Revelation 6: The Opening of the First Six Seals
The Seven Seals
Chapter with Audio
6 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be 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 wine!”
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
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 witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Chapter Analysis
Revelation 6: The Lamb Opens The First Six Seals
The First Seal: The White Horse
📖 Revelation 6:1–2
¹ John saw the Lamb open one of the seals, and one of the four living creatures spoke with a voice like thunder, saying, “Come.”
² John saw a white horse. The rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him. He went out conquering and to conquer.
🔹 The Truth
The judgments begin when the Lamb opens the seals.
The rider on the white horse represents conquest and rising dominion on the earth.
Earthly power may appear victorious, but it is still under God’s authority.
🔹 The Promise
Nothing begins outside the permission and authority of the Lamb.
✅ Conclusion
The first seal shows that the events of judgment are not random. Christ is still in control.
The Second Seal: The Red Horse
📖 Revelation 6:3–4
³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, the second living creature said, “Come.”
⁴ Another horse came out, fiery red. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth, so that people would kill one another. A great sword was given to him.
🔹 The Truth
Sinful mankind cannot produce lasting peace apart from God.
When restraint is removed, violence and bloodshed increase.
War is one of the terrible results of a fallen world.
🔹 The Promise
God sees every act of violence and will judge the earth in righteousness.
✅ Conclusion
The red horse reveals how fragile earthly peace is when men reject the rule of God.
The Third Seal: The Black Horse
📖 Revelation 6:5–6
⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, the third living creature said, “Come.” John saw a black horse, and its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
⁶ A voice from among the four living creatures spoke of costly food and measured portions, yet said not to harm the oil and the wine.
🔹 The Truth
The black horse represents scarcity, famine, and economic distress.
Food becomes limited and expensive.
Human systems cannot protect mankind from judgment when God allows hardship to come.
🔹 The Promise
Even in judgment, God sets limits. He remains sovereign over how far suffering may go.
✅ Conclusion
The third seal reminds us that earthly security can vanish quickly, but God’s authority remains unchanged.
The Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse
📖 Revelation 6:7–8
⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, the fourth living creature said, “Come.”
⁸ John saw a pale horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades followed with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, hunger, death, and the beasts of the earth.
🔹 The Truth
The pale horse represents widespread death.
War, famine, disease, and destruction bring great loss upon the earth.
Death is terrible, but it is not outside God’s authority.
🔹 The Promise
Even death and Hades are subject to the power and judgment of Christ.
✅ Conclusion
The fourth seal shows the seriousness of God’s judgment and the deadly consequences of sin in the world.
The Fifth Seal: The Souls Under The Altar
📖 Revelation 6:9–11
⁹ When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, John saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God and the testimony they held.
¹⁰ They cried out with a loud voice, asking how long it would be until the Lord judged and avenged their blood on those who dwell on the earth.
¹¹ Each was given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brethren would also be killed as they had been.
🔹 The Truth
God remembers those who suffer and die for His Word.
The cries of the persecuted saints are heard in heaven.
God’s judgment may seem delayed, but it is never forgotten.
🔹 The Promise
The faithful dead are honored by God and will be vindicated in His perfect time.
✅ Conclusion
The fifth seal shows that death for the testimony of Christ is not defeat. Those who die for Him are safe before God.
The Sixth Seal: The Terror Of God’s Wrath
📖 Revelation 6:12–17
¹² When the Lamb opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, and the moon became like blood.
¹³ The stars of heaven fell to the earth like figs shaken from a tree by a mighty wind.
¹⁴ The sky departed like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
¹⁵ The kings of the earth, great men, rich men, commanders, mighty men, slaves, and free men hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
¹⁶ They cried out to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath had come, and they asked, “Who is able to stand?”
🔹 The Truth
The sixth seal reveals terrifying signs in creation and fear among all classes of people.
No rank, wealth, power, or status can protect anyone from the wrath of God.
The Lamb who was slain is also the Lamb who judges.
🔹 The Promise
Those who belong to Christ do not need to fear the wrath of God, because they are sheltered in Him.
✅ Conclusion
Revelation 6 ends with the great question: “Who is able to stand?” The answer is found only in the grace and salvation of God.
Summary Conclusion
Revelation 6 shows the Lamb opening the first six seals. The earth experiences conquest, war, famine, death, persecution, and terrifying signs of judgment. These events reveal that God’s wrath is real, sin is serious, and only those who belong to Christ can stand before Him.
Final Questions For You
- What does Revelation 6 teach about the authority of the Lamb over judgment?
- Why can earthly power, wealth, and status not protect anyone from God’s wrath?
- How should the question “Who is able to stand?” point us to the need for salvation in Christ?