The Book of Revelation
Chapter Six

Preface

As stated in the “Introduction” to this chapter, it is helpful to review certain Old Testament prophetic passages when attempting to interpret Revelation, e.g., Daniel and Ezekiel. In reviewing Ezekiel 38 & 39, we found that several highly recognized and conservative Biblical scholars who major in prophecy, e.g., John Hagee and Tim LaHaye, believe that a major conflict between Russia in affiliation with various Muslim states will eventually engage in war with the nation of Israel. Jack Van Impe, in his very informative VHS tape series on Revelation, when considering these two chapters in Ezekiel says that this “war of the future,” which is depicted in them “occurs close to or during the Tribulation Period.” So we see that several well-qualified prophetic Bible scholars are less than resolute regarding the timing of this conflict.

If in fact this conflict is to take place prior to the Rapture, the natural question is, “How can one teach an imminent Rapture, i.e., it can happen at any time. In other words if this attack by Russia and company and their subsequent and immediate defeat at the hand of God is to take place prior to the Rapture and Tribulation (assuming of course that the Rapture ends the Church Age, which then allows the Antichrist to reveal himself and initiate the Tribulation Period by his “covenant with many”), then the Rapture cannot be expected at “anytime.” This is a valid point.

Considering this very natural question, I undertook a review of Rapture scriptures, i.e., John 14:1-3; Romans 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 16:22; Philippians 3:20, 21; 4:5; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 4:13-18; 5:9, 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-9; 1 Peter 1:7, 13; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 John 2:28-3:2; Jude 21; Revelation 2:25. What I concluded was somewhat surprising, but not illogical.

I was surprised to find that nowhere in God’s Word does it say that the Rapture is imminent, i.e., that it can happen at any time. When you think of it, this is only logical. The Rapture, as with all events in God’s Plan (Remember the 70 weeks of Daniel?), will take place in accordance with God’s exact time schedule. We don’t know when it will happen, but God surely does. And you know what? It won’t happen a day, an hour, a minute or a second before it has been destined to happen. Now can we know exactly when it will take place? No! We can though know something of the “season” in which it will happen.

This is the purpose of the unveiling of heretofore-sealed prophecy. As we come to a better understanding of God’s prophetic passages, due to “recent events and ever evolving technology,” we can know that the Rapture and following Tribulation Period is drawing near. As seen in 1 Thessalonians 2, it can be argued that we are in fact living in the days of the developing of the coming “rebellion,” and that the Antichrist is alive today.

Now even though God’s Word doesn’t necessarily teach us that the Rapture can happen “anytime;” it does teach us to so live our lives for Christ as if it will occur at anytime. You know, the attack of Russia and its companions on Israel, their defeat and the Rapture can happen all in one day or briefer period of time.

On the other hand, one may interpret Daniel 38 & 39 as an event under the Second Seal Judgment (Red Horse) or as describing the Battle of Armageddon, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ to earth. If so, then the 7-year period in which Israel burns the implements of war left in the field must continue into the Millennium Reign of Christ on earth. I find this position difficult to accept, but it may be possible. Anyway, all of this is for your consideration. If you find yourself in disagreement with some or all of it, then that is fine. Many believe that no events need to transpire prior to the Rapture, and this may be the case. As I have previously stated, there are some things on which I simply cannot be dogmatic.

Revelation 6:1, 2
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 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.

Starting here with the Seven Seal Judgments, we move into the Tribulation Period, which continues through chapter 18 (with only a couple of parenthetical chapters included). Although some Bible teachers feel that due to the similarity of some of the coming judgments they run concurrently, this is not the case. The 7th seal introduces the 7 trumpets and the 7th trumpet introduces the 7 bowls; therefore, they run consecutively. Now which ones happen prior to the mid-point of the Tribulation and which after the mid-point is debatable. Some teach that the first seal takes the entire first half of the Tribulation, leaving all else afterwards. Some teach that the seals and trumpets occur during the first half and the bowls during the last half. And then there are different divisions taught by still others. One thing for certain, they all happen during the 7 year Tribulation Period.

All Christians should be gratified that they will not personally experience this time of horror upon earth and its inhabitants. In studying Matthew 24 or Mark 13 or Luke 17 and 21 and Revelation 6, we see an interesting comparison between the “signs” Christ speaks of that precede the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19). A review of these follows:

1. Those claiming to be Christ (Matthew 24:4, 5; Revelation 6:1, 2)
2. Wars, death and famine (Matthew 24:6, 7; Revelation 6:3-8)
3. The slaughter of saints (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 6:9-11)
4. Earthquakes and other environmental and atmospheric catastrophes (Matthew 24:7, 29; Revelation 6:12-16)

First, we notice that the same “signs” Christ speaks of to His disciples are the very same ones we presently see in chapter 6. Second, we understand that since these “signs” take place during the Tribulation Period and after the Rapture, none of them have to transpire prior to the Rapture. Third and as participants in the Rapture, the Church will not have to experience these horrible events. At their time of execution, the Church, as represented by the 24 elders, will be seated around God’s Throne and dressed in white and with crowns of gold on their heads (Revelation 4:4).

The First Seal

It is the Lamb of God who alone is capable of opening up the first seal. When He does, one (the first one) of the “living creatures” shouts with a voice like thunder, “Come,” which indicates impending doom. In the King James version (KJV) of the Bible, you’ll find the expression “Come and see.” The Greek word for this phrase is properly translated only “come.” This thunderous command is not given to John. It is given to the rider of the white horse (the first of the Four Apocalyptic Horseman). He is commanded to come and do his dastardly deed.

Since Satan has always been in the “duplicating” business, i.e., replicating all that pertains to God and Christ, this rider of the white horse is a copy of the coming Christ. The Second Coming of Christ to the earth will be on a white horse (chapter 19); therefore, Satan here duplicates this by sending the Antichrist on a white horse. It is interesting to note that this “fake Christ” starts the Tribulation, and the “true Christ” ends it.

Who is this Antichrist? His purpose is clearly to conquer, since he rides as a conqueror, bent on conquest. He is the future supreme dictator of this world, but only for a brief period of time. His program will be world domination and the exaltation of himself. Notice that he comes with only a bow and no arrows, indicating that not only will he be able to mesmerize and persuade all others to follow him, but that he will be able to do so without actually going to war. Yet, he does so utilizing the “threat” of his mighty “long range” (indicated by the “bow”) arsenal, e.g., intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

From the book of Daniel we know that the Antichrist will be a European from the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26). He will do according to his own will or as he pleases (Daniel 11:36). This is in contrast to Christ who did not according to His own will, but according to the will of His Father (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30). The Antichrist will not regard the desire of women (Daniel 11:36), which may mean that he possibly will be a homosexual - certainly not out of character with much of Satan’s influence down through the ages. Then again it may only be an indication of his extreme focus on conquering the world and exalting himself, to the exclusion of all extracurricular activity. He is called the “Beast,” because (1) he ascends out of the Abyss (17:8) and (2) he receives his power, throne and authority from Satan (13:2).

The Antichrist will be a smooth talker and a penetrating personality. He will be magnetically persuasive and hypnotically engaging. The first seal reveals the initiation of the Tribulation Period when the Antichrist appears on the scene, establishes his “covenant with many” (Daniel 9:27) and consolidates his dictatorial leadership role over the 10-nations European Confederation (presently believed to be the European Union of today). Through his influence the world will enjoy a brief time of pseudo-peace, but only until the opening of the second seal.

Revelation 6:3, 4
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

The Second Seal

As the Lamb of God opens the second seal, the command of “Come” by the second “living creature” is made to a rider on a red horse. This rider is given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To do this he is given a “large sword,” representing a mighty arsenal of weaponry. This indicates that warfare will begin between peoples and nations throughout the world. Some Bible teachers say that the “red horse” indicates the battle between Russia and Israel as depicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39. It may and it may not. Some believe that since this second seal reveals a distinct division between a “time of pseudo-peace” upon the earth and the “start of continual warfare,” this second seal takes place during the second half of the Tribulation Period after the Antichrist breaks his covenant and sets himself up in the Temple of God. This could be. You’ll have to decide.

Revelation 6:5, 6
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. Then I heard what sounded like a voice 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!"

Third Seal

This rider on a black horse represents world famine, indicated by the “pair of scales” in his hand and the voice crying out a quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages. The image is of obtaining barely a day’s subsistence for whatever can be made by working the entire day. Famine is one of the natural outcomes of warfare. Yet the words do not damage the oil and the wine [symbols of luxury in John’s day] indicates that those of affluence (the “rich folks”) will still have plenty. James 5:1-6 will have a special meaning to these rich oppressors.

We shall see later in this book that in order to survive the Tribulation a person will have to sell out to the Antichrist and take his mark in order to be able to purchase food and trade goods.

Revelation 6:7, 8
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Fourth Seal

A pale horse represents the next seal judgment with a rider whose name is “Death.” Someone named “Hades” follows him closely. It is interesting to note that the word “pale” comes from the Greek word clorus, from which we derive our word “chlorine” (as in gas). The two, “Death” and “Hades,” are given power to kill a fourth of earth’s population. The fact that “Hades” is following “Death” indicates that they are seeking the great mass of people who are destined for an eternity in hell. We know this since at the “resurrection of Christ” the area of “Hades” that contained those who are saved and which is called “Paradise,” is transported to Heaven with Christ. These that are targeted by “Death” and “Hades” may very well be those mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, who will have no more opportunity to be saved during the Tribulation Period. More on this matter will be discussed later.

“Death” obtains occupants for “Hades” by way of sword (warfare), starvation (famine), disease (plague) and animal attacks (wild beasts of the earth). With sufficient death and famine, it isn’t difficult to imagine how the wild beasts of earth will turn to humans as a primary food source. During this time “pestilence or plague” (Matthew 24) will run rampant in the world, e.g., Ebola virus, Cholera, dengue, yellow fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis, Marburg virus, whooping cough, Cryptosporidium, Lyme disease, legionnaires’ disease, malaria, influenza and other bacterial infections.

Revelation 6:9
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?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

Fifth Seal

The fifth seal judgment is the counterpart to the fourth seal judgment. Whereas the judgment under the fourth seal is directed specifically against those who are lost and bent for hell, the deaths represented by the fifth seal are only those who are saved and have been slain by the Antichrist and his representatives because of the “Word of God and the testimony they had maintained,” which is the very reason the Apostle John was banished to the Isle of Patmos (1:9). These are Jews who have been slain for testifying of Christ during the Tribulation Period (Matthew 24:9).

Notice that the spirits of these saints are under the altar (where in the Old Testament the blood was shed) and they are eager for God’s judgments to be complete so they can then join their resurrected (glorified) bodies, which will come from their dust that is still upon the earth. In any case, they are conscious and can converse - the condition of all spirits who go to be with God.

These are separate from the great soul harvest of saved Tribulation saints that we learn about in chapter 7. They are part of all those who will be saved as the result of the three major evangelical efforts (144,000 witnesses - 7:3, 4; the “two witnesses” - 11:3, 7; and the evangelistic angel - 14:6) during the Tribulation Period. Unfortunately once they are saved, the Antichrist is waiting to kill them - and he is very successful in this endeavor. There will be a tremendous slaughter of those who stand for Christ. The question is, “Would any of us today be able to stand during such horrendous times?” This coincides with the “signs” revealed by Christ in Matthew 24.

But God cannot be rushed. His judgments upon the earth must be carried out in accordance with His timetable. So each of these spirit-saints is given a (spiritual) white robe (representing the righteousness of Christ) and instructed to wait a little longer. I’m sure that this action alone is all they need to be calm and to patiently wait upon the Lord.

Revelation 6:12-17
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 late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 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 stand?"

Sixth Seal

It may be worthy to note that the judgments under the seals of two through five were under the jurisdiction of the Antichrist. The judgments from the sixth seal on may all be supernatural judgments administered from heaven, unless of course some can be interpreted as a result of nuclear explosions.

The sixth seal judgment reveals cataclysmic events. First there is a great earthquake, one out of three that are recorded in the book of Revelation (here, 11:13 and 16:18, 19). Next comes a series of observations by John that could well represent the effects of nuclear blasts, i.e., the sun being covered by an enormous disturbance of dust in the atmosphere, the moon appearing red when seen through such a dust cloud, the appearance of stars falling to the earth, which could be rockets rushing to their targets, the sky receding like a scroll - nuclear blast effects and the destruction of targeted terrain features such as mountains and islands. On the other hand John may be seeing meteorites that God is casting down upon the earth, along with the actual darkening (not completely) of the sun and the reddening of the moon. Then again all the effects may well represent what happens due to volcanic eruptions, speared on by the “great [worldwide] earthquake.” Any one of these interpretations is possible.

The bottom line is that this will be an extremely terrible series of events, so much so that everyone will be taking shelter in the mountains and caves. They will be crying out for the rocks to cover and hide them from the face of God and Christ, because the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?