New Testament Commentary - Revelation 6

by Don R. Hender

There is a point of discussion to be put forth and that is what exactly are the timings of the openings of the seals? Some consider each to be so associated with the seven dispensations but when are the seals opened? Not until Christ was one worthy to stand to open them yet one might consider that rather that at the beginning of middle of a dispensation, the seals were placed betwixed and after the passing of each time. That is the first was between the 1^st and 2^nd times, the second seal betwix the 2^nd and 3^rd times, the third betwix the 3^rd and 4^th times and so on. Thus the fifth seal was betwix the 5^th and 6^th times and the sixth seal betwix the 6^th and 7^th times. This would mean that the seventh seal is not to be opened until after the end or at the end of the 7^th time and before or at the time of the final judgment of men. In this respect, each seal would not be openned until after the time of which it was apportioned.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

CHAPTER 6
Christ opens the six seals, and John sees the events therein—In the fifth seal he sees the Christian martyrs, and in the sixth the signs of the times.

First Seal ~ White Horse

1 ^aAND I saw when the Lamb opened one of the ^bseals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four ^cbeasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Second Seal ~ Red Horse

3 And when he had opened the ^asecond seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take ^apeace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Third Seal ~ Black Horse

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Fourth Seal ~ Pale Horse

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with ^asword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the ^aaltar the souls of them that were ^bslain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and ^aavenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And ^awhite ^brobes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, **until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled^a.
11^a until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled Beyond the prophets of old, beyond the apostles and saints of the early church, there would continue to be martyrs for the truth of the gospel down and even until the last two who would fall at the heads of the streets in Jerusalem. This would include the blood of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and those saints who so suffered as a part of the restored gospel.

Sixth Seal**

12 And I beheld when he had opened the ^asixth seal, and, lo, there was a great ^bearthquake; and the ^csun became ^dblack as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as ^eblood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her ^auntimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 ^aAnd the heaven departed as a ^bscroll when it is rolled together; and every ^cmountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the ^akings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the ^bdens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the ^amountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great ^aday of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to ^bstand?

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 6 Christ opens the six seals, and John sees the events therein—In the fifth seal he sees the Christian martyrs, and in the sixth the signs of the times.
First Seal ~ White Horse
1 ^aAND I saw when the Lamb opened one of the ^bseals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four ^cbeasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Second Seal ~ Red Horse
3 And when he had opened the ^asecond seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take ^apeace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Third Seal ~ Black Horse
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Fourth Seal ~ Pale Horse
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with ^asword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Fifth Seal
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the ^aaltar the souls of them that were ^bslain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and ^aavenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And ^awhite ^brobes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, *until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,* should be fulfilled^a**.	11^a until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled Beyond the prophets of old, beyond the apostles and saints of the early church, there would continue to be martyrs for the truth of the gospel down and even until the last two who would fall at the heads of the streets in Jerusalem. This would include the blood of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and those saints who so suffered as a part of the restored gospel.
Sixth Seal
12 And I beheld when he had opened the ^asixth seal, and, lo, there was a great ^bearthquake; and the ^csun became ^dblack as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as ^eblood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her ^auntimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 ^aAnd the heaven departed as a ^bscroll when it is rolled together; and every ^cmountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the ^akings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the ^bdens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the ^amountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great ^aday of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to ^bstand?