Revelation 7:9-10

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

·         Though the church of God is but a little flock, in comparison of the wicked world, yet it is no contemptible society, but really large, and to be still more enlarged (MH)

·         They stand before the throne – the throne of God would be inaccessible to sinners were it not for a Mediator (MH)

Revelation 7:4-8

And I heard the number of those who were sealed.  One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;

Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
Of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
 

·         We are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our eventual total redemption. (DG)

·         Ethnically, they are Jewish, and there are 144,000 of these chosen ones.  (DG)

·         It is best to see the 144,000 as specifically chosen Jewish believers in Jesus, protectively sealed throughout the tribulation as a sign.  (DG)

 

Revelation 7:2-3

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.  And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

·         Another angel was employed to mark out and distinguish the faithful servants of God (MH)

·         How they were distinguished:  the seal of God was set upon their foreheads.  By this mark they were set apart for mercy and safety in the worst of times (MH)

Revelation 7:1

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

·         An account of the restraint laid upon the winds.  By these winds we suppose are meant those errors which would occasion a great deal of trouble and mischief to the church of God (MH)

·         The spirit of error cannot go forth till God permits it.  Their restraint was only for a seaon. (MH)

Revelation 6:17

“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

·         Day of His wrath: For the great day of His wrath “has come”—the issue is whether the Day of the Lord has just begun or is soon to follow. The Greek verb “has come” can look backwards, indicating that the Day already arrived or it can look forward as something to occur soon.

·         The narrow Day of the Lord is the 24-hour day Jesus enters Jerusalem. The broad Day of the Lord starts at the Tribulation and ends after the millennium. It lasts for 1,000 years (2 Pet. 3:8).

Revelation 6:15-16

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, 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!

·         John describes those affected from seven categories of society. He emphasizes how leaders will respond: kings (presidents); great men (world leaders); rich men (financial leaders); military commanders; mighty men (civil leaders); and slaves and free men (common class majority).

·         Meteoroids will bombard the earth, like a fig tree losing its figs when strong winds blow on it. John saw men hiding in caves to escape the debris falling from the sky as a part of the wrath of the Lamb. This intensifies later when 100-pound hailstones fall in the seventh bowl (Rev. 16:21).

Revelation 6:14

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.

·         Stars: asteroids and meteor showers hitting the earth. The Greek word for stars used here is aster from which we get the word “asteroid.” An aster refers to any shining mass in the sky, including stars, comets, meteors, asteroids, or any flaming debris.

·         As God guided David’s stone to hit Goliath, so He will guide these stones (asteroids) to destroy the Antichrist’s infrastructure to stop oppressors from killing the saints and others. Meteorites will bombard the earth, as compared to a fig tree losing its figs when strong winds blow on it.

Revelation 6:13

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.

·         Stars: asteroids and meteor showers hitting the earth. The Greek word for stars used here is aster from which we get the word “asteroid.” An aster refers to any shining mass in the sky, including stars, comets, meteors, asteroids, or any flaming debris.

·         As God guided David’s stone to hit Goliath, so He will guide these stones (asteroids) to destroy the Antichrist’s infrastructure to stop oppressors from killing the saints and others. Meteorites will bombard the earth, as compared to a fig tree losing its figs when strong winds blow on it.

Revelation 6:12

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.

·         Jesus opened the sixth seal in answer to the prayers of the saints in the fifth seal. This seal begins a new order of supernatural judgment released by the trumpet and bowl series against the Antichrist’s empire. The martyrs cried, “Avenge us” and the wicked will cry, “Hide us.”

·         The sixth seal describes the great agitation of the universe. This is the turning point in history.

 

Revelation 6:11

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.

·         White robes: declare the saints’ purity (the opposite of the guilty verdict that men gave them) and assure the saints that their prayers will be answered. They also speak of the victory. The elders (Rev. 4:4) and saints wear them (Rev. 6:11; 7:9, 13, 14; 22:14).

·         Rest and wait: they were not to stop crying for vengeance, but were to rest with assurance. This is in contrast to the persecution they just endured on earth (Rev. 14:8, 13). They were not to stop interceding, but to be at peace, knowing that there was a time decreed for vengeance.

Revelation 6:10

 

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?”

 

·         These souls in heaven cry out for vengeance (until You judge and avenge our blood). We usually don’t think of God’s people crying out for vengeance, but they make their cry to God, and leave the matter with Him. (DG)

·         When God’s people are persecuted, He will set it right. It isn’t wrong for God’s people to ask Him to do what He promised to do. So the blood of Abel cried out from the ground for vengeance (Genesis 4:10), as did the blood of unavenged murders in the land of Israel (Numbers 35:33). (DG)

Revelation 6:9

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.

·         Jesus will release the fifth seal judgment against the Antichrist in the context of a significant increase of intercession. The prayer movement in heaven and on earth (Lk. 18:8) will increase at the fifth seal. The fifth seal judgment is against the Antichrist, not against the martyred saints.  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?”

·         The fifth seal judgment is more severe than the four preceding it. The judgments increase in intensity as the seals unfold. The fourth seal resulted in the death of one fourth of the earth. The first four seals were the wicked acting against each other as God removed His restraining hand.

·         The blood of the martyrs crying out for justice in the fifth seal is powerful. It will release a new order of supernatural judgments seen in the sixth seal, followed by the trumpets and bowls.  There is an acceleration of judgment after the fifth seal. It is the turning point in Revelation.

Revelation 6:7-8

When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.”

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.

·         Pale horse: is literally pale green or ashen, which speaks of the color of death and decay (like a corpse). The faces of the peoples of the earth will show the terror they experience. One-fourth of the earth will be given over to Death. In other words, they will die unnatural deaths.

·         A fourth of the earth: the resistance to the mark will cause a series of events with a military backlash that will result in one-fourth of the earth being killed by war, famine, and disease.

·         The name of him was Death: the spirit of death is pictured as being in hot pursuit of the unsuspecting victims on the earth. Death is what happens to the physical body, which goes to the grave. Hades is the place where the departed spirit of an unbeliever goes after they die physically.

·         Hades (Hell) followed with him: the ranks or hordes from Hades will run behind Death. The demonic ranks of Hades will run hard behind the spirit of Death to imprison every unbeliever who dies. They will be eager to accost them. The spirit of Death will run fast on his horse, yet the hordes of Hades will keep pace. Hades will chase Death. No one ever escapes.

Revelation 6:6

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.”

·         Quart of wheat for a denarius: a denarius was equivalent to wages for one day of work. The message was that a day of work will earn enough money to buy food for one person for one day.  A quart of wheat is the amount for one person to eat for one day (on a very minimal diet).

·         Three quarts of barley for a denarius: wheat and barley were the common foods in John’s day.  Wheat is superior in taste and nutrition to barley. One could purchase three times the amount of barley (inferior grain) for the same price. Barley is cheaper, but less nutritious and tasty.

·         The economic crisis will result in one’s earning power being reduced to working all day to afford food for one day. This represents about ten times less buying power than in the world today.

Revelation 6:5

 

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.

·         Black horse: speaks of sorrow, sadness and mourning. Famine and economic crisis follow war.

·         Pair of scales in his hand: speaks of economics. This passage prophesies the greatest economic crisis with the most severe famine in history. This is the hour in which the Church will multiply food like when Jesus fed the 5,000. Moses witnessed a supernatural food and water supply.

Revelation 6:4

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.

·         Fiery red - speaks of worldwide bloodshed. The first seal occurs when the nations were at peace (1 Thes. 5:3). The second seal suddenly ends the brief time of world peace.

·         Great sword - speaks of violence both civil and military. The sword is great by killing great numbers with great severity and devastation using technology that has great strength. This sword that strikes the earth is the counterfeit of when Jesus strikes the earth with a sword (Rev. 19:15).

Revelation 6:3

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”

·         The seven seals are released by Jesus the Lamb, not the Devil (Rev. 5:5; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).  The book of Revelation describes His leadership in preparing the nations to receive God’s glory.  Jesus initiates these judgments against the kingdom of darkness not against the saints.

• The Antichrist is connected to each of the four horsemen judgments. The riders of the horses show four dimensions of the Antichrist’s reign of terror. The change of color from white (peaceful aggression), to red (bloodshed), to black (famine), and to pale (death) reveals his plan.

Revelation 6:2

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.

·         The horse speaks of speed and strength and white symbolizes righteousness. The Antichrist’s reign will initially appear righteous and helpful to the nations.

·         Crown - a symbol of authority over the nations. He will rise suddenly to a place of international authority.  Satan and the Antichrist are both described as having crowns (Rev. 12:2; 13:1-2, 7).

·       The Antichrist’s authority will initially increase without any bloodshed. The arrow is an ancient symbol of war that speaks of striking one’s enemies from a distance. This rider is pictured as ready to go to war with a bow in hand on a horse. However, since the bow does not have arrows, it is understood as a ‘threat of war without war actually breaking out’.

 

Revelation 6:1

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.”

·         A voice called John to come near to God and see clearly. We receive the same twofold call to come near to see more clearly the events that are prophesied.

·         The first four seals each have a rider released by a decree, which is given by a living creature and results in judgment. These judgments are the result of God lifting His restraining hand off evil men so that their lawlessness is openly manifest as they destroy one another’s resources.

 

Revelation 5:14

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”  And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

·         We have thus seen this sealed book passing with great solemnity from the hand of the Creator into the hand of the Redeemer (MH)

·         Here the four living creatures ratify by their "Amen" the whole creation's ascription of the glory to Him. (JFB)

Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

 

·         This doxology is resounded by the whole creation (MH)

·         Heaven and earth ring with the high praises of the Redeemer (MH)

·         The living God reigns eternally. The Caesars come and go, including those persecute God’s people. But the Lord God lives forever and ever and is ever worthy of our praise. (DG)

Revelation 5:11-12

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

 

·         The doxology is carried on by the angels (MH)

·         Although the angels did not need a Saviour themselves, yet they rejoice in the redemption and salvation of sinner and agree that He is worthy (MH)

Revelation 5:9-10

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

And have made us kings and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

 

·         “By a new song is either to be understood as an excellent song (for new songs were usually most valued,) or (which pleaseth me best) new as to the matter of it; for the servants of God under the Old Testament could not bless God for the actual redemption of man by the blood of Christ, but only rejoice in hope, embracing the promises seen afar off by the eye of faith.” (Poole)

·         “It is a new thing that the Son of God should become man. It is a new thing to ascend into the heavens with a body. It is a new thing to give remission of sins to men. It is a new thing for men to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is a new thing to receive the priesthood of sacred observance, and to look for a kingdom of unbounded promise.” (Victorinus)

Revelation 5:8

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

·         When the Lamb takes the scroll, the response is immediate. High-ranking angels and redeemed man join together in worship of the Lamb. (DG)

·         In this we see how precious the prayers are the saints are to God. He regards them as a sweet smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls.  (DG)

Revelation 5:7

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

·         He took the title deed of the earth and accepted the plan of God for redemption

·         His rank, character and ability to take the scroll and open it (and thus dictate the destiny of creation) has been permanently demonstrated by His work on the cross. (DG)

Revelation 5:6

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

·         A lamb slain – to satisfy the justice of God (MH)

·         Seven horns and seven eyes – perfect power to execute all the will of God and perfect wisdom to understand it all (MH)

·         Seven Spirits of God – the Holy Spirit without measure (MH)

Revelation 5:5

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.  Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

·         He who bears the office of Mediator between God and man, is fit and worthy to open and execute all the counsels of God towards men. (MH)

·         One of the elders (not an angel) rescues John from his grief, showing him the one who has prevailed to open the scroll. The one is the great figure of Old Testament prophecy: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, Messiah of Israel and of the Gentiles.  (DG)

Revelation 5:4

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

·         It was a great disappointment to the apostle.  He was very desirous to see and know more of the mind and will of God.  (MH)

·         John’s weeping is either because a previous promise to see the future may now be denied (Revelation 4:1), or more likely, because the consummation of history is now indefinitely postponed. (DG)

Revelation 5:3

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

·         None of the fallen angels, nor satan himself, with all his subtlety, cannot do it; the creatures cannot open it, nor look on it; they cannot read it.  God only can do it.  (MH)

·         Someone above the order of created must determine the course of history; only God can unfold this plan. (DG)