Revelation 6

God is on His throne. The Lamb has taken
the scroll: It’s time to break the seals! With
each seal, earth’s misery increases. This is
the time of Great Tribulation!

Breaking the Seals: Tribulation Begins
Seal #1: White horse – world ruler takes power
Possible meaning: Antichrist creates one-world government
Other Scripture: Dan 9:26-27; 1 Thess 5:3; Rev 13:4

Seal #2: Red horse – peace replace by violence
Possible meaning: Antichrist wields sword – makes war
Other Scripture: Dan 9:27; Mt 24:5-7

Seal #3: Black horse – food shortage and famine
Possible meaning: World-wide food shortage leads to famine
Other Scripture: Mt 24:7

Seal #4: Ashen horse – death to a fourth of earth
Possible meaning: War and famine leads to mass death
Other Scripture: Dan 12:1; Mt 24:21-22; Ezek 5:17; 14:21

Seal #5: Martyrs in heaven, more yet to come
Possible meaning: Many saved, then killed for their faith
Other Scripture: Mt 24:9-14,22; Rev 7:9-17; 12:17

Seal #6: Cosmic Catastrophe; increasing terror
Possible meaning: Great earthquakes,
Other Scripture: Joel 2:10, 30-31; Mt 24:7,29

“…the great day of their wrath has come;
and who is able to stand?”
Revelation 6:17

For Further Study

1. Bible prophecy is an inexact science. Prophecies which have already been fulfilled (in the Old Testament and Christ’s first coming) are often easy to see, but at other times are obscure. Future prophecies are even harder; sometimes the meaning is clear, but other times it is shrouded in mystery. As you study prophecy, therefore, always start by asking God to guide your thoughts by His Spirit, and avoid ‘missing the forest for the trees’ (focusing on details and missing the big picture).

2. One of the best ways to gain understanding of any prophetic passage is to read other prophetic passages. Start by reading Rev.6, and writing down everything you can understand about the events which occur with the breaking of the six seals.

3. Now let’s add in some other prophetic passages, and see what additional insights or ‘parallel prophecies’ they may contain. Start with Daniel 9:20-27 and 12:1. What are the time periods spoken of in this prophecy? Any parallels to Revelation?

4. Now let’s add other passages: Joel 2, Matthew 24, and other Scripture references cited on the sermon notes. If you have a study Bible or commentary, read their insights. Do you agree with them? Why or why not?

5. Now let’s go beyond the prophecy to the purpose for it. Why do you think God revealed these terrible coming judgments to John (and to us)? Since this whole book is a revelation of Jesus Christ, what does this first outpouring of wrath reveal about our Savior? What is He like?

6. Ultimately, God has a purpose for each of us here and now, and knowing what is coming for those who do not believe in Jesus for eternal life should be sobering, and motivating! What is our task (Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15; 2 Cor 5:17-20; 1 Pet 3:15)? We who have believed have a ‘blessed hope’ in our future, not the terrors described in Revelation. May we share the message of hope through faith in Jesus Christ with everyone we know!

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