CHAPTER VI. _What followed on the opening of the seven seals. The opening_ _of the_ first _seal; the_ white horse, 1, 2. _The opening of the_ second _seal; the_ red horse, 3, 4. _The opening of the_ third _seal; the_ black horse _and the_ famine, 5, 6. _The opening of the_ fourth _seal; the_ p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:2. _A WHITE HORSE_] Supposed to represent the _Gospel system_, and pointing out its excellence, swiftness, and purity. _HE THAT SAT ON HIM_] Supposed to represent _Jesus Christ_. _A BOW_] The _preaching of the Gospel_, darting _conviction_ into the hearts of sinners. _A CROWN_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:3. _THE SECOND BEAST_] That which had the face of an _ox_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:4. _ANOTHER HORSE-RED_] The emblem of _war_; perhaps also of _severe persecution_, and the _martyrdom_ of the saints. _HIM THAT SAT THEREON_] Same say, _Christ_; others, _Vespasian_; others, the _Roman armies_; others, _Artabanus_, king of the Parthians, c., c. _TAKE PEACE FROM... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:5. _THE THIRD BEAST_] That which had the face of a _man_. _A BLACK HORSE_] The emblem of _famine_. Some think that which took place under _Claudius_. See Matthew 24:7; the same which was predicted by _Agabus_, Acts 11:28. _A PAIR OF BALANCES_] To show that the _scarcity_ would b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:6. _A MEASURE OF WHEAT FOR A PENNY_] The _chaenix_ here mentioned was a measure of _dry_ things; and although the _capacity_ is not exactly known, yet it is generally agreed that it contained as much as one man could consume in a day; and a _penny_, the Roman _denarius_, was the o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:7. _THE FOURTH BEAST_] That which had the face of an _eagle_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:8. _A PALE HORSE_] The symbol of _death_. _Pallida mors, pale_ _death_, was a very usual poetic epithet; of this symbol there can be no doubt, because it is immediately said, _His name that sat on_ _him was DEATH_. _AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH HIM_] The _grave_, or _state of the dead_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:9. _THE FIFTH SEAL_] There is no _animal_ nor any other _being_ to introduce this seal, nor does there appear to be any new event predicted; but the whole is intended to comfort the followers of God under their persecutions, and to encourage them to bear up under their distresses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:10. _AND THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE_] That is, their _blood_, like that of Abel, cried for vengeance; for we are not to suppose that there was any thing like a vindictive spirit in those happy and holy souls who had shed their blood for the testimony of Jesus. We sometimes say _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:11. _WHITE ROBES_] The emblems of purity, innocence, and triumph. _THEY SHOULD REST YET FOR A LITTLE SEASON_] This is a declaration that, when the cup of the iniquity of the Jews should be full, they should then be punished in a mass. They were determined to proceed farther, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:12. _THE SIXTH SEAL_] This seal also is opened and introduced by Jesus Christ alone. _A GREAT EARTHQUAKE_] A most stupendous change in the civil and religious constitution of the world. If it refer to Constantine the Great, the change that was made by his conversion to Christiani... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:13. _THE STARS OF HEAVEN_] The gods and goddesses, demi-gods, and deified heroes, of their poetical and mythological _heaven_, were prostrated indiscriminately, and lay as useless as the figs or fruit of a tree shaken down before ripe by a _tempestuous wind_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:14. _AND THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL_] The whole system of pagan and idolatrous worship, with all its spiritual, secular, and superstitious influence, was blasted, shrivelled up, and rendered null and void, as a parchment scroll when exposed to the action of a strong fire. _A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:15. _THE KINGS OF THE EARTH_, c.] All the secular powers who had endeavoured to support the pagan worship by authority, influence, riches, political wisdom, and military skill with _every bondman_-all _slaves_, who were in life and limb addicted to their masters or owners. _AND E... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:16. _SAID TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS_] Expressions which denote the strongest perturbation and alarm. They preferred any kind of death to that which they apprehended from this most awful revolution. _FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE_] They now saw that all these te... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Revelation 6:17. _FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH_] The decisive and manifest time in which he will execute judgment on the oppressors of his people. _WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?_] No might can prevail against the might of God. All these things may literally apply to the final destruction of J... [ Continue Reading ]