rider on a red horse takes peace from the earth! Could Red Russia play such a major role during this hour? In Ezekiel 38:2, the terms Magog, Meshech, Tub-al, and Rosh are mentioned in connection with a march to the Middle East for the battle of battles, before Armageddon. Listen to the message God gave Ezekiel: Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him (Ezekiel 38:2). Each of these names can be located within the present-day Soviet Union. Tobolsk, the eastern capital of the USSR, is the ancient "Tubal" mentioned in the text. It is southwest of Siberia on modern maps-the place where U-2 pilot Gary Powers was gunned down years ago. Meshech is Moscow. The historical names for Moscow begin with "Meshech," then "Moshoch," then "Moschi," then "Moscoty," then "Moscovy" and finally, Moscow. "Rosh" is Russia herself. This "great bear" invades Israel from the north: And thou shalt come up from thy place of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, 0 Gog, before their eyes (Ezekiel 38:15,16). The Soviet Union is directly north of Israel and moves against her in the latter days (see Ezekiel 38:8). The attack centers around the Holy Land. In fact, the name Israel is used eighteen times to identify the nation being invaded in Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Such information attests to the divine inspiration of the Bible, for there was no nation in modern history called Israel until 1948.This war of the future undoubtedly occurs close to or during the Tribulation hour because the facts presented in this Book of Revelation tie in harmoniously with Ezekiel's prophecy. In fact, the eighth and ninth chapters contain two unusual predictions concerning the woes of the Tribulation hour which point to such a mid-East war. Chapter 8, verse 7, mentions the burning of one-third of the earth as the first angel sounded. I quote: The first angel sounded, And there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. In turn, Revelation 9:18 depicts the extinction of one-third of the world's inhabitants, for, by these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. The Life Pictorial Atlas, which lists land areas and population figures for every country of the world, contains shocking proof that these prophecies and astronomical figures are capable of being fulfilled at the present time. According to this statistical survey, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America incorporate a total of 56,889,581 square miles. Dividing this figure by three, one arrives at the sum of 18,963,194 square miles-the amount of land area that will burn during the Tribulation period according to Revelation 8:7. Comparing this figure with the combined land areas of the nations predicted to align themselves for the Middle East confrontations (Daniel 2:7 and 11 and Ezekiel 38 and 39), one discovers that the two sums are identical-one-

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third of the globe to the exact mile, believe it or not! Is this startling? Let's go one step further. The Atlas also lists the population figures for the nations of earth. The same alignment of pro- and anti-Russian nations for the war of wars totals one-third of earth's inhabitants! Revelation 8:7 and 9:18 could become factual events, fulfilling verse 4 very, very soon!9

3rd Seal: Black Horse—Famine

Revelation 6:5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

[black] is often connected with famine (Lam 4:4-8; 5:10; Jer 14:1,2; Joel 2:6; Nahum 2:10).

Revelation 6:6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

[A measure] Choenix (2 pts) (G5518): measure of wheat, for a full day’s work; Homer (Odyssey XIX:XXVIII). Herodotus (VIII:CLXXXVII), gives this as consumed by each soldier in the army of Xerxes. The Greek historian Herodotus says that a choenix (quart) of corn was a soldier’s daily supply of food. A denarius was a day’s wage (see Matt. 20:2). Therefore, a workingman will be unable to support his family in that day.

A measure of wheat is approximately what a laboring man would eat in one meal. If he used his penny to buy barley, a cheaper grain he would have enough from an entire day’s wages to buy three good meals of barley. If he bought wheat, a more precious grain, he would be able to buy enough for only one meal.

“To eat bread by weight” is a Jewish expression indicating that food is scarce (Lev 26:25-33; cf. Ezek 4:10,11,16).

[penny] denarion, (G1220) of Latin origin; a denarius (or ten asses) :- pence, penny [-worth]. “Denarius”: Mt 20:2, 9-11; a day’s wage.

[Oil and wine] equivalent, in our culture, to toiletries, beauty aids and liquor. Luxuries. This is more than famine alone. It describes global rationing and controls. The Coming World Leader will control the economy (Rev 13:17). Cf. Amos 8:11. (Controlled rationing)

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(Rev 13:17) 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

(Amos 8:11) 11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

With the opening of the third seal a black horse was revealed with a rider carrying a pair of scales in his hand. At the same time a voice was heard from among the four living creatures saying, A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine! “A day’s wages” refers to a silver coin, the Roman denarius, worth about 15 cents, which was the normal wage for a worker for an entire day. So this passage is saying that in that food shortage an entire day’s work would be required to buy either a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley. If one bought wheat, it would be enough for one good meal; if he bought barley, it would be enough for three good meals but nothing would be left for buying oil or wine. Famine is the inevitable aftermath of war. This will be a major cause of death in the Great Tribulation. The black color of the horse speaks of famine and death.

Billy Graham:“I have no doubt that a financial judgment day is coming for the United States before the end of this century unless our financial problems are addressed.”

Jack Van Impe:America, the world’s sole remaining superpower, does not seem to play a significant role in the end-time scenario as described by the prophets. Why? Some scholars suggest America will be severely weakened – even neutralized – by the time the critical events, leading up to the Lord’s return, occur. Economic collapse? Poor leadership? Nuclear attack? All are possibilities.

John Hagee:People ask, “why would God allow a financial collapse in America?” I’ll tell you why. Because the First Commandment says, Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3). And in america, money is god.

Van Impe: Famine and inflation usually follow war. The rider on the black horse produces these tragic twin sorrows upon earth. Ezekiel prophesied this hour: And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time thou shalt eat it. Thou shalt drink also water by measure...behold, I will break the staff of

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bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care (Ezekiel 4:10,11,16). Leviticus 26:26 states: Ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. This is pictured by the pair of balances in our text. The angel in Revelation 6:6 also cries, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny. In Bible times laborers received a denarious, or one penny, as an entire day's wages (see Matthew 20:2). A measure would be sixteen of our American ounces. Think of it! An entire day's wages for a loaf of bread! No wonder Moses said, Ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. A man will have to spend everything he has just for the necessities of life. What about the oil and wine? These items were luxuries in Bible times, and we find that there are those who still possess them during the Tribulation. Nevertheless, the general picture is that of hunger stalking the world. Why? Inflation, the leading economic culprit, becomes so bad during the Tribulation that precious metals actually become worthless. Those who think that it will help to hoard diamonds, gold, or silver should beware! During this period of time, inflation will skyrocket and the Antichrist's numerical program, 666, will replace gold, silver, and paper money. Because of the situation, they shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord (Ezekiel 7:19). James adds in chapter 5, verses 1 and 3, Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you...your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.Earthly treasure, then as now, brings nothing but sorrow and tears in the last days. One had better do what he can for the Lord while he can. Why leave it behind for the Tribulation hour or keep it until it becomes valueless? Every Christian should serve God with material blessings, winning souls to Him for all eternity. Jesus said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21). One can either let go-give it to God and store it up on the other side-or hang on, keep it, and let greedy, unsaved relatives share it, losing it both here and forever. One must make his choice-either for the here and now, or for eternity.10

Chuck Smith: So the third horse unleashes the famine which follows the war. Of course, if such a horrible thing should take place, and I think that it possibly will, a nuclear holocaust, I do not believe the church will be here when it happens, but I believe that such a thing is probably in the books for the future. One of the byproducts would of course be the tremendous fallout, which would destroy the crops, as far as they're being edible, and thus what is happening in Ethiopia would be happening around the world. A measure of wheat is about a quart of wheat and a penny is a day's wage for a laboring man. And what are laborers getting today? About forty dollars. So forty dollars for a quart of wheat.Hey, if you want to be the richest man in the Tribulation, just go buy a bunch of wheat and store it. When this takes place, just take it out of storage and you could be the richest

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one in the Tribulation. You may even end up the richest man in hell, if that is any consolation.11

4th Seal: Livid Horse (chloros, green)—Death

Revelation 6:7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

Revelation 6:8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

[pale] Chloros, (G5515) pale, ghastly green; from which we get chlorine. In Leviticus, the color of leprosy. Cf. Mk 6:39; Rev 8:7, 9:4.

[Death] Devil Heb 2:14 (vs. Rev 1:18). Two personages. Death claims the body; Hades claims the soul. John saw these enemies going forth to claim their prey, armed with the weapons of the sword, hunger, pestilence (death) and wild beasts. The fact that Hades follows the pale horse of death indicates that these are unsaved dead. A believer who receives Christ during the Tribulation will not go to Hades, which is a place reserved for unbelievers as they await the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20). This may not refer to Hell itself, or Hades, but instead may be a reference to the grave.

[Beasts] not zoa (G2198) as were by the thrown, but therion (G2342): 1) an animal 2) a wild animal, wild beast, beast 3) metaph. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious. (Remember, the most dangerous beasts are microscopic.) Do not consider scale!

When civilization crumbles, mankind’s defenses against disease crumble as well: no sanitation, safe drinking water, etc., diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, spread like a consuming fire. Other viruses—Ebola, HIV, et al; biological warfare...cf. Jer 15:2; 24:10; Ezek 14:21

Romans 1 declares that God will “give them over” to their own evil passions. God confronts us with the unpleasant truth about ourselves by giving us what we demand. If we demand lies, he will send the “powerful delusion” of the Antichrist himself. (2 Thess

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2). If we seek to kill and destroy, we will inherit anarchy and mob rule. If we live by greed and avarice, He will give us economic upheaval and inflation. If we seek power and control, he will give us murder, intrigue, and slavery.

These four judgments are also mentioned in Ezek 14:21. All these are but “Beginnings of Birthpangs.” (Cf. Isa 13:6-13; Zeph 1:14-18; 1 Thess 5:1-3.)

Ezek 14:21 21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

The Great Tribulation itself has yet to begin. (There are 7 Trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath still to be poured out.)

(Jer. 30:7): Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Until - (Hos 5:15)

There are two responses to the opening of the seals: one in heaven and the other on earth.

If the earth’s population were just over 6 billion when this event occurs, this would mean the loss of life for over 1.5 billion people. This would be more than if all of the people in North America, Central America, and South America were killed. It still would not equal what is described here.

A pale horse was introduced when the fourth seal was opened. “Pale” is literally a pale green (cf. the same word used of vegetation in Mark 6:39; Rev. 8:7; 9:4). John stated that the rider’s name was Death and that Hades was following close behind him. Here is the aftermath of war, famine, and death. With war and famine people fall prey to a plague and the wild beasts of the earth. The startling fact is revealed that a fourth of the earth, or approximately a billion people by today’s population figures, will be killed by these means.

Personifications of death and hell make a nasty little tag team! This is the only horsemen with a name – The first three horsemen are not named.This final specter may resemble the angel of death of Jewish tradition. Lists of judgments such as this horseman brought are common in the Old Testament prophets (e.g., Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 24:10; Jeremiah 27:8; Ezekiel 6:11; Ezekiel 7:15; Ezekiel 12:16) and, less related in form, some judgment lists in the Sibylline Oracles; this list is closest to Ezekiel 14:21. There are also some similarities found in Zech 1:8-17 and 6:1-8.

Van Impe: This horse is described as pale. The Greek word is chloros from which we get the term chlorine gas. In other areas of the New Testament, we find that chloros is translated "green" (see Mark 6:39 and Revelation 9:4).

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The fourth rider is the deadliest. This is why his name is Death and why Hell follows with him. He destroys the body, then Hell swallows up the souls and spirits of those he kills with sword, hunger, and the beasts of the earth-probably AIDS, produced by the green monkey virus. One-fourth of the world's population dies through his brutality-more than one billion, two hundred fifty million people at today's population figures. This could easily happen given the capability of mankind's atomic, hydrogen, and neutron bombs. Today's armies have the means to reduce population figures by tens of millions within hours. Their arsenals include chemical warfare and test tubes filled with germs for the greatest biological and bacteriological attack ever. The aftereffects of such a battle could easily dwindle earth's population by twenty-five percent. God help us when it happens!12

5th Seal: Martyrs

Revelation 6:9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Greek word, martus, gives us our English word martyr, which means, “witness.” (The “Word of God” is also a synonym for Christ.)

[under the altar] It is in heaven (Heb 9:23-24). Note “bottom of the altar” in Ex 29:12; Lev 4:4,17,18,25,30. Their murderers are still alive on earth, so these martyrs lost their lives under the first 4 seals, in the early part of the Tribulation. This group also is part of the great multitude in 7:9ff.

Note: some believe they are the Old Testament saints, resurrected later (Dan 12:1).

[Souls] are conscious (not “sleeping”): 1 Thess 4:14-16; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23.

With the opening of the fifth seal John had another revelation of heaven itself and his attention was directed to souls pictured as under the altar and identified as those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. (For “under the altar,” see Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:7.) These are obviously martyrs, mentioned in more detail in Revelation 7. This makes it clear that souls will be saved in the Great Tribulation, but many of them will be martyred. Attention is switched from the death of unbelievers to the death of believers.

[souls of them that were slain] These people will be saved after the resurrection of the dead in Christ—those from Abel to the rapture in Rev. 4:1. They will be martyred between the rapture and the 5th seal in the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, a period which takes in all the events of the seals and first 6 trumpets. They will be

12 A Message of Hope from Dr. Jack Van Impe, Commentary on The Book of Revelation, Van Impe

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martyred by the great whore of Rev. 17:1-7 while she rules the 10 kings of the old Roman Empire territory and while the Antichrist is coming to power over them (Rev. 17:8-18).

[slain] sphazo, (G4969) a primary verb; to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (genitive) to slaughter, or (special) to maim (violently) :- kill, slay, wound.

[for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held] They are to be killed for the same two reasons John was exiled on Patmos (Rev. 1:9-10).Now when the antichrist comes forth to reign upon the earth, he will make war against the saints and prevail against them, the scripture tells us. They could not be the church, because the gates of hell can't prevail against the church. But when the church is raptured, I believe the earth is going to experience one of its greatest revivals in its history. There are different classifications or categories of saints.

Underneath the altar the souls. This odd image should be understood in the light of rabbinic literature. According to a work attributed to the second-century Rabbi Natan HaBavli, “HaKadosh [“the Holy One”], blessed be he, took the soul of Moses and stored it under the Throne of Glory …. Not only the soul of Moses is stored under the Throne of Glory, but the souls of the righteous are also stored there. “Rabbi Akiva used to say, … ‘Whoever is buried beneath the altar is as though he were buried beneath the Throne of Glory.’ ” (Avot diRabbi Natan 12:4, 26:2) According to the Talmud, the third-century Rabbi Abba Arikha, known as Rav, taught that the archangel Michael offers a sacrifice on the heavenly altar in the heavenly temple (M’nachot 110a). The Tosafot, medieval commentators on the Talmud, said about this passage that this sacrifice consists of the souls of the righteous, of Torah-scholars. Similarly Shabbat 152b. On the altar itself, see 8:3. Put to death … for bearing witness. The Greek word for “witness” is “marturia,” from which is derived the English word “martyr.” See Ac 7:59–60N on the Jewish concept of death ˓al kiddush HaShem (“to sanctify the Name” of God).13

Revelation 6:10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Vengeance? vs. Stephen. This signals a change of dispensation: from grace to judgment.

[cried with a loud voice] This shows the immortality of the soul and full consciousness between death and resurrection.

[How long, O Lord?] has been the cry of God’s suffering people throughout the ages (cf. Ps 74:9-10; 79:5; 89:46; 94:3-4; Hab 1;2).

13Stern, D. H. (1996, c1992). Jewish New Testament Commentary : A companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed.) (Re 6:9). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.

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“Thy kingdom come” echoes their petition. Blood of Abel? (2 Chr 24:22); Song of Moses (Deut 32:43; 2 Kgs 9:7).

[Lord] = despotes (G1203). Not normal usage. The ancient Greeks used this word politically to refer to people who intruded into a land already occupied by someone else in order to take possession of it, and also to refer to an absolute ruler who had an unlimited possibility of the exercise of unchecked power.

It is not personal revenge they seek, but vindication of God’s holiness and the establishment of God’s justice. Today it appears that the enemy is winning; but God will have the last word. Hatred of the world: Rom 8:7; Gen 3:15; Rev 12. Intolerance by the ungodly is increasing, especially among the so-called “liberals.” In seeking to be abreast of the times they have adopted the oldest errors with the most recent masks. The challenge, “Yea, Hath God Said?” echoes still. The ungodly are united with Cain in their hatred of a sacrifice of blood. God announced in Eden, “I will put enmity between... thy seed and her seed...” (Gen 3:15).

In the fact that the martyrs ask for judgment upon those that dwell on the earth it is apparent that their persecutors are still living.

HaKadosh, … how long … before you … avenge our blood? People who oppose vengeance on principle can appeal to both Yeshua’s example and his teaching (Mt 5:42, 26:51–54; Lk 23:34). Yet the Scriptures make room for vengeance. The martyrs recognize that while vengeance is not properly within the human domain, it is a proper function of God. As Ro 12:19 puts it, “Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written, ‘Adonai says, “Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.” ’ [Deuteronomy 32:25]”Moreover, just as the voice of Abel’s blood cries out to God from the ground (Genesis 4), righteousness demands payment (vengeance) for murder or wrongful death. Psalm 79:10 and Lk 18:7–8a suggest that the martyrs here are praying for vindication rather than vengeance. But a similar prayer in the Pseudepigraphic book 1 Enoch 47:1–4 is for vengeance. 14

Revelation 6:11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Others will join them (11:7; 12:11; 14:13; 20:4-5).

[And white robes were given unto every one of them] The soul and spirit, or the inner man, has a form and shape exactly like the outer man and fits into the body even to the

14Stern, D. H. (1996, c1992). Jewish New Testament Commentary : A companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed.) (Re 6:10). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.

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outer skin. This is based upon the fact that the soul is that part which feels and the spirit is, that which knows. The inner man can wear clothing, rest, eat, drink, and do other things (Rev. 6:11; Matthew 17:5; Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 12:23).

They will cry out to the Lord, asking how long it will be before He will avenge them. In reply each is given a white robe and informed that the Tribulation is not over and that others must be martyred before God’s judgment on the wicked and deliverance of the righteous occurs at the Second Coming. This passage shows that the time period is the Great Tribulation, but not its end. Spirits without any substance could not wear robes.

Van Impe: These martyred saints are seen under the altar. In the Old Testament, the altar always referred to the place where blood had been sacrificed. Souls will be saved during the Tribulation hour the same way souls are saved today-through the precious shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because the believers of the Tribulation hour proclaim Christ crucified, they lose their lives. At this point every twentieth-century believer should ask himself the question, "Would there be enough evidence to convict me as a Christian during this period of time were I present?" However, in this age of grace, we also will be the losers if we attempt to be secret disciples, never testifying of our faith in Christ Jesus. The Saviour said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven (Matthew 10:32,33).Please listen to this next statement carefully. These slain martyrs are crying. They are not in an unconscious state. The doctrine of "soul sleep" is not taught in the Bible. Some denominations teach that all believers sleep until the resurrection morning. Not so! Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, To be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord. The "soul sleep" adherents can never find a time when they are absent from their bodies. If the soul remains in a state of sleep in that body until the morning of Christ's return, the two are never together. The Bible teaches that they are separated. The body is asleep in one place (the grave), whereas the soul is alive in another place (heaven or hell). For the Christian, to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. That is why Paul said, To die is gain (Philippians 1:21). It is also the reason that, when Christ returns at the Rapture, He brings those who sleep (the dead) with Him: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Now, how can the Lord bring the dead with Him and still come after the dead in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? Simple. It's because the dead are in two places! The souls and spirits are with the Lord (absent from the body and present with the Lord), but their bodies are in the grave. Hence, Christ brings the dead-the souls and spirits already in His presence-with Him, so they may come to get their bodies. That's why the dead in Christ rise first. But all this pictures the Rapture. The text under investigation describes a later time-the Tribulation hour. It is then that the spirits of the martyred Tribulation saints cry. They also wear white robes. Lifeless spirits cannot cry or wear white robes. The solution? The spiritual being has a temporary covering. Proof: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved [dead], we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). We may not understand everything about the spirit world, but one thing is certain-being in spirit form does not mean unconsciousness.

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Spirits move, talk, cry, and even wear white robes. Demons also are spirits. They spoke on many occasions in the Gospels. Why? Spirits live! Away with the doctrine of "soul sleep" in any dispensation! Our loved ones are with Jesus if they died trusting in the merits of the shed blood. They are also under the altar, just as these Tribulation saints will be. Soon they will come forth for their eternal covering, their bodies.Now, since we have learned that it is possible for the dead to cry because the spirit never ceases to exist, we next discover that their cry is one of vengeance. Why? They are not under grace, the love covenant. Instead, they want blood. Stephen, under grace, cried, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (Acts 7:60). But this is a different dispensation-the fulfillment of the hour mentioned by David when he spoke of the actions of Jehovah, saying, He maketh inquisition for blood (Psalm 9:12). This group of saints knows that prophecy is being fulfilled, and they wonder how much longer their loved ones, still alive, must suffer. The Lord speaks to them about having a little more patience. There will be one more wave of persecution in chapter 20, verse 4. Then they will live and reign with Him for 1,000 years.15

Chuck Smith: So here is a group, not the church, who have been martyred during this period of the reign of the antichrist. Now when the antichrist comes forth to reign upon the earth, he will make war against the saints and prevail against them, the scripture tells us. They could not be the church, because the gates of hell can't prevail against the church. But when the church is raptured, I believe the earth is going to experience one of its greatest revivals in its history. Think of all your friends that you have witnessed to and they have been laughing and making fun of you, but when it actually takes place, these things that you have been sharing with them, it is going to be a sobering day for them and they are going to realize what a fool they had been. And when the antichrist begins to establish his reign, his authority, his power, hopefully they will have enough sense to resist him, which will mean their death, because he has the power to put to death those that do resist. That is those that refuse to take the mark or worship his image, but through their martyrdom at least they will be gaining their salvation. And here is a great number of souls that are under the altar. And they are crying, "Lord how long until we can come in, before we can take our part in the heavenly scene?" And they are given white robes and told to wait a little while until the rest of them are slain, as you were slain, until the full numbers of martyrs has been complete. And then they will be brought into the heavenly scene, which we do see them in the later portion of chapter seven.16

15 A Message of Hope from Dr. Jack Van Impe, Commentary on The Book of Revelation, Van Impe16 Chuck Smith, Commentary Sermon, Calvary Fellowship, Costa Mesa CA

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6th Seal: Day of Wrath

Revelation 6:12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

[Earthquake] First of three earthquakes (6:12; 11:13; 16:18-19). Literal earthquakes (Ex 19:18; 20:18-19; 1 Kgs 19:11; Mt 27:51-52).Earthquakes (Mt 24:7); earthquakes and sun turning dark (Joel 2:2, 10, 30-31; cf. Mt 24:39; Mk 13:24, 25).

There are other cosmic disturbances, which will also occur after the 6th seal (8:12; 9:1-2; 16:8-9). Joel 3:2,9-15 describes the sun, moon, and stars darkened, etc., when the armies of the nations gather in Israel for war. Mt 24:29-30 describes similar signs after the Great Tribulation.

On May 19, 1780 The Northeastern portion of the United States experienced a totally dark day where the stars were actually visible.

Luke 21:25 (seismos = shaking): Isa 24:1,3,4,19,23; 34:2-4 (vs 11: waste and void cf. Gap theory); Ps 148:3-6; Heb 12:26-29; Hag 2:6; Joel 2:1, 10-12, 30-31; 3:15; Zeph 1:15; Isa 13:9-10; 34:2-4; Ezek 32:7-8.

[Moon] = blood: Mt 24:29; Joel 2:51. “Nuclear winter”?We will see more of “the wrath of God”: 11:18; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15.

[moon became as blood] Five times the moon will become affected, corresponding with the sun darkening above.

[sun became black as sackcloth of hair] Five times the sun darkened in 70th week:

1. During the 6th seal in the early part of the week (Rev. 6:12)2. During the 4th trumpet (Rev. 8:12)3. During the 5th trumpet (Rev. 9:2)4. During the 5th vial at the end of the week (Rev. 16:10)5. Immediately after the future tribulation at the second coming (Matthew 24:29; Isaiah

13:10; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:15; Acts 2:16-21)

(Matt 24:29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

(Ezekiel 32:7-8) And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

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[8] All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God.

We are not appointed to the “Day of wrath”: 1 Thess 5:9; Ps 2; Heb 10:26-31.As the sixth seal opened, John recorded that a great earthquake occurred. More dramatic than the earthquake was the transformation of the heavens with the sun turning black, the moon turning blood red, and stars falling like late figs from a fig tree. The heavens appeared like a scroll being rolled up. At the same time, due to the earthquake, all the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Here again in the sequence of events, the end had not been reached, as there was still another seal. But this was the most dramatic judgment thus far in this time of great distress before the Second Coming.

Van Impe: In verse 12, we see a great earthquake. There are three quakes in the Book of Revelation-the one mentioned here plus two others in chapter 11, verse 13, and chapter 16, verses 18 and 19. It is interesting to note that the judgments of the first four seals were under the jurisdiction of the Antichrist. The opening of the sixth seal, however, begins the administration of supernatural judgment from heaven. One cannot conscientiously interpret these events figuratively. The judgments occurring in this portion of Scripture are to be taken literally. And why not? Do you know that earthquakes have accompanied the judgment of God throughout history? Mount Sinai quaked when God descended upon it in fire: And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly (Exodus 19:18). Rocks were smashed to smithereens through earthquakes in Elijah's day: For, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord (1 Kings 19:11). There was also a great earthquake when Christ died at Calvary: Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose (Matthew 27:51,52). If all these quakes were real, why wouldn't the scene before us be literal? It is exactly what Jesus predicted for the Tribulation hour. He said, And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken (Luke 21:25,26). At this time the earthquakes and convulsions upon earth are so great that the stars of heaven fall like figs being shaken out of a tree prematurely. Strong winds, possible tornadoes, and hurricanes also wreak great havoc. The devastating quakes cause mountains and islands to be moved from their foundations. No wonder one-half of the world's population dies through the manifold catastrophes that bombard the earth. The scene is so terrifying that kings, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, bondmen, and all free men hide in dens and mountains for safety. Now we understand Christ's statement: Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (Luke 21:26). The situation becomes so unbearable that humanity pleads to die, begging for obliteration and annihilation by crying to the mountains and rocks saying, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on

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the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:16,17). Thank God, the Church is in heaven during this calamitous hour!The seventh seal is discussed in chapter 8. However, before we get there, God has a parenthesis for us in this chapter. Chapter 7 may be divided into two portions dealing with two groups-verses 1 through 8-the 144,000 Israelites, and verses 9 through 17- the multitudinous Gentiles. This chapter also portrays God as compassionate, merciful, and loving. This is right, for God is love (1 John 4:8). In fact, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16,17).It's mankind's wickedness, rebellion, and sin that produce judgment: For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (Job 4:8). The judgments already described were unleashed because of the hardness of men's hearts. They rebelled-and continue to rebel-for thousands of years. God, however, is so great that, at this point, He declares a "time out." He still loves the human race and longs to save mankind. He desires for men everywhere to open their minds and hearts and come unto Him. The result is this chapter, which deals with the mercy of God in the midst of Tribulation. God, in love, creates a lull before the storm in order to call men to salvation and revival.17

Revelation 6:13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

[stars of heaven fell unto the earth] Five times the stars will become affected, corresponding with the sun above, but only twice are they spoken of as falling to the earth: first, during the 6th seal (Rev. 6:13); second, at the coming of Christ immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). There will be several years between the two events. This may not refer to true stars, all of which are much bigger than our earth, but to meteors or shooting stars.

Revelation 6:14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

[heaven departed as a scroll] Nahum 1:5. Heavens departing as a scroll: Isa 34:4 (cf. Isa 13:6-13); Heaven “stretched”: Isa 40:22; 42:5; 44:27; 45:12; 51:13; Jer 10:12; 51:15; Zech 12:1.

Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

17 A Message of Hope from Dr. Jack Van Impe, Commentary on The Book of Revelation, Van Impe

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Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

[Mountain] often used as a symbol of government: Isa 14:13,4; Dan 2:35.

Revelation 6:15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

The martyrs cry, “Avenge us!” The unbelievers on the earth say, “Hide Us!”Kings hide in caves: Isa 2:10-19; (Josh 10:16: The Book of Joshua appears to be a model of the Book of Revelation).

In this verse we have seven classes of men who realize that God's wrath has begun.

The Old Testament and apocalypses also speak of judgment across social classes; the readers could be encouraged that God would ultimately vindicate them against the emperor and his governors who now judged them. Hiding in the rocks and crying for the mountains to conceal them from God’s wrath reflects Hosea 10:8; cf. Isaiah 2:10 and Rev. 19-20.

Revelation 6:16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved; but there is no promise made to those who call upon rocks, mountains, crystals or Mother Gaia! There is a Rock to which we can still come for refuge.

[Wrath of the Lamb] sounds like a paradox. (Can you see a bumper sticker: “Beware of the Lamb”?) God’s wrath is the evidence of His holy love for all that is right and His holy hatred of all that is evil. He will not compromise.

Notice, this is called the "Great Day of His Wrath", the wrath of the Lamb. It is comforting to note in First Thessalonians 5:9 that "God has not appointed us unto wrath". Paul also declares that in Romans 5:9, "that we have not been appointed unto wrath". The day of His wrath has come, which means we cannot be here, because we have not been appointed unto wrath. But the earth is going to experience this great cataclysmic judgment as the day of God's wrath does come upon the earth.

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Jesus said when He was talking of these very same things in Luke twenty-one—He's talking of these very same things, the heavens being shaken and the meteorite showers and the cataclysmic things that would transpire along with them, Jesus said, "Pray always that you will be accounted worthy to escape all of these things and be standing before the Son of man."

It is the end of civilization. We see it beginning in our abandonment of the even the secular truths of Western Civilization, the age of deceit, and the adoption of relativism. (Alan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind.) Isa 2:21; 26:10.

When the Tribulation comes, men will act as if they believe the end of the world is at hand, not simply talk as if it were.

This verse reflects especially Joel 2:11; cf. Malachi 3:2, referring to the Day of Judgment.

(Joel 2:10-11) 10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

(Malachi 3:2) 2But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

Revelation 6:17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Rank and wealth will not deliver anyone. The people here are impenitent. They would rather hide than run to Him in faith. They are proof that judgment by itself does not change the human heart. They will no only seek to hide from God, but will blaspheme Him as well (16:9,11,21). Later, they will take up arms against the Lord at Armageddon.

The practical effect of the judgment was fear in unbelievers from all walks of life. They called on the mountains and the rocks to fall on them and to hide them from God’s wrath. Their fear was so great they would rather be killed by a falling mountain than to face the wrath of the Lamb and Their wrath, referring to the anger of the Triune God. Again this is not a picture of ordinary trouble but the period of greatest distress in world history.

The contents of chapter 6 should put to rest the false teachings that God, being a God of love, could not judge a wicked world. It also raises the important question contained in the closing words of verse 17: Who can stand? Only those who have availed themselves of the grace of God before the time of judgment will be able to stand when God deals

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with the earth in this final period of great distress. Those who will be saved in the Great Tribulation are described in the next chapter.

The description of the breaking of the sixth seal alludes to descriptions of the end of the world found in Isaiah 2:10–12, 2:19, 13:10, 34:4, 50:3; Jeremiah 4:23–29; Joel 3:4(2:31), 4:15(3:15); Nahum 1:5–6; Haggai 2:6 (compare Mt 24:29, Lk 23:30). The fury of the Lamb will be fearful because the Lamb is also a Lion (see 5:5–6&NN). According to Yn 5:22, Ac 17:31, Ro 2:16 and 2C 5:10 God has entrusted judgment to this Lion/Lamb. It will take place on the Great Day, also known as the Day of the Lord (1:10&N above, 2 Th 2:2, 2 Ke 3:10, and more than a dozen places in the Tanakh), the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah (1C 1:8), the Day of our Lord Yeshua (2C 1:14), the Day of the Messiah (Pp 1:10), the Great Day of Adonai-Tzva˒ot (16:14 below, Isaiah 2:12, Jeremiah 46:10), the Day of Anger (Ro 2:5; Zephaniah 1:18, 2:2–3; Lamentations 2:22), and the Day of Judgment (Mt 10:15, 2 Ke 2:9, 1 Yn 4:17 and five other places in the New Testament). On the Great Day … who can stand? Those of the world who glory in their power will realize that it was all an illusion. Even weak people who manipulate and try to gain power in small ways will be revealed for what they are. Only those who restrict “praise, honor, glory and power” to God and the Lamb (5:13), will survive their fury. 18

Summary

Revelation 6 Matthew 24 White horse rider (v.1-2) False Christs (v.4-5)Red horse - war (v.3-4) Wars (v.6)Black horse - famine (v.5-6) Famines (v.7a)Pale horse - death (v.7-8) Death (v.7b-8)Martyrs (v.9-11) Martyrs (v.9)Worldwide chaos (v.12-17) Worldwide chaos (v. 10-13, 29f)

Isa 23:9: The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

Taken as a whole, chapter 6 is one of the most important and pivotal chapters in the entire book. It describes the first six seals and also introduces the seventh seal which consists of and introduces the seven trumpets and the seven bowls of the wrath of God in chapters 8-9; 16.

Judgments

18Stern, D. H. (1996, c1992). Jewish New Testament Commentary : A companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed.) (Re 6:12). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.

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JudgmentSeries

Identified

JudgmentSeries

Interrelated

The Seven Seals(6:1-8:6)

1. Antichrist 2. War 3. Famine 4. Death 5. Martyrs’ prayers 6. Great earthquakes

7. Announcement of Trumpets

The SevenTrumpets(8:7-9:21)

1. A third of vegetation burned 2. A third of the sea judged 3. A third of fresh water judged 4. A third of the luminaries darkened 5. Increased demonic activity 6. A third of mankind killed

7. Announcement of Bowls

The SevenBowls(15:1-16:21)

1. Malignant sores 2. Sea turned to blood 3. Fresh water to blood 4. Men scorched with fire 5. Darkness over the kingdom of the Beast 6. Invasion from the east 7. Greatest earthquake and widespread destruction

Old Testament References

6:2 Zech 1:8; 6:36:4 Jer 25:29; Zech 1:8; 6:26:5 Jer 14:1,2; Zech 6:26:6 Lev 26:25-33; Ezek 4:10,116:8 Jer 15:2-3; 24:10; 29:17; Ezek 14:21; Hos 13:14; Zech 6:36:12 Isa 50:3; Joel 2:106:13 Isa 34:46:14 Isa 34:4; Nahum 1:56:15 Josh 10:16; Ps 48:4-6; Isa 2:10-12, 196:16 Hos 10:86:17 Ps 76:7; Jer 30:7; Nahum 1:6; Zeph 1:14-18; Mal 3:2

Related verses from Zechariah

Zech 1:8-17 8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses,

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speckled, and white. 9Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these be. 10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. 11And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

12Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? 13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. 16Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 17Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Zech 6:1-8 1And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

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