REVELATION 6-7

 

These judgments are also listed in Luke 21 in almost same order, except that earthquake is given last as 

elsewhere in Revelation (8:5, 11:13, 16:18).

Revelation 6:1-8

vv. 1-2 The rider on white horse. There is some similarity to the image of Christ in 19:11f, but in the 

present context it probably refers to a judgment, namely warfare of the invasion type. “White” stands 

for purity to us, but in ancient times it also symbolized victory. The bow suggests military , and the 

crown suggests political power. Jacques Ellul (Apocalypse) feels that the rider on the white horse is 

Christ and says, “Among the powers let loose on earth, it is the Word of God, intermingled with the 

others, which makes history, but it alone is victorious.”

vv. 3-4 may specifically refer to civil warfare rather than invasion from without. Ellul: “Whenever war 

occurs, there are the obvious political factors why man chooses this route, but in addition there is a 

sovereign force, without which war would not occur.” War may be used by God to work out his 

judgments. The Greek word for kill is not the usual one; it means slaughter or butcher. Note that it is 

not the rider who does the killing; men do that to one another.

vv. 5-6 Famine and economic disruption through inflation occur. There is a shortage of grains but an 

excess of less needed goods. That actually happened in 92 AD around the time of the writing of this 

letter when Emperor Domitian ordered that vine cultivation be restricted but grain growing be 

increased (the command was abandoned after wide protest). In addition, General Titus, during the siege 

of Jerusalem, ordered that vineyards and olive groves not be touched. This describes a condition in 

which the poor are affected much more than the rich. Disaster only hits crops that can be replanted 

each year, not crops that would take years to recover. Famine is not complete, indicating God’s mercy 

toward mankind. A working man would be able to just survive on wheat, but he would not make 

enough money to feed a family. They would have to eat barley.

vv. 7-8 Hades accompanying Death. “Pale” = chloros, a yellow-green (the color of decaying flesh) 

from which we get the name for chlorine. Evil is not given a totally free reign, but events are strictly 

under God’s control as in the story of Job. Even death is given his power only by God's will.

The four plagues in verse 8 are similar to those in Ezekiel 14:12-23 against a country that has acted 

faithlessly toward God: sword, famine, evil beasts, and pestilence. This shows the self-defeating nature 

of sin. The four horsemen can refer to woes that are self-inflicted by mankind upon itself due to 

wickedness. Ellul – the powers which are represented go together to make up human history (political 

power, economic power, the power of death, and divine power). The same four powers are shown in 2 

Samuel 24:12-14. Christ does not call forth the four horsemen, he merely reveals the secret that has 

been there all along. God allows these natural consequences when mankind tries to oppose God’s will.

Revelation 6:9-11 Now the scene shifts from earth to heaven.

To be buried under the altar was a sign of honor in Israel. Martyrs have poured out their blood as if on 

the altar and that is why their souls are kept there.

Their prayer for vengeance is answered in 8:1-5. This cry recognizes that only God should avenge 

wrongs. “Those that dwell on the earth” appears about ten times in Revelation. Note that it is only a 

question of “when,” not of “whether.” It seems to be addressed to unregenerate mankind as a whole.

A white robe is a pledge of immortality and perhaps indicates that they are already reigning. As 

indicated earlier, that color may indicate victory or justification. In any case, note that they did not get it 

on their own, but were given the robe by God.

Revelation 6:12-17 The sixth seal draws on imagery from numerous scriptures, including the Gospels:

The earthquake is from Haggai 2:6,

the sun turned black and moon turned to blood is from Joel 2:31,

stars fallen like figs from a tree is in Isaiah 34:4 as is the sky rolled up like a scroll.

Notice the seven categories of mankind, especially the rich and powerful. This probably refers to the 

great and terrible Day of the Lord (Last Judgment).

As catastrophic as the physical disasters are, even more frightening is the prospect of facing God in 

judgment (an attitude we could use more of today). There is a great old folk song entitled “O Sinner 

Man” that really expresses the anguish the damned will feel as they prefer being drowned in the sea or 

buried under a mountain to standing up to God's judgment. The rhetorical question “Who can stand?” is 

actually answered in Revelation 7:9.

Chapter 7 is an interlude with two visions of consolation.

Revelation 7:1-3

“After this” does not necessarily mean these events will occur afterward, only that this vision was 

received next by John. It can be interpreted to review the above events from the viewpoint of their 

impact, or lack of impact, on Christians.

This is not to be taken as a literal description of the shape of the earth. We still use “four corners of the 

earth” today in popular parlance, mainly referring to the four compass points.

“Four winds” may be equivalent to the four horsemen of the previous vision. In both cases they cause 

damage, but the damage is strictly limited by God’s command. See Zechariah 6:1-5 where this same 

equivalency is made.

“Seal” denoted a person’s property. Sealed with a mark reminds us of Cain being marked by God so 

that he would not be harmed. Here the seal is not necessarily to protect from physical danger (note the 

death of the two witnesses in Chapter 11) but is spiritual.

Revelation 7:4-12 There is a controversy over whether one or two groups of mankind are being 

described:

A. Two groups.

1. If only one group is intended, why are two mentioned?

2. Romans 11:25-26 refers to a specifically Jewish remnant being saved in the last days.

3. One group is specifically numbered while the second is uncountable.

4. The first group goes through the tribulation while second group is physically removed 

from it (see verse 14).

5. The first group is obviously Jewish while second group includes all nations (v. 9).

B. Only one group (i.e., the Church).

1. In the first place John hears the number of those sealed and then he sees them. 

Chapters 1 and 4 have this same sequence.

2. Romans 11:25-26 must be interpreted in the same way as Romans 11:32. Also, “all 

Israel” may mean all true Israel (Look again at vv. 25-26 in this light).

3. The definite number given in v. 4 indicates that no one was missing (mathematical 

symbolism) while the designation of uncountable stresses the large number.

4. The distinction between the two is really not that obvious (What does sealing mean? 

What does “come out of” mean?). It seems to be purposely ambiguous, which is why we 

have pre-, mid-, and post- tribulation beliefs today.

5. The listing of tribes is curious in many ways, especially in starting with the tribe of the 

Messiah (indicates this is more a Christian than a Jewish list), deletion of Dan (There 

was a tradition that the Antichrist would come from this tribe), and listing Manasseh as

 well as Joseph.

6. There are numerous NT references to Christians (whether Gentile or Jew) as being 

the new Israel:

Real Jew and real circumcision are spiritual, not literal (Romans 2:28-29)

True sons of Israel (Romans 9:6-8)

Abraham’s offspring (Galatians 3:28-29)

New creation having nothing to do with circumcision (Galatians 6:15-16)

Twelve tribes in the dispersion (James 1:1)

The exiles in dispersion (I Peter 1:1)

A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people (I Peter 

2:9-10

A nation of His own (Titus 2:14)

The true circumcision (Philippians 3:3)

7. Revelation 14:4 further identifies the 144,000 as followers of Christ from all nations, 

not literal Jewish tribe members.

7:9-12 Assuming this last view, the second vision shows this same group in heaven to give hope that 

even though there will be trials on earth, heaven is our ultimate destiny. This scene will be treated in 

more detail in chapters 21 and 22.

7:12 The seven-fold praise to God is practically identical to the seven-fold praise to the Lamb in

Rev. 5:12. Each of these seven is preceded by a definite article “The power, etc.”

Revelation 7:13-17

The first part of this passage seems to refer to the last generation of Christians who experienced the 

tribulation (or were rescued out of it) while the last part seems to refer to all Christians.

7:14 “Tribulation” in the NT always refers to the constant opposition of Satan toward the church.

 

Matthew 24 indicates recurring periods of tribulation, not just one defined period.

7:15 Heaven is not pictured as a place of inactivity. See the parallel language in I Chronicles 9:33.

 

7:17 The irony here is that it is the sheep who do the shepherding, who will “lead.”