Revelation Chapter 6 — Opening the Six Seals
The Lamb opens the first six seals of the scroll, revealing the Four Horsemen, the pleas of the martyrs, and massive cosmic disturbances.
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Notable Verses
Revelation 6:2
“Then a white horse appeared, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”
This verse introduces the first of the four horsemen, symbolizing the beginning of conquest.
Revelation 6:8
“And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him.”
This marks the appearance of the final horseman, representing widespread mortality.
Revelation 6:17
“for the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
This concludes the chapter with a rhetorical question regarding the magnitude of divine judgment.
Chapter Summary
In Revelation 6, Jesus Christ, the Lamb, begins opening the seven seals of the scroll he received in the previous vision. The first four seals release symbolic horsemen: a conqueror on a white horse, a bringer of war on a red horse, a bringer of famine on a black horse, and Death on a pale horse. These figures represent significant global upheaval, including conquest, conflict, scarcity, and mortality. When the fifth seal is opened, John sees the souls of martyrs under the altar, crying out for justice and receiving white robes. They are told to wait until the number of their fellow servants is complete. The opening of the sixth seal triggers dramatic cosmic events: a massive earthquake, the darkening of the sun, and the moon turning to blood. The sky recedes like a scroll, and people of every social status, from kings to slaves, hide in caves to escape the coming judgment, questioning who can survive the great day of wrath.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Four Horsemen appear as the first four seals are opened. They include a conqueror on a white horse, a bringer of war on a red horse, a merchant representing famine on a black horse, and Death on a pale horse.
The fifth seal reveals the souls of those who were killed for their faith and the Word of God. They are found under an altar, asking how long until their blood is avenged, and are given white robes to wear while they rest.
The sixth seal brings a great earthquake, the sun turning black, the moon turning to blood, and stars falling from the sky. These events cause all people, from kings to slaves, to hide in fear from the presence of God.
Study Note
The 'choenix' mentioned in verse 6 was a daily ration of grain, and its price for a denarius (a day's wage) indicates extreme economic scarcity or famine.
Related Chapters
Revelation 5
This chapter describes the Lamb receiving the scroll that He begins to open in chapter 6.
Matthew 24
Jesus speaks of similar signs of the end times, including wars, famines, and cosmic disturbances.
Zechariah 6
The Old Testament prophet Zechariah also sees a vision of four chariots with different colored horses.
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