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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

CHAPTER SIX:
THE LAMB OPENS 6 SEALS

[“From Christ’s Enthronement to the Day of Wrath”]
Key Word: Seals
Theme Verse: 1

Revelation 6:1-2 – Seal One: the King Reigns!

RV6:1 And I saw when 243 the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened one of the 7 Seals. 244 I heard one of the 4 Living Creatures with a voice like thunder, saying: “Come!” 245

243

When: “When?” may be rightly asked. The scene is in the Throne-Room and it is of a Lamb having been slaughtered. The timing seems to follow right upon the sacrifice of the Lamb. Now the Lamb is seen in the Throne-Room so the Lamb must have made his ascension in fulfillment of Daniel 7:13. Here a “crown” is given the rider on the white horse so Psalm 2.6 must be undergoing fulfillment. In Revelation 1:19 John is told to write down two categories of events: a) things that are; b) future things. The Throne-Room scene at this moment may well be those “things that have already taken place” and therefore “are.” The white horse begins its ride upon the crowning and enthronement of the King. These are events Paul said occurred in 33 AD. (Psalm 2:1-7; Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4; Hebrews 1:5; 2:9; 5:5)

244

The Lamb opened one of the 7 Seals: Or, broke the seal to read. Revelation 5:4 uses the Greek BIBLION which is the source of the English “Bible.” Here it means “little book” or “booklet” and since it is written on front and back it must be a true codex or book and not a scroll. (Revelation 5:1) This Little Bible contains all the information to follow in the Apocalypse for the seals lead to the trumpets which lead to the plagues. Perhaps the end of this “book” is Revelation 11:19 but it is likely to continue to the end. It is the Apocalypse the Lamb opens, revealing the unfolding of God’s purpose.

245	A voice like thunder, saying: “Come”: “Come!” must be read like a thunderclap and subsequent rolling thunder.

RV6:2 And I saw, and look! a white horse. 246 The one riding it had a bow. 247 [Psalm 45:4, 5] A crown was given to him. 248 He went forth conquering [Psalm 45:4] so he might finish his conquest. 249 [Psalm 8:5, 6]

246	A white horse: Compare Revelation 19:11. It is clear this is the enthroned King, Christ.

247	The one riding it had a bow: Compare Zechariah 1:8-10; 6:1-3; Ezekiel 5:17; 14:12-21; Psalm 45:1-7; Hebrews 1:8, 9.

248

A crown was given to him: It breathes of Christ as king. Using the Second Psalm and the quotes of it by Peter (Acts 4:24-27) and Paul (Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5) it ought to be clear that Christ was enthroned as king upon his ascension to heaven in 33 AD. A study of Daniel 7:13 and Daniel’s location in the vision (Daniel 7:10, 16) would argue for an ascension during the Roman period as Acts 1:6-11 portrays. Compare John 6:62; 17:13. Paul shows Christ “crowned” at Hebrews 2:9 and Christ must “rule” until all his enemies are subdued or conquered. (1 Corinthians 15:25) Christ does not wait to rule. He ‘rules… waiting.’ (Hebrews 10:12, 13; Psalm 110:1) Christ has full authority upon his ascension. (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 2:10; Revelation 3:21) Therefore, this white horse begins its run with its victorious rider in the year 33 AD. John’s visionary experience parallels that of Daniel. (Daniel 7:9-16) In Daniel the reign of the King begins during the 4th kingdom of Rome.

249	So he might finish his conquest: Christ’s conquest began with John 16:33 and was confirmed by his victorious ascension to the Throne of God. (Revelation 3:21) This conquest presses on to final and complete victory with milestones at Revelation 19:19, 20; 20:2, 10, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Revelation 6:3-4 – Seal Two: Wars!

RV6:3 And when the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened the Second Seal I heard the Second Living Creature, saying: “Come!” RV6:4 A fiery-red horse [Zechariah 1:8] came forth. 250It was granted to the one riding to remove peace from the earth. 251 A great sword was given him 252 so they will slaughter one another. 253

250	A fiery-red horse came forth: Red with mixtures of yellow and orange. The color of burning during war.

251

To remove peace from the earth: This prediction of war parallels Jesus’ own at Matthew 24:6, 7. Christ must rule “among his enemies” (Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25) and these can expect centuries and millenniums of war after war. History since 33 AD is replete with the suffering of war. Such a prediction might seem impossible given the current Pax Romana. It has been estimated that in the last two thousand years there have been 200 years of peace during the Pax Romana. In the year 1997 there are an estimated 100 conflicts worldwide. Compare the “war” in Daniel 9:26.

252	A great sword was given him: Christ cannot be blamed for two thousand years of war and slaughter. He does not use his “sword” against innocent victims. He will finally use his triumphant sword on the battlefield of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14-16; 19:15, 19-21)

253	So they will slaughter one another: 20 million were slaughtered in the Great War and 50 million in WW II. The numbers in all the wars for two millennia must be staggering. This “slaughter” is blamed on Babylon the Great. (Revelation 18:24)

Revelation 6:5-6 – Seal Three: Famine!

RV6:5 And when the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened the Third Seal I heard the Third Living Creature, saying: “Come!” And I saw, and, look! a black horse. [Zechariah 6:2] The one riding it had scales in his hand. 254

254

The one riding it had scales in his hand: The “black” of famine’s desiccation. The scales (yoke) are for measuring the scarcity of food and their great expense. This parallels the Nazarene’s own warning. (Matthew 24:7) The earth is to experience food shortages and famine. Recessions and depressions become norms in an atmosphere of war. At the beginning of the 3rd millennium a large portion of the earth suffers under food shortage and famine.

RV6:6 I heard a voice from among the 4 Living Creatures, saying: “A quart of wheat or three measures of barley for a day’s wages! Do not harm the oil and the wine.” 255

255

Do not harm the oil and the wine: Staples on even the poorest of tables. It may suggest the need for extreme caution in their use. Or, it may indicate only certain classes will have these. If the price of wheat and barley are those pictured, what must be the cost of oil and wine? During all of this the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” What will happen to food shortages during that coming period when one must have the mark of the Beast in order to “buy or sell”? (Revelation 13:5-7, 9, 10, 17) Will the “goats” refuse to share with their fellows? (Matthew 25:31-46)

Revelation 6:7-8 – Seal Four: Death!

RV6:7 And when the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened the Fourth Seal I heard the voice of the Fourth Living Creature, saying: “Come!” RV6:8 And I saw, and, look! a pale horse. 256 The one riding it had the name “Death.” [Hosea 13:1] Hades [Hosea 13:14] followed him. 257 There was granted to them authority over one-fourth of the earth 258 – to kill with 259 a long sword, with famine, with death by the wild beasts of the earth. 260 [Ezekiel 14:21]

256	A pale horse: Or, greenish-yellow; the color of jaundice, disease and poor health.

257

“Death.” Hades followed him: These are mentioned finally at Revelation 20:13 when the King destroys the last enemy. (1 Corinthians 15:24-27) This is “death” due to Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22) and for which the Devil is responsible. (Hebrews 2:14) These, however, are untimely, not natural, deaths. The Greek HADES means “unseen” and is translated by the KJV as “hell.” “Hell” is a word drawn from hel or the Latin cel meaning cellar. The English stored potatoes in the cellar or hellar and thus the “helin potatoes.” HADES is a temporary place of storage of the dead who await the resurrection and final judgment. (Job 14:13-15 LXX; Psalm 16:9, 10 LXX; Acts 2:31; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5, 12-14) Those who perish throughout two millennia of war and famine since Christ began his rule in 33 AD go into Hades from which they can expect a resurrection. (John 5:28, 29; Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:5, 13, 14) See the work Where Are the Dead?

258	Authority over one-fourth of the earth: This is the only occurrence of “fourth” with regard to the earth. The whole planet is not affected. While there may be great war, slaughter, famine and plague in one part of the earth, other parts remain untouched.

259

To kill with: This phrase is drawn from their source at Ezekiel 14:21 but in the prophet it is Jerusalem which experiences these. Jesus predicted dire straits for Jerusalem and these came true. (Matthew 24:15-22; Luke 19:43, 44; 21:20-24) Though the King has begun his reign in 33 AD a “fourth” of the earth, including Jerusalem, may well expect a history of bloodshed, famine, and pestilence. The history of Jerusalem is not over and it is unlikely she will escape those future “sore vengeances.”

260	Death by the wild beasts of the earth: People weakened by war, famine and pestilence become subject to the attack of wild animals, also disrupted by these events, seeking food. Dogs and other animals roam wide over battlefields and famine-struck cities.

Revelation 6:9-11 – Seal Five: Martyrs!

RV6:9 And when the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened the Fifth Seal I saw 261 underneath the Altar 262 souls 263 slaughtered 264 because of the Word of The God and their testimony. 265

261	I saw: A vision of another heavenly scene. Now for the first time the subject of the martyred Saints is taken up. One may assume this covers that period beginning with Stephen (Acts 7:59) to that of those future martyrdoms to occur during the Great Oppression.

262	The Altar: It also occurs at Revelation 8:3; 11:1; 16:7 and seems always to be the incense altar in the heavenly shrine. It is the place of incense and is highly associated with the prayers of the Saints.

263

Souls: Of the 900 occurrences of the Hebrew and Greek words for “soul” 120 deal with soul mortality. Not once is the Platonic idea of the immortal soul found in the Scriptures. In the Bible the “soul” is the living person. (Luke 12:19, 20) “Soul” is highly associated with “blood.” (Leviticus 17:10-14) Since the high priest splattered atonement blood at the base of the incense altar to ceremonially cleanse it, the “souls” here would appear to be the blood of the martyrs. The metaphor is similar to that of Abel’s blood crying out from the ground. (Genesis 4:11; Hebrews 12:24)

264	Slaughtered: Not all Christian Saints but only those who have been “slaughtered” or executed. These are mentioned several times at Revelation 11:7, 8; 12:17; 13:5-7; 17:6; 19:2.

265

Because of the Word of The God and their testimony: These martyrs died for two reasons: a) the Word of God with which they are associated; and, b) their “witness” or the confession their faith. (Romans 10:9, 10) Because they believed, they speak. (2 Corinthians 4:12, 13) Obviously, some of this speech is about the Bible. They have been unafraid to make public declaration or confession of their faith in Jesus Christ despite any threats from men. The number of Christian Saints burned at the stake with a Bible strapped around their necks is uncountable.

RV6:10 They cried out with a great voice, 266 saying: “Holy and Absolute Sovereign, 267 [Zechariah 1:12 LXX] until when are you not judging 268 and not avenging our blood [Deuteronomy 32:43] upon those inhabiting the earth.” 269 [Hosea 4:1]

266	They cried out with a great voice: Like Abel’s blood, their blood cries out for vengeance and justice. Genesis 4:10 LXX uses the same Greek word PHONE used here. Compare Hebrews 11:4; 12:24, the source of this word.

267	Absolute Sovereign: The Greek is DESPOTES and means the absolute Lord, Supreme Being or Ruler. Compare notes on Acts 4:24. The designation is probably from Zechariah 1:12 [LXX].

268

Until when are you not judging: "When", a word often asked by the ancients as well as the Saints. (Job 16:18; Psalm 5:10; 90:13; Habakkuk 1:2; Matthew 24:3; Acts 1:6) It is human nature to want to know “When?” and even here the dead Saints’ own blood cries out in such a loud voice to know “When?” Clearly vengeance and justice have not yet occurred. On vengeance compare Revelation 17:6; 19:2. Where does the guilt lie?

269	Avenging our blood upon those inhabiting the earth: The whole phrase may be a conflate based on Deuteronomy 32:43 and Hosea 4:1.

RV6:11 And each one of them was given a white robe. 270 They were told to rest 271 for a little while 272 until the full complement [is filled] 273 of their fellow slaves 274 and brothers, those about to be killed just as they were. 275

270	White robe: The STOLE (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4749) as a robe of state and symbol of their future immortal kingship and priesthood. Compare Revelation 3:5; 7:9; 22:14.

271

Rest: Rest is a metaphor for the state of the dead waiting a resurrection. Compare the ANAPAUOU in Daniel 12:13 with ANAPAUSONTAI here. (Daniel 12:2; John 11:11-14; Revelation 14:13) Note Eusebius, The History of the Church, “In Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the last day, the day of the Lord’s advent, when he is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all his Saints.” (31.5)

272

For a little while: The resting dead are not aware of any passage of time. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Psalm 146:3, 4) This is a “micron of time” (CHRONON MICRON) and different from the OLIGON KAIRON of Revelation 12:12 where it may mean over three and a half years. The prophetic context of this moment would seem to be during the Great Oppression.

273	Until the full complement [is filled]: Or, fulfilled. The Greek is PLEROTHOSIN and is related to the nautical term for a ship’s complement of sailors. Here it may refer to the sum of all those to be martyred including those in the future during the Great Oppression.

274	Their fellow slaves: A term used often in the Apocalypse for the Saints. Compare Revelation 1:1; 7:1-3.

275

Those about to be killed just as they were: There are to be more martyrs so that the sum total of the loud cry will only increase within the celestial tabernacle. Jesus foretold this for his own disciples using the same word. (Matthew 24:9) More saintly executions are to come. (Revelation 11:7, 8; 13:5-7, 9, 10) These all become part of the “dead” of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 awaiting the Return of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:23) and the “first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4, 6)

Revelation 6:12-17 – Seal Six: the Day of Wrath!

RV6:12 And I saw when the Lamb [Isaiah 53:7] opened the Sixth Seal a great earthquake occurred. 276 [Isaiah 2:19] The sun became black like sackcloth hair. 277 The full moon became like blood.

276	A great earthquake occurred: Compare Isaiah 2:10, 19.

277

The sun became black like sackcloth hair: Comparing this and the following with Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 these events follow immediately after the Great Oppression. On the subject of “the Day” compare Romans 2:5, 16; 1 Corinthians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6-10; 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:2; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:7, 10, 12; 1 John 4:17; Jude 6. On the subject of celestial darkness compare Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Amos 8:9; Micah 3:6; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:20; Revelation 8:12; 9:2. The prophetic moment is following the Great Oppression with the killing of end-time martyrs and just before the Return of Christ.

RV6:13 The stars 278 of the heaven fell into the earth like unripe figs falling from a fig tree 279 by the great shaking of a wind. [Isaiah 13:13]

278	Stars: The word “asteroid” is also drawn from this word.

279	Like unripe figs falling from a fig tree: Compare Isaiah 34:4 and 2 Peter 3:10. Wind and earthquakes are associated. Note Revelation 16:17, 18

RV6:14 The sky was separated 280 like a scroll being rolled up. [Isaiah 34:4] Every mountain and island was shifted from its location.

280	The sky was separated: Or, departed, withdrawn, disappeared, passed away. Compare Isaiah 34:4 LXX. The similarities of the above phrases with the context of Matthew 24:29 place this “after” the Great Oppression of three and a half years leading up to the Return of Christ.

RV6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the greatest men, 281 the military commanders, the rich, the strong, and every slave or freeman, they hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 282 [Isaiah 2:10-13, 19]

281	The greatest men: Compare Revelation 18:23; 19:18 for similar descriptions. The reaction of humanity with all of its social strata is also expressed in Matthew 24:30 where all earth’s tribes groan in lamentation at the sight of the celestial phenomena.

282	The rocks of the mountains: The many phrases here are compound paraphrases and interpretations of Isaiah 10:13, 19; 13:10; 34:4.

RV6:16 To the mountain rocks they cried: “Cover us and hide us 283 [Hosea 10:8] from the face of the One enthroned [Isaiah 6:1] and from the wrath of the Lamb. [Isaiah 53:7]

283	Hide us: This phrase is similar to Isaiah 2:10, 19; Hosea 10:8; Luke 23:30.

RV6:17 Because the great Day of their wrath has come. 284 [Zephaniah 1:14] Who is able to stand?” 285 [Malachi 3:1]

284	The great Day of their wrath has come: Compare Joel 2:11; 3:4. (Revelation 16:14) Note the “great day” has come but it does not necessarily begin immediately as there is a call for hesitation and restraint in the next verses. This Great Day must be held back until the sealing of the 144,000.

285	Who is able to stand: Or, escape, survive. The phrases may be a conflate of Zechariah 1:14 and Malachi 3:2.

Review Questions on Chapter Six