Revelation Chapter Six(The Seven Seals)

The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD

By David Roberts

Legio XII Fulminata

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. 4Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. Zech 6:1-5

8I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” 10And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.” Zech 1:8-10

There are many parallels between Matthew 24 and Chapter Six of Revelation

Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem about 40 years before it happened.

34“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matt 24:34

Verses 1-2 The first seal

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Verse 2 “He who sat on it had a bow…”

“…and a crown was given to him and he went out conquering and to conquer…

Then the Lord will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. Zech 9:14

14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.(Rev 14:14)14“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings… Rev 17:14

Interpretation of the First Seal

• The rider on the white horse is our Lord. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will go forth and conquer!

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Rev 21:11-12

Question #1: Who said the following?

“…for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39“but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

Acts 5:38-39

Gamaliel

Verse 3-4 The Second Seal

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Revelation 6:3-4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one

another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Matthew 24:6-7

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Jewish Zealots and street terrorism: Sicari

“…and that people should kill one another…”Revelation 6:4

Interpretation of the Second Seal

The Destruction of Jerusalem would be a time of great empire-wide warfare.

End of the Pax Romana

Year of Four Emperors

Verses 5-6 The Third Seal

5When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.

Revelation 6:5-6So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in

his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not

harm the oil and the wine.

Matthew 24:7

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

Interpretation of the Third Seal

The Destruction of Jerusalem would be a time of unprecedented famine.

But why does the imagery call forth reasonable prices for food? Measure (quart) of wheat and 3 measures of barley for a denarius? Denarius worth perhaps about day’s wages thus not famine prices. Also ‘do not harm the oil and wine.’

Answer is found in 2 Kings 7:1:

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?

Question #2• How could the Jews find plenty in a time of famine?

(clue: imitating the four lepers of 2 Kings 7:1 is the answer)

Answer: Leave the condemned city (both literally and spiritually)

Verses 7-8 The Fourth Seal

When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

.

Revelation 6:88So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death,

and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Matthew 24:20-21

20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21“Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22“For these are

the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Interpretation of the Fourth SealThe Destruction of Jerusalem would be a time of death.

Verses 9-11 The Fifth Seal

9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.Question #3: Who was the first martyr?

Answer: Stephen, Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Verses 7-8 The Sixth Seal

12I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Matt 24:29-31

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of

the heavens will be shaken.

Fig Tree• 32“Now learn this parable

from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

“Fall on Us” Revelation 6 and Luke 23

• 15And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6

26Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. 27And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29“For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 30“Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31“For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” Luke 23

Summary of Chapter Six---Six Seals• Very hard to deny the pre-70 date of book of Revelation• Correspondence between Olivet Discourse of Jesus

(recorded in Matt 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21/23) and the Sixth chapter of Revelation is startling

Olivet

Discourse

Chapter Six

of Revela

tionAD 70

DestructionOf Jerusalem