Revelation 6

The first Seal is opened, and there cometh forth a White horse, and one upon it that overcometh, 1. After that there cometh forth a Red horse, and one upon it that takes away peace from the earth, 3. Then the third Seal being opened, a black horse is seen after that, and thereupon one with a baliance in his hand, 5. At the opening of the fourth seal a pale horse issueth, and death upon it, 7. After that the fist seal is opened, whereupon the souls under the altar do cry unto God, and are comforted, 9. At last the sixth seal is opened, whereupon there follow great signs in heaven and earth, 12. At which signs all sorts of men are terrified, and sue unto the rocks to cover them before the wrath of the Lamb.

1. And I saw, when [Gr. Hot, i.e. when, for which others read hot, i.e. that, both in a good sense] the Lamb had opened one of the seals [i.e. the first seal, as presently after one of the beasts, i.e. the first, as appears by ver. 3, 5, 7. It being an Hebraism. See Genesis 1:5. Matthew 28:1.] and I heard one of the four beasts say, like a voice of a thunderclap, come and see. [even as one of the 24. Elders, (above, chapter 5. V. 5.) had comforted the Apostle when he wept, that there was none found, that was able to open this book with its seven seals, so there comes another now, one of the four beasts, and exhorts the Apostle to diligent attention of the things that were to ensue the opening of the seals, as likewise the three others did each in their turn, in the sequel of the story, to the end that all things in these apparations here exhibited in the heavens, might pass the more orderly and usefully]

2. And I saw [Some by the Visions that followed upon the opening of the first four seals, do understand the four Monarches whereof Daniel prophesied: but this opinion cannot stand, in regard the ab. chapter 1. Ver. 1. And chapter 4. Ver. 1. It is said, in this book things are showed, that were to come to pass after this, therefore not such as were past long before already. Now among those that interpret it of things to come, there are like-wise two opinions, some by the apparations exhibited upon the opening of these seals, do understand the changes and troubles which befell the Roman Empire, from this time until that of Constantine, who was the first Christian Emperor: namely, thus that the white horse, with its conquering rider, should betoken Christ, who as he had begun already by his Apostles, so he would likewise successively, by other faithful Teachers and Ministers, subdue the Heathenish Idolatry and other vain superstitious worships, and quite new-model the Roman Empire in this behalf: the red horse should signify the effusions of blood and civil divisions, which would arise in this Empire, among the various Emperours of it. The black horse, that famine and those deaths which God in his judgements sent among them at sundry times; the pale horse, the grievous pestilences and other burning diseases and mortalities, which should rage in that Empire; and all that, because of those persecutions, which they raised against the Christians ten several times one after another. Whereupon after the opening of the fifth seal, the souls of the slain Christians should cry to God for vengeance, as after the opening of the sixth seal they were heard before God: after which Constantine was raised, who powerfully subdued the rest of those tyrannous Emperours and Persecutors of the Church, Maxentius, Maximianus, Licinius and others, whereby he took away all the repute of their Idols, and brought their worshippers into utter ruin and confusion. This opinion on this chapter doth ill agree with the properties of these Visions, and with the Histories of those times. Yet in regard that properly Christ is here spoken of, and brought in as a Lamb slain, that with his blood hath purchased his Church; and only the four beasts, and the 24. Elders are mentioned as leaders of the Church of Christ, as was showed in the former chapter. It seems more probable, that in this and all the ensuing Visions, an eye is had to the several changes and troubles, as also comforts and deliverances, which should happen to the Church of Christ in all ages all the world over, as shall be noted in the sequel] and behold, a white horse, and ha that sat thereon had a bow: and to him a Crown is given, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. [hereby the pure preaching of the Gospel is understood, which Christ the King of Kings, that rules this horse, (as is declared hereafter chapter 19. 11, & c.) hath made to spread abroad all the world over, being armed with the power of his Spirit, and with a bow, subduing all oppositions by his Ministers, so that notwithstanding the persecutions of the Heathenish and other Barbarous or Heretical Kings in the East and West, he prevailed, and kept the upper hand therein.]

3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, come and see.

4. And another horse went forth that was red: [or was given to take peace from the earth, that they should kill [Gr. Slaughter] one another, [hereby Satan and his instruments may fitly be understood; namely, the Heathen and Arrian Kings and Emperours, who filled the Church of Christ with persecutions and bloodshed: during which time many thousand Martyrs did seal the doctrine of Christ with their blood, whereof mention is made, ver. 9.] and to him was given a great sword. [viz. therewith to slay or behead the true professors of Christ.]

5. And when it had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, come and see: and I saw, and behold, a black horse, [Hereby are not unfitly understood, the false doctrines and heresies, which Satan and his instruments from this very time sought to introduce against the pure doctrine of the holy Gospel, such as were the Corinthians, the Ebionites, the Marcionites, the Manichees, Samosatenians, Arrians, Palegians and the like, who nevertheless were all of them subdued and confounded at last by the faithful teachers, and sound Synods] and he that sat thereon, had a balance in his hand. [hereby many do understand the holy Scriptures, which these Hereticks used indeed to hold forth, but perveted the same to their own destruction, and sought still to bend and ply the same according to their human sense and imagination, 2 Pet. 3. 16.]

6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, which said, a measure [The Greek word Choenix signifies such a measure as might suffice a man to live upon for one day, and thereby the meat was measured forth which was allowed to the bond-slaves] of wheat for a peny, and three measures of barley for a peny, [this was the ordinary wages for a day-labourer, as is to be seen, Matth. 20. 2, 9, 10. So that here it is foretold there should come such a death of grains, that a man should be constrained to spend all his daily getting for to maintain his life. Now the speech being properly of spiritual sustenance here, it may fitly be applied to the death of God’s pure word, which should happen in one of these times, through the falsehood and tyranny of some of these Heresies, and through the reminess and timorousness of many teachers. See the like figurative expressions, Amos 8:11.] and the oil and wine is fitly understood the fundamental doctrine of salvation, that revives and comforteth the hearts, and hereby it is intimated that God would nevertheless always stir up some faithful teachers ever amidst this death and scarcity of his word, who should maintain the fundamental doctrine of salvation, and thereby encourage and cheer up the hearts of the Elect, according as the Ecclesiastical Histories also bear record to have happened in these sad times through-cut.]

7. And when it had opened the fourth seal, I heard a voice of the fourth beast, which said, come and see.

8. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse [Or, wan, pale green, such as is the colour or fading or withered leaves; whereby may fitly be understood the human institutions and superstitions, disfiguring the faces of men, Matthew 6:16. & by degrees bereaving the Church of Christ of sound doctrine, and misleading men from the the merits of Christ to their own deserts, and to other midiatours and means of salvation, that is to say, to their own destruction. See mat. 15. 8, 9. And 23. 14. Galatians 5:4. Colossians 2:8, etc. Which superstitions and human institutions broke into the Church of Christ after these heresies, and made way thus by little and little to Antichristianism] and he that sat upon it, his name was death, and hell [oth. The grave] followed him, and power was given unto them to kill the fourth part of the earth, which the sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth. [these four plagues are the same which God threateneth to the Israelites, Ezekiel 14:21. See also Leviticus 26:22, etc. whereby may be understood here the spiritual plagues which Satan put upon the souls and consciences of men.]

9. And when it had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar [viz. that which stood in the holy place of the Temple in heaven before the throne of God, as is expressed below, chapter 8. 3. And 16. 17. Which Altar is Christ, Hebrews 13:10. So called, because that our prayers are not acceptable to God, unless they be presented in his name, John 16:2, 3. And offered up to God through him, Hebrews 13:15. Therefore the souls of the Saints (whose bodies were martyr’d by the unbelieving Jews, Gentiles, and false Christians) present themselves in the presence of Christ, and under his shadow as it were, as David speaks of the Tabernacle, Psalms 27:5. & John below, chapter 7. 16, 17. And that these holy souls have all their habitation and comfort in Christ, appeareth plainly by 2 Cor. 5. 8. Philippians 1:23. And below by chapter 7. 15, 16, etc.] the souls of those that were put to death, [or, slaughtered, slain] for the word of God, and for the Testimony which they had. [See below, chapter 19. 10.]

10. And they cried with a great voice, saying, how long O holy and true Lord, doth thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth? [Gr. Until when, etc. This prayer doth not proceed out of any revengefulness, but out of an holy zeal, which thoe holy spirits had for the advancement of God’s honour, and a desire that God would make his justice known among men, together with the good cause they professed, as David also spake to Saul, 1 Sa. 24. 13. And Paul touching an enemy of the Church of Christ, 2 Tim. 4. 14. and we, all of us, praying, deliver us from the evil one.]

11. And unto every one were given long white garments, [Gr. Stolai, whereof see Mark. 12. The note on v. 38. Such namely as were washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, as is testified, chapter 7. 14. Whereby is understood the perfect sanctification and overcoming of these souls through the blood of Christ, as also the glory intimated, which already they do enjoy in heaven. See 2 Cor. 5. 2, 3.] and it was told them, they should rest for a small time yet, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren should be fulfilled, who were to be put to death as they were. [viz. by antichrist and his Ministers, who should arise in the Church of Christ, soon after this, and by their spiritual tyranny oppress the Church, and persecute and kill his faithful witness, in like manner as the Gentiles, the Jews and other false Christians had done formerly.]

12. And I saw, when it had opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earth-quake: and the sun became black as an hairy sack, and the Moon became as blood;

13. And the stars of heaven fell upon the earth as a figtree casts his unripe figs, being shaken by a great wind.

14. and the heavens departed as a book that is rolled up: and all mountains and islands were moved out of their places. [upon the opening of the sixth seal, there followed the rising, not only of the Mahumetans in the East, but especially of the Roman Antichrist in the West, who by a spiritual tyranny exalts himself above all that is called God, and vaunts himself out in the Temple of God as God; under whom did happen these great and terrible concussions in the Church of it is turned out of its place as it were: that Christ the Sun of righteousness is eclipsed or obscured by their sack of human traditions; and the Church of Christ, which like the Moon receiveth all her light from him alone, is filled with bloody persecutions, and become red altogether: that the stars, that is, the Pastors and Teachers, (as is declared, chapter 1. Ver. 20.) are fallen down from heaven, that is, from the care of heavenly and spiritual matters, to that of earthly and worldly things. That the heaven is ready to be rolled up, that is, that the holy scriptures & the heavenly doctrine of Christ is become as a book shut up, the members of Christ being forbidden to have and peruse it; That lastly all mountains and islands, that is, all Princes and Nations should be terrified by his dominion. Which application agrees well enough with the experience of things past: and that the like changes and revolutions in the Church and in the world, are frequently shadowed forth by such figurative resemblances in the Scriptures, appears by comparing sundry passages in the Old Testament, whence this here in the Text seems to be borrowed. See Isaiah 13:10. And 34. 4. Jeremiah 4:23. Ezekiel 32:7. Joel 2:10. Others nevertheless keeping closer to the letter, join these three verses to three following, which treat of the grievous punishments that shall light upon the persecutors and oppressors at the last day, and is opposed to the comfortable condition which the holy Martyrs do enjoy already, of which punishments these tokens in heaven and earth, are likewise continued forerunners as it were of Christ’s coming to judgement, Matthew 24:29. Mark 13:24. Luke 21:25, etc.]

15. And the Kings of the earth, and the great ones, and the rich, and the Captains over thousands, and the mighty ones, and all bondmen, and all free ones, did hide themselves in the Caves, and in the rocks of the mountains:

16. And I said unto the mountains, and unto the rocks, fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

17. For the great day of his wrath [i.e. of the heavy punishment, which God in his righteous judgement shall bring upon them] is come, and who can subsist? [Gr. Stand, as Psal. 1. 5. In these three last verses are described and comprehended all those that persecuted and oppressed the faithful. None of them all, whatever he be, great or small, bond or free, shall be able to escape these punishments; for as in the former 11. V. the Maryrs were comforted and promised, that their recompense should be completed, as soon as the number of their fellow-brethren should be fulfilled (ofwhich general comfort, more will be said in the next chapter, ) so here on the contrary their oppressors are likewise generally forewarned of the grievous and heavy punishments which they must expect, unless they repent.