Revelation 6
DOYLY—over the fourth part of the earth.] Meaning over the greater part of the Roman empire, which was thought by some to be about a fourth part of the world then known. Jos. Mede.
Revelation 6:4
- — another horse that was red: &c.] This second seal or period is noted for war and slaughter. It commenced with the Roman emperor Trajan, and continued during his reign, and that of his successors, till the emperor Commodus, a space of about ninety-five years. In the reigns of Trajan and Adrian particularly, there were horrid wars and slaughters, especially between the rebellious Jews and Romans, in Egypt and Cyprus, and other parts of the world, as appears from the historians of those times. In the reign of Adrian was their great rebellion under their false messiah, Barchocab, and their final dispersion, after near 600,000 men had been slain by the sword, with a great loss and slaughter too of the Romans. Here was another illustrious triumph of Christ over His enemies; and the Jews and Romans, both the persecutors of the Christians, were remarkably made the dreadful executioners of Divine vengeance on one another. The great sword and the red horse are expressive emblems
The opening of the seals in order, and what followed thereupon. Anno DOMINI 96. The word christi signifieth a measure containing one wine quart, and the twelfth part of a quart. should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5
5.—a black horse;—had a pair of balances &c.] This third seal or period is characterized by the strict execution of justice and judgment, and by the procuring of stores of corn, wine, and oil. It commenced with Septimius Severus, and continued during the reign of his family, about forty-two years. Septimius was an enactor of just and equal laws, and was very severe and implacable towards offenders. His successor, Alexander Severus, also bore the same character of being a most severe judge. These two emperours were likewise no less celebrated for the procuring of corn, and oil, and other provisions, and supplying the Roman people with them, after they had experienced the want of them. The colour of “the black horse” befits the severity of their nature, and the balances are a well known emblem of justice, as well as an indication of scarcity. Jos. Mede, Bp. Newton.
Revelation 6:6
6.—A measure of wheat for a penny.] The measure here mentioned, called a chomix, is thought by Grotius and some others to have been a man’s daily allowance of food; “a penny,” or the Roman denarius, was the price of daily wages, as appears from Matt. xx. 2. These regulations about the necessaries of life imply some want and scarcity of them. The intent of the prophecy is, that corn should be provided for the people, but that it should be distributed in exact measure and proportion. Bp. Newton. The articles of food here mentioned, wheat, barley, oil, and wine, formed with the Eastern nations of antiquity the main support of life. Dean Woodhouse. 8.—and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death.] The fourth seal or period is distinguished by a concurrence of evils, war, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. These are the same “four sore judgments” with which Ezekiel threatened Jerusalem, Ezek. xiv. 21. These four were to destroy “the fourth part” of the earth; the image of death riding on a pale horse, and hell or the grave following with him, ready to swallow up the dead bodies, is highly poetical. This period commences with the emperor Maximin, and continues to the time of Dioclesian, about fifty years. The history of Maximin and his several successors is full of wars and murders, invasions of foreign armies, rebellions of subjects, and deaths of princes. Here was sufficient employment for “the sword;” and such wars and devastations must necessarily produce a famine; and “the famine” is another distinguishing calamity of this period. An usual conhorse: 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.
Revelation 6:9
9.—I saw under the altar the souls &c.] The fifth seal or period is remarkable for a dreadful persecution of the Christians, who are represented lying “under the altar,” (for the scene is still in the tabernacle of the temple,) as sacrifices newly slain and offered to God. They cry aloud (ver. 10) for the Lord to “judge and avenge” their cause; that is, the cruelties exercised upon them were of so barbarous and atrocious a nature, as to deserve and provoke the vengeance of the Lord. The persecution alluded to is the last general persection which was begun by Dioclesian, and continued by others, and lasted longer and extended farther, and was sharper and more bloody than any which preceded. Bp. Newton. No persecution of the Christians was so great as that which had its name from the emperor Dioclesian, A.D. 284. It began with the slaughter of 17,000 within thirty days; and in Egypt alone, a very small part of the Roman empire, 144,000 were put to death. Mede, Daubus.
Revelation 6:10
- And they cried with a loud voice,—How long, &c.] This is a strong mode of expressing the extreme cruelty of the persecutors, which was now ripe for judgment, and loudly called for the vengeance of Heaven. Jos. Mede. Anno DOMINI 96. Or, to him. The opening of the seals in order, and what followed thereupon. Anno DOMINI 96.
Revelation 6:11
- And white robes were given &c.] That is, they were admitted into the ranks of the blessed. The metaphor is taken from the custom of the Jews in admitting the priests to their office. Those who, from their genealogy and freedom from personal defects, were judged fit for the office, were clothed with white robes, and received into the court of the priests, which was the form of their admission. Jos. Mede.
— and it was said unto them, that they should rest &c.] That they should wait a little longer till the glorious number of martyrs should be fulfilled at the conclusion of the persecution, and that then Divine judgments should fall upon their adversaries. Pyle.
Revelation 6:12
- — had opened the sixth seal.] The sixth seal or period produces mighty changes and revolutions, which, according to the prophetic style, are expressed by great commotions in the earth and in the heavens. The very same images and expressions are employed by other Prophets with relation to changes of religion and government; and are therefore with great fitness and propriety applied to one of the greatest and most memorable revolutions, which ever were in the world, the subversion of the heathen religion, and establishment of the Christian, which was begun by Constantine the Great, and was completed by his successors. Bp. Newton.
— a great earthquake.] A similar phrase is used by the Prophet Haggai, chap. ii. 6, 21. And where was ever a greater concussion, than when Christianity was advanced to the throne of Paganism, and idolatry gave place to the true religion? Bp. Newton.
Revelation 6:14
- — mountain — island] These are places of the greatest security in times of danger and hostile invasion, and are therefore represented as affording no safety during this dreadful visitation. Dean Woodhouse.
Revelation 6:15
- And the kings of the earth, &c.] Here follows an enumeration of particulars, shewing that from the highest to the lowest, the powers and subjects of Pagan idolatry own themselves overcome by the Christian religion: thus here is expressed the greatness of the victories which were obtained during the destruction of the idolatrous worship, and the miserable fall of all who
endeavoured to uphold it, as Galerius, Maximinus, and others, together with the armies which joined them. Daubus.
Revelation 6:17
- — and who shall be able to stand?] That is, against God and His Christ. Daubus.
Chap. VII. The former chapter concluded the first period of the sufferings of the church under the persecution of the heathen Roman empire. The second period of prophecy begins with the opening of the seventh seal, chap. viii., and is contained in the events which attend the sounding of the trumpets, chap. viii. and ix. In this chapter we have an account of a little pause or interval, to describe the state of things, for a short time, between the two periods. “After these things,” that is, after the prophetic vision, which represented the first period, St. John saw in other visions what is related in this chapter; being apparently a representation of a state of peace and quiet throughout the earth, especially in the Roman empire, and of the great number of persons in every nation, who came into the profession of Christianity; of the encouraging protection that was given to the Christian church; of thankful acknowledgments for the goodness and power of God and Christ, by the whole church, in such eminent instances of favour and protection; and, finally, of the happy state of all the faithful confessors and martyrs, who, after a short period of tribulation, for the faith of Christ and constancy in His religion, have attained to a state of everlasting rest, in happiness and glory. Lowman.
Ver. 1. — the four corners of the earth.] Meaning the whole earth, Isai. xi. 12; Ezek. vii. 2. Dean Woodhouse.
— holding the four winds &c.] This is a figurative expression, to shew, that God designed in His providence to put a stop to the tumults and commotions, which had before so much disturbed the world, and to give to the church and to the world a time of peace and rest for a season. Lowman. We may apply this prediction to that universal peace which happened during the reign of Constantine, after he had driven out, or subjected, all the supporters of idolatry, when the empire was not only
Anno DOMINI 96. b Luke 23. 30. An angel sealeth the servants of God. REVELATION. The number of the sealed. Anno DOMINI 96.