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.
saw. App-133 .
Lamb. See Revelation 5:6 .
seals. Read "seven seals", with texts.
as . . . saying. Read, "one of the four zoa saying as with a voice of thunder".
beasts. See Revelation 4:6 .
and see. All the texts omit.
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.
behold. App-133 .
he that sat, &c. Not to be identified with the white horse and rider of Revelation 19:11 , for here is the beginning of the series of terrible judgments. See Revelation 6:12 and the order of events in Matthew 24:4-28 .
on him = thereon. Greek. epi ( App-104 .) auton.
bow. Greek. toxon. Only here in N.T. Compare Revelation 4:3 .
crown. See App-197 .
given. The giver not mentioned. See Revelation 13:5 , Revelation 13:7 . Luke 4:6 . 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 .
unto = to.
went. Greek."came", see Revelation 6:1 .
conquering, &c. Literally conquering and in order that (Greek. hina) he may conquer. The verb is the same as "overcame" in Revelation 2:7 , &c.
3.
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
had. Omit.
say = saying, Revelation 6:1 .
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.
went out. Greek."came forth".
another. App-124 .
power. Read "it".
thereon = on him, as Revelation 6:2 .
peace = the peace.
earth. App-129 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
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.
beheld = saw, Revelation 6:1 .
lo = behold, Revelation 6:2 .
black. Signifying famine. See Lamentations 4:4-8 , &c.
pair, &c. = balance.
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.
heard. The texts add "as it were".
voice. Same as noise, Revelation 6:1 .
measure. Greek. choenix ; . App-51 .
penny. App-51 . Bread by weight means scarcity (compare Ezekiel 4:10 , Ezekiel 4:16 , Ezekiel 4:17 ). A denarius was a day's wage (Matthew 20:2 ), and a choenix of corn was a slave's daily ration, an amount usually purchasable for one-eighth of a denarius.
see. Omit, and read the clause "and hurt thou not" ( App-105 ).
oil . . . wine. By Figure of speech Metalepsis this may point to special protection of the elect in famine times. See Revelation 12:14 .Zechariah 13:8 . Romans 3:1 , Romans 3:2 ; Romans 9:4 , Romans 9:5 .
7.
And when he had opened the fourth 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.
looked = saw, as Revelation 6:1 .
pale = livid. Greek. chloros ; in Revelation 8:7 ; Revelation 9:4 .Mark 6:39 , rendered "green".
and . . . Death. "Literally and the one sitting on (Greek. epano, first occ Matthew 2:9 , "over") him, the name to him (is) Death.
Death. By Metonymy ( of Effect) ( App-6 ) = pestilence. Famine is invariably followed by pestilence. Here, Death and Hades are personified. Compare Revelation 9:11 .
Hell. App-131 .
power. App-172 .
fourth. See App-10 .
beasts = wild beasts. Greek. therion. Occurs thirty-eight times in Rev., thirty-seven of "the beast". And here it may indicate the nations supporting "the beast". See Daniel 7 for the Divine description of "the powers" as "wild beasts".
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:
altar. Greek. thusiasterion. First of eight occurances.
souls. See App-110 and App-170 Compare App-13 .
were = had been.
word. App-121 .
God. App-98 .
testimony. See John 1:7 .
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?
loud = great.
voice. As Abel's blood was said to cry (Genesis 4:10 ).
Lord. App-98 .
holy = the Holy.
true = the True.
judge. App-122 .
avenge. See Deuteronomy 32:43 .Luke 18:3 . A call consistent with the day of judgment, not with the present day of grace.
on. apo. App-104 . but the texts read ek.
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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
white robes = a white robe. See Revelation 7:9 and Mar 12:88 .
were = was.
every one = each one.
yet for, &c. = yet a little time (Greek. chronos. App-195 ).
fellowservants. Greek. sundoulos. Occurs only in Matt., Col., and Rev. See App-190 .
that should be = that are about to be.
as they were = even as they also ( had been) .
fulfilled. App-125 .
12.
And 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;
sixth seal. The signs immediately preceding the Advent of Revelation 19 . Matthew 24:4-5 (1st. The False Messiah), Revelation 6:1-2 Matthew 24:6-7 (2nd. Wars.) Revelation 6:3-4 Matthew 24:7 (3rd. Famines.) Revelation 6:5-6 Matthew 24:7 (4th. Pestilences.) Revelation 6:7-8 ) Matthew 24:8-28 (5th Martyrdoms.) Revelation 6:9-11 Matthew 24:29-30 (6th. Signs in heaven of Advent.) Revelation 6:12-17 .
lo. Omit.
was = came to be.
earthquake. Greek. seismos. See Haggai 2:6 , Haggai 2:7 , Haggai 2:21 , Haggai 2:22 .Zechariah 14:5 .Matthew 8:24 .Hebrews 12:26 . Compare Psalms 46 .
moon. The texts add "whole", i.e. the full moon.
as blood. i.e. as to color.
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.
stars, &c. See Revelation 9:1 and compare Daniel 8:10 , &c.
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
mighty = great, as verses: Revelation 6:4 , Revelation 6:10 , Revelation 6:17 .
14.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
departed = parted asunder. See Acts 15:39 .
scroll. See Revelation 1:11 .
when, &c. = rolling itself up.
moved = removed, as Revelation 2:5 .
15.
And 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;
the kings of the earth. See App-197 . As regards the social fabric, the present conditions will exist when the Lord comes.
great men. Greek. megistanea. Only here; Revelation 18:23 .Mark 6:21 .
men, man = ones, one.
mighty. Greek. ischuros (with the texts). As in Revelation 19:18 . Compare App-172 .
bondman. App-190 .
every. Omit.
16.
And 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:
said = they say.
Fall, &c. See Hosea 10:8 , and compare Luke 23:30 .
face. Greek. prosopon. Same word "presence" in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 .
wrath. Greek. orge. Only once in N.T. is "wrath" attributed to the Lord; see Mark 3:5 . Elsewhere it pertains to God. "Wrath of the Lamb"! Divine love spurned and rejected turning to judicial "wrath" and destruction.
Lamb. In Revelation 5:5 the Lamb-Lion; here, the Lion-Lamb.
17.
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
great day All preceding judgments lead up to this. See Joel 2:11 , Joel 2:31 .Zephaniah 1:14 . Compare Jude 1:6 .
who, &c. This solemn question now to be answered by the sealing of 144,000 specially protected and blessed ones.
shall be = is.