Revelation 6:12
Verse
Context
The Sixth Seal: Terror
11Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.12And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.
Sermons
Leonard Ravenhill
Chuck Smith
Steve Gallagher
Edgar Reich
John Ridley
Vernon Higham
Horatius BonarSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The sixth seal - This seal also is opened and introduced by Jesus Christ alone. A great earthquake - A most stupendous change in the civil and religious constitution of the world. If it refer to Constantine the Great, the change that was made by his conversion to Christianity might be very properly represented under the emblem of an earthquake, and the other symbols mentioned in this and the following verses. The sun - the ancient pagan government of the Roman empire, was totally darkened; and, like a black hair sackcloth, was degraded and humbled to the dust. The moon - the ecclesiastical state of the same empire, became as blood - was totally ruined, their sacred rites abrogated, their priests and religious institutions desecrated, their altars cast down, their temples destroyed, or turned into places for Christian worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
As Rev 6:4, Rev 6:6-8, the sword, famine, and pestilence, answer to Mat 24:6-7; Rev 6:9-10, as to martyrdoms, answer to Mat 24:9-10; so this passage, Rev 6:12, Rev 6:17, answers to Mat 24:29-30, "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven; . . . then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming"; imagery describing the portents of the immediate coming of the day of the Lord; but not the coming itself until the elect are sealed, and the judgments invoked by the martyrs descend on the earth, the sea, and the trees (Rev 7:1-3). and, lo--So A reads. But B and C omit "lo." earthquake--Greek, "shaking" of the heavens, the sea, and the dry land; the shaking of these mutable things being the necessary preliminary to the setting up of those things which cannot be shaken. This is one of the catchwords [WORDSWORTH] connecting the sixth seal with the sixth trumpet (Rev 11:13) and the seventh vial (Rev 16:17-21); also the seventh seal (Rev 8:5). sackcloth--One kind, made of the "hair" of Cilician goats, was called "cilicium," or Cilician cloth, and was used for tents, &c. Paul, a Cilician, made such tents (Act 18:3). moon--A, B, C, and oldest versions read, "the whole moon"; the full moon; not merely the crescent moon. as blood-- (Joe 2:31).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,.... Of the sealed book which the Lamb took out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne, in order to open it, and unloose its seals. About this seal interpreters much differ; some refer this to the destruction of Jerusalem, because of the likeness of expressions here used, and in Mat 24:7; but this was past many years before this seal was opened; and besides, though that time was a day of wrath to the uttermost upon the Jewish people, and it was the Lamb's day of wrath, taking vengeance on them for their unbelief and rejection of him as the Messiah; yet they had no sense of the Lamb, nor any apprehension of his wrath at that time, nor have they now, but imputed their calamity to their divisions and quarrels among themselves. Others think this seal belongs to the destruction of the Roman empire by the Goths, Huns, Vandals, &c. but it should be observed, that the empire stood some hundreds of years after the end of the fifth seal and the opening of this; and it was after the seventh seal, and at the sounding of the trumpets, that that destruction came on; moreover, that calamity was by the savageness of some barbarous nations which overrun the empire, but this here spoken of comes from the wrath of the Lamb; add to which, that that calamity distressed the Christians in the empire, and them chiefly, whereas this falls only upon the enemies of the Lamb, and the persecutors of his people. Others are of opinion that this has respect to the strange change of affairs in the church of Christ, through the rise, power, and tyranny of antichrist; by "the earthquake" they suppose is meant the shaking of both church and state by the man of sin; who shook the doctrines, ordinances, and discipline of the church, and threw all into confusion, and introduced a new face of things; and also shook the kingdoms of the earth, and the thrones and crowns of princes: by the "sun" becoming "black", they think is meant the sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, who was obscured in the doctrines concerning him, as the one and only Mediator, and justification by his righteousness, and pardon through his blood, by introducing the mediation of angels and saints, the doctrine of justification by works, and the doctrine of merit, works of supererogation, indulgences, pardons, penance, and purgatory: by the "moon" they understand the church, which receives all its light, grace, righteousness, and holiness, from Christ, and which, like the moon, is changeable as to its outward form and circumstances; and this became "as blood", through the persecutions, massacres, and cruelties of the Romish antichrist, who has been made drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus: the "stars" they take to be the ministers of the word; either hypocritical ones, who were like unripe figs, destitute of true grace, and so were easily shaken with the wind of Papal power, and fell into the earth, and apostatized from the faith, and conformed to the corruptions of antichrist; or the true ministers of the Gospel, who were put to death, and that to an untimely and violent one, signified by the shaking of untimely figs by a mighty wind: by the "heaven" departing as a scroll rolled up, they suppose is designed either the church, which fled into the wilderness, and remained invisible during the Papal power and cruelty; or else the Scriptures, which the pope made himself sole judge and interpreter of and shut up from the common people in an unknown language, and forbid the laity the reading of them: by "mountains" they think are intended the kings and princes of the earth, who were obliged to submit to the Romish antichrist, and give their kingdoms to him, and receive their crowns and kingdoms from him, and be his vassals: and by "the islands", the people their subjects, who were forced to acknowledge him as the supreme head, and receive his mark in their right hand or forehead, or they could not buy and sell: and by all ranks and degrees of men, as "kings", &c. hiding themselves in rocks and mountains, and calling upon them to fall on them and cover them, they apply either to their invoking the virgin Mary, and other saints, to intercede for them, and screen them from the wrath of God and Christ, on account of their sins; or else to the persecutors of the saints, of every rank and in every age, and to the punishments that shall fall upon them. But however feasible this interpretation may seem to be, it is certain that this was not the face of things at the close of the fifth seal, or the Dioclesian persecution, and at the opening of the sixth, when Constantine came to the imperial throne, for then the church appeared as she is described in Rev 12:1; which is just the reverse of this. There are others, who because of the very awful things here spoken of, and the very awful language in which they are expressed, conclude that this seal respects the day of judgment; not considering that the fifth seal ends about the year 313, at the close of the last of the ten persecutions, and that the sixth seal begins where that ends; and though above 1750 years have elapsed since that time, yet the day of judgment is not come, and we know not when it will; besides, here is another seal, a seventh seal, which follows, and introduces punishments on the Roman empire, and seven vials follow, which pour out plagues upon antichrist, all which can never be thought to be after the day of judgment; moreover, the account of the day of judgment stands in its proper place in Rev 20:12; after the destruction of Babylon, the first resurrection, and the saints' thousand years' reign with Christ. But to proceed; the business which is the subject of this seal is the removing of Paganism, and Pagan governors out of the Roman empire; this was the thing the rider upon the white horse, under the first seal, set out upon to effect, and never ceased until he had accomplished it; and this is what ensued upon the close of the fifth seal, when Pagan persecution ceased, on Constantine, a Christian emperor, having the reins of power in his hands; and it cannot be thought, that so wonderful a change of things as this should be omitted in this prophetic history; and it is easy to observe that changes in kingdoms and governments, both as to the polity and religion of them, are sometimes expressed in such like figurative terms as here; see Isa 13:9; and which may be accommodated to this event as follows: and, lo, there was a great earthquake; or "shaking", both of the heavens and earth, and which, as it denotes in Hag 2:6; compared with Heb 12:26; the removing of Jewish worship and ordinances, in order to make way for the Christian ordinances and institutions, which were to remain; so here it intends the removing of Pagan worship and idolatry, and of Pagan magistrates, that the Christian religion and Christian magistrates might take place. This, with what follows, concerning the darkness of the sun and moon, might be literally true; and it seems by historians, that there were such phenomena about those times; for it is asserted (h), that a very great earthquake in Syria followed the Dioclesian persecution, which shook and caused to fall the tops of houses at Tyre and Sidon, and killed many thousands; and some such like happened at Rome, and at Spoletum, where above three hundred and fifty Pagans perished, as they were serving their idols. It is also observed (i), that the moon was turned into blood in the times of Galerius, who succeeded. Dioclesian; and that the sun failed, and the stars shined for four hours, when Licinius was conquered by Constantine; but then these may be considered as symbols of the change in the empire. And the sun came black as sackcloth of hair; which is made of black hairs; see Isa 50:3; as when eclipsed. The sun was the chief deity worshipped by the Heathens, under various names, and this becoming black, may design the removing of their principal gods from their honour and glory, or the downfall of idolatry, which the Jews (k) call , "the sun of idolatry", which they suppose is meant in Sol 1:6. And Satan, the god of this world, who was worshipped in different forms, now fell, as Lucifer, the son of the morning, and as lightning from heaven, and was cast down from all his dignity, influence, and power, to the earth; for the casting out of the red dragon, the old serpent, and Satan, after his combat with Michael and his angels, in Rev 12:3, refers to this very time; likewise the chief magistrate, the Heathen Roman emperor, may be included; and it is remarkable, that Dioclesian the emperor, who had now retired from the imperial government, and was under a cloud, under disgrace, and in distress, had, in the zenith of his glory, caused himself to be worshipped as a god, and as the brother of the sun and moon. And the moon became as blood; as when obscured; the Alexandrian copy and some others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, "the whole moon"; this may design the next Heathen deity, or class of deities, for the moon was also worshipped by the Heathens under different names; and may likewise include the Pagan priesthood, which was next, and was annexed to the imperial dignity; and which was disused by, Constantine and his successors; and even the very title, and the robe which was a symbol of it, were laid aside as unworthy of Christian princes; see Mede upon the place. (h) Magdeburg. Centuriator. cent. 4. c. 3. p. 86. & c. 13. p. 837. (i) Alsted. Chronolog. Thesaur. p. 59. (k) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 6. 2.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:12-17 The opening of the sixth seal offers a glimpse into the end of the created order. 6:12-14 These cataclysmic signs are associated in Scripture with the day of the Lord, when God’s judgment will overturn the whole created order (see Isa 13:4-12; 34:1-4; Joel 2:1-32; Zeph 2:1-3; Mark 13:1-37).
Revelation 6:12
The Sixth Seal: Terror
11Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.12And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
All Shall Stand Before the Judgment Seat of Christ
By Leonard Ravenhill1.9K26:17REV 6:12
This sermon delves into the book of Revelation as a revelation of mystery, majesty, and misery, depicting the final state of the lost separated from God. It emphasizes the solemn reality of judgment, where every individual, small and great, will stand before God to be judged according to their works. The imagery of the great white throne, the opening of the books, and the finality of the second death in the lake of fire is vividly portrayed, highlighting the inescapable accountability before the righteous Judge.
The Desire of All Nations
By Chuck Smith1.2K36:27ISA 26:9MAT 24:21HEB 12:26REV 6:12This sermon focuses on the importance of aligning our priorities with God's kingdom, as seen in the book of Haggai where the people had lost focus and were urged to put God first. It delves into the prophesied cataclysmic events that will precede the second coming of Jesus, emphasizing the need to be spiritually prepared and ready for His return. The message highlights the significance of seeking God's righteousness above personal interests and the impending judgments that will lead people to turn back to God.
The Apocalypse - Revelation 6b (The Sixth Seal)
By Steve Gallagher95840:41Apocalypse StudyPSA 2:1MAT 6:33REV 6:12REV 19:18In this sermon, the speaker discusses the sixth seal and its physical attributes. They begin by noting that the list of reactions described in the sixth seal applies to every category of man, emphasizing that terror is the great equalizer. The speaker also mentions a similar list in Isaiah 13:13, which connects to the day of the Lord and the sixth seal. They then provide recent events, such as a meteor explosion over Cuba, as examples of how the physical manifestations of the sixth seal could occur. The sermon concludes with a prayer for guidance and a reminder to keep our focus on God and His return.
Overview of Revelation
By Edgar Reich90339:00REV 6:12
This sermon delves into the topic of the end times, exploring various prophecies and events leading up to the end of the world as described in the book of Revelation. It emphasizes the importance of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior to avoid the judgment and eternal damnation, as well as the urgency of sharing the Gospel with others. The speaker provides a detailed overview of the sequence of events including the Great Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the establishment of a thousand-year kingdom, and the final judgment.
Days of the Lamb
By John Ridley81246:04Redemption through ChristThe Wrath of GodREV 6:12John Ridley preaches on the profound imagery found in Revelation 6:12-17, emphasizing the great day of God's wrath and the cosmic upheaval that accompanies it. He reflects on the greatness of God and the significance of the Lamb, who bears the sins of humanity, contrasting the earthly powers that will ultimately crumble before Him. Ridley encourages believers to look up in hope, as the Lamb of God offers redemption amidst chaos, and he highlights the importance of standing firm in faith during tumultuous times. The sermon culminates in a call to recognize the Lamb's sacrifice and the hope it brings for those who trust in Him.
Who Is Able to Stand?
By Vernon Higham39956:00Christian LifeMAT 6:33HEB 5:13REV 6:12REV 6:14In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus Christ as God. He describes a vision from the book of Revelation where stars fall, the sky rolls up like a scroll, and land masses move, illustrating the terrifying events that will occur in the end times. The preacher compares the fleeting nature of our lives to the ebb and flow of the tide, highlighting the brevity of our existence. He urges the congregation, especially the young people, to consider their spiritual standing before God and not be deceived by worldly things. The sermon concludes with a reference to Revelation 6:17, emphasizing the need for individuals to examine their relationship with God.
What a Believing Man Can Do.
By Horatius Bonar0The Power of PrayerFaithEXO 10:21JOS 10:12ISA 38:8MAT 27:45MRK 9:23ROM 8:31PHP 4:13HEB 11:1JAS 1:6REV 6:12Horatius Bonar emphasizes the extraordinary miracle of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, illustrating the immense power of faith and the willingness of God to respond to the requests of His people. This event, unlike any other in history, showcases God's authority and the potential of a believing man to effect change through unwavering confidence in God. Bonar encourages believers to expand their understanding of God's greatness, to cultivate reverence, and to embrace the supernatural, reminding them that faith can accomplish what seems impossible. He urges the congregation to trust in God alone, highlighting that with faith, they can overcome any challenge, just as Joshua did.
The Day of the Lord
By John F. Walvoord0ISA 13:9ZEP 1:141TH 5:2REV 6:12REV 6:16John F. Walvoord delves into 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, exploring the profound subject of the Day of the Lord. This passage unveils the impending events that will unfold globally, emphasizing the distinction between the day of grace and the Day of the Lord, a period of divine judgment upon the wicked. The Day of the Lord, depicted in the Old Testament, signifies a time of wrath and judgment, followed by a period of deliverance and blessing for Israel during the millennium. Walvoord highlights the relationship between the coming of Christ for His church and the Day of the Lord, underscoring the unexpected nature of this day and the assurance that Christians are not appointed to wrath but to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Principles of Interpretation
By Sir Robert Anderson0PSA 22:16ISA 53:8JOL 2:28ZEC 9:9MAT 11:14ACT 1:7ROM 5:212PE 2:9REV 6:12Sir Robert Anderson emphasizes the importance of interpreting prophecies with wisdom, sobriety, and reverence, as Lord Bacon advised, to avoid division and misinterpretation. He warns against setting specific dates for Christ's return, as it is a matter of faith and not for us to know the times. Anderson urges for a calm and thoughtful approach to prophetic study, avoiding extravagant views and focusing on the principles of interpretation gained from Scripture. He highlights the danger of loose and superficial reading of prophecies, especially in relation to the Antichrist and the Papacy.
The First Open-Air Sermon
By Gawin Kirkham0GEN 3:9PSA 139:7PRO 28:13AMO 9:2JON 1:3MAT 2:2LUK 19:10REV 6:12Gawin Kirkham preaches on the searching question asked by God in Genesis 3:9, 'Where art thou?' highlighting how man has been hiding from God out of fear since Adam and Eve's time in the Garden of Eden. Kirkham explores the reasons for this fear, including God's holiness and man's sinfulness, and how people try to hide behind various facades like innocency, ignorance, and religiousness. He emphasizes that the only true hiding place is in the wounded side of Jesus, referencing Proverbs 21:3 and Psalm 143:9.
Innocent Blood
By Richard E. Bieber0HAB 2:12MAT 5:21MAT 23:29MRK 1:14LUK 13:1REV 6:12Richard E. Bieber preaches on the importance of repentance in Jesus' message of the kingdom, emphasizing the need to turn away from arrogance before God and mercilessness towards others. He highlights that repentance is not just about acknowledging imperfections but about a deep change in heart and life to avoid the consequences of sin. Through various Bible verses, he illustrates how repentance involves acknowledging our sins, seeking reconciliation with others, and embracing mercy and humility as essential aspects of entering God's kingdom of forgiveness.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The sixth seal - This seal also is opened and introduced by Jesus Christ alone. A great earthquake - A most stupendous change in the civil and religious constitution of the world. If it refer to Constantine the Great, the change that was made by his conversion to Christianity might be very properly represented under the emblem of an earthquake, and the other symbols mentioned in this and the following verses. The sun - the ancient pagan government of the Roman empire, was totally darkened; and, like a black hair sackcloth, was degraded and humbled to the dust. The moon - the ecclesiastical state of the same empire, became as blood - was totally ruined, their sacred rites abrogated, their priests and religious institutions desecrated, their altars cast down, their temples destroyed, or turned into places for Christian worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
As Rev 6:4, Rev 6:6-8, the sword, famine, and pestilence, answer to Mat 24:6-7; Rev 6:9-10, as to martyrdoms, answer to Mat 24:9-10; so this passage, Rev 6:12, Rev 6:17, answers to Mat 24:29-30, "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven; . . . then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming"; imagery describing the portents of the immediate coming of the day of the Lord; but not the coming itself until the elect are sealed, and the judgments invoked by the martyrs descend on the earth, the sea, and the trees (Rev 7:1-3). and, lo--So A reads. But B and C omit "lo." earthquake--Greek, "shaking" of the heavens, the sea, and the dry land; the shaking of these mutable things being the necessary preliminary to the setting up of those things which cannot be shaken. This is one of the catchwords [WORDSWORTH] connecting the sixth seal with the sixth trumpet (Rev 11:13) and the seventh vial (Rev 16:17-21); also the seventh seal (Rev 8:5). sackcloth--One kind, made of the "hair" of Cilician goats, was called "cilicium," or Cilician cloth, and was used for tents, &c. Paul, a Cilician, made such tents (Act 18:3). moon--A, B, C, and oldest versions read, "the whole moon"; the full moon; not merely the crescent moon. as blood-- (Joe 2:31).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,.... Of the sealed book which the Lamb took out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne, in order to open it, and unloose its seals. About this seal interpreters much differ; some refer this to the destruction of Jerusalem, because of the likeness of expressions here used, and in Mat 24:7; but this was past many years before this seal was opened; and besides, though that time was a day of wrath to the uttermost upon the Jewish people, and it was the Lamb's day of wrath, taking vengeance on them for their unbelief and rejection of him as the Messiah; yet they had no sense of the Lamb, nor any apprehension of his wrath at that time, nor have they now, but imputed their calamity to their divisions and quarrels among themselves. Others think this seal belongs to the destruction of the Roman empire by the Goths, Huns, Vandals, &c. but it should be observed, that the empire stood some hundreds of years after the end of the fifth seal and the opening of this; and it was after the seventh seal, and at the sounding of the trumpets, that that destruction came on; moreover, that calamity was by the savageness of some barbarous nations which overrun the empire, but this here spoken of comes from the wrath of the Lamb; add to which, that that calamity distressed the Christians in the empire, and them chiefly, whereas this falls only upon the enemies of the Lamb, and the persecutors of his people. Others are of opinion that this has respect to the strange change of affairs in the church of Christ, through the rise, power, and tyranny of antichrist; by "the earthquake" they suppose is meant the shaking of both church and state by the man of sin; who shook the doctrines, ordinances, and discipline of the church, and threw all into confusion, and introduced a new face of things; and also shook the kingdoms of the earth, and the thrones and crowns of princes: by the "sun" becoming "black", they think is meant the sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, who was obscured in the doctrines concerning him, as the one and only Mediator, and justification by his righteousness, and pardon through his blood, by introducing the mediation of angels and saints, the doctrine of justification by works, and the doctrine of merit, works of supererogation, indulgences, pardons, penance, and purgatory: by the "moon" they understand the church, which receives all its light, grace, righteousness, and holiness, from Christ, and which, like the moon, is changeable as to its outward form and circumstances; and this became "as blood", through the persecutions, massacres, and cruelties of the Romish antichrist, who has been made drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus: the "stars" they take to be the ministers of the word; either hypocritical ones, who were like unripe figs, destitute of true grace, and so were easily shaken with the wind of Papal power, and fell into the earth, and apostatized from the faith, and conformed to the corruptions of antichrist; or the true ministers of the Gospel, who were put to death, and that to an untimely and violent one, signified by the shaking of untimely figs by a mighty wind: by the "heaven" departing as a scroll rolled up, they suppose is designed either the church, which fled into the wilderness, and remained invisible during the Papal power and cruelty; or else the Scriptures, which the pope made himself sole judge and interpreter of and shut up from the common people in an unknown language, and forbid the laity the reading of them: by "mountains" they think are intended the kings and princes of the earth, who were obliged to submit to the Romish antichrist, and give their kingdoms to him, and receive their crowns and kingdoms from him, and be his vassals: and by "the islands", the people their subjects, who were forced to acknowledge him as the supreme head, and receive his mark in their right hand or forehead, or they could not buy and sell: and by all ranks and degrees of men, as "kings", &c. hiding themselves in rocks and mountains, and calling upon them to fall on them and cover them, they apply either to their invoking the virgin Mary, and other saints, to intercede for them, and screen them from the wrath of God and Christ, on account of their sins; or else to the persecutors of the saints, of every rank and in every age, and to the punishments that shall fall upon them. But however feasible this interpretation may seem to be, it is certain that this was not the face of things at the close of the fifth seal, or the Dioclesian persecution, and at the opening of the sixth, when Constantine came to the imperial throne, for then the church appeared as she is described in Rev 12:1; which is just the reverse of this. There are others, who because of the very awful things here spoken of, and the very awful language in which they are expressed, conclude that this seal respects the day of judgment; not considering that the fifth seal ends about the year 313, at the close of the last of the ten persecutions, and that the sixth seal begins where that ends; and though above 1750 years have elapsed since that time, yet the day of judgment is not come, and we know not when it will; besides, here is another seal, a seventh seal, which follows, and introduces punishments on the Roman empire, and seven vials follow, which pour out plagues upon antichrist, all which can never be thought to be after the day of judgment; moreover, the account of the day of judgment stands in its proper place in Rev 20:12; after the destruction of Babylon, the first resurrection, and the saints' thousand years' reign with Christ. But to proceed; the business which is the subject of this seal is the removing of Paganism, and Pagan governors out of the Roman empire; this was the thing the rider upon the white horse, under the first seal, set out upon to effect, and never ceased until he had accomplished it; and this is what ensued upon the close of the fifth seal, when Pagan persecution ceased, on Constantine, a Christian emperor, having the reins of power in his hands; and it cannot be thought, that so wonderful a change of things as this should be omitted in this prophetic history; and it is easy to observe that changes in kingdoms and governments, both as to the polity and religion of them, are sometimes expressed in such like figurative terms as here; see Isa 13:9; and which may be accommodated to this event as follows: and, lo, there was a great earthquake; or "shaking", both of the heavens and earth, and which, as it denotes in Hag 2:6; compared with Heb 12:26; the removing of Jewish worship and ordinances, in order to make way for the Christian ordinances and institutions, which were to remain; so here it intends the removing of Pagan worship and idolatry, and of Pagan magistrates, that the Christian religion and Christian magistrates might take place. This, with what follows, concerning the darkness of the sun and moon, might be literally true; and it seems by historians, that there were such phenomena about those times; for it is asserted (h), that a very great earthquake in Syria followed the Dioclesian persecution, which shook and caused to fall the tops of houses at Tyre and Sidon, and killed many thousands; and some such like happened at Rome, and at Spoletum, where above three hundred and fifty Pagans perished, as they were serving their idols. It is also observed (i), that the moon was turned into blood in the times of Galerius, who succeeded. Dioclesian; and that the sun failed, and the stars shined for four hours, when Licinius was conquered by Constantine; but then these may be considered as symbols of the change in the empire. And the sun came black as sackcloth of hair; which is made of black hairs; see Isa 50:3; as when eclipsed. The sun was the chief deity worshipped by the Heathens, under various names, and this becoming black, may design the removing of their principal gods from their honour and glory, or the downfall of idolatry, which the Jews (k) call , "the sun of idolatry", which they suppose is meant in Sol 1:6. And Satan, the god of this world, who was worshipped in different forms, now fell, as Lucifer, the son of the morning, and as lightning from heaven, and was cast down from all his dignity, influence, and power, to the earth; for the casting out of the red dragon, the old serpent, and Satan, after his combat with Michael and his angels, in Rev 12:3, refers to this very time; likewise the chief magistrate, the Heathen Roman emperor, may be included; and it is remarkable, that Dioclesian the emperor, who had now retired from the imperial government, and was under a cloud, under disgrace, and in distress, had, in the zenith of his glory, caused himself to be worshipped as a god, and as the brother of the sun and moon. And the moon became as blood; as when obscured; the Alexandrian copy and some others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, "the whole moon"; this may design the next Heathen deity, or class of deities, for the moon was also worshipped by the Heathens under different names; and may likewise include the Pagan priesthood, which was next, and was annexed to the imperial dignity; and which was disused by, Constantine and his successors; and even the very title, and the robe which was a symbol of it, were laid aside as unworthy of Christian princes; see Mede upon the place. (h) Magdeburg. Centuriator. cent. 4. c. 3. p. 86. & c. 13. p. 837. (i) Alsted. Chronolog. Thesaur. p. 59. (k) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 6. 2.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:12-17 The opening of the sixth seal offers a glimpse into the end of the created order. 6:12-14 These cataclysmic signs are associated in Scripture with the day of the Lord, when God’s judgment will overturn the whole created order (see Isa 13:4-12; 34:1-4; Joel 2:1-32; Zeph 2:1-3; Mark 13:1-37).