Prophecy · Chapter 6 of 22

Revelation 6

The Lamb opens six of the seven seals. Four horsemen ride forth: conquest on a white horse, slaughter on red, famine on black, and death on a pale horse. Under the fifth seal, the souls of martyrs cry out asking how long until justice. The sixth seal brings a great earthquake and cosmic upheaval, as the powerful of earth hide, crying for rocks to fall on them before the wrath of the Lamb.

What happens in Revelation 6

The Lamb begins to open the seven seals. At the first, a living creature says Come and see, and a white horse rides out, its rider crowned and conquering. The second seal looses a red horse taking peace from the earth so that men kill one another. The third brings a black horse whose rider holds balances, and a voice sets grain prices while sparing oil and wine, signaling famine. The fourth releases a pale horse ridden by Death, with Hell following, given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, hunger, death, and beasts.

Under the fifth seal, John sees the souls of martyrs beneath the altar crying, How long, until justice comes; they are given white robes and told to rest a little longer. The sixth seal unleashes an earthquake, a darkened sun, a bloodied moon, falling stars, and a receding sky, as all ranks of humanity hide, dreading the wrath of the Lamb.

Revelation 6 in context

The Lamb who was found worthy now begins to unseal the scroll, setting God's purposes in motion. The four horsemen echo Zechariah's visions and Jesus' words in the Olivet Discourse about wars, famine, and death preceding the end. These are not random calamities but permitted forces under the Lamb's authority.

The fifth seal gives voice to the persecuted church's longing for vindication, a live concern for John's readers. The sixth seal's cosmic signs draw on prophetic language for the day of the Lord.

Main themes of Revelation 6

Revelation 6 (KJV)

1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Verses to carry from Revelation 6

“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”Revelation 6:2

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”Revelation 6:10

“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:”Revelation 6:16

Reflection

The martyrs asked How long, and were told to rest a little longer. Waiting for justice is one of faith's hardest works. Yet their cry was heard, their robes were given, and their rest was secure. Whatever injustice you are enduring, bring your How long to the Lamb, and let Him keep the timing.

A prayer from Revelation 6