Revelation 6

King James Version

Full text for Revelation Chapter 6

1¶ 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.

2And 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¶ And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4And 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.

5And 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.

6And 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.

7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8And 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.

9¶ 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:

10And 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?

11And 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.

12And 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;

13And 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.

14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15And 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;

16And 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:

17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Revelation chapter 6 describes the opening of the first six seals by the Lamb, initiating a series of judgments upon the earth. The first four seals reveal four horsemen symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, affecting a significant portion of humanity. The fifth seal unveils the souls of martyrs crying for justice, while the sixth seal unleashes cataclysmic cosmic and terrestrial disturbances, causing all people to seek refuge from divine wrath.

Medium Summary

Chapter 6 of Revelation details the Lamb's opening of the first six seals, each unleashing a distinct judgment upon the earth. The first four seals introduce the four horsemen: a white horse representing conquest, a red horse signifying war and internal conflict, a black horse denoting famine and economic hardship, and a pale horse whose rider is Death, accompanied by Hell, given power over a fourth of the earth. Following these, the fifth seal reveals the souls of those martyred for their faith, who earnestly cry out to God for vengeance and justice. They are given white robes and instructed to rest until the full number of their fellow servants are also martyred. The sixth seal then brings forth a series of profound cosmic and geological events, including a great earthquake, the darkening of the sun, the reddening of the moon, and falling stars. The heavens depart, and mountains and islands are displaced, leading all classes of humanity to hide in terror from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, acknowledging the arrival of the great day of His wrath.

Long Summary

Revelation chapter 6 commences with the Lamb opening the first of seven seals, initiating a sequence of divine judgments. Upon the opening of the first seal, a white horse appears, ridden by one with a bow who is given a crown, signifying conquest and expansion. The second seal reveals a red horse, whose rider is granted power to remove peace from the earth, leading to widespread conflict and mutual killing among humanity, symbolized by a great sword. The third seal introduces a black horse, with its rider holding a pair of balances, and a voice declares high prices for basic foodstuffs like wheat and barley, yet commands that the oil and wine remain unharmed, indicating severe economic distress and famine. The fourth seal unveils a pale horse, whose rider is named Death, accompanied by Hell, and they are given authority over a fourth part of the earth to kill by various means, including the sword, hunger, pestilence, and wild beasts. With the opening of the fifth seal, John sees beneath the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and their testimony. These martyrs cry out with a loud voice, questioning the delay of God's judgment and vengeance upon those on earth who persecuted them. They are each given white robes and are told to rest for a short season until the full number of their fellow servants and brethren, who are destined to be martyred, is complete. The sixth seal then brings forth a series of dramatic and terrifying cosmic and terrestrial phenomena. A great earthquake shakes the earth, the sun becomes black as sackcloth, and the moon turns to blood. The stars of heaven fall to the earth like figs from a shaken tree, and the heaven itself departs as a rolled-up scroll. Every mountain and island is moved from its place, causing universal upheaval. In response to these overwhelming events, all strata of society—kings, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, bondmen, and free men—seek refuge in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They desperately call upon the mountains and rocks to fall upon them and hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for they recognize that the great day of His wrath has arrived, and they question who can withstand it.

Core Concepts

  • The Four HorsemenThe opening of the first four seals reveals riders on white, red, black, and pale horses, symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death respectively, bringing widespread judgment upon the earth.
  • Martyrs' Cry for JusticeUnder the fifth seal, the souls of those slain for their faith are seen under the altar, crying out to God for vengeance and justice against their persecutors.
  • Divine WrathThe chapter culminates with the sixth seal, where cosmic and terrestrial disturbances signify the arrival of "the great day of his wrath" from both God on the throne and the Lamb, causing universal fear.
  • Cosmic DisturbancesThe sixth seal unleashes a great earthquake, the darkening of the sun, the reddening of the moon, and falling stars, indicating a profound disruption of the natural order.
  • Universal Fear and HidingIn response to the sixth seal's events, all classes of people, from kings to bondmen, attempt to hide themselves from the face of God and the Lamb, acknowledging their inability to stand against divine judgment.
  • Economic HardshipThe black horse of the third seal is associated with a voice declaring high prices for basic grains, indicating a period of severe famine and economic distress, though some luxuries like oil and wine are spared.
  • The Lamb's AuthorityThe Lamb is depicted as the one opening the seals, demonstrating His authority in initiating these judgments and revealing the unfolding of God's plan.