Revelation 6

1 Then I watched as the Lamb [Jesus, the innocent sacrifice] opened [unlocked, made accessible] one [the first] of the seven seals, and I heard [listened, understood] one [a single] of the four living creatures [beings with life, vitality] say [speak, proclaim] in a thunderous [loud, powerful] voice, “Come [approach, draw near]!” word study 2 So I looked and saw a white [pure, clean] horse, and its rider [the one seated upon it] held a bow [a simple fabric or instrument for shooting arrows]. And he was given [bestowed, granted] a crown [a wreath or garland, a symbol of honor], and he rode out [went forth, came out] to overcome [subdue, conquer] and conquer [overcome, be victorious, to subdue or overcome]. word study 3 And when [at the specific point in time] the Lamb [the one who was like a lamb] opened [made accessible, revealed] the second seal [a signet or mark that protects or identifies], I heard [listened and understood] the second living creature [a being with life] say [to speak or declare], “Come [to approach or arrive] [and see, to perceive or behold]!” word study 4 Then another [different, distinct] horse went forth. It was bright red [fiery, like flames], and its rider was granted permission [given authority, allowed] to take away peace [harmony, tranquility] from the earth [the world, the land] and to make men slay [kill, slaughter] one another [each other, mutually]. And he was given [bestowed, granted] a great [large, mighty] sword [a short sword, a dagger]. word study 5 And when the Lamb [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature [a being with life, one of four] say, “Come [approach, draw near]!” Then I looked and saw a black [dark] horse, and its rider [the one seated, in control] held in his hand a pair of scales [balances, a symbol of judgment or commerce]. word study 6 And I heard what sounded like a voice [from the midst of the four living creatures, as if coming from among them] from among the four living creatures [four beings, full of life], saying, “A quart [a chœnix, about a quart] of wheat [grain, especially wheat] for a denarius [a day’s wage, a Roman coin], and three quarts [three chœnix] of barley [a common grain, used for food] for a denarius [a day’s wage], and do not [lest you, God forbid] harm [do wrong to, act unjustly] the oil [olive oil, used for lamps and anointing] and wine [a drink].” word study 7 And when the Lamb [the one who is like a lamb] opened [made accessible, unveiled] the fourth seal, I heard [listened and understood] the voice of the fourth living creature [a living being] say, “Come [and see, to approach and behold]!” word study 8 Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death [physical or spiritual], and Hades [the place of the dead, the grave] followed close behind. And they were given authority [power to act] over a fourth [one-fourth] of the earth [the land, the material world], to kill by sword [a long broad sword], by famine [hunger or lack of food], by plague [death], and by the beasts [wild animals] of the earth. word study 9 And when the Lamb [the symbol of innocence and purity] opened the fifth seal, I saw under [beneath] the altar [a table for offering sacrifices to God] the souls [the breath of life] of those who had been slain [esphagmenon, butchered or killed] for the word [logos, the divine message] of God [the one true deity] and for the testimony [giving evidence] they had upheld [held or maintained, like a witness in court]. word study 10 And they cried out [with a great voice, loudly] in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord [Master], holy [set apart, sanctified] and true [faithful, genuine], until You avenge [punish, vindicate] our blood [the atoning sacrifice, the life force] and judge [condemn, evaluate] those who dwell [reside, inhabit] upon [on, against] the earth [the land, the world]?” word study 11 Then each of them was given [a long, dignified] a white robe [a long, dignified garment] and told to rest [to be refreshed, to have peace] a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants [co-slaves, those serving the same Master], their brothers [fellow believers, spiritual siblings], were killed [murdered, put to death], just as they had been killed [slaughtered, martyred]. word study 12 And when I saw the Lamb [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] open the sixth [sixth in a series of seven] seal, there was a great [intense, powerful] earthquake [a shaking of the ground], and the sun became black [dark, without light] like sackcloth [a rough, hairy cloth] of goat hair [made from animal hair], and the whole [entire, complete] moon turned blood red [as red as blood], word study 13 and the stars [celestial bodies, heavenly luminaries] of the sky fell [to collapse, came crashing down] to the earth [the land, the material world] like unripe figs [immature fruit] dropping from a tree [a fig tree] shaken [to shake, violently agitated] by a great [intensely powerful, mighty] wind [a strong gust, a violent blast]. word study 14 The sky [heaven, the celestial realm] receded [departed, was removed] like a scroll [book, written document] being rolled up [coiled, wrapped], and every [all, each] mountain [high elevation, hill] and island [coastal land, isle] was moved [removed, stirred] from its [their own] place [location, position]. word study 15 Then the kings [rulers, sovereigns] of the earth [the world, soil], the nobles [great men, princes], the commanders [chief captains, military officers], the rich [wealthy, prosperous], the mighty [strong, powerful], and every slave [bondman, servant] and free man [unrestricted, liberated] hid [concealed themselves, took cover] in the caves [holes] and among the rocks [peaks, cliffs] of the mountains [high elevations, hills]. word study 16 And they said to the mountains [high elevations, rugged terrain] and the rocks [masses of stone, unshakeable foundations], “Fall on us [collapse upon us, cover us completely] and hide us [conceal us, shield us from view] from the face [presence, countenance] of the One [the Almighty, Eternal God] seated on the throne [the seat of authority, judgment], and from the wrath [strong anger, righteous indignation] of the Lamb [the innocent, sacrificial Savior]. word study 17 For the great [terrible, magnificent] day of Their [His, divine] wrath [strong anger, righteous judgment] has come [arrived, is present], and who [which one, what person] is able [has the power, is capable] to withstand [stand against, survive] it [the judgment, the fury]?” word study