Read · Listen · Study

Revelation 6 · Berean Standard Bible

Playback speed

¹Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!” ²So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer. ³And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. ⁵And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. ⁶And I heard what sounded like a voice from among 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 wine.” ⁷And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” ⁸Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth. ⁹And when the Lamb 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 they had upheld. ¹⁰And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” ¹¹Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed. ¹²And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. ¹⁴The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. ¹⁵Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. ¹⁷For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Revelation

Revelation 6

"The Opening of the Six Seals"

✦

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Conquest (White Horse): The first seal unleashes a rider on a white horse, symbolizing conquest. The rider, holding a bow and wearing a crown, goes out "bent on conquest." War (Red Horse): The second seal reveals a rider on a red horse, granted power to take peace from the earth and make people kill each other. Famine (Black Horse): The third seal introduces a rider on a black horse, symbolizing famine. He holds a pair of scales, indicating the scarcity and rationing of food. Death (Pale Horse): The fourth seal reveals a rider named Death on a pale horse, with Hades following close behind. They are given authority over a quarter of the earth to kill with sword, famine, and plague.

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Unfolding of Divine Judgment

The Harbingers of Judgment: Visualize the momentous opening of each seal, unleashing powerful symbols of divine judgment - the formidable horsemen riding forth, each representing different aspects of earthly tribulation. The Martyrs' Plea: Picture the poignant scene of the martyred souls under the altar, their cries for justice echoing in the heavenly realm, wrapped in the promise of divine vindication. Cosmic Upheaval: Imagine the earth and heavens shaken by the sixth seal, a grand and terrifying display of cosmic disturbance, signaling the impending day of God's wrath.

The Unfolding of Divine Judgment

Song

Seals of Destiny Unbound

Full Poem

THE FOUR HORSEMEN Four horsemen ride, with seals undone, Conquest, war, famine, and death begun. Across the earth, their ride portends, The beginning of sorrows, as the scroll rends. THE MARTYRS' CRY Beneath the altar, souls of the slain, For God's justice, they do proclaim. In white robes clad, they patiently wait, For the fullness of time, in faith, they state. COSMIC SHAKING With the sixth seal, the heavens quake, Earth and sky in upheaval partake. Mountains and islands, from places torn, Before the Lamb's wrath, the world forlorn.

Conclusion

Judgment and Divine Sovereignty: Chapter 6 delves into themes of judgment, divine sovereignty, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through events both earthly and cosmic. Cross-References: Matthew 24:6-8: Jesus' description of wars, famines, and earthquakes as the beginning of birth pains parallels the first four seals. Daniel 9:26-27: The prophecy of war and desolation, resonating with the themes of the four horsemen. Isaiah 34:4: The heavens rolling up like a scroll, similar to the cosmic disturbances in the sixth seal. In summary, Revelation 6 presents a gripping and intense portrayal of the opening of the first six seals of the scroll by the Lamb. These seals reveal a series of judgments and events that signify the beginning of God's direct intervention in earthly affairs, encompassing both human tribulations and cosmic disturbances, and setting the stage for further revelations and judgments to come.