SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 6
BIBLE VERSES:
“ I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” (Revelation 6:2)
“Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.” (Revelation 6:4-5)
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:9-10)
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place” (Revelation 6:12-14)
“They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:16-17)
THE SEALS (vs. 1-17)
First seal – a white horse (Bow and crown) – White horse speaks of peace. It introduces the Antichrist who rides a white horse under the pretense of bring peace to the world. He is give a crown to exercise great authority. He holds a bow which show his true intention to advance as a conqueror.
Second seal – a red horse (a great sound) – Red hose stands for bloodshed. The rider carries a large sword on a fiercely red horse. This symbolized great warfare will break out on the earth.
Third seal – a black horse (pair of scales) – The rider is holding a pair of scales in his hands. That means people will have to work all day to earn just a little food. Pair of scales is a symbol of scarcity of food. It also represents scarcity of spiritual food as there will be a great departure from the gospel truth. There will be infiltration of pagan philosophy, tradition, customs and rules in the church to conform with the world.
Fourth seal – a pale horse (death and hades) – The rider is death and hades who was following close behind. Pale is the color of death which represents the “Dark Age” with religious liberty or freedom. 1/4 of the earth’s population will be hilled by sword, famine and plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Fifth seal – souls of those who had bee slain crying from under the altar (given white robes) – The souls of martyr cry out for justice and He gives each one a white robe. They are told to wait until a number of brethren will be completed.
Sixth seal – great earthquake (Unusual astronomical phenomena occurs) – Devastating earthquake occurs causing massive upheaval and terrible devastation. The sun turns black, the moon turns blood red; stars fall to earth, shaken and drop; the heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up and every mountain and island is removed from its place.
EXPLANATION OF THE SIX SEALS (BY WARREN WIERSBE)
- 1st Seal – Antichrist Rises to Power (vs. 1-2) – The rider is Anti-Christ who is beginning his conquest on earth. He carries a bow without arrow which signifies that he conquers the national peacefully. As the Antichrist rises in power triumphantly, he will unite Europe with the Jews, which will fulfill the prophecy in John 5:43.
- 2nd Seal – War (vs. 3-4) – Red is associated with blood shed. The worldwide peace will not last long. When international agreement and diplomacy fail, terrible war will break up.
- 3rd Seal – Famine (vs. 5-6) – Black means famine. The Antichrist holds a pair of balance, meaning his government will control the food.
- 4rd Seal – Death (vs. 7-8) – Pale is leprous color. Death rides this horse and Hades ride with him. Death claims the body and Hades the soul. 1/4 of the earth’s population will be killed through 4 methods: (1)-the sword – violence and war; (2)-hunger – famine; (3)-death or pestilence – disease; (4)-beast – attack human.
- 5th Seal – The Martyrs (vs. 9-11) – The martyrs pray for vengeance to their murderers. God told them to wait until more of their brethren will be slain. These martyrs will be resurrected and reign during the Millenium.
- 6th Seal – World chaos (vs. 12-17) – There will be earthquakes, disturbance on earth and in the heavens. The atomic warfare will black out the sun and moon. the sky will recede like a scroll, rolling up and every mountain and island will be removed from its place. People will run to escape atomic radiation. The Antichrist will extend his rule by shaking the economic and political systems to dominate all nations.
THOUGHTS:
There were three events – the great earthquake, the dark day and the falling stars that took place in the exact order as mentioned in the Bible:
- The Great Lisbon earthquake – It took place on Nov. 1, 1775 in Lisbon, Portugal where sixty thousand people died in 6 minutes
- The Great darkening of the sun and moon – It took place in New England and parts of Canada on May 19, 1780
- The Great remarkable meteor storm – It took place across the United States on Nov. 13, 1833.
Verse 15-17 are prelude to the opening of the 7th seal. Note that ll kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commander, the mighty men, every slave, every freeman will hide themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountain and said to the mountain: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the face of hm who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb” (v. 16)