I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals, or the first
seal. The interpreters are much divided in expounding what is to be
understood by the sealed up contents, and in applying them to such and
such persecutions, persons, and events, by all which it appears that
there is no certainty as... [ Continue Reading ]
A white horse, such as conquerors used to ride upon at a solemn
triumph. This is commonly understood of our Saviour, Christ, who, by
himself and his apostles, preachers, martyrs, and other saints,
triumphed over all the adversaries of his Church. He had a bow in his
hand, the doctrine of his gospel,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Opened the second seal, &c. portending wars and shedding of blood,
and so he is said to have power to take away peace from the earth.
(Witham) --- Another red horse. This red horse signifies the cruel
persecutions, which the Roman emperors carried on against the
Christian religion. For this end, it... [ Continue Reading ]
_The third seal....a black horse. This is also commonly expounded of
wars and persecutions, and particularly of famine, by the scales in
the rider's hand, and by two pounds of wheat being sold for a penny: a
great price, considering the value of money at that time. (Witham) ---
The black horse repre... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fourth seal....a pale horse, the rider's name death. It is also
expounded of trials, afflictions, persecutions, and especially of
plagues, over four parts of the earth, by which may be denoted the
great power and extent of the Roman empire. In the Greek we read, over
the fourth part of the eart... [ Continue Reading ]
After the opening of the fifth seal, the souls of the martyrs under
the altar cried aloud for justice, saying, how long, &c. Out of zeal
for God's honour, and the good of the Church, they pray that the
enemies of Christ, and of the Christian faith, may be humbled, and
that all may acknowledge and fe... [ Continue Reading ]
At the opening of the sixth seal....a great earthquake, &c. Many think
that these dreadful signs, of the sun turning black, &c. are not to
happen till the time of antichrist, a little before the end of the
world. See Matthew xiv.; Luke xxi.; Isaias xiii. and xxxiv.; Ezechiel
xxxiii.; Daniel xii.; &c... [ Continue Reading ]
_And every mountain. In the dreadful confusion of the Roman empire, in
the time of Constantine, so great was the revolution, that mountains
appeared, as it were, moved out of their places; islands shifted from
their accustomed situations. We behold at one time seven persons,
Maximin Galerius, Maxent... [ Continue Reading ]