Revelation 6 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Rev 6:1-8

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!’ 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.

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.

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, ‘A kilogram of wheat for a day’s wages, and three kilograms of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’

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 quarter of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

A. Find Out:

1. Who is opening the seals? v.1a,3a,5a,7a
2. Who are releasing the riders? v.1b,3b,5b,7b
3. How is the 1st rider described? v.2
4. What was the 2nd rider not permitted to do? v.4
5. What was the 3rd rider apparently bringing? v.5,6
6. What was the 4th rider bringing? v.8

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the order of the things the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th riders bring?
2. With reference to God, what needs to be remembered here?
3. How does the 1st rider differ from the others?

C. Comment:

     The first thing to note is that seals two to four bring bad news for the earth: upset, famine and death.

     The second thing to note is that they are brought forth as the Lamb, Jesus, opens each seal. In other words they are coming (noted on the scroll) at God’s behest. They are, therefore, the increasing judgement of God on the world that rejects Him.

    The third thing to note, which may appear obvious, is that the three follow the first, but the first is different from the next three. The first rider is given (not natural, earned?) a crown, i.e. it is to rule. It also has to go and conquer. Now this rider has a white horse and white is always a sign of purity (see also Revelation 19:11 ). It might therefore be suggested that this horse and rider is the church and the Gospel.

      It shouldn’t necessarily be thought that each rider goes out only after the previous one has finished. In a sense we have here the divine order for all time on the fallen earth: the Gospel comes and when it is rejected lack of peace always follows. After this God brings chastisement to bring people to their senses. If that fails then death is always the ultimate result.

D. Application?

1. Jesus is ruling over end time history, he is Lord!
2. Watch for the divine order on the earth.

Passage: Rev 6:9-17

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.

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 wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’

A. Find Out:    

1. Who was John next shown? v.9
2. What were they asking? v.10
3. For what were they to wait? v.11
4. What was the effect of the 6th seal? v.12-14
5. How did the earth’s inhabitants react? v.15-17

B. Think:

1. How was the 5th seal different from the previous ones?
2. How was the 6th seal completely different again?
3. What did this passage indicate about the church?

C. Comment:

      The first four seals were heralded by four creatures and brought good and then bad news to the earth.

      The fifth seal merely brings revelation to John of Christians who had been martyred as sacrifices for Jesus. They wonder how long it will be before God moves and winds up the earth to finally deal with all who oppose Him and who killed them. The Lord indicates that the time is not right and indeed before the end even more will loose their lives for being Christians.

      The sixth seal is different again, for there is no heralding by the creatures but instead there is immediate effect. There is immediate universal catastrophe and the heart of it appears to be a massive world wide earthquake which causes such disturbance that the sky appears changed. When that happens all the inhabitants of the earth will realise that this is the judgement of God and will flee in abject fear. They will realise who it is that is bringing this and, note, instead of repenting they still foolishly try to hide from Him. Such is the foolishness of sin.

      Within the 5th and 6th seals are contrasted people. First those who love the Lord so much they will die for Him, and second the people who love themselves so much they die for that.

D. Application?

1. Christians are not immune from persecution and death and they will be there through this time.
2. Remember Jesus is ruling over all end time events and He is with us to impart His grace to cope.