INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 6
This chapter contains the vision of the opening six of the seals of
the sealed book, by the Lamb, and of the events following thereupon.
The preparation to the vision of the first seal is in Revelation 6:1;
the Lamb opens it, John hears a noise like thunder, and one of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW, WHEN THE LAMB OPENED ONE OF THE SEALS,.... Of the sealed
book; one of the seven seals of it, as read the Alexandrian copy, the
Vulgate Latin, and the Oriental versions, and the Complutensian
edition; that is, the first; so "one" is used for first in Genesis
1:5; and as appears from the fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE,.... Representing the ministration
of the Gospel in the times of the apostles, which were just now
finishing, John being the last of them, who saw this vision; and the
"horse" being a swift, majestic, and warlike creature, and fearless of
opposition and war, may d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE SECOND SEAL,.... Of the sealed book; that
is, the Lamb, as before:
I HEARD THE SECOND BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE; this living creature was
the ox, whose situation was on the west side of the throne, as the
standard of Ephraim, on which was an ox, was on the west of the camp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WENT OUT ANOTHER HORSE, [THAT WAS] RED,.... Which may be an
emblem either of the suffering state of the church, being answerable
to the Smyrnaean one, as the purity and power of the Gospel,
represented in the former seal, may answer to the Ephesine church; or
else of those contentions and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE THIRD SEAL,.... Of the sealed book:
I HEARD THE THIRD BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE; this living creature was
that which was like a man, who was on the south side of the throne, as
the standard of Reuben, which had the figure of a man, was on the
south side of the camp of Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD A VOICE IN THE MIDST OF THE FOUR BEASTS SAY,.... Not the
voice of Agabus to the Apostle Paul, Acts 11:28; but rather of Christ,
who was in the midst of them, Revelation 5:6; the Ethiopic version
adds, "as the voice of an eagle":
A MEASURE OF WHEAT FOR A PENNY, AND THREE MEASURES OF BARL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE FOURTH SEAL,.... Of the seven seals of the
sealed book; that is, when the Lamb had opened it, or took it off, as
in Revelation 6:1;
I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE FOURTH BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE; this living
creature was that which was like an eagle, and was on the north side
of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A PALE HORSE,.... An emblem either of the
state of the church, pale not with persecution, as some think, for
through that it was red; but with the hypocrisy and superstition of
many of its members, who were paving the way for the man of sin, and
on account of whom the church... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE FIFTH SEAL,.... Of the seven seals of the
sealed book; here is no beast speaking here, nor horse and rider
presented to view; it was now a very dark time both with respect to
the church of God and ministry of the word, and the Roman empire. This
seal refers to the times of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... With great ardour and fervency,
being very pressing and importunate; and which shows that they were
awake, and not asleep, and that the soul does not sleep with the body
in the grave, or is after the death of that in a state of
insensibility and inactivity, as s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN TO EVERYONE OF THEM,.... The Alexandrian
copy, and some others, read in the singular number, "a white robe",
and so does the Syriac version; as a token of their innocence, that
they did not suffer, or were slain, for any capital crime or
immorality they were guilty of; and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BEHELD WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE SIXTH SEAL,.... Of the sealed book
which the Lamb took out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne,
in order to open it, and unloose its seals. About this seal
interpreters much differ; some refer this to the destruction of
Jerusalem, because of the likeness o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN FELL UNTO THE EARTH,.... All the other
inferior deities lost their esteem, worship, and honour; for the idol
temples being now opened, the idols and statues were exposed to the
common people, and were found to be stuffed with hay and straw, which
brought them into great conte... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER,....
The manner of writing formerly was on rolls of parchment; hence the
word volume is used for a book, which, when rolled up, the writing
within could not be seen, not a syllable nor letter of it. In like
manner the Roman empire, as Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING'S OF THE EARTH, AND THE GREAT MEN,.... The Roman
emperors, and other principal magistrates, governors of provinces and
cities:
AND THE RICH MEN; among the commonalty; these three may design perhaps
more particularly the emperors, nobles, and senate of Rome: and
THE CHIEF CAPTAINS; or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS, FALL ON US,.... They chose death
rather than life. Dioclesian being invited by Constantine to a
marriage feast, excused himself by reason of his old age; but
receiving threatening letters, the historian t says, in which he was
charged with having favoured Maxenti... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME,.... The Vulgate Latin and
Syriac versions read, "of their wrath"; both of him that sits upon the
throne, and of the Lamb, against the Heathen gods and Heathen
persecutors, in answer to the cry of the martyrs in Revelation 6:9.
AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?... [ Continue Reading ]