Revelation 6 – The Seven Seals

Revelation 6 – The Seven Seals Opened

(Rev 6:1 NKJV) Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."

It is at this point in our study that commentators begin to differ widely as to what this book is all about from this point on. So I will go back to my basic outline of approaching prophecy:

#4 Compare scriptures that are apparently talking about the same event and let one shed light on the other.

I believe this scroll is a Title Deed to Something. We have an example of a Title Deed in Jeremiah.

(Jer 32:6-14 NKJV) And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, {7} 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it."'. . .{9} "So I bought the field from Hanamel, the son of my uncle who was in Anathoth, and weighed out to him the money; seventeen shekels of silver. {10} "And I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales. {11} "So I took the purchase deed, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open; {12} "and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison.

I believe this scroll is a Title Deed to Something—That “Something” being the earth.

(Mat 4:8-9 NKJV) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

Does it, in any sense, belong to the devil?

(2 Cor 4:4 KJV) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(1 John 5:19 NKJV) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Does it, in any sense, belong to the devil?

Not really, but God has allowed him a lot of power and influence. Jesus bought us back! He is about to claim possession of the earth! It is a promise God made to Him.

(Psa 2:7-9 NKJV) "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. {8} Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. {9} You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

Will it Happen?

(Rev 11:15 NKJV) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

Will it Happen? –

Yes, but what happens before that? –

The opening of the Seals!

(Rev 6:1 NKJV) Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."

(Rev 6:2 NKJV) And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

I compare this to Matthew 24:4, and conclude that these verses describe the same problem.

(Mat 24:4 NKJV) And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. (5) "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

Many take this to be a prophecy of Christ. I submit the following problems with that view:

(Rev 2:16 NKJV) 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

The crown has been taken by the Pope of Rome. Look at his dress, crown, septer, throne! Christ has not returned in glory!

The Roman Catholic Church used the weapons of war against any who disagreed with her. The White horse may also represent anti-Christ, but if so, time order is not followed.

(Mat 11:12 NKJV) "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

All the other horses represent plagues of different kinds. I don’t think the first one is different! To make the first horse Christ makes the list start off good, and then everything else is bad. I think it is a consistent list.

The Horsemen in general (the 1^st 4 seals):

I don’t think they are referring to one specific event, but to conditions that have occurred over and over again between the time of Christ first coming and His second coming.

The Second Seal

(Rev 6:3-4 NKJV) When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." (4) Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

(Mat 24:6-7 NKJV) "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation¹ will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

¹ethnos, eth'-nos; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; spec. a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by impl. pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

In other words, there will be strife between ethnic groups, or races. There will be war between kingdoms, or nations as we think of them.

The Third Seal

(Rev 6:5-6 NKJV) When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. {6} And I heard 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 the wine."

What’s being described are days of famine.

Let’s compare Rev. 6:5-6 with Matthew 24:7b

(Mat 24:7b-8 NKJV) . . . And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

“Pestilences, and earthquakes” are added, other wise, we have famines, just different words.

The Fourth Seal – The Pale Horse.

(Rev 6:7-8 NKJV) When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." {8} So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Let’s compare Rev. 6:7-8 with Matthew 24:9-10

(Mat 24:9-10 NKJV) "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. {10} "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

So what can we expect according to the 4 horsemen?

(Amos 3:7-8 NKJV) Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. {8} A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” – There are many who will not speak. They think prophecy doesn’t matter.