The Four Horsemen
Study note
As the first four seals are opened, four horsemen ride forth in succession. The white horse brings conquest, the red horse takes peace from the earth, the black horse brings economic scarcity and famine, and the pale horse, ridden by Death with Hell following, kills a fourth of the earth through war, hunger, plague, and wild beasts. These represent the escalating judgments that precede the end.
1 I watched as the Lamb cracked open the first of the seven seals. One of the four living creatures spoke with a voice that boomed like thunder: "Come and see!" And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 I looked, and there was a white horse. The rider held a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He charged out to conquer and keep conquering. 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.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, the second living creature called out, "Come and see!" And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 Out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was given the power to take peace away from the earth so that people would slaughter each other. He carried an enormous sword. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, the third living creature called out, "Come and see!" I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of weighing scales. 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 Then a voice from among the four living creatures announced, "A day's pay for a loaf of wheat, a day's pay for three loaves of barley. But do not touch the olive oil and the wine!" 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.
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, the fourth living creature called out, "Come and see!" And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 I looked, and there was a sickly pale horse. Its rider's name was Death, and the grave followed right behind him. They were given power over one-fourth of the earth -- to kill with war, with starvation, with disease, and with wild animals. 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 sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The Cry of the Martyrs
Study note
The fifth seal reveals the souls of those martyred for their faith, sheltered beneath the heavenly altar. They cry out for justice, asking how long God will wait to avenge their blood. Each is given a white robe and told to rest until the full number of their fellow martyrs is complete, showing that God keeps account of every sacrifice made for his name.
9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw something under the altar. There were the souls of people killed because they followed God's word and stayed true to what they believed. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 They cried out at the top of their voices, "How much longer, Lord? You are holy and true! When will you bring justice and hold the people of the earth accountable for killing us?" And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to be patient and rest a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters who would also be killed had been reached. And white robes 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.
Cosmic Signs of the Sixth Seal
Study note
The sixth seal brings catastrophic cosmic disturbances: a massive earthquake, the sun darkened, the moon turned blood red, stars falling, and the sky rolling up like a scroll. Every class of person, from kings to slaves, hides in caves and begs the mountains to fall on them, recognizing that the great day of wrath has arrived. The chapter ends with the haunting question: who is able to stand?
12 I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal. The earth shook with a massive earthquake. The sun turned as black as dark cloth, and the entire moon turned the color of blood. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 Stars rained down from the sky to the earth, like figs falling off a tree when a fierce wind shakes it. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 The sky split apart and rolled up like a scroll. Every mountain and every island was shoved out of its place. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 Then everyone hid. Kings, powerful people, the rich, army leaders, and the strong. Every slave and every free person. They all hid in caves and behind rocks in the mountains. And the kings 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 dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 They begged the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb!" And said to the mountains 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 "The great day of their anger is here, and who can possibly stand through it?" For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?