Bible Study Library

Dear Disciples:

When each of the first four seals of the scroll (Jesus’ Last Will and Testament) were broken, a colored horse rode forth. The first horse was white and seemed to represent the effective proclaiming of the gospel. The second was red and symbolized war and bloodshed. The third horse was black and symbolized scarcity due to an economic system that was out of whack. The forth horse was pale - the color of death - and represented death from war, famine, sickness, and wild animals in 1/4 of the earth.

What we learn from the breaking of those seals is that the Good News will be spread effectively, but in a hostile environment. Satan will do all he can to prevent its effectiveness, but the Good News is even more appealing to those who are weak, suffering, and in need.

The Fifth Seal - Souls of Christian Martyrs
When the fifth seal is broken, the souls of Christian martyrs are revealed. They were martyred because they spread the Word and maintained their testimonies. Presumably, these are Christians who spread the gospel in a hostile environment when first seal was broken. These souls were under the altar, which is where priests would pour out the blood of animals they sacrificed.

Jesus taught that every disciple of His must be willing to deny himself and take up his cross. When we see a cross, we think of life - the resurrected Christ, our hope of eternal life.

But when Jesus said His disciples must take up their crosses, He said it to disciples who didn’t associate crosses with life as we do. He hadn’t been crucified or resurrected yet. They still expected their Messiah to be a world ruler, not a man killed as a criminal. To the disciples Jesus led, crosses were instruments of death for the most heinous criminals.

Here’s the point - when Jesus told His disciples that they would have to take up their crosses, they would have heard Him saying that they must willingly die the death of a criminal if they would be His disciples. Anyone who wants to follow Jesus must be willing to die for Him even the worst of deaths that they don’t deserve.

In our text, the martyrs cry out to God, wanting Him to judge the people on the earth (its “inhabitants”) and avenge their blood. Now, don’t get too caught up on the fact that the church is also on the earth. The phrase “Inhabitants of the earth (v10) can also be translated “those whose home (κατοικεω, katoikeo) is the earth.” Remember how the same phrase was used in 1:7? Jesus is described as coming in the clouds, and it says “All the people of the earth will mourn.” Obviously Christians won’t be morning when Jesus comes again. “People of the earth” refers to people who don’t belong to Christ. See also 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:2, and 17:8. In all of these cases “inhabitants of the earth” is used in a pejorative sense. Many other times “of the earth” is used that way too (such as “kings of the earth” and “merchants of the earth”).

A sharp distinction is made throughout the New Testament - and especially in relation to end times - between those whose home is earth and those whose home is Heaven.

Alas, they must wait. God will not avenge their blood just yet. There will be more martyrs. Meanwhile, they are clothed in righteousness.

The Sixth Seal - A Great Earthquake
The sixth seal was broken and there was a great earthquake. The sun grew black, the moon turned blood red, and stars began falling to the earth. The sky rolled up like a scroll and mountains and islands were destroyed.

Similar events are described in Joel 2:31/3:15; Isa 34:4; Jer 4:23-28; and Mat 24:29. I recommend you take the time to look those up right now.

Remember, as we have mentioned several times before, the physical world shares man’s fate. Because of the serpent’s part in the Great Sin, he had to crawl on his belly and eat dust and forever there would be enmity between him and the woman and her offspring. Because of Eve’s part in the Great Sin, she was cursed with pains during childbirth and would be ruled by the husband she desired. But Adam was never directly cursed for his part in the Great Sin. Instead, God said “cursed is the ground because of you.” From that point on the ground would produce thorns and thistles and would have to be worked hard. Eventually, Adam would return to the dust he came from because death and corruption entered into the world (Gen 3:17ff). Yes, Adam suffered for his sin, and the curse from his sin was far bigger - it affected all of creation, not just him directly.

Since that time,

…the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Rom 8:19-22)

The earth and everything in it has fallen victim to violence, decay, and death and is in need of God’s salvation.

The poetic language here in Rev 6:12-14 describes the undoing of this curse, the transformation of the world as we know it - setting the stage for the new heavens and new earth to emerge (Rev 21:1) when it is redeemed.

The effect of this great earthquake was the humbling of all mankind (vv 15-17). Everyone from the powerful to the downtrodden — kings, princes, generals, rich, mighty, slave and free — realized their abilities were useless against the One who sits on the throne and against the His Lamb. They all cried out for the mountains and rocks to kill them.

An old Russian proverb says “At the end of the game, the King and the Pawn go back into the same box.” On that day, nothing of this earth will be significant anymore.

Such is the breaking of six of the seven seals on the scroll. You might wonder what is happening to Christians at this time. They are still on earth, as we’ve already discussed. Will they be harmed? Will they endure this?

That is the purpose of chapter 7.

The seventh seal won’t be broken until chapter 8.