JRNT 513
From Heaven to Earth
Revelation 6:1-17 
10/5/2025
Jesse Randolph

Well as we turn back to our study of the book of Revelation this evening, we are, once again, opening up an ancient book.  One that was written somewhere around 2,000 years ago, a little less than that.  ItÕs a historical book, but itÕs a book which is not chiefly concerned with history.  ItÕs a book, rather which is chiefly concerned with prophecy.  It prophetically foretells future events which are yet future, which have yet to occur. 

These past two Sunday nights, we have been taking a rather fast-paced tour through Revelation chapters 4 and 5, where we see this vision that John the apostle received of the throne room in heaven.  Tonight, weÕre going to continue at a rather rapid clip.  But as we do so, weÕre going to move into this entirely new scene where the apostle John experienced this vision that took him from heaven, you could say, to earth.  Specifically, to this future period of judgment that God is going to bring to the earth, known as ÒThe Tribulation.Ó Because we have so much to cover this evening, IÕm not going to read the entire Scripture weÕll be going through on the front end.  Instead, IÕm going to do a little bit of Biblical and Theological overview.  Then after that, weÕre going to get right into the text starting with Revelation 6:1.   Now I wonÕt do a full deep dive on these tonight for sake of time, but I do want to acknowledge them both, because they both have bearing on our interpretation of the text weÕll be studying, Revelation 6.  

The first text that has bearing on what weÕll be studying tonight is Daniel chapter 9.  There, Daniel 9, that Old Testament prophet, the prophet Daniel, as he peered into the future, was given insight into this period of time, sitting between what we now know as the sixty-ninth and the weeks or weeks of years in DanielÕs prophecy.  That period of time would be known as an Age of Grace.  The year of the LordÕs favor as was prophesied elsewhere in Isaiah 61:2. This is the age, the Age of Grace, that Jesus would usher in and which carries over into the Church age. 

But other prophets, like Jeremiah, also prophesied that this age of favor, this Age of Grace would be followed by a day of vengeance.  A day of vengeance from God.  A day of tribulation.  Later after IsraelÕs initial rejection of her Messiah.  After the Church was brought into the picture, after the Church Age, we know from certain writings to the Church, like I Thessalonians 4; that once the Church was completed.  Meaning once the final Church Age saint was saved, the Lord Jesus would take the Church, Rapture the Church out of this world.  Then the Church Age, the Christian era, would come to an end.  The Age of Grace would now be over.  

Then the 70th week of Daniel, meaning the final seven years of what he had prophesied, namely The Tribulation would come.  That would be that time in which God will rain down His judgments upon this world.  It would be the Jews which would bear the brunt of GodÕs judgment during this time.  That is why itÕs called in Jeremiah 30:7, the period of JacobÕs distress, or the Òtime of JacobÕs trouble.Ó 

But there would be the opportunity and there will be opportunity for rescue and salvation for them.  But not only that, this period of Tribulation coming after the Church Age, after the Age of Grace, will also have this effect of purging remaining wickedness from this world.  

And it will be in preparation for the LordÕs glorious appearance at the end of this 70 week, where He establishes His reign of righteousness and peace upon the earth in this era that we know as the Kingdom.  This will be that time when the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.  At a time when Satan is bound.  A time when the earth will bring forth its increase.  A time where thereÕll be no more sickness of any kind.  A time when animals will be restored to their original condition and a time when joy and happiness will reign supreme. 

So, our text for this evening has some historical footing.  Some Theological footing.  Namely, in the book of Daniel and other places in Daniel 9 specifically.  The other Theological point I want to make or Biblical cross reference I want to make on the front end is to note that our text for this evening, Revelation 6, has some remarkable parallels to what Jesus would reveal about the end of the age in Matthew 24.  This is the Olivet Discourse.  The Discourse Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives.  IÕll be cross referencing that several times this evening, giving you little bits and pieces of it. Because in that passage there are mentions of war and famine and death and martyrdom and the sun and the moon being darkened and stars falling and otherwise this time of immense divine judgment on the world. I do think that our text for this evening, Revelation 6 has many cross references to that scene portrayed in Matthew 24.  

So that was all by way of introduction to give you time to find Revelation 6.  I will just note that beginning with tonightÕs text and really moving all the way through the heart of this book, all the way to Revelation 19, the theme what weÕll be studying from this point forward; for many weeks to come is wrath.  The LambÕs poured-out wrath on wickedness in this world.

In the scenes that weÕre going to encounter tonight and on future Sunday nights, the Church Age that we live in today is over.  The book of Revelation started in the Church Age as the Apostle John wrote to those seven real-time churches in ancient Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.  But then His focus weÕve seen moved to heaven.  We looked at that in Revelation 4 and 5 where he sees this vision of the church glorified as these different angels and elders are worshipping around the throne.  First the throne of God the Father and then also the throne of the Lamb, God the Son.  But now again, as this scene now shifts to Revelation 6, as divine wrath is now about to be ushered in, the scene again shifts back to earth.  YouÕve heard that expression Òall hell breaking loose.Ó This is actually all of heavens wrath breaking loose on the earth.  ThatÕs whatÕs going on here in Revelation 6 and following.   

That is really an important truth for us to cling to as we work through our remaining chapters here, these upcoming chapters in the coming weeks.  That itÕs God, the God who sits on His throne in heaven who is in complete control of all that transpires on earth.  That is true of everything that happens right now today in the year of our Lord 2025.  But it also includes all that will happen in the future.  No matter how frightening, no matter how devastating those events might be they will be neither haphazard nor random.  Instead, every single event that has taken place, is taking place or will take place, has been ordered by the One who sits on His throne.  God superintends everything that takes place on this planet.  And that ought to be a source of supreme comfort and reassurance not only to us right now, but especially as we look forward to the future that He has it all planned out.  That itÕs all in His hands.  That itÕs all going to go according to His perfect will and decree.   

Revelation 6:1, our scene begins here with these words in Revelation 6:1. This is John speaking still.  Still part of this vision that heÕs taking in from Patmos.  He says, ÒThen I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals.Ó Recall that last time, the entire scene was building up to whether there was anyone worthy to open that seven-sealed scroll which was in the right hand of God the Father, ÒHim who sits on the throne.Ó Initially, no one was found to be worthy and this caused John to weep.  Recall he was weeping and then one of the elders gathered around the throne says to John, in Revelation 5:5, ÒStop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.Ó 

Then John saw, in Revelation 5:6, Òin the midst of the elders a Lamb standing (it said) as if slain.Ó That Lion and that Lamb as we saw last week is none other than the victorious, death-defeating, grave conquering Lord Jesus.  John quickly saw that He the Lamb, the Lord Jesus, is worthy to open the scroll.  And that scrolls contents as we saw last time lay out GodÕs plans for the entirety of His future judgment of this earth. 

Well now here in Revelation 6:1, John saw this worthy Lamb now ready to open these seals and He did so.  As weÕre told here, He actually Òopened one of the seven seals.Ó As He did so, reports John, ÒI heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ÔCome.ÕÓ 

Now recall, from our previous sermons in this series, that those Òfour living creaturesÓ are angelic beings, with some features of cherubim and seraphim mixed together.  And here one of those angels is portrayed as serving the Lamb, as He ushers His judgment on this planet.  This angel roars with this voice like a voice of thunder, saying simply ÒCome.Ó Who is this living creature addressing?  We find out, in verse 2.  It says, ÒThen I looked, and behold, a white horse.Ó We can stop there for just a moment.  Simply to point out that the origin of this vision is likely Zechariah 6:1-8.  In that vision Zechariah saw this vision of four horses as they were being let loose upon the earth.  They were being let loose to deal out judgment upon Babylon and Egypt and those nations which had been oppressing GodÕs people. In Zechariah 6:5, these horses are described as the Òfour spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth.Ó 

So, in Zechariah those horses represent these four mighty winds which God is about to let loose upon this earth with a blast of destruction and judgment.  Here the idea in Revelation 6:2 is similar.  Remember John is Jewish.  HeÕs got this mind thatÕs been bathed and steeped in the truth of the Jewish Scriptures.  So, as he sees this vision of these horses, HeÕs got Zechariah in mind.  Similar to Zachariah here in Revelation, the vision has these horses serving as the agents of GodÕs wrath and vengeance upon men.   And then their riders are instruments of the avenging judgment of God. Verse 2 again.  It says, ÒThen I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out overcoming and to overcome.Ó  Now some have said, and some have argued that this must be, in verse 2 here, the one on the white horse, Jesus at His Second Coming.  And they do so because they believe that that horse is symbolic of JesusÕ victory.  They do so because they think of Revelation 19:11, where our Lord at His Second Coming, at His return is pictured riding on a white horse.

That view is unlikely however because it would be strange to have this scene where Christ is depicted as coming on this horse at The Tribulation and then coming again on a white horse at the end, at the Second Coming.  ItÕd be odd to have him both breaking the seal and returning on the white horse at the same time.  Not only that, but the crown also described here in verse 2, and crown thatÕs described later in Revelation 19:12 are different crowns.  Here itÕs a stephanos. a victorÕs crown, a crown of ivy like a wreath.  However, the crown that the rider wears in Revelation 19:12, thatÕs Jesus, is the diadema.   ItÕs a royal crown.  The crown that youÕd be accustomed to see on the head of a king. 

So, this is a different rider.  This rider is not the Lord Jesus Christ in verse 2.  So, this isnÕt Christ whoÕs riding this white horse.  Well, IÕd be with the majority of futurists here.  I would say that this is a false messiah.  The Antichrist revealed later in Revelation 13:1-10. This rider is Òthe prince who will come,Ó mentioned in Daniel 9:26.  He begins his ride at the start of The Tribulation.  He begins his ride offering and bringing peace in the midst of what will otherwise be this period of global upheaval and turmoil.  He will appear as a world conqueror as he goes forth conquering at the very beginning of The Tribulation period.

Note here that heÕs pictured in verse 2 as having Òa bow.Ó But note whatÕs missing from that bow.  There are no arrows in that bow.  That suggests that His conquest will not be through open hostility, but rather through delusion and through a period of perceived peace.  He appears with the threat of war, hence, the Òbow.Ó But apparently this war at this point at least will not materialize.  Instead achieves a bloodless victory through peaceful negotiations, perhaps with a few threats of destruction mixed in.  This view matches up perfectly with what Paul says in I Thessalonians 5:2-3, ÒFor you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, ÔPeace and safety!ÕÓ That is what the Antichrist will offer. ÒPeace and safety.Ó Paul continues, ÒThen destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape.Ó 

Now, if you look down the page at Revelation 6:4, and its reporting of the opening of the second seal.  A subsequent period will come, during The Tribulation, where the rider on the red horse it says will Òtake peace from the earth.Ó But as of the opening of the first seal.  There will still be some semblance of peace on the earth as the Antichrist, through a spirit of delusion will take full advantage of it.  HeÕs cast here in this role of a conqueror, complete with a white horse and a crown.  But heÕs the ultimate counterfeit of all Christ claims to be.  He will experience at this phase of The Tribulation, some degree of victory.  HeÕll even wear a victorÕs crown, a stephanos.  But he does not and cannot wear a diadema, the crown of a sovereign, as Christ does.  Because he is not sovereign ultimately.  

Donald Grey Barnhouse brings out this difference between these two types of crowns and how the fact that this rider in verse 2 is wearing one type of crown and suggests he is not Christ.  Barnhouse writes this, ÒThe One whose name is the Word of God (thatÕs Christ in Revelation 19) has on His head Òmany crowns.Ó The symbol is of all royalty and majesty.  The Greek word is diadema.  The horseman of the first seal wears no diadema.  The false crown is the Stephanos.  Its diamonds are paste.  ItÕs the shop girl adorned with jewelry from the ten-cent counter imitating the lady born and bred who wears the rich jewels of her inheritance.Ó 

It is a pretty colorful way of describing the fact that this is not Christ in verse 2, rather this is antichrist on his white horse even wearing a crown.  A crown that speaks to victory but itÕs only a temporary victory.  This crown does not speak to authority because all authority, true authority rests with Jesus.  The actual crown who will return on a white horse with a diadema, a different crown when we get to Revelation 19. 

Well that brings us to the next scene involving the breaking of the second seal.  Look at verse 3, ÒAnd when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ÔCome.ÕÓ So, in this same vision, weÕre still in the context of a singular vision that John is receiving as he looks into the heavens.  This same vision He now sees Christ, the Lamb, open the second seal.  It was a similar scene, similar layout, where another one of these angelic beings, Òthe second living creature,Ó gives the same command. ÒCome.Ó And look what happened, verse 4:20, ÒAnd another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sits on it, it was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.Ó 

So, there are four horses in this scene.  There are four horsemen in this scene.  ThatÕs why itÕs called the four horsemen of the Apocalypse scene.  Here we have the second of those four horses and horsemen.  Whereas the scene involving the opening of the first seal describes this time of relative piece, a ÒbowÓ with no arrows as the Antichrist maneuvers his ways into power.  This scene involving the breaking of the second seal, is much different, as strife and warfare break out.  As peace is taken, it says, from the world. 

Now note that the horse here is Òred.Ó The word there is pyrros.  ItÕs the word from which we get our word Òpyrotechnic.Ó This horse was a fiery red.  Red as fire.  His color denotes war and conquest, slaughter and bloodshed. 

There is a rider on that horse.  Note the language. ÒAnd to him (it says) who sits on it.Ó ThatÕs referring to the rider of that red horse.  Who is the rider?  All sorts of theories have been offered on that one over the years.   Some have said itÕs Satan himself because after all, the horse is Òred.Ó  Some having a more historic perspective, meaning theyÕre not futurist but rather they would argue that all of these events in Revelation happened in history already.  They would say this is the Emperor Nero.  Some would say this is the Antichrist and that would be that group that would say that the person on the white horse is Jesus and then the rider on the red horse is the antichrist.   I think the best view, and IÕm with Robert Thomas on this, is to depersonalize this rider.  To not try to ascribe a name to him.  But instead to simply recognize him as this representative of the war and the bloodshed and the terror which will come upon this earth in The Tribulation as this man, the rider takes peace from this earth. 

ItÕs not like weÕre without descriptions of this rider.  Look at verse 4 where John witnesses the following about this rider on the red horse. ÒIt was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one anotherÓ and not only that heÕs got this great sword thatÕs been given to him.Ó  So, this rider is pictured as being on this fiery red horse, with this sword in his hand, galloping through the world.  The picture here is that he is this initiator, this instigator of abject world war, where thereÕs bloodshed and carnage everywhere.  The vision that John receives of this rider on this red horse is testimony to the fact that there will be wars, significant wars, during The Tribulation.  Global carnage affecting every tongue and tribe and nation and people groups.   

I mentioned that there were many connections between what John saw in this vision and what Jesus testified to in His Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24.  This would be one of them.  In Matthew 24:6, Jesus says, Òand you are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.Ó What Jesus described there corresponds very closely to what John is describing here in describing this fiery red-horse and the rider sitting atop that horse, who with a Òthe great swordÓ he holds in his hand is going to introduce this period of war and strife into The Tribulation period.  Those wars and rumors of wars would mark The Tribulation period; birth pains, signs, signaling the reality of ChristÕs soon return to the earth. 

Note, and I hope we donÕt miss this.  That the language in this scene is testifying here in verse 4, to the absolute sovereignty of God over all that will happen in the future, including in this period of Tribulation.  Note the language just in verse 4.  It says, Òit was given to him to take peace from the earth, and a great sword was given to him.Ó 

Those are passive verbs where the action is describing the person whoÕs being described not as the initiator of the action, but instead as the recipient of the action and thatÕs what we have here.  The rider on the red horse received the ability to take peace from the earth and he received this Ògreat sword.Ó Who did he receive these from?  Well from God.  Each of these awful events that weÕre going to see in these subsequent chapters of Revelation, each of these catastrophic events, each of these devastating events were and will be totally under GodÕs sovereign control.  

Moving right along as we come upon verses 5 and 6, John describes his witnessing of the opening of the third seal.  Here is how he describes it. ÒAnd when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ÔCome.Õ Then I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ÔOne choinix (quart, if you have it in the NASB) of wheat for one denarius, and three choinix of barley for one denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.ÕÓ  Now verse 5 begins with that familiar language.  This is still Christ, the Lamb opening the seal and operating through this Òthird living creature,Ó one of these angelic beings and he issues this same command. ÒCome.Ó Then look at what John describes in the rest of verse 5. ÒThen I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a pair of scales in his hand.Ó So, John has already seen the white horse of peaceful conquest.  HeÕs seen the red horse of judgment.  Now comes the black horse of famine.  ThatÕs what this third horse, this third rider, what theyÕre portraying.  

That in this period of judgment on the earth, known as The Tribulation, a great famine would come upon the earth.  The black horse, in other words is foreboding death brought about a common form of famine, that being the famine that follows war.  Post war famine.  With this third wave of judgment the Lamb who John saw opening this seal, would bring starvation and death to this world. This picture is only further enhanced and maybe even more clear, with that Òpair of scalesÓ we see pictured here which John saw this black-horse rider holding in his hand.  Those scales, those balances, speak to the careful rationing of food at this point in The Tribulation.  Food will be weighed.  It will be in short supply.   

As we read in this part of the vision in verse 6, we see that John not only saw something, but that John heard something.  He heard a voice which in context appears to be the voice of the Lamb Himself.  Verse 6, ÒAnd I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ÔOne choinix of wheat for one denarius, and three choinix of barley for one denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.ÕÓ 

Now, if again if you have an LSB like me, you see that theyÕve chosen to keep the transliterated version of the Greek word ÒchoinixÓ here which makes for interesting reading.  If you have an NASB, you have ÒquartÓ there.  I think I know why the LSB translators went with the Greek word there, the transliterated word and thatÕs because the Òquart,Ó as a unit of measurement, didnÕt exist until medieval times in England.  It didnÕt exist back in the Greek days so theyÕve king of superimposed that word in the NASB.  You say Òquart.Ó  I say Òchoinix.Ó Tomato, to-maw-to.  We can just agree that whatÕs being described here is a unit of measurement.  The real point here is that food is going to be in short supply during this time of future Tribulation on the earth.  See in these times as John was experiencing this vision, a denarius would have been the equivalent of a dayÕs wages.  A denarius would typically be enough to buy you eight measures of wheat or 24 of barley.   But look at how that will change in The Tribulation. 

Suddenly, one denarius does not get you eight measures of wheat.  Instead, it gets you one.  A denarius will not get you 24 measures of barley.  Instead, it will get you three.  So, food, in other words, is going to be in short supply.  Food will be expensive, and it will be sold at famine prices.  The average person then living in this tribulation time will be unable to afford, over the long haul, the simple necessities to feed themselves or their families.  It will lead to hunger and for some starvation.  

Then there is this last clause in verse 6, where he says, Òand do not harm the oil and the wine.Ó There is some irony in that language.  Apparently, there would be ÒoilÓ and ÒwineÓ left for some.  Those would be essential items in these days, used for cooking or consumption of noncontaminated liquids because the water was so bad.  And they were not to be harmed it says.  Meaning they were to be preserved.  But the reality is that with whatever resources people had, they would be spending it on essential ingredients like wheat and barley.  So even if they wanted to buy ÒoilÓ and Òwine,Ó they would not be able to afford it. 

Again, this would be a time of rationing and famine, hunger, starvation as often follows periods of war.  And again, this is right in line with what Jesus predicted would happen right before His return.  In His Olivet Discourse, in Matthew 24:7, Jesus said Òfor nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.Ó Here in Revelation 6, with the opening of this third seal, it is this ominous, sorrowful picture of the famine which will fall on this earth during The Tribulation.  A famine which will be ushered in by the black horse and its rider. 

Next, comes the opening of the fourth seal and the riding in on the fourth horse, and the arrival of the fourth horsemen of the Apocalypse.  Look at verse 7, ÒAnd when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ÔCome.ÕÓ So again, we have some familiar language here.  This is still Christ, the Lamb opening the fourth seal and operating through this Òfourth living creature,Ó this angelic being.  And the same command issues. ÒCome.Ó Then look at what comes in verse 8, ÒThen I looked, and behold, a pale horse; and he who sits on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him.  Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.Ó 

In this next part of the vision with the opening of the fourth seal, it says that John ÒlookedÓ, and he saw Òa pale horse.Ó That word there for ÒpaleÓ is cloris in Greek, the word from which we get our word ÒchlorineÓ and it describes this grayish green, ghastly color. It is same word used used in several places in the New Testament to describe grass, but here it is being used to refer to more of a pale green color, the color of decay, the color of death.  Much like the color of a decomposing corpse.  Robert Thomas again, in his commentary on Revelation, describes the color of this fourth horse like this.  It is the Ògreen of decay, the pallor of death.  It is the pale ashen color that images a face bleached because of terror.  It recalls a corpse in the advanced state of corruption.Ó 

Well, the color of this horse in verse 8 suits its rider.  Look at the next part of verse 8, ÒAnd he who sits on it had the name Death.Ó Unlike the riders on the first three horses, this one is identified by a name. ÒDeath.Ó This rider is personifying death.  Which comes in full force during The Tribulation whether by sword or famine or pestilence or end of verse 8, Òthe wild beasts of the earth.Ó 

We will get to the scope and the extent of the death that this rider on this pale horse brings in just a moment.  But first note what John saw, middle of verse 8, is that ÒHades was following with him.Ó It is death and Hades.  So just as death itself is personified here, ÒHades,Ó the place where the wicked dead go is also personified. ÒHades was following with him.Ó The idea here is that just as there will be none who ultimately escape the clutch of death, for those who are unrepentant.  For those who reject the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will be the One sending forth His judgment during the time of Tribulation.  They will also be unable to escape the grip of Hades. 

Reminds me of Hebrews 9:27, ÒIt is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.Ó  In other words, death will not be the end of the story for either the Believer, or the unbeliever.  For the Believers, when their bodies expire of course, their soul goes on to be with the Lord enjoying His presence and blessing forever.  For the unbeliever, Hades awaits; and ultimately, the Great White Throne judgment awaits, after which being judged by God and standing before God, they will be cast forever into the lake of fire. Look at the nature and the extent of the judgment that this rider, ÒDeath,Ó and the one who follows him, ÒHades,Ó brings.  Still in verse 8, ÒAuthority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.Ó 

Reading this chronologically in its most normal, logical sense, think of the judgment and the terror that will already have been rained down upon this earth by this point in The Tribulation.  Starting with the rider on the white horse, Antichrist, as he secures bloodless victory, relatively peaceably, upon the earth.  And then with the wars and bloodshed that the rider on the red horse will bring.  Then with the global famine that the rider on the black horse will bring.   And now this rider on the pale horse, ÒDeath,Ó and the one who was following with him, ÒHades,Ó they bring this entirely new level of carnage and destruction on the earth during The Tribulation.  Now note again, that whatever power and authority ÒDeathÓ and ÒHadesÓ have, it is derived authority.  Just as Satan is GodÕs devil, thatÕs how Luther put it, ÒDeathÓ and ÒHadesÓ ultimately belong to God.  God dictates and has decreed how anyone, anywhere dies, including in The Tribulation.  God dictates and decrees who will end up in Hades either now or later in The Tribulation.  

During The Tribulation, God will give great authority to both ÒDeathÓ and ÒHades.Ó Look at what it says, in verse 8, again, ÒAuthority was given to them (passive verb once again) over a fourth of the earth.Ó That is a very tame way of saying that during The Tribulation one-fourth of the earthÕs population at this point in The Tribulation, a quarter of the earthÕs population will be killed. 

With the arrival of this pale horse, 25% of the worldÕs population will perish.  Death will come on mankind at this point on the timeline as it has never come before.  As a quarter of the worldÕs population, just projecting the population today, projecting a certain number of Christians Raptured out of the world, this has to be numbered in the hundreds of millions if not low billions of people slain at this phase of The Tribulation.  This will be a terrifying time. A period of unparalleled judgment, as blood will pour out from countless, now-lifeless bodies and pour back into the ground.   

This global-scale, catastrophic wave of death we see, will come by way of four means. Still in verse 8; there will be the Òsword.Ó ÒAuthority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword.Ó  That is a reference to war.  Wars in addition to the ones already brought in earlier by the rider on the red horse.  During this phase of The Tribulation death will come by Òfamine.Ó That is in addition to the famine that is brought about earlier by the rider on the black horse.  During this phase of the Tribulation, death will come by way of Òpestilence,Ó diseases, which again are often a common side-effect of war.  And then last, during this phase of the Tribulation, as the end of verse 8 indicates, death will come Òby the wild beasts of the earth.Ó Some have interpreted that Òwild beastsÓ language to mean certain brutal military and political leaders that will rule the world during these times, who will dominate their subjects and bring about these massive waves of death.  I actually take the words Òwild beastsÓ here to be referring to actual wild animals, who will become especially ferocious during The Tribulation, as their normal food supplies are disrupted and as they roam, unrestrained looking for prey and killing men all over the place. 

So, whether itÕs swords or wars or hunger or famine or pestilence, diseases or these wild animals roaming and ravaging the earth, the picture here is absolutely terrifying.  These divine judgments are being poured out on the earth as this outpouring of the wrath of the Lamb is going all throughout, this wonÕt be trivial stuff.  This is going to be awful.  This is going to be an unprecedented time of chaos and carnage and bloodshed. 

Well as we turn now to verses 9 through 11, we encounter JohnÕs vision of the LambÕs opening of the fifth seal.  While up to this point what John has seen in this vision has been on earth, namely the period of judgment that comes during The Tribulation as the four seals are open corresponding to the four horses and the four horsemen.  In this vision he receives of the opening of the fifth seal, the scene actually cuts back to heaven.   So, we have gone from heaven to earth now back to heaven and specifically it zeros in on this group of souls in heaven.  And they are there in heaven because of what they stood for and what happened to them during their time of Tribulation, on the earth.   

Here with this fifth seal, note there is no summons, there is no command, there is no horse, there is no rider.  Instead, John takes us right to the vision.  Verse 9, ÒAnd when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had maintained.Ó 

Now who are those individuals that John sees in this vision?  Who are these ÒsoulsÓ?  Well, we know they are not the martyrs of the Church Age.  We know this is not Perpetua or Jim Eliot or John Wycliffe.  How do we know that?  Well, the martyrs of the Church Age, would have already been Raptured by this point.  They would have already been taken out of the world before The Tribulation period begins.  So, these ÒsoulsÓ in verse 9, would have to be those who are martyred during the earlier part of The Tribulation.  Those who are slain in The Tribulation period early on.  TheyÕre often called, the ÒTribulation MartyrsÓ or the ÒTribulation Saints.Ó  Part of the four judgments that we saw earlier in the four seals, they were likely slain during one of those judgments being carried out.  

Note the reason for their martyrdom.  It is given in verse 9.  These individuals John saw in this part of the vision, Òhad been slain (it says) because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had maintained.Ó In other words, in the midst of all of the wickedness and violence that will be happening in The Tribulation, there will be some who during that time turn to the Lord in repentance and faith.  But it wonÕt be everyone.  No.  Most during that era will refuse to turn to God.  Most in The Tribulation will refuse the offer of salvation.  Instead, theyÕll drink it all in as judgment is being poured down on all the earth and around them.  And in their stubbornness, and in their wrath, those who remain committed to their sin and committed to their rebellion against God, even in The Tribulation, even as they see the signs happening all around them, they will kill those who have since turned to God during The Tribulation.   There again is a parallel to what is described in JesusÕ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:9 where He says, Òthen they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you.Ó 

So here in Revelation 6:9, it is that group.  Those who are killed on account of their faith in the Word of God.  Killed on account of their testimony of Jesus Christ, it is those ÒsoulsÓ who are described here in verse 9 as being in heaven during The Tribulation.  It is this group here in verse 9 whose ÒsoulsÓ John saw it says, Òunderneath the altar,Ó which is picturing this group having been offered as a sacrifice of sorts.  We are going to learn more about this group by the way in Revelation 7, when we get to a fuller account of The Tribulation Martyrs.  In verse 9 then we have John encountering the souls of these martyrs.  Now moving on in verse 10, he hears the cries of these martyrs.  It says Òand they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ÔHow long, O Master, holy and true?  Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?ÕÓ  The Tribulation Martyrs as John sees them, as John hears them, here in this vision.  They are described as crying out for vengeance.  Crying out for vengeance on those who killed them in The Tribulation, and they are crying out you notice, Òwith a loud voice.Ó

Now to church-age Believers like us, we might think, ÒWell, that doesnÕt sound very Christlike.Ó   That does not sound like Stephen, who when he was martyred said ÒLord do not hold this against them.  They do not know what they do.Ó  This does not sound a lot like Erika Kirk in her forgiveness of her husband CharlieÕs killer on the spot.  Well letÕs not forget that the Church Age that we live in is the Age of Grace.  But The Tribulation period is a time principally of judgment.  Judgment of the wicked as GodÕs wrath is poured out on this planet.  And this God whoÕs been infinitely patient up to that point, HeÕs ready to pour out His wrath.  

So, in The Tribulation period, those who are martyred in that period they are rightly going to be calling out these imprecatory cries like these.   These who were Òslain because of the word of God, and because of the witness for which they had maintained,Ó they will rightly cry out for GodÕs judgment and vengeance on those who killed them and who are still living at that point during The Tribulation.  Their killers in other words are still running around on planet earth while their souls are in heaven and they want justice to be done.  But this wonÕt be ungodly justice that they seek or ungodly revenge that they seek.  TheyÕre asking rather for righteous retribution, for true justice to be done.  Grace by this point has been exhausted, and now it is time for judgment. 

Well, JohnÕs vision of this opening of the fifth seal continues in verse 11, where he reports, first, that Òa white robe was given to each of them,Ó to these Tribulation Martyrs.  That color ÒwhiteÓ is a symbol of righteousness.  Now we think of a robe, and we realize a robe goes on a body.  You canÕt enrobe a soul; spirits without substance canÕt wear robes.  

The fact that these Tribulation Martyrs were given these white robes, thatÕs telling us something.  ItÕs telling us that these Tribulation Martyrs have bodies of some sort.  Now there is no indication that these individuals have been raised from the dead at this point.  These are not resurrection bodies, the type of bodies that are received at the end of The Tribulation, as individuals get ready to go into the Kingdom.  Nor is there any indication that these martyrs have normal, corruptible bodies of flesh like you and I do.  So this Òwhite robeÓ language has led many to conclude, and I would agree with this camp, that these martyred dead, those who died during The Tribulation, The Tribulation Saints, will at the time of their martyrdom receive some sort of temporary body thatÕs suitable for their worship in heaven during that specific time that theyÕre under the throne, but one that will eventually be replaced when they receive their permanent resurrection body. 

Well John says that Òa white robe was given to each of them.Ó Next verse 11, he reports on the answer they were given to their cries for vengeance.  The cries they gave in verse 10 and stated simply in verse 11, the LordÕs answer is wait, be patient.  Not yet.  Look at verse 11,  ÒA white robe was given to each of them and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.Ó  So, there were still others as of the time of this vision into The Tribulation Era who had yet to give their lives for Christ.  

The number of those who would be martyred in this time in future history had not, at the point of this snapshot, reached when John received this vision been reached.  The whole boat of martyrs had not been filled yet.  While this specific group of martyrs in verse 10, envisioned by John, theyÕre eager for justice to be done and for justice to be done now and theyÕre waiting for Christ to return and get their resurrection bodies, Jesus is saying to them here that time has not come.  The Lord would eventually avenge their blood but not yet.  That day of vengeance had not yet arrived.  In the meantime, they needed to rest.  To wait.  And even to enjoy that state of blessedness that they were in, in the state they were in as martyrs.  As we do now, the martyrs of The Tribulation period would have to wait on the Lord and trust Him. 

With that, we turn to the sixth seal, in verses 12-17, where in verses 12 through 14, we see a shattered universe.  In verses 15 through 17, we see a time of terror.  Let us start with JohnÕs vision of the shattered universe in verses 12 through 14, where we see these six catastrophic events described.  First, verse 12, he describes this massive earthquake. Verse 12, ÒThen I looked when He opened the seal, (thatÕs the sixth seal) and there was a great earthquake.Ó Again, this is right in line with JesusÕ words in His Olivet Discourse, in Matthew 24:7. ÒFor nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.Ó 

It is also in line with the words of the prophet Joel who in describing the coming Day of the Lord said this in Joel 2:10 of the earth trembling and the heaven quaking.  Now there is no indication here in our passage of where this earthquake would register on the Richter Scale, but the word ÒgreatÓ there suggests that it will be massive.  As we get to the end of this section, weÕre going to see just how much devastation this earthquake causes.  

Second, and even more dramatic, still in verse 12, John saw that Òthe sun became black as sackcloth made of hair.Ó John there is not describing the blockage of the sun like we would see in an eclipse.  HeÕs describing the blackening of the sun, where the sun becomes so black that itÕs likened to sackcloth made of goatsÕ hair which were typically worn during these times as a sign of mourning, signs of anguish.  

That is a fitting link to the sun turning black in these times of Tribulation that John was envisioning here coming in the future.  These times of Tribulation coming to the earth would be times of anguish and they would be times marked with literal darkness.  Amos 5:20 says, ÒWill not the day of Yahweh be darkness instead of light, even thick darkness with no brightness in it?Ó 

Next, still in verse 12, John saw that Òthe whole moon became like blood.Ó Another precursor of end-times judgment.  Another sign that the return of the Lord is near.  Similar language is found in Joel 2:31 which, in describing the day of the Lord, which has overlap with the time of Tribulation as it precedes the coming of the Lord, Joel 2:31 says the ÒThe sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of Yahweh comes.Ó 

Next, fourth, John saw this in his vision.  This is verse 13, ÒAnd the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.Ó Now that word ÒstarsÓ has a wider range of meaning in the original language than our word star does.  This word in the Greek language stands for meteors, comets, asteroids.  Anything up in the celestial that can fall to the earth.  

ThatÕs really what John here has pictured or has in mind as a meteor shower.  I think a Meteor shower is a more apt description of whatÕs happening here because we do see stars as still being in the sky, later in Revelation when the fourth trumpet blows in Revelation 8:12. So the stars couldnÕt have fallen out of the sky, the actual stars by this point.  But meteors certainly could have fallen out of the sky.  But the whole point here is from JohnÕs vantage point, as seal number six is broken; is as this meteor shower is raining down upon the earth, is that to him it appears as though the very heavens are raining down upon the earth.  He uses this very Òfirst-centuryÓ appropriate illustration where the falling down of the stars from the sky, the meteors from the sky is like a fig tree casting itÕs unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.  It all looked like figs dropping from a tree on a windy day.  

Then verse 14, it says, Òthe sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up.Ó  Now thatÕs significant.  WeÕve already seen a scroll in this vision.  Recall it was a scroll, a biblion, which the Lamb opened up to usher in this whole series of events.  Well now, in conjunction with seal number six being opened, John reports that the heavens themselves appeared to be rolled up like a scroll.  Now this is JohnÕs human perception of what he is attempting to describe here.  LetÕs keep that in mind.  The actual passing away of the heavens and the earth will not happen until later in Revelation 21:1, which ushers in the new heavens and the new earth.  But in terms of human perception, as John took in this vision at this phase in The Tribulation, the chaos and destruction, it all made it appear to John like the universe was falling apart, like it was shriveling like a piece of papyrus curling up on itself.   

And then this, verse 14, end of 14.  ÒAnd every mountain and island were moved out of their places.Ó I believe this is actually harkening back to the first event mentioned back in verse 12 with the opening of the sixth seal, the Ògreat earthquake.Ó Meaning, it was on account of the Ògreat earthquakeÓ that this physical upheaval of mountains and islands in this vision took place.  

There is still another seal, the seventh seal which we will get to in a few weeks in Revelation 8.   But as we have already seen, the opening of these first six seals brings about total cataclysmic destruction in their own right, those first six seals.   

As we wrap up here this evening, we see that what John saw in terms of the reaction of those who will in the future witness these cataclysmic judgments during The Tribulation, we see that those reactions come forth in verses 15-17.  Look at verse 15, ÒThen the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free manÓ (meaning all marks of unbelievers from all walks of life.)  John continues by saying that these individuals, living in The Tribulation, Òhid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.Ó In an act of total desperation. 

Then verse 16,  ÒAnd they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Ôfall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?ÕÓ No longer having their power, their possessions to trust in, without having any sense of security; now in this state of abject fear and terror, John saw, in this vision of the coming Tribulation, men who were so fearful of all that was happening around them, that they begged for the mountains and the rocks to fall on them.  They were so fearful of God Himself, Òthe One who sits on the throneÓ as it says.  They were so fearful of Jesus Christ and His wrath, Òthe wrath of the Lamb,Ó that they were begging to be taken out.  They are begging for a violent end to fall on them.  

The prophet Isaiah had a similar vision, in Isaiah 2:19.  He described this future time where ÒMen will go into caves of the rocks and into holes of the ground Before the dread of Yahweh. And the splendor of His majesty, when He arises to make the earth tremble.Ó John saw something similar here in Revelation 6.  He saw this coming day of Tribulation where men would have no desire to repent but they would have a desperate desire to escape as though that were possible from the all-seeing, all-powerful God.  

Then, these words, verse 17, Òfor the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?Ó  Who would be able to withstand, survive the coming days of judgment?  Who would be able to endure what the future held?  That question in verse 17, is reminiscent of the prophet Nahum in Nahum 1:6, speaking of Yahweh and His future day of judgement, asked this.  ÒWho can stand before His indignation?  Who can endure the burning of His anger?Ó Answer?  Well, we know itÕs not back to our text in verse 15, itÕs not the kings of the earth that will be able to stand His burning anger.  It wonÕt be the great men, it wonÕt be the   commanders, it wonÕt be the rich, it wonÕt be the strong.  It wonÕt even be every slave and free man.  None of them will be able to stand.  But there will be a group who will stand, even in these dark days of The Tribulation.  There will be some who are saved.  Who are rescued.  And theyÕre mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 which weÕll get to next time.  LetÕs pray.

Lord, we thank You for a chance this evening to go through this remarkable passage of Scripture.  Many men have camped out and spent many weeks and months in this chapter and IÕm personally grateful for those who have labored in this text and worked through various nuances of the text and helped groups like this to see every tree in the grand forest of this text.  But it is also helpful at times to take in the whole picture and there understand the progression of history in more of a sweeping sense as we covered tonight.  So, I do pray that Your Word this evening has been honored.  I pray that as we look at and reflect upon what we have learned this evening that we will have sense of where history is going through this phase of tribulation which will follow the Rapture of the church out of this earth.  And which we know will culminate in ChristÕs return and his establishment of His Kingdom.  We look forward to that day, those out in the future days.  At the same time, we grieve knowing that these days of tribulation will have come necessarily on this earth.  WeÕre grateful as we who have believed upon the name of Jesus Christ that we will not have to withstand those days of tribulation as we learn from the Scripture even this evening in I Thessalonians 1:10. You have delivered us already from the wrath that is to come.  We praise you for that.  But I pray that these tribulation realities would really motivate us as Believers today, to be diligent in sharing our faith.  And sharing the hope that we have in proclaiming boldly the name of Jesus Christ as we proclaim His gospel.  As we seek to see more saved, rescued, delivered from the wrath to come.  God, I thank You for these dear people.  I thank you for their sitting under the messages this morning and this evening.  I pray that the Word that has been preached today would settle into hearts and transform lives, this week and every week for your glory.  In JesusÕ name, Amen.