Rev. 6:1&2----The Lamb (The Lord Jesus Christ) commissioned by God the Father and given authority to open the Seals of the Book in His hands and execute judgment. The first plague is pictured by a man on a white horse with a bow and a crown, conquering and to conquer. In light of other Scriptures this is the anti-christ, the final dictator, the man of sin who will arise and reign until smitten by the Lord Jesus Christ at His return with His saints. He also will bring to an end the battle of Armageddon. He will then judge the nations. Then He will set up His Millennium Kingdom and rule from the throne of David for 1,000 years upon this earth. During this time satan will be bound. At the end of the reign of Christ upon this earth, satan will be loosed for a little season. And after his final act of deceiving, he will be cast into the lake of fire.

The horseman in vs. 2 is not the same as the one in Rev. 19:11-16, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The anti-christ must appear and be revealed, but not until after the Rapture of the Church (true born-again believers) living at the time, also the bodies of the saints will be resurrected. In fact, Christ will give all His children a glorified, immortal, incorruptible body, a body in which we shall live forever. Praise His Holy Name!!!

The anti-christ will be revealed three and one half years before he has absolute world power. He, the devil incarnate, will claim to be God when he breaks the seven year covenant he will make with the Jews. This will happen after three and one half years. The last half of the Tribulation period is called the Great Tribulation. During this period of time the world will experience trouble, such as it has never experinced before. More terrible than anyone could ever imagine. May God help us to warn people about this awful time of judgment that is coming upon all who are left behind at the Rapture. We should throw out the Life Line and do all we can to rescue the perishing, telling them of the saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our only hope!

Speaking of the anti-christ breaking his covenant with the Jews after three and one half years, let's look in the book of Daniel chapter 9 verse 27, "And he (anti-christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (offering) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." The week mentioned is seven years.

Rev. 6

1. And I saw when the Lamb (the Lord Jesus Christ) opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beast saying, Come and see.  

   The four beasts or living creatures (living ones) might be angels who guard the Throne of God, see Ez.10:15-22. Eyes symbolize wisdom---Wings depict movement, they worship God as the seraphim in Isaiah's vision (Is. 6:1-3). The Lion represents strength ( Psalm 103:20). The Calf speaks of service (Heb. 1:14). The face of a man, intelligence (Lk. 2:52). The eagle, swiftness (Dan. 9:21).

    

2. 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.   

   The white horse speaks of peace, in this case the rider symbolizes the false savior who is the anti-christ. He has a bow but no arrow. Symbolizing peace, but it will be false peace as the Jews and all others will find out later, in the middle of the Tribulation period.

   Matt. 24:5 says, "For many shall come in My name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall deceive many."

   The first seal initiates the conquest of the anti-christ and will lead up to his worldwide rule, at the middle of the Tribulation. The the devil tries to imitate God in every way possible, he certainly is a counterfeiter, a deceiver and has been sucessful in deceiving many. We should resist the devil and withstand him (stand firm against him). God will provide grace for all who take their stand against all evil. His grace is always sufficient for all of us. But, we must know Him and trust Him.

   When the anti-christ steps on the scene after the Rapture, he, no doubt will be well- received and well-liked, because people are looking for a man who is able to take care of the great problems in this world and bring peace. Many will think he is dedicated to peace, and that he is the person they have been looking for to solve the problems of the world. It will not take them long to find him out, but too late, after he has done his dirty work.

    

3. And when He had opened the second seal; I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

    

4. 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.

   The second seal brings war and not peace (Matt. 24:6-7) "And ye shall hear of wars and rumers of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places."

   The sword represents armed war, armed conflict, etc. Possibly at this time Russia and her allies, five other nations, will attact Israel as mentioned in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39., and Daniel 11:40 -44.

   At the time of the loosing of the red horse there will be war, much blood shed, (red, the color of blood). When Russia invades Israel, God will take care of them and only one sixth of Israel's enemies will survive. It will take Israel seven months to bury the dead, according to Ez. 39:12. This war will only be a prelude, I believe, to the battle of Armageddon that will be going on when the Lord returns to this earth with His saints.  Jesus also will defeat the enemy and bring to an end this war.

5. 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. 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. (Do not harm, (deplete) the oil and the wine (grape juice) the fruit of the vine.

   The black horse with a rider holding a pair of balances. This was the ancient method of selling food by weighing it on one side with certain weights on the other side. Proverbs 16:11, "A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are His work."

   Verses 5 & 6, speaks of famine and the awful price men will have to pay for food. This famine follows war and much blood shed. Famine (extreme scarcity of food).

   A measure of wheat for a penny (a days wages)

   Penny (denarius)=a days wages.

   Three quarts of barley for a days wages.

   It has been estimated that 10,000 starve to death every day. Perhaps more are starving to death at this present time. This number is only a drop in the bucket in comparison to the future. The government restricts farmers and pay them for not farming. It is even a sad day now, but just think of the times, the terrible times after the Rapture.

    

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

    

8. 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 (wild animals, etc.).

   The fourth seal brings death to one fourth of the population of the earth, through war, famine, and pestilence (plagues). Death takes lives and Hell keeps and holds them for judgment. If there are six billion people living at that time, one fourth will die, (a billion and five hundred million).

   At the Great White Judgment the unsaved, the lost of all ages will be judged and then cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). This will happen after the Millennium. Then God will create new heavens and a new earth after this earth is melted and the works and all that is therein are burned up, (II Peter 3:10), "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." The day of the Lord here refers to the return of Christ in judgment. This is not speaking of the Rapture.

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

    

10. 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. 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

    "Martyrdom As Never Before"

    Following the false christ, false peace, war, famine and death comes the fifth seal. The persecution of Christians as never before to the point of death of multitudes. They will be slain because of their christian testimony and for witnessing to the unsaved, and of course for helping each other in the study of God's Word. Preachers will be slain as they proclaim the Word of God. Many christians are dying around the world now for their christian testimony. Just think of what will happen during the Tribulation. It will be much, much, worse then than now. John saw the many souls of men slain, crying out to God to bring judgment and vengence on them that dwell upon the earth who have slaughtered multitudes of christians as never before. Many more will be martyred, because there is much more of the Tribulation to come. Things will get worse during the Great Tribulation period, the last half of the seven year period. Times will be worse than ever before. There has never been such terrible times in the past and will never be repeated. God, the Son, will bring all this to an end when He returns with His saints. He first comes for His saints in the Rapture, and seven years later He returns with His saints.

     

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

    The sixth seal is opened and natural disasters of various kinds follow. The earth and the heavenly bodies will become violent, go into convulsions, so to speak.

    Matt. 24:7 & 29, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." This is the consummation of all the Tribulation that begins with the revealing of the anti-christ and judgments described in Revelation 6.

     

15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

     

16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

     

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

    The six seal judgments results in many of the unbelievers wanting to die, no doubt, thinking they will be hidden from God. The mountains and rocks will not fall on them.  They fail to call upon God and pray to the rocks and mountains instead. They certainly do not want to face God. Many today are in the same category, not realizing they will have to face Him someday. The Great Day of His Wrath is the Day of The Lord, the time of God's judgment upon this earth and all its inhabitants of the whole world. Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31, "Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

    2:1, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Vs. 11, "And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great:  for He is strong that executeth His Word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Who can endure it?) Vs. 31, "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.  The heavens departing as a scroll, it just may be, that God pulls back the curtain of the heavens and permits the viewing of Him on His Throne. I do not know, but I do know that God could do it. The only way man can stand (be steadfast, unmoveable) is to know the Lord, have a personal, intimate relationship with Him. This can only happen when we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Salvation is by grace through faith, (grace + nothing) and not of ourselves. The opening of the seventh seal in chapter 8 brings to light the seven trumpet judgments.  The First Trumpet: Hail, Fire & Blood; 1/3 of earth on fire; 1/3 of trees burned; 1/3 of all grass burned. The Second Trumpet: Falling Meteors Destroys 1/3 of Ships, 1/3 of Fish & 1/3 of Sea filled with blood. The Third Trumpet: Falling Star Poisons 1/3 of all water on earth. The fourth Trumpet: The Sun, Moon & Stars, Sun, Moon and 1/3 of Stars Darkened. The Fifth Trumpet in chapter nine: Locusts, Five months of Torture by the Scorpion Sting.  The sixth Trumpet also in chapter nine: satan's army; 200 million warriors kill 1/3 of mankind. Also 1/4 of population killed, about a billion, 500 million, leaving four and one half billion. Now one third are killed, about one billion and 500 million. That would leave about three billion. That would amount to one half of the world population if there are six billion people at the beginning of the Tribulation. Of course we have no idea how many people will be taken out at the Rapture. If a billion are raptured, the figures would drop that I have just given of the people dying during the Tribulation. But this will give us an idea about the number of people dying during these judgments.

In chapter 7, it tells of the 144,000 Jews called of God and sealed who will be witnesses for God. Also two witnesses sent by God. The results of their witnessing, a numberless multitude will be saved during the great tribulation. All this is recorded in chapter seven.

The Holy Spirit will be present to do the regenerating work in the heart of all who will receive Christ as their Savior. The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is an omnipresent One.

At the Rapture, all who have heard the gospel, and have been brought to a saving know-ledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and still have rejected Him, I believed, will be given strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, (this, I believe is speaking of, the lie or liar, the devil) , and 2 Thess.2:12 says, "That they might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." I believe these are the ones who will enter the Tribulation without any hope of salvation. This is my understanding of the Scriptures. Also we find in Heb. 2:3, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him."

According to some information I receive some time ago, it is possible that about half of the world population haven't heard the gospel, in the true sense of the word. Therefore, the world will still be a great mission field after the Rapture.

My friends, I don't claim to be infallible, therefore, my comments are not. But God's Word is infallible and it is forever settled in Heaven. Jesus said, " Heaven and earth shall pass away:but My Words shall not pass away." (Mark 13:31).

Jesus is the Living Word and the Bible is the written Word of God, (God Breathed). God said it, that settles it, therefore we should believe it.  The following are exerpts taken from a book written by R. I. Humberd many years ago:

Speaking of the seals in Revelation 6 & 8 he wrote, "The seals are man-made judgments, not God-made or supernatural. That is, they do not come from outside man's domain, but follow one after the other as the result of man's own folly. After the church is removed at the rapture, society goes on an usual, getting worse and worse as men reap what they have sown. Men rejected God's true Christ, so God lets them have what they wish, and the first seal reveals men accepting the anti-christ. The second seal reveals a general break up of society, and the natural result is the famine shown in the third seal..................... This will naturally result in the pestilence of the fourth seal. The fifth seal shows the result of satan's fighting back and killing God's people, but their souls are safe under the altar. The sixth seal brings great terror, while the seventh shows the silence of expectancy, as all heaven stands in awe, for they realize that the book is open and fearful things are to soon to come upon mankind. The four horsemen may be said to be the personification of God's decree that a man reap what he has sown.

When men accept the lawless one upon the throne, it is only natural for lawlessness to come among the people. The natural result of lawlessness is famine (third seal). The natural result of bodies weakened through hunger, is pestilence and death."

I might add, things or judgments go from bad to worse. Every christian should study the Book of Revelation and get at least a glimse of future events. It is important that we do, that we may be better prepared to witness, preach, and teach the precious Word of God.

The lack of the study of the Book of Revelation results in the lack of understanding the many things we really need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ, many things we cannot find in any other part of the Bible. Yes, many other Scriptures in the Word of God refer to this Book of the "Revelation of Jesus Christ."

There are many reasons why we should study the book of Revelation. The main reason is because God has commanded us to study His Word, and this command includes this book.

Also in Revelation 1:3, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

The first thing men must do in order to understand this book, is to become acquainted with the Author, by trusting the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. By faith, calling upon Him, "Lord, I'm a sinner and You are the Savior, therefore, I'm trusting You to forgive me and saved me from my sins and give me Eternal Life. I know you died for me and paid my sin debt and You took my place on Calvary so that I could be saved. Now Lord I'm trusting You fully, 100% for salvation, for I understand thoroughly that You are my only hope." This is just a simple model prayer, realizing I cannot make a decision or do the praying for others. Thank God I can pray for the lost sinner and make things easy for them to trust the Lord Jesus, because the devil will keep people in darkness if he can possibly do it, and tell them all kinds of lies to keep them from simply trusting Jesus.

Sometimes the devil will put in the minds of people that church membership, living a moral life, being baptized, paying yours tithes, and many other things will be sufficient to get them to Heaven. All these are good in their place, but they will never take the place of being born again, by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. When men trust Him, He does the supernatural work of grace in the heart. Man's part is simply believing, trusting Jesus, and He does the rest.