Revelation 6-8

Revelation 6

The Seals

First Seal: White Horse

A rider on a white horse appears:

• Carries a bow.
• Receives a crown.
• Goes out conquering.

Second Seal: Red Horse

A red horse appears. The rider is given power to:

• Remove peace from the earth.
• Cause people to kill one another.

Third Seal: Black Horse

A black horse appears. The rider carries a pair of scales.

Food becomes extremely expensive, but not to harm the oil and the wine

 Fourth Seal: Pale Horse

A pale (greenish) horse appears. The rider is Death followed by Hades

Authority is given over one-fourth of the earth through:

• Sword
• Famine
• Pestilence
• Wild beasts

Fifth Seal: The Martyrs

John sees souls under the altar. These believers were killed for:

• The Word of God.
• Their testimony.

They cry “How long, before you will judge and avenge…?” God gives them white robes and tells them:

• Rest a little longer.
• More martyrs will yet come.

Sixth Seal: Decreation

Massive disturbances occur:

• Great earthquake
• Sun becomes black
• Moon becomes like blood
• Stars fall
• Sky rolled up
• Mountains and islands moved

People everywhere hide from “The wrath of the Lamb.”

The chapter ends with “Who can stand?

Revelation 7

(An interlude between the sixth and seventh seals.)

The 144,000 Sealed

Four angels hold back judgment (the four winds)

Another angel seals 144,000 servants of God. They come from:

• Twelve tribes of Israel.
• 12,000 from each tribe.

 The Great Multitude

John then sees a countless multitude.

• Every nation.
• Every tribe.
• Every people.
• Every language.

They are standing before God’s throne. They wear:

• White robes.
• Palm branches.

They worship “Salvation belongs to our God… and to the Lamb!”

The elder explains these are those “coming out of the great tribulation.”

• Their robes are “washed… in the blood of the Lamb.”

God promises:

• No more hunger.
• No more thirst.
• No scorching heat.
• The Lamb will shepherd them.
• God will wipe away every tear.

Revelation 8

The Seventh Seal

The Lamb opens the seventh seal. There is silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Seven angels receive seven trumpets.

Another angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints. The prayers rise before God.

The angel then throws fire from the altar to the earth resulting in:

• Thunder
• Lightning
• Earthquake

First Trumpet

Hail and fire mixed with blood.

Results:

• One-third of the earth burned.
• One-third of trees burned.
• All green grass burned.

Second Trumpet

Something like a great burning mountain

is thrown into the sea.

Results:

• One-third of the sea becomes blood.
• One-third of sea creatures die.
• One-third of ships destroyed.

 Third Trumpet

A great star Wormwood falls from heaven.

Results:

• One-third of the rivers become bitter.
• Many die from the poisoned waters.

Fourth Trumpet

One-third of:

• Sun
• Moon
• Stars

are darkened.

An eagle flies through heaven proclaiming “Woe, woe, woe” because the final three trumpets will be even more severe.

Application

These chapters read as frightening, but we must remember from the previous chapter that our God is on the throne. He is the one opening the seals and in charge of the trumpets. He hears the prayers of His people and is fully Just. He does not under or over punish.