Revelation 6

Revelation 6 describes the opening of the first six seals, revealing a prophetic timeline of Earth’s history and God’s judgments. The first four seals depict four horsemen: the white horse (the early church spreading the gospel), the red horse (persecution), the black horse (spiritual darkness and corruption), and the pale horse (death from apostasy). The fifth seal shows persecuted martyrs crying for justice, while the sixth seal brings cosmic disturbances, marking signs of Christ’s return. These events align with historical fulfillments, emphasizing the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The chapter ends with the question: “Who can stand?”

Revelation 6:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

These opening verses describe the opening of the first seal, revealing a white horse ridden by a conqueror with a bow and a crown. The Lamb (Jesus) opens the seal, and one of the four living creatures calls John to witness the event. The white horse represents purity, victory, and the triumph of the gospel, symbolizing the early church’s rapid spread from Pentecost (31 AD) to around 100 AD. The rider’s bow signifies spiritual conquest, as the apostles and early believers spread the gospel with divine power (Acts 1:8). The crown (Greek: stephanos, a victory wreath) signifies Christ’s triumph through His followers. This period, often called the Apostolic Age, was marked by zeal, faithfulness, and missionary success, fulfilling Jesus’ command to take the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:23).

Revelation 6:3-4 (NKJV)
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come and see.”
4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

These verses describe the opening of the second seal, revealing a red horse ridden by a figure given a great sword and the power to take peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another. The red horse symbolizes bloodshed and persecution, marking a period when the early church faced intense opposition. Historically, this corresponds to 100-313 AD, when Christians suffered severe persecution under Roman emperors like Nero, Domitian, and Diocletian. The great sword represents violent oppression, as many believers were martyred for their faith (Matthew 24:9). Despite suffering, the church remained faithful, proving that persecution could not destroy the gospel

Revelation 6:5-6 (NKJV)
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

These verses describe the opening of the third seal, revealing a black horse whose rider holds a pair of scales, while a voice declares the cost of wheat and barley, emphasizing economic hardship. The black horse represents spiritual darkness and corruption, marking a period of doctrinal compromise and apostasy. This corresponds to 313-538 AD, following Constantine’s legalization of Christianity. As the church gained political power, biblical truth was replaced with human traditions. The scales symbolize control over spiritual and physical sustenance, while the inflated grain prices suggest famine—not just of food but of God’s word (Amos 8:11-12). The phrase “do not harm the oil and wine” implies that some truth remained preserved, likely through faithful believers.

Revelation 6:7-8 (NKJV)
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come and see.”
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

This passage describes the opening of the fourth seal, revealing a pale horse, whose rider is named Death, followed by Hades. This horse represents a period of widespread death through war, famine, pestilence, and persecution. Historically, this corresponds to 538-1517 AD, covering the Dark Ages when spiritual corruption, papal oppression, and plagues devastated populations. The pale color (Greek: chloros, meaning sickly green) symbolizes death and decay. The rider, Death, and Hades (the grave) following him indicate mass suffering. Given power over a fourth of the earth, this era saw millions perish due to religious persecution, famines, and the Black Death. Yet, God still preserved His faithful remnant.

Revelation 6:9-11 (NKJV)
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed as they were was completed.

This passage describes the opening of the fifth seal, revealing the souls of martyrs under the altar who cry out for justice. This symbolizes the countless faithful believers who have been persecuted and killed for standing firm in God's truth throughout history, especially during the Reformation (1517 AD) to the present day. Their cry is not literal but symbolic, like Abel’s blood crying out from the ground (Genesis 4:10), representing their unjust deaths and God’s awareness of their suffering. The white robes given to them signify their righteousness and assurance of salvation. However, they are told to wait a little longer until the full number of martyrs is completed, meaning that persecution is not yet over. We are still living under the fifth seal, as religious oppression, deception, and trials continue worldwide. The reason we remain in this seal is that God, in His mercy, is allowing more time for people to choose truth before final judgment arrives. However, the time is nearing its end, and soon the sixth seal—the signs of Christ’s return—will be fully fulfilled.

Revelation 6:12-17 (NKJV)
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and 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 His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

This passage describes the opening of the sixth seal, revealing cosmic disturbances that signal the nearness of Christ’s return. A great earthquake shakes the earth, the sun turns black, the moon becomes like blood, and the stars fall from heaven. The sky recedes like a scroll, and mountains and islands move, causing global panic as people realize God’s judgment is near. Some interpret past events like the Lisbon earthquake (1755), the dark day (1780), and the falling stars (1833) as partial fulfillment, but these were local, while the sixth seal is global and directly precedes Christ’s return. Since we are still under the fifth seal, waiting for the full number of martyrs to be completed (Revelation 6:11), the sixth seal has not yet begun. Verse 17 states, "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"—a question that finds its answer in Revelation 7, where the 144,000 are sealed, showing that only God’s faithful, sealed people will be able to stand in the time of His judgment. This means the sealing of the 144,000 must happen before the sixth seal is fully opened, further proving that we are still under the fifth seal and approaching the final events.