Bible Commentaries
Revelation 6

Verse 1

saw. App-133 .

Lamb. See Revelation 5:6 .

seals. Read "seven seals", with texts.

as . . . saying. Read, "one of the four zoa saying as with a voice of thunder".

beasts. See Revelation 4:6 .

and see. All the texts omit.

Verse 2

behold. App-133 .

he that sat, &c. Not to be identified with the white horse and rider of Revelation 19:11 , for here is the beginning of the series of terrible judgments. See Revelation 6:12 and the order of events in Matthew 24:4-28 .

on him = thereon. Greek. epi ( App-104 .) auton.

bow. Greek. toxon. Only here in N.T. Compare Revelation 4:3 .

crown. See App-197 .

given. The giver not mentioned. See Revelation 13:5 , Revelation 13:7 . Luke 4:6 . 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 .

unto = to.

went. Greek."came", see Revelation 6:1 .

conquering, &c. Literally conquering and in order that (Greek. hina) he may conquer. The verb is the same as "overcame" in Revelation 2:7 , &c.

Verse 3

had. Omit.

say = saying, Revelation 6:1 .

Verse 4

went out. Greek."came forth".

another. App-124 .

power. Read "it".

thereon = on him, as Revelation 6:2 .

peace = the peace.

earth. App-129 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

Verse 5

beheld = saw, Revelation 6:1 .

lo = behold, Revelation 6:2 .

black. Signifying famine. See Lamentations 4:4-8 , &c.

pair, &c. = balance.

Verse 6

heard. The texts add "as it were".

voice. Same as noise, Revelation 6:1 .

measure. Greek. choenix ; . App-51 .

penny. App-51 . Bread by weight means scarcity (compare Ezekiel 4:10 , Ezekiel 4:16 , Ezekiel 4:17 ). A denarius was a day's wage (Matthew 20:2 ), and a choenix of corn was a slave's daily ration, an amount usually purchasable for one-eighth of a denarius.

see. Omit, and read the clause "and hurt thou not" ( App-105 ).

oil . . . wine. By Figure of speech Metalepsis this may point to special protection of the elect in famine times. See Revelation 12:14 .Zechariah 13:8 . Romans 3:1 , Romans 3:2 ; Romans 9:4 , Romans 9:5 .

Verse 8

looked = saw, as Revelation 6:1 .

pale = livid. Greek. chloros ; in Revelation 8:7 ; Revelation 9:4 .Mark 6:39 , rendered "green".

and . . . Death. "Literally and the one sitting on (Greek. epano, first occ Matthew 2:9 , "over") him, the name to him (is) Death.

Death. By Metonymy ( of Effect) ( App-6 ) = pestilence. Famine is invariably followed by pestilence. Here, Death and Hades are personified. Compare Revelation 9:11 .

Hell. App-131 .

power. App-172 .

fourth. See App-10 .

beasts = wild beasts. Greek. therion. Occurs thirty-eight times in Rev., thirty-seven of "the beast". And here it may indicate the nations supporting "the beast". See Daniel 7:0 for the Divine description of "the powers" as "wild beasts".

Verse 9

altar. Greek. thusiasterion. First of eight occurances.

souls. See App-110 and App-170 Compare App-13 .

were = had been.

word. App-121 .

God. App-98 .

testimony. See John 1:7 .

Verse 10

loud = great.

voice. As Abel's blood was said to cry (Genesis 4:10 ).

Lord. App-98 .

holy = the Holy.

true = the True.

judge. App-122 .

avenge. See Deuteronomy 32:43 .Luke 18:3 . A call consistent with the day of judgment, not with the present day of grace.

on. apo. App-104 . but the texts read ek.

Verse 11

white robes = a white robe. See Revelation 7:9 and Mar 12:88 .

were = was.

every one = each one.

yet for, &c. = yet a little time (Greek. chronos. App-195 ).

fellowservants. Greek. sundoulos. Occurs only in Matt., Col., and Rev. See App-190 .

that should be = that are about to be.

as they were = even as they also ( had been) .

fulfilled. App-125 .

Verse 12

sixth seal. The signs immediately preceding the Advent of Revelation 19:0 . Matthew 24:4-5 (1st. The False Messiah), Revelation 6:1-2 Matthew 24:6-7 (2nd. Wars.) Revelation 6:3-4 Matthew 24:7 (3rd. Famines.) Revelation 6:5-6 Matthew 24:7 (4th. Pestilences.) Revelation 6:7-8 ) Matthew 24:8-28 (5th Martyrdoms.) Revelation 6:9-11 Matthew 24:29-30 (6th. Signs in heaven of Advent.) Revelation 6:12-17 .

lo. Omit.

was = came to be.

earthquake. Greek. seismos. See Haggai 2:6 , Haggai 2:7 , Haggai 2:21 , Haggai 2:22 .Zechariah 14:5 .Matthew 8:24 .Hebrews 12:26 . Compare Psalms 46:0 .

moon. The texts add "whole", i.e. the full moon.

as blood. i.e. as to color.

Verse 13

stars, &c. See Revelation 9:1 and compare Daniel 8:10 , &c.

heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .

mighty = great, as verses: Revelation 6:4 , Revelation 6:10 , Revelation 6:17 .

Verse 14

departed = parted asunder. See Acts 15:39 .

scroll. See Revelation 1:11 .

when, &c. = rolling itself up.

moved = removed, as Revelation 2:5 .

Verse 15

the kings of the earth. See App-197 . As regards the social fabric, the present conditions will exist when the Lord comes.

great men. Greek. megistanea. Only here; Revelation 18:23 .Mark 6:21 .

men, man = ones, one.

mighty. Greek. ischuros (with the texts). As in Revelation 19:18 . Compare App-172 .

bondman. App-190 .

every. Omit.

Verse 16

said = they say.

Fall, &c. See Hosea 10:8 , and compare Luke 23:30 .

face. Greek. prosopon. Same word "presence" in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 .

wrath. Greek. orge. Only once in N.T. is "wrath" attributed to the Lord; see Mark 3:5 . Elsewhere it pertains to God. "Wrath of the Lamb"! Divine love spurned and rejected turning to judicial "wrath" and destruction.

Lamb. In Revelation 5:5 the Lamb-Lion; here, the Lion-Lamb.

Verse 17

great day All preceding judgments lead up to this. See Joel 2:11 , Joel 2:31 .Zephaniah 1:14 . Compare Jude 1:6 .

who, &c. This solemn question now to be answered by the sealing of 144,000 specially protected and blessed ones.

shall be = is.