Revelation 6 - Jesus Opens 6 Of 7 Seals -

In Revelation 4 we saw John’s vision or visit to God’s throne. In Revelation 5 we saw the scroll with 7 seals. And that the Lamb, Jesus, was the only One worthy to receive and open the scroll. The scroll represents God’s will and the deed or title of the universe.

Only Jesus is worthy to receive and open the scroll. And to bring on God’s wrath and punishment for Satan, his demons, and for sinners that refuse to repent and believe in Jesus.

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

The Beginning of the 7 Year Tribulation

Revelation 6 is the beginning of the 7 year tribulation. And the beginning of the end. The final half of the 7 year tribulation period is known as the Great Tribulation. When God’s wrath and punishment is poured out upon His enemies, and those that refuse to repent and believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In Matthew 24 Jesus’ disciples asked him when the end will come. When would Jesus come back and start His reign in God’s kingdom?

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” – Matthew 24:3

Promises of Peace and Prosperity

Jesus begins His answer by saying there will be many false teachers and false christs leading people astray.

“And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” – Matthew 24:4-8

Many false teachers, and especially the antichrist in the end times will claim to be the christ. They will claim to be bringing peace to the world, and the solutions to all of the world’s problems.

That is why many in the world will be deceived and follow the antichrist. For his false promise of world peace and prosperity. God’s word warns many times about false teachers and false christs.

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:8

The antichrist is the one called the beast of the sea in Revelation. He is Satan’s main servant in human form on earth.

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.” – Revelation 13:1

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” – 2 Peter 2:1

Ezekiel wrote about false teachers and prophets promising a false peace.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God. 10 Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace” – Ezekiel 10:8-10

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

Paul Writes About False Christs & The End Times

Paul writes about the end times and the great tribulation, how many will be talking about and promising peace and security. And then destruction will suddenly come upon them in increasing pains like a pregnant woman.

“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Only Jesus promises and can bring true peace. He is the Prince of Peace. And only Jesus can give peace with God, or a restored and right relationship with God.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1

“Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. A white horse, it’s rider had a bow and a crown.”  – Revelation 6:1-2

Many think that the rider on the horse is Jesus, which is understandable. When Jesus returns to earth to take the reign of His 1000 year kingdom on earth he is pictured in Revelation 19 as riding on a white horse.

But Jesus, the Lamb, is shown in John’s vision to be in heaven at this time opening the seals on the scroll. So the white horse and rider represents someone or something else.

As per Jesus in Matthew 24, and Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5, there will be false teachers and false christs in the end times. They will deceive many. And the final antichrist will be the one that deceives everyone and promises peace in the world. He will make a peace pact with Israel and the whole world, but it won’t last very long.

The next thing that will happen in the tribulation, according to Jesus, is war (the 2nd seal – red horse and rider), and famines (3rd seal – black horse and rider). Paul describes the next thing to happen as destruction. Later in Revelation 6 John describes in his vision the next seal as death or pestilence (4th seal – pale horse and rider named Death).

The riders on the horses in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seals that we will look at next are not a specific person. The riders and the horses are symbolic of things to come early in the tribulation. Namely war, famines, and death or pestilence.

Who Or What Is The Rider On The White Horse?

It is reasonable to assume that the white horse and rider in the first seal judgement is not a specific person or thing, like the antichrist or Jesus. Most likely the rider on the white horse symbolic of the antichrist and his temporary world empire or kingdom in the tribulation.

The white horse in Revelation 6 is symbolic of peace. Or in the case of the tribulation period it represents the false peace the antichrist will promise to the world. The false peace will not last long in the tribulation.

There are various reasons why the rider on the white horse is not Jesus. As previously stated, Jesus or the Lamb, is shown in heaven in John’s vision at the beginning of in Revelation 6.

Also, Jesus is shown in Revelation 19 at the very end of the tribulation to be riding a white horse. And He has a sword in His hand, ready to conquer Satan and the antichrist and his false prophet, and all the people that have decided to follow and worship the antichrist. That will be Jesus’ second coming, not in Revelation 6. Jesus’ second coming is at the end of the tribulation, not at the beginning of it in Revelation 6.

Also, the crown that the rider on the white horse wears is the Greek word “stephanos”. It means the prize or reward for triumph or victory. Notice what John says in Revelaton 6:2

“And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him…”  – Revelation 6:2

The “stephanos” crown was given to him. Jesus is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. And when He comes back He will reign for 1000 years on earth in Revelation 19 and 20, and then He will reign forever in the new heaven and earth that comes in Revelation 21. The crown Jesus wears is the Greek word “diadéma”. This is a royal crown that kings wear.

The “stephanos” crown is a prize or reward an athlete was given for winning a competition. The “stephanos” crown will be given to the antichrist, meaning that he will not win the right to rule his world kingdom by defeating enemies and winning it through war. He will deceive the world by promising peace, and they will gladly turn over the rule of the entire world to him.

One other point that leads to the conclusion that Jesus is not the rider on the white horse here in Revelation 6. John says the rider has a bow. He does not mention that the rider has arrows also. Again this leads to a conclusion that the antichrist will not win the world kingdom by war or by defeating other world leaders. He will gain the crown through deceit.

Also, when Jesus returns to earth in Revelation 19 He does not have a bow. He has a sharp sword. And there is no doubt that it is King Jesus on the white horse at the end of the tribulation in Revelation 19.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

The 2nd Seal And A Red Horse

“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”  – Revelation 6:3-4

One of the things that will be taking place before and during the early part of the 7 year great tribulation, which begins in Revelation 6, is that many will be talking about and promising world peace. It will appear that the antichrist and his world leaders will accomplish their promise of world peace. But their promises will fall apart quickly.

In Matthew 24 Jesus said that wars and rumors of wars would take place before His return to reign.

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” – Matthew 24:6

Now in Revelation 6:4 we see the 2nd seal opened and a red horse. The red horse is war. The peace pacts and world peace promised by the antichrist and world leaders will end quickly in the great tribulation.

As we will see, the events leading to the end of the world and Jesus’ return to reign that Jesus talked about in Matthew 24 are happening in Revelation 6.

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

The 3rd Seal And A Black Horse

“When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”  – Revelation 6:5-6

The 3rd seal is opened in Revelation 6:5 and a black horse appears. This is famine. Besides the wars that occur after the 2nd seal is opened, many more will be killed by famine when the 3rd seal is opened.

Jesus mentioned this in Matthew 24, right after talking about false christs and wars.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” – Matthew 24:7

The progression of events is the same in Matthew 24 as it is in Revelation 6.

“A quart of wheat for a denarius, and 3 quarts of barley for a denarius”

A denarius was a silver coin in the Roman Empire. It was equivalent to 1 day’s wage. So during the famines that strike the earth in the great tribulation food becomes very scarce and very expensive. It takes a full day’s wages just to buy a quart of wheat or 3 quarts of barley.

“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”  – Revelation 6:7-8

The 4th seal is opened by Jesus and a pale horse appears. The rider on the pale horse is death or pestilence. He is followed by Hades, or hell.

They are given authority by God to kill a fourth of the world population through war, famine, pestilence, and wild animals. If this occurred today more than 2 billion people will have died during the opening of the first 4 seals.

Jesus mentions all of these things in order in Matthew 24

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.” – Matthew 24:7-8

Jesus mentions that these events occur early in the great tribulation when He says “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” All of the first 4 seals occur in the first half of the 7 year great tribulation.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  – Revelation 6:9-10

“The souls of those who were slain for the word of God, and their faithful witness”

In Matthew 24:6-8 Jesus said that in the early stages of the end, or early part of the great tribulation, there would be false teachers and christs. And there would be wars, famine, and earthquakes.

Then Jesus talks about a great persecution against His true followers that are in the great tribulation. These are people that come to faith in Christ during the great tribulation. And many are martyred for their faith and their faithful witness.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” – Matthew 24:9-10

Jesus continues speaking of the future events of the great tribulation and the end in Matthew 24. He describes in more detail the persecution against His true followers and witnesses in the great tribulation.

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” – Matthew 24:15-22

Jesus is describing the 2nd half of the great tribulation, and that many true followers of His that came to Christ in the great tribulation will be martyred.

Jesus’ Faithful Followers & Witnesses Will Not Be in The Great Tribulation

Jesus’ true followers that came to faith before the great tribulation will have been raptured before it begins. As evidenced in John’s vision of God’s throne in Revelation 4, the 4 living creatures, and the 24 elders around the throne. The 24 elders represent the true believers followers from the Old and New Testaments.

Also, in Revelation 3, in Jesus’ letter to the faithful church in Philadelphia, He promises that they will be kept out of the great tribulation. “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.” Because of their faithfulness and patient endurance during much persecution.

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. ¹² The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. ”  – Revelation 3:10-12

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision And 70 Weeks

In Matthew 24:15 Jesus references Daniel’s prophecy of the “70 weeks”, the great tribulation, and the end: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place”

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. And for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” – Daniel 9:24-27

In his vision in Daniel 9, Daniel describes 70 “weeks” or “7’s”, which are 70 periods of 7 years. At the time Daniel wrote the prophecy in Daniel, Jerusalem had been destroyed and its citizens were killed or deported to Babylon.

His prophecy includes both fulfilled and future events, and predicted the coming of an “Anointed One” (Jesus Christ). And it predicts a future period of tribulation and a ruler who will desecrate the temple. Daniel described a period of 7 “weeks or sevens”, or 49 years. The Persian emperor Artaxerxes issued a decree to rebuild Jerusalem sometime during the Hebrew month of Nisan in the 20th year of his reign, or approx. 444 BC. It took 7 years to rebuild Jerusalem and it’s walls.

And Daniel mentioned 62 more “weeks or sevens” until the coming of an “anointed one” who would be “cut off” or put to death. According to the prophecy, from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem there would be 7 seven-year periods and 62 more seven-year periods, or 483 years. After the culmination of the 7 plus 62 seven-year periods, or after 483rd year, the Messiah would be cut off.

The ancient Hebrews to whom Daniel was writing, and ancient Babylonia where Daniel was a slave, used 360 days in a year, and not 365 days like our modern calendar. 483 years (62+7 7 year periods) x 360 days = 173,880 days. This is equal to 476 years and 25 days, using our modern calendar.

Artaxerxes issued the edict to rebuild Jerusalem in 444 BC (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Starting from the Hebrew month of Nisan in 444 BC and adding 173,880 days brings us to AD 33. Which is the year Jesus was crucified on a cross, died, and rose again.

Then in Daniel 9:27, the 70th “week” or 7 year period, Daniel describes the antichrist and the 7 year great tribulation. The 70th week is the great tribulation in the future, in the end times.

“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” – Daniel 9:27

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

The 2nd Half of the Great Tribulation

At the beginning of the 7 year great tribulation the antichrist will promise peace, and make a peace pact or covenant with the world. Then at the halfway point he will show his true self, and end the worship of God. This is “the abomination of desolation” that Daniel and Jesus spoke of.

And he will declare himself to be God, and make people bow down to him and worship him. And there will be great persecution against true believers and followers of Jesus, and many will be killed and martyred. These are the ones shown under the altar in Revelation 6:9 “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne”.

Great Reward For The Martyrs

But there is great reward awaiting these faithful followers and witnesses of Jesus. Besides them being shown in Revelation 6 to be in heaven with Jesus, after they were slain in the great tribulation, there is further reward for them in Jesus’ 1000 year reign in Revelation 20.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” – Revelation 20:1-5

They will have the honor of reigning and shepherding along with Jesus in His 1000 year reign on earth immediately following the end of the 7 year great tribulation.

A White Robe

“Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”  – Revelation 6:11

A white robe – symbolizes salvation and the righteousness of Christ given to all who repent and faithfully follow and obey King Jesus

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” – Isaiah 61:10

“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” – Revelation 3:5

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9

These are martyrs killed for their faithfulness and obedience of Jesus’ call and command to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) and “witnesses” (Acts 1:8). All Christians are commanded to be witnesses and take the Gospel to a lost world.

Proverbs tells us that wise believers win souls. Because there is great reward for those who faithfully obey and take the Gospel to lost and hurting people.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.” – Proverbs 11:30

The martyrs depicted in Revelation 6 are those faithful believers and witnesses that were killed during the Great Tribulation. Part of their reward is they will have the honor of reigning with Jesus when He comes back and establishes His 1000 year reign on earth, at the end of the Great Tribulation

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit (hell or hades) and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” – Revelation 20:1-5

Revelation 6 – Jesus Opens 6 of 7 Seals

The 6th Seal – The Sun & Moon Are Darkened And Stars Fall

In Matthew 24, after Jesus talked about false christs, and then war and famine and pestilence, and then great persecution and martyrdom for true followers, He talks about what will happen next.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” – Matthew 24:29

Jesus is describing what happens when the 6th seal is opened in Revelation 6. God’s wrath and punishment have already killed a fourth of the earth’s population. And it is still far from over.

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” – Revelation 6:12-14

Terrifying Times For Those Who Are On Satan’s Side

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” – Revelation 6:15-17

After the 6th seal was opened and there was a huge earthquake, and the sun was darkened, people great and small hid in caves and among the rocks.

And they cried out to be killed, so they could get away from “he who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb”. They finally recognize, too late, that Jesus Christ is The King, the Living God.

But they do not go to Him and repent. They remain rebellious and only plead for death. They ask who can stand, already knowing the answer. No one will be able to stand after God’s wrath and punishment.

Jesus described this also in Matthew 24

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” – Matthew 24:29-30

Nest we will study Revelation 7. Revelation 7 is a continuation of John’s vision of heaven and God’s throne, and a break in between the opening of the 6th seal in Revelation 6 and the final 7th seal in Revelation 8.

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