Revelation 6 is a pivotal chapter in the unfolding story of the end time chronicle. Here we will meet the antichrist for the first time, and will be introduced to the general concept of the unfolding of end time events. this highly symbolic, as we will see. It is also important to note that the events, although unfurled in a chronological way, are not necessarily comprehensive. This is the first step in a triangulation of John’s vision. We will visit the series of events in three ways. First, here in chapter 6. We will get further information when the trumpets are blown and the bowls of wrath are poured. Chapter 6 is the first chapter explaining what is to come.
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”
The lamb (Jesus) opens the first of the seven seals. In those times, a scroll was typically sealed once. In Roman times, seven seals were used for Wills. If we think about God’s final plan as a Will, it may help us to understand the finality of God’s wishes for mankind. In that same sense, when a seal is broken, it revels a portion of the Will at a time. In a spiritual sense, that means that when the seal is broken, the judgment is executed. These are things that must happen. It marks the beginning of the tribulation.
2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
The White Horse
The first seal is opened (executed) and there is a white horse. The rider carries a bow, is given a crown, and he is bent on conquest.
This horse and rider is the first “sign” of the tribulation. White normally implies purity. But we must look at the rider. What defines him. First, he has a bow and is made for battle and victory. To understand who this is, we have to contrast him by the true description of the attacking Christ, which happens is Revelation 19:15:
5 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
When we see the true depiction of Christ, we see that Christ carries no bow. In fact, the weapon Christ carries is a sword that comes from His mouth. This sword is known as the sword of truth (Hebrews 4:12).
Secondly, the man is wearing a crown. The word used here is Stephanos, which in Greek implies a crown of victory. This man has been victorious over the earth. He is a ruler, a king over mankind. Third, he is bent on conquest. This is a direct desire to rule over man. Now, we can make the distinction that this sounds a lot like Christ. For many centuries this was the teaching. Unfortunately, this doesn’t square with the rest of what John interprets through the book of Revelation. In fact, when we need a true understanding of who this is, we again must go further ahead in the book and contrast it again with the true description we have of Christ, which happens in Revelation 19:11-16:
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
We know this passage describes Jesus, so when we put it up against the horse and rider of Revelation 6, we see the difference. Christ is on a white horse. He wages war how? with justice. Conquest has little to do with justice. Conquest is about acquisition of land and resources. Furthermore, Christ’s eyes are like blazing fire (judgment) and he wears many crowns (as opposed to the one crown of victory worn by the rider of Revelation 6). His weapon: the sword- truth.
When we look at this description, paired with the rider of Revelation 6, we can see there is a stark difference. We can also put it up against the reality of what is happening in Heaven at the time of this. The Lamb is opening the scrolls, the slain lamb, the sacrificial lamb. He is judging those who refuse to accept His sacrificial payment of sin.
There’s no doubt the rider has similarities to Christ, but is not Christ. So who is he? This is the man of lawlessness, the AntiChrist. He will come as a pseudo-savior, will untie the world in such a way that will seem miraculous. But in the end, he is playing a game that will force the world into devastation (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-12).
The rider of the white horse is the AntiChrist. He is a counterfeit of Christ. As Revelation continues, we’ll see that the Anti-Christ, the government he builds, and the actions he performs, are all counterfeits to Christ.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
The Red Horse
The ride of this horse is given power to take peace from the earth by making people kill each other. The red horse is synonymous with war. It implies that conquering white horse has given he earth a sense of peace. This rider has been given a large sword. It is important to note that the death that comes from this horse and rider is not from any natural source; it is strictly from war.
The Red Horse represents War.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
The Black Horse
The black horse brings a consequence of difficult times. As the rider holds scales, it denotes careful and scarce rationing. Life in these times, is reduced to the barest necessities. This is the implication of famine, of resources becoming unattainable for many. Yet, there is still an abundance of supplies in the world for those who can afford them (oil and wine). This represents the social and economic imbalance that will take place.
The Black Horse represents famine.
The Pale Horse
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
The Pale Horse comes onto the scene and God has given him the power to kill a fourth of the earth by endless war, famine and sickness. This is the culmination of the first three horses. Matthew 24:21:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The Pale Horse represents death. When we put these first four seals together, what we find is a distinct pattern that builds on each other. First, a leader rises, one that seemingly promises peace, conquers the world with his message, lulls the inhabitants of the planet into his vision. But it is all a fraud, for he takes the hubris of the people and launches them into unending war. This causes the breakdown of society, creating famine, sickness and death.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.
The scene switches back to Heaven. The martyrs, who have spilled their blood as a sacrifice offered to God (Leviticus 4:7) are pained by the process. How long are you going to wait until you bring justice? is their cry. But God gives them a white robe (purity) and told to be patient. Why? because there are others who must be martyred before justice can begin.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
The sixth seal brings the first visible sign of judgment on the earth. There are earthquakes, the sun goes black, the moon is like blood, stars fall to the earth, the sky recedes like a scroll, mountains and islands are moved out of place. The people hide in caves and they understand it is God’s wrath. But you’ll notice a few things here. First, the terror equalizes everyone (v. 15). Second, there is no repentance. Their hope is that they will hide from God’s wrath. Maybe God will not see them, forget about them, overlook them. Remember, the wrath of God is reserved for those who have not accepted Jesus into their lives. When we accept Jesus into our life, we deal with God’s grace and mercy. When we do not, we only deal with His wrath. (Joel 2:30-32, Matthew 24:29).
“Who can withstand it” is the prominent question here. The only people who can stand during this time are believers (1 Cor 15:1, 1 Peter 5:12). Jesus already paid for God’s wrath. This speaks to spiritual preparedness. Only the spiritually strong and prepared can withstand the coming wrath.
This is referring to the tribulation. The tribulation is the 7-year period of turmoil before the coming of christ. The Great Tribulation refers to the period after the AntiChrist is unveiled and there is an escalation of horror thrown at the world (Matthew 24:21, Matthew 24:25). It is a 42-month ordeal that begins with an abomination int he temple (the AntiChrist will cause a blasphemy ad declare himself God) and ends with Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-30). The people of this time will endure great hardship, but the time of the AntiChrist is short, although terrible.