Response of Unbelievers to Seals

15 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?" (Rev. 6:15-17)
A. John describes those affected from seven categories of society. He emphasizes how leaders will respond. Kings (presidents); (world leaders); great menrich men (financial leaders); military commanders; mighty men (civil leaders); every slave and free man (common class majority).

B. Powerful world leaders are pictured as running for their lives in panic without regard for their dignity as they run to the mountains claiming to hide from a God they said did not exist. Later in the seventh bowl, they decide to fight against Jesus (Rev. 19:17-21).

C. Some asteroids can be detected years ahead of time so that nations will know they are coming.

D. Unbelievers will perceive God’s wrath in these signs as they cry to the mountains, "Fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb!” They run in panic understanding the cosmic disturbances as God’s judgment.

E. We are not told how they conclude this is God’s wrath. The forerunners have been proclaiming it since the opening of the first seal. This is not the Second Coming because at that time, the world leaders will fight Jesus instead of running to hide from Him in the mountains (Rev. 19:17-21).

F. The unbelievers will understand and even announce the coming of the Day of the Lord.

G. Jesus, Peter and Paul taught that the Day of the Lord would come as a thief surprising many (Mt. 24:37-44; 1 Thes. 5:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15).

H. Isaiah prophesied of people hiding in the caves (Isa. 2:10, 21, 19; Hos. 10:8; Lk. 23:30).

10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty…11 The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day…19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord…when He arises to shake the earth mightily. (Isa. 2:10-19)

I. The saints will see and understand in this hour in which Nahum’s prophecy is fulfilled.