Revelation 6

Chapter 6 THE LORD OF THE EARTH THE WRATH POURED OUT WHEN THE SEALS ARE OPENED

A. 1st seal - Conqueror. 6:1-2 B. 2nd seal - Conflict. 6:3-4 C. 3rd seal - Currency Crack. 6:5-6 D. 4th seal - Calamity. 6:7-8 E. 5th seal - Cry of the believing Martyrs. 6:9-11 F. 6th seal - Cosmic disturbance. 6:12-17

I. Now the most severe judgments begin in the history of man, which has not happened since the flood of Noah.

II. The 7 seals are first revealed through an Announcer and then through Action.

III. In this chapter begins the 7-year tribulation period.

A. From 6:1-11 we perhaps have the first half of the tribulation 3½ year - The Beginning of Sorrows. Matt.24:8 B. From 6:12 - 19:21 we have the last half of the tribulation 3½ year - The Great Tribulation. Matt.24:21-22; Dan.9:27 IV. The first 6 seals are connected to the sermon Jesus gave on Mount Olives. Matt.24:5-29 V. The time of the Gentiles is about to end and God’ s timetable concerning the Jews begins again, Daniels last week (7 years). Dan.9:24-27

Revelation 6:1-2

V.1-2 a) 1st seal - Conqueror - The white horseman with a bow: TREATY

I. Thunders in Revelation. 6:1; 10:3, 4; 14:2; 16:18; 19:6

II. The invitation “ Come and see” is given at the first 4 seals by each of the 4 seraphim.

III. 4 horsemen are released through the 4 seals: White, red, black and pale.

IV. The white horseman is not Christ but Antichrist. Acts 3:20-21 If it were Christ then He is in a very bad company. 2.Thess.2:6-8 V. First seal connected to Christ’ s Olivet sermon. Matt.24:5 VI. Covenant - The bow of the white horseman is perhaps a covenant, a rainbow also speaks of a covenant and his horse is white because of the deception it brings. Dan.9:25-27 VII. Crown - Its not a royal crown but a victor’ s crown (Gr. Stephanos).

VIII. Conquer - He conquers through the covenant he makes.

Revelation 6:3-4

V.3-4 b) 2nd seal - Conflict - The red horseman with a sword: WAR

I. Fiery (Flame like) red because of the bloodshed he would bring.

II. Second seal connected to Christ’ s Olivet sermon. Matt.24:6-10 III. Peace will be removed from the earth by a great sword (War). 1.Thess.5:2-3 IV. This war could be the war of Gog and Magog. Ezek. Ch.38 & 39 A. The Soviet Union, Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Tobborini, Germany, Slavic countries and the Turkiman tribes will attack the Israelites.

B. It’ s debatable when this attack from Gog and Magog will occur, it can happen before or during the great tribulation.

Revelation 6:5-6

V.5-6 c) 3rd seal - Currency Crack - The black horseman with scales: FAMINE

I. A black horse because of the poverty he would bring. Lam.4:7-8; 5:10 II. Third seal connected to Christ’ s Olivet sermon. Matt.24:7 III. The rider had a pair of scales. Lev.26:25-33; Ezek.4:10,11,16 A. It suggest a control of commodity prices, global ration control

B. Antichrist will control the economy. Rev.13:17 IV. The need of man:

A. A quart of wheat (Food of servants) it’ s enough for one meal.

B. Three quart of barley (Food of Cattle) its enough for three meals.

C. A denarius was one-day wage for a worker. Matt.20:1-10 D. Just enough food to survive but not enough for his family.

E. At the time John lived a normal day wages could at least bring him 12 times more food.

F. This comes about perhaps through a severe dry drought. Job 31:6 V. The luxury of man:

The luxury of man: Oil and wine would not be touched by the famine.

Revelation 6:7-8

V.7-8 d) 4th seal - Calamity - The pale horseman. DEATH

I. A pale (Greenish) horse because of the death he would bring.

Pale is the colour of a human’ s corpse.

II. Fourth seal connected to Christ’ s Olivet sermon. Matt.24:6-12 III. Death rides in front and kills, Hades follows and receives the dead.

Death claims the body and Hades claims the soul.

IV. Hades is the imprisonment of the dead that awaits the judgment to the lake of fire. Luke.16:19-31; Rev.20:12-15. Hades is Greek word for the Hebrew word Sheol. Isaiah 38:10 V. 25 percent of the world is killed by them. (Billions are killed)

VI. War, famine, death and wild beasts are released. Ezek.14:21; Num.21:6; 2.Kings 17:25

Revelation 6:9-11

V.9-11 We see the cry of man in heaven. V.12-17 We see the cry of man on earth.

V.9-11 e) 5th seal - Cry of the believing Martyrs -

I. The priests poured out Blood at the basin of the brazen altar. Lev.4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; Ex.27:1-8 II. The martyrs are at the base of the altar because of their Witness and God’ s Word.

III. Because of the kinsman redeemer has begun avenging they pray for avenge. Ps.79:10 IV. They didn’ t avenge themselves but allowed the judgment to God.

V. The white robe speaks of righteousness. 19:8

VI. They ask for God’ s Righteousness and Revenge,

First a Robe is Released now a Rest is Required.

VII. Just as the Church waits for the Rapture until the last chosen believer has believed Rom.11:25 so are the Martyrs waiting for the last martyr to be killed. 11:7; 12:11; 14:13; 20:4-5

VIII. The Church has already been removed; these martyrs are belonging to the tribulation saints, they cry for revenge, meaning that those that killed them is still on earth.

IX. This also shows that man is conscious after death. 2.Cor.5:8; Phil.1:23 X. Reasons for the judgment in Revelation:

A. God is holy and righteous and must judge sin and evil. 9:10

B. God will revenge all His servants and children’ s bloodshed. 9:10

Revelation 6:12-17

V.12-14 f) 6th seal - Cosmic disturbance - SHAKING OF NATURE

I. The 6th seal begins with a great earthquake, dynamic in magnitude Luke 21:11, with this seal the great tribulation begins.

II. 5 earthquakes during the great tribulations 3½ years. 6:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:17-21

III. The sun becomes black and the moon like blood, perhaps because of smoke from great volcanic eruptions. Isaiah 24:23 IV. The stars (Gr. aster) is something thrown over the sky, perhaps referring to meteorites, comets and asteroids falling on the earth. Isaiah 13:6-13; 24:18; 34:4; Hag.2:6 V. God removed the sky and stars; man sees now only darkness in the heaven. Isaiah 34:4 Hag.2:6; Joel 2:31; Psalms 102:26 VI. Mountains and island moved out of its place, perhaps referring to a continental drift (Polar axis shift that creates great convulsions throughout the earth and causing mountains and islands to disappear).

VII. Scriptural references to these cosmic disturbances. Isaiah 13:10; Ezek.32:7-8; Joel 2:10, 31; Amos 8:9; Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:20 VIII. There are also comic disturbances that will take place after the 6th seal8:12; 9:1-2; 16:8-9; Joel 3:9-15; Matt.24:29-30 V.15-17 g) Cry of unbelieving Man -

I. Perhaps because of the meteorite impact every island and mountains are moved. Isaiah 13:13 II. The only place to hide is in the caves and mountains especially because of the meteorite impact. Isaiah 2:9-22; Hos.10:8; Psalms 110:5-6; Luke 23:30 III. They call upon the rocks but not on the Rock that is able to save them. Joel 2:32; Amos 9:2-3 IV. Man has somehow got the insight that they are passing through the great tribulation, the Day of His wrath. Jer.30:7; Dan.12:1; Matt.24:21 V. Consider the sentence “ The wrath of the lamb” .

VI. As seen through these first 6 seals God is angry.

VII. This chapter ends with the words “ Who is able to stand” , Chapter 7 tells us who is able to stand.