Revelation 6-8
What I Noticed Today (Revelation 6-8)
Revelation 6
Seal 1.
In verses 1-2, John describes the Lamb (Jesus) opening one of the seven seals, and one of the four creatures said, “Come,” and John saw a white horse and the horseman who had a bow and a crown went out as a victor to conquer.
Note: Some believe the rider of the white horse is Christ, but the timing is wrong. Christ returns as a conqueror at the end of the Tribulation period, not before. Also, note there is no mention of an arrow. It is more likely this rider is the Antichrist.
Seal 2.
In verses 3-4, He opened the second seal, and a second living creature said, “Come,” and a fiery red horse went out, and its horseman with a large sword could take peace from the earth so that people would slaughter one another.
Seal 3.
In verses 5-6 He opened the third seal, and a third living creature said, “Come,” and there was a black horse, and its horseman had a set of scales. Something like a voice from the four living creatures said a quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarts of barley for a denarius but did not harm the olive oil and the wine.
Note: This horseman represents famine, which often follows war. The price for the wheat and barley was very high, indicating severe famine and food shortages.
Seal 4.
In verses 7-8, He opened the fourth seal, and the fourth living creature said, “Come,” and there was a pale green horse, and the horseman on it was named Death and Hades followed after him. Authority was given him over a fourth of the earth to kill by the sword, famine, plague, or wild animals.
Note: Death is a reference to the physical body. Hades is a reference to the Spirit/Soul of man.
Seal 5.
In verses 9-11, He opened the fifth seal, and I (John) saw people under the altar slaughtered because of God’s Word and their testimony. They cried out for the Lord to avenge their deaths. A white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest until their number was fulfilled.
Note: This is a description of the martyrs during the Tribulation period. The word translated “people” is literally the word for “souls” in Greek. The souls of the martyrs were under the altar. The white robes given to them are a symbol of their righteousness.
Seal 6.
In verses 12-17, He opened the sixth seal, and a violent earthquake shook the earth. The sun turned black, and the moon turned red like blood, and the stars fell to the earth. The sky separated like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Everyone hid in the caves in the mountains, and they called on the mountains to fall on them to hide them from the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Note: All elements of society; rich and poor, free and slave who had not accepted Christ hid themselves to try to avoid the judgment of God and the wrath of Christ.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 includes two visions that appear to John after the opening of the sixth seal and before the opening of the seventh. It answers the question from Revelation 6:13, “Who is able to stand [before God]?”
In verses 1-8, John describes four angels standing in the four corners of the earth restraining the wind. Another angel with the seal of God rose up and cried out to the other four angels not to harm the earth, the trees, or the sea until they seal the slaves of God on their foreheads. The number of those sealed was 144,000 (12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel).
Note: A seal placed on a person indicated ownership. In this case, they are “owned” by God. The 144,000 are Jewish believers (not members of a modern-day cult of Christianity). The order of the tribes listed is interesting; Judah is listed first because it was the royal tribe of Israel, Reuben is next and was the firstborn of Jacob. Dan and Ephraim are not listed, perhaps because of their idolatry. Joseph (taking the place of his son Ephraim) and Levi are listed, although neither were listed among the military tribes of Numbers 2.
In verses 9-17, after this, John looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and carried a branch in their hands. They cried out, “Salvation belongs to our God…and to the Lamb.”
The angels stood around the throne. The elders and the four living creatures and fell down and worshiped God.
One of the elders asked, who are these people robed in white, and where did they come from? John answered, “Sir, you know.” The elder explained…
- They came out of the Great Tribulation.
- They had washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.
- Because of this, they are before the throne of God serving Him day and night.
- The One on the throne will shelter them.
- They will no longer hunger or thirst.
- The sun will no longer strike them.
- The Lamb will shepherd them and guide them to springs of living water.
- And God will wipe away their tears.
Note: In John’s first vision, righteous Jews from every tribe are sealed with God. In the second vision, believers martyred during the Tribulation are given comfort and protection by God.
Revelation 8
In verses 1-6, He opened the seventh seal, and there was silence in heaven for half an hour. Then seven trumpets were given to the seven angels who stand before God. Another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of the saints. The smoke of the incense was the prayers that went up in the presence of God. The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire, and hurled it to earth. There was thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. The seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
Note: The seventh seal is important; covering all the events from Revelation 8:1 through 19:10. The angel with the incense burner is thought to be Jesus because the prayers of the saints come before God through Him (Ephesians 2:18). Jesus is called the angel of Jehovah in Genesis 16:13, Genesis 31:11, Judges 6:22, Hosea 12:4. From the order of the text, it appears the prayers of the saints caused the angel to throw the fire upon the earth to punish their enemies.
Note: Verse 6, as the angels prepare to blow their trumpets, signifies the middle of the Tribulation period.
First Trumpet.
In verse 7, the first angel blew his trumpet and hail mixed with fire, and blood was hurled to the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned, and all of the green grass.
Second Trumpet.
In verse 8-9, the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a mountain on fire was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Note: Perhaps a massive volcanic eruption.
Third Trumpet.
In verses 10-11, the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star blazing like a torch fell from heaven onto a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the water became wormwood, so many people died from drinking the water.
Note: Wormwood is a non-poisonous plant that is extremely bitter. However, in this case, the water became poisonous. Wormwood is an analogy for bitterness, sorrow, and injustice (Jeremiah 23:15, Lamentations 3:15, Amos 5:7).
Fourth Trumpet.
In verses 12-13, the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day and night were without light.
I (John) looked up and saw an eagle crying out in a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining three trumpet blasts that are about to sound.”
Some additional thoughts for consideration:
- The Antichrist begins by declaring peace. He has weapons of war but no arrows with which to fight. It is not long before Christians are persecuted during the Tribulation.
- During the Tribulation, two groups, one of the Jews and one of Christians, maintain their faith and are sealed in righteousness.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.