Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Revelation 6
Concise Complete
The opening of the seals, The first, second, third,
and fourth. (1-8) The fifth. (9-11) The sixth. (12-17)
Verses 1-8
Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what appeared. A rider on a
white horse. By the going forth of this white horse, a time of peace, or the
early progress of the Christian religion, seems to be intended; its going forth
in purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent his apostles to teach all
nations, adding, Lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. The
Divine religion goes out crowned, having the Divine favour resting upon it,
armed spiritually against its foes, and destined to be victorious in the end. On
opening the second seal, a red horse appeared; this signifies desolating
judgments. The sword of war and persecution is a dreadful judgment; it takes
away peace from the earth, one of the greatest blessings; and men who should
love one another, and help one another, are set upon killing one another. Such
scenes also followed the pure age of early Christianity, when, neglectful of
charity and the bond of peace, the Christian leaders, divided among themselves,
appealed to the sword, and entangled themselves in guilt. On opening the third
seal, a black horse appeared; a colour denoting mourning and woe, darkness and
ignorance. He that sat on it had a yoke in his hand. Attempts were made to put a
yoke of superstitious observances on the disciples. As the stream of
Christianity flowed further from its pure fountain, it became more and more
corrupt. During the progress of this black horse, the necessaries of life should
be at excessive prices, and the more costly things should not be hurt. According
to prophetic language, these articles signified that food of religious
knowledge, by which the souls of men are sustained unto everlasting life; such
we are invited to buy,
isaiah 55:1 . But when the
dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, denoted by the black horse, spread
over the Christian world, the knowledge and practice of true religion became
scarce. When a people loathe their spiritual food, God may justly deprive them
of their daily bread. The famine of bread is a terrible judgment; but the famine
of the word is more so. Upon opening the fourth seal, another horse appeared, of
a pale colour. The rider was Death, the king of terrors. The attendants, or
followers of this king of terrors, hell, a state of eternal misery to all who
die in their sins; and in times of general destruction, multitudes go down
unprepared into the pit. The period of the fourth seal is one of great slaughter
and devastation, destroying whatever may tend to make life happy, making ravages
on the spiritual lives of men. Thus the mystery of iniquity was completed, and
its power extended both over the lives and consciences of men. The exact times
of these four seals cannot be ascertained, for the changes were gradual. God
gave them power, that is, those instruments of his anger, or those judgments:
all public calamities are at his command; they only go forth when God sends
them, and no further than he permits.
Verses 9-11
The sight the apostle beheld at the opening the fifth seal was very affecting.
He saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar; at the foot of the altar in
heaven, at the feet of Christ. Persecutors can only kill the body; after that
there is no more they can do; the soul lives. God has provided a good place in
the better world, for those who are faithful unto death. It is not their own
death, but the sacrifice of Christ, that gives them entrance into heaven. The
cause in which they suffered, was for the word of God; the best any man can lay
down his life for; faith in God's word, and the unshaken confession of that
faith. They commit their cause to Him to whom vengeance belongs. The Lord is the
comforter of his afflicted servants, and precious is their blood in his sight.
As the measure of the sin of persecutors is filling up, so is the number of the
persecuted, martyred servants of Christ. When this is fulfilled, God will send
tribulation to those who trouble them, and unbroken happiness and rest to those
that are troubled.
Verses 12-17
When the sixth seal was opened, there was a great earthquake. The foundations of
churches and states would be terribly shaken. Such bold figurative descriptions
of great changes abound in the prophecies of Scripture; for these events are
emblems, and declare the end of the world and the day of judgment. Dread and
terror would seize on all sorts of men. Neither grandeur, riches, valour, nor
strength, can support men at that time. They would be glad to be no more seen;
yea, to have no longer any being. Though Christ be a Lamb, he can be angry, and
the wrath of the Lamb is exceedingly dreadful; for if the Redeemer himself, who
appeases the wrath of God, be our enemy, where shall we find a friend to plead
for us? As men have their day of opportunity, and their seasons of grace, so God
has his day of righteous wrath. It seems that the overthrow of the paganism of
the Roman empire is here meant. The idolaters are described as hiding themselves
in their dens and secret caves, and vainly seeking to escape ruin. In such a
day, when the signs of the times show those who believe in God's word, that the
King of kings is approaching, Christians are called to a decided course, and to
a bold confession of Christ and his truth before their fellowmen. Whatever they
may have to endure, the short contempt of man is to be borne, rather than that
shame which is everlasting.
Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
