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.

 2 Samuel 1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!  How the mighty have fallen!

Psalm 119:88  Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

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.

 Leviticus 26:22  I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate.

Jeremiah 15:2  And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD:  “Such as are for death, to death, and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

Ezekiel 14:21  For thus says the Lord GOD:  “How much more it shall be when I send My four sever judgments on Jerusalem – the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence – to cut off man and beast from it?”

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.

 Deuteronomy 8:8  a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.

2 Chronicles 11:11  And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

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.

 Psalm 66:5  Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?  Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

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).

Isaiah 34:6The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made overflowing with fatness…..

2 Chronicles 15:5  And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands

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.

 

Ezekiel 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures.  The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.

Psalm 66:5  Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His dong toward the sons of men.

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’.

 Psalm 45:4  And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; and Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.

Zechariah 1:8  I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow:  and behind him were horses:  red, sorrel, and white.

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.

 Job 40:9  Have you an arm like God?  Or can you thunder with a voice like His?

Psalm 78:23  Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven.

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)

Ezekiel 1:5  Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures.  And this was their appearance:  they had the likeness of a man.

Exodus 34:14 for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

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)

 1 Chronicles 29:11  Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all.

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)

 

Psalm 68:17  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.

Daniel 7:10  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him.  A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.  The court was seated, and the books were opened.

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)

 Psalm 40:3  He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

Isaiah 61:6  But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God.  You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.

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)

Psalm 141:2  Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Genesis 4:21 His brother’s name was Jubal.  He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.

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)

Psalm 48:10    According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 45:6  Your throne, o God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

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)

Isaiah 53:7  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent.

2 Chronicles 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.  In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.

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)

Genesis 49:9, 10……The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Isaiah 11:1, 2, 10 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots…..

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)

1 Kings 1:52  Then Solomon said, ‘If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

Exodus 24:7  Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people.  And they said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.”

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)

Deuteronomy 28:12  The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.  You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Exodus 20:4  You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Revelation 5:2

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”

·        This angel seems to come out as a champion, with a challenge to any or all the creatures to try the strength of their wisdom in opening the counsels of God (MH)

·        It is as if the strong angel looked through the entire universe to find someone worthy, and had not found anyone worthy to even look at the scroll. (DG)

Ezekiel 2:9  Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.

Psalm 18:3  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised….

Revelation 5:1

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

·        He is favored with a sight of the methods of His government, as they are all written down in a book which He holds in His hand (MH)

·        God holds the book in His right hand, to declare the authority of the book. (MH)

Isaiah 29;11  The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”  And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

Ezekiel 2:10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.

Daniel 12:s4  But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end, many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

Revelation 4:9-11

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

 

Deuteronomy 32:40  For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, “As I live forever…

 

Daniel 6:26  I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.  For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end.

 

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 4:8

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.  And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

 

·        The songs heard:  they adore one God, and one only, the Lord God Almighty.  They adore three holies in this one God. (MH)

·        The cherubim constantly repeat the phrase holy, holy, holy. God’s holy nature and character is declared, and emphasized with a three-time repetition.  (DG)

Isaiah 6:3  and one cried to another and said:  “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”

Ezekiel 1:18  As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them

Revelation 4:7

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

·        Like a lion . . . like a calf . . . a face like a man . . . like a flying eagle: John describes four cherubim, each with a different face. From comparison with Ezekiel 1:6-10, we can see that each of the cherubim have four faces, and at the moment, John sees each one of the four different faces pointed in his direction. (DG)

·        The four different faces of the cherubim are often taken as symbols of Jesus as represented in each gospel. In classical church architecture, these four “characters” are repeated often as a motif that signifies both heaven and the four gospels. (DG)

Isaiah 6:2  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Ezekiel 1:10  As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

Revelation 4:6

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.  And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

·        In this all those must be washed that are admitted into the gracious presence of God (MH)

·        Living creatures – four animals – between the throne and the circle of the elders (as seems most probable), standing between God and the people (MH)

Exodus 24:10  and they saw the God of Israel.  And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.

Ezekiel 1:5  Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures.  And this was their appearance:  they had the likeness of a man.

Revelation 4:5

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.  Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

·        God gave the Law with lightnings and voices; thus the gospel has not less glory and authority than the law (MH)

·        Lamps speak of the various gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God (MH)

Exodus 19:16  Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Zechariah 4:2  And he said to me, “What do you see?”  So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.

Revelation 4:4

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

·        Some translations don’t include “twenty-four” but only thrones.

·        Twenty-four may be 12 apostles and 12 leaders of tribes of Israel

·        Crown of gold signify the honor and authority given them of God, and the glory they have with Him (MH)

Psalm 21:3-6  For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head…..

Exodus 4:29  Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

Revelation 4:3

And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

·        God is not described by any human features, so as to be represented by an image, but only by his transcendent brightness (MH)

·        The rainbow was the seal and token of the covenant of providence that God made with Noah (MH)

Ezekiel 1:26  And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

Daniel 7:9  I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated:  His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.  His throne was a fiery flame.

Revelation 4:2

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

·        Throne set in heaven – the seat of honor, and authority, and judgment (MH).

·        One sat on the throne – That was God (MH)

Isaiah 6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple

Jeremiah 17:12  A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary

Revelation 4:1

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.  And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you tings which must take place after this.”

·        We can know nothing of future events but what God is pleased to discover to us; they are within the veil, till God opens the door (MH)

·        To prepare John for the vision, a trumpet was sounded, and he was called up into heaven, to have a sight there of the things which were to be hereafter. (MH)

Isaiah 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Exodus 24:1  Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.

Revelation 3:22

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

·        It is a proverbial expression, implying that the highest attention should be given to what was spoken  (Barnes)

·        Anything serious, and of great importance, was delivered; and which required attention, and was not easily understood:  (Gills)

·        The demand for universal attention (MH)

 Isaiah 48:16  “Come near to Me, hear this:  I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there.  And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit have sent Me.”

Zechariah 7:12  “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets.  Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.