Revelation 6

The four horses and their riders (see Zechariah 1:8–11; 6:1–8) represent the world's power structures. Their actions lead mainly to war, violence, economic imbalance, and death. Because of this, it is useless to place our hope in these human systems of power.

The Lamb breaks the seven seals to reveal the significance of history from God’s point of view.

Three sets of seven judgments (the seals, trumpets, and bowls) are central to Revelation. Some believe these judgments happen in a sequence, one after another, totaling twenty-one judgments.

However, it is more likely that the relationship is cyclical, similar to other Jewish apocalyptic writings (compare Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11). Each set of judgments becomes more intense and adds new details about God's judgment on those who rebel against him. In this view, all three cycles end at the same time, with the return of Christ.

• Some people think the rider on a white horse is Christ, like in Revelation 19:11. But the only similarity between these two images is the horse. The four riders represent a destructive and senseless world. It has no redeeming qualities.

• A bow is a weapon made of a curved piece of wood and a string. People shoot arrows with it. The bow was a common Greco-Roman military equipment. Here it is as a symbol of war.

• to overcome and conquer: The repeated use of the Greek word nikaō (which means "conquer") shows this rider is powerful. The focus on war and conquest shows the deep sinfulness of humanity.

The red horse symbolizes bloody violence on earth. The Roman Empire promised peace (the pax Romana), but widespread violence was the grim reality. This rider represents slaughter, including civil unrest and ethnic cleansing.

The black horse represents economic and social trouble. The rider carries scales, which were used in ancient commerce, to show this problem. The vision shows extreme inflation. A worker would have to spend a full day’s wages to buy one loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley. But the prices of luxury items, such as oil and wine, would stay the same. This is a picture of severe social and economic imbalance.

• When the fourth seal is opened, a terrifying horse appears. In the ancient world, a pale green color was used to show the color of a dead body.

• Hades: In Greek thought, Hades was the underworld for spirits without bodies. The Hebrew concept of Sheol, the place of the dead (1 Samuel 28:15), was similar.

• The death of one-fourth of the people on earth shows that the final judgment has not yet come (contrast Revelation 6:16–17).

• This set of four woes (sword, famine, disease, and wild animals; compare Ezekiel 14:21) summarizes the hardships of life on earth. The world cannot provide hope for humanity.

Instead of following the destructive ways of the world, the martyrs (those who died for their faith) chose to give their lives because they remained faithful to the word of God.

In contrast to the world's destructive ways (Revelation 6:1–8), the fifth seal introduces Christian martyrs who ask how God intends to deal with evil.

• The martyrs called out to God because they trusted his power to address their grievances.

• How long: Is God slow to act? Will justice be served? God acts decisively (see Revelation 6:12–14). His wrath (Revelation 6:16–17) should be understood as justice, fairness, and righteousness (see Exodus 34:5–7; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Romans 2:6–11).

• avenge our blood: This plea for God’s justice follows the pattern of psalms calling for vengeance (see Psalms 6:3; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 137:1–9). It also reflects the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28:53–57; 32:35 (quoted in Romans 12:19).

• A white robe symbolizes the victory of the martyrs and God's complete acceptance.

• told to rest: Death is a state of rest (compare John 11:11–12) where martyrs await God's justice.

• the full number: Only God knows how many Christians will be killed because of their faith before the end. In his complete authority and power, God will achieve his purposes through his martyred children and will vindicate them at the right time.

• brothers: The Greek word adelphoi refers to both male and female members of the same family.

These violent and world-shaking signs are linked in Scripture to the day of the Lord. On this day, God’s judgment will disrupt the entire created order (see Isaiah 13:4–12; 34:1–4; Joel 2:1–32; Zephaniah 2:1–3; Mark 13:1–37).

The opening of the sixth seal provides a preview of the end of the world.

• every slave and free man hid: When God’s judgment comes, people who are not redeemed will be terrified. They will try to hide in a safe place, but they will not succeed (Isaiah 2:19–21; Ezekiel 38:20; Hosea 10:8; Luke 23:30). The prophets often warned that this great day would bring wrath and judgment (Isaiah 13:6–11; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:14–15).

• The key question about God’s judgment is, who can survive? (Malachi 3:2). God’s children will be happy to see him (Revelation 5:13–14; 14:3–5) because they understand God’s answer to the martyrs’ call for justice (6:9–11), and they have nothing to fear from God’s judgment (Acts 10:34–36; Romans 5:1–2). Those who have harmed God’s people will tremble in fear as they face the wrath of the Lamb.