Revelation 6, Part 2

Outline

Big Idea:

First Seal

Second Seal

Third Seal

Fourth Seal

Fifth Seal

Sixth Seal

Seventh Seal

Introduction

Body

Revelation 6

Revelation 6 ESV

1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

As we move through the rest of this book, we will unpack and unfold a series of judgments that God will bring upon the earth.

The Seal Judgments

The Trumpet Judgments

The Bowl Judgments

What these judgments reveal, the breaking of these seals and the pouring of these judgments shows is this…

Every judgment flows from Christ’s hand — He’s not reacting to history, He’s directing it.

The timing of these seals is, like most things, in debate.

PERSONALLY, I believe that the seals and trumpets encompass the first half the tribulation. The bowls, the second half, the Great Tribulation.

Some however believe that the first 4 seals on in the first half, with the fifth bleeding into the second half and thus the trumpets and the bowls are in the second half of the tribulation.

There may be other perspectives on the timing as well, but those are the two that I am aware of, but I will teach it from the perspective that the seals and trumpets encompass the first 3.5 years.

Fifth Seal - Revelation 6:9-11

Souls of the slain cry out for justice.

Revelation 6:9–11 ESV

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

As we take note of this fifth seal and these martyr’s cries for justice, it is important to note something about God’s wrath, His vengeance, His justice.

Throughout scripture we read of God’s vengeance. We read of the saints cries for justice and vengeance. God has been accused of being a violent and bloody God, particularly in the OT. People fail to understand properly His vengeance. So, we need to understand a few things about it.

From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as patient and merciful (2 Pet. 3:9-not willing that any should perish), yet His holiness demands justice (Ps. 51:4). Humanity often remakes God in its own image (Ps. 50:21), imagining a deity who tolerates sin. But Scripture declares, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). His vengeance is not petty or vindictive, but the righteous response to all sin, which is ultimately against Him.

The Old Testament is filled with declarations of God’s coming vengeance: “The Lord is avenging and wrathful… He reserves wrath for His enemies” (Nah. 1:2; see also Isa. 34:8; Jer. 46:10; Mic. 5:15). The Psalms repeatedly cry for God to “render recompense to the proud” (Ps. 94:1–2).

The New Testament reaffirms this reality. Jesus called the Tribulation the “days of vengeance” (Luke 21:22). Paul wrote that Christ will return “in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God” (2 Thess. 1:7–9). The book of Revelation pictures the prayers of the saints crying out for God’s justice (Rev. 6:9–10).

For believers, the coming Day of the Lord (Isa. 13:9; 1 Thess. 5:2) is bittersweet—God’s glory will be displayed, sin will be defeated, and Satan’s rule will end, yet it will bring the eternal judgment of the ungodly (Rev. 20:11–15).

Until that day, God calls all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30–31). His patience is great, but it will not last forever—when grace ends, judgment will fall in full force. The only refuge from His righteous wrath is to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9–10).

“Summary of John MacArthur’s teaching on God’s vengeance. Generated with the assistance of ChatGPT by OpenAI, August 2025.”

God’s vengeance is good. It is just. It is right. But it is terrible.

And it is necessary for Him to be Holy, to be righteous, to be true, to be good. Sometimes it is a struggle to see this, but it is no less true.

It is also key and critical to note that anytime God has brought vengeance and judgment down, it is only after giving ample opportunity to repent and turn from their sin. God never punishes without opportunity to repent, without warning.

He does not desire wrath, but repentance.

But while He does not desire wrath, His justice demands it and we would do well to be thankful that it does while at the same time, standing in awe and terror of it.

NOW, as the fifth seal is broken, we see those who have been martyred during the time of of these first four seals that have been broken.

All the while these judgments are going on, the antichrist is waging war on any who profess belief in Jesus, who fear God.

Those who turn to God in repentance and faith after the rapture and begin to follow Christ, these are enemy number one of the antichrist.

These believers will comes from the result of the 144,000 witnesses (which we have yet to discuss - chp 7), the 2 witness (also, which we have yet to discuss - chp 11), and an angel (Rev 14:6-7).

Some may as well come to believe from what they knew and heard prior to the rapture. We are told that a vast majority will believe the lie of the antichrist, a great delusion coming upon them from God Himself, but it may not be absolute. I do not tend to think that all those who will repent and believe after the rapture are hearing the truth for the first time in their lives. So some will likely have heard truth from before the rapture and now have second chance to embrace salvation before it is too late. They will just now have to live through the horrors of the Tribulation and face the persecution.

These ones who die due to persecution, are the ones seen here crying out to God for justice and vengeance.

This persecution will be worldwide in scope, sanctioned by all (Matthew 24:9).

COULD BE, that the lie the antichrist gives is one that somehow blames the Christians for the disappearance of so many people.

This persecution will begin in the first half of the Tribulation but will escalate in the second half.

It will be led by the false prophet and the one world religion (Rev 17:1-6)

This persecution will sift out the pretenders from the authentic followers of Jesus (Matt 13:24-43; 24:10-12; 1 John 2:19; Matt 24:13).

The abomination of desolation, occurring half way through the tribulation will intensify the persecution because no longer with the antichrist be viewed as the world leader, he will be viewed as a deity.

The intensity of the persecution will be greater than any other time in history. MANY will die for their faith in Christ.

Revelation 6:9 ESV

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.

Those who had been slain are said to be under the altar…

An odd description, perhaps, but seemingly appropriate.

First, those who die after the rapture, do not join the church in their state. They seem to be gathered into one place after their death, but they do not immediately go to where the church, you and I, have gone.

The altar here, is most likely associated with The Altar of Incense that sat inside the tabernacle and temple. It represented the prayers of the saints. Since they are crying out here for justice/vengeance, it seems most fitting that this is somehow, something like the altar of incense, which represents the prayers of the saints.

Their being present there is a symbolic of what they are doing. Praying. Crying out.

They were killed, it says, because of the word of God and the testimony that they had given to it.

They not only saw and believed, they boldly spoke the truth and proclaim warning to those around them, calling them to repentance and faith.

But the antichrist and his followers would have none of that. And for that witness, they were killed.

The fifth seal cracks open to reveal the prayers of the martyred saints asking for God to bring vengeance for their deaths.

The fifth seal is all about prayers for vengeance, much like the imprecatory psalms.

The time of grace of passed.

Judgment has come.

And with it, prayers for justice and judgement.

MacArthur rightly notes…

Revelation 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Petition

Prayer will play a vital role in the outpouring of God’s judgments on the earth. This prayer is very different from the one by the martyr Stephen (

The prayers of these saints, being mentioned appear, reveal that they actually have a part in the unleashing of the coming judgments. God incorporates their prayers for vengeance, for justice AS PART OF HIS unleashing of the judgments upon the earth.

They base their appeal for justice, for vengeance upon the holiness and the truthfulness of God.

He cannot ignore their crimes. He cannot allow it go unpunished and still be holy, still be true. So they appeal to his BEING and His CHARACTER in order to call Him to act.

Their question “…how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” is not coming from a place of personal desire for vendetta. But rather, it is flowing from a desire for the adversary, sin, and wrongs to be set right. They want to see the enemy defeated, the wicked judged, and evil to be eradicated once and for all.

How Long - is a common question asked of Israel reflecting Israel’s cry to know (and see an end to) how long their suffering would last.

It is a beautiful lament question.

Those who dwell on the earth, throughout Revelation, is a designation of the unbelievers.

How long…God…before you judge the wicked and put an end to sin and the adversary?

That is essentially the question.

And God uses their prayers as part of his unfolding the coming judgments. The judgments He is unleashing, is the answer the their cry.

The fifth seal is about revealing that truth.

Application: God may delay His justice…but be assured, it will always come.

The delay is grace. Giving man opportunity to repent.

But the time of grace is coming to a close.

Judgment is coming. Like never before. Behold and be repent, or else.

The fifth seal reveals the martyred saints cry for justice.

In response, He gives them a promise.

Revelation 6:11 ESV

11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

The promise comes in two parts

White Robe

The saints are given a white robe.

This white robe is the reward of grace for their faithfulness and persistence.

Their faith, their repentance, their response to God’s grace is that they enter into the righteous purity of His holiness.

The white robe represents these holy perfection that comes with being cleansed and redeemed from sin by the shed blood of Christ.

It represents their blessedness in repenting and believing.

It represents their final cleansing and entering into the righteousness and eternal rest and peace of God.

It represents their standing before God, upon the merits of His grace through their faith.

Command to Rest

They were told to rest for a little while longer until the number of martyr’s was complete.

Little while indicates it would not be much longer.

We know that time is subjective, especially with God, but we know that the Tribulation period is short. 7 short years. Though, the suffering the and judgments that come will undoubtedly make it feel like MUCH longer than 7 years.

God tells them to wait UNTIL the number of their brothers is complete.

While no explicit promise is given, an implicit one is.

ONCE THE NUMBER IS COMPLETE, then their request for justice, for retribution, for vengeance WILL come to pass, will be complete.

God WILL bring to pass His perfect justice, in the right time.

Until then, patience.

Rest in the righteousness I give to you. Trust my timing.

Sixth Seal - Revelation 6:12-17

Cosmic upheaval — earthquake, darkened sun, blood-red moon, falling stars, sky rolled up.

Revelation 6:12–17 ESV

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Response of the world: Terror. They hide, but they cannot escape “the wrath of the Lamb.”

Application: Better to fear the Lamb in reverence now than in terror later.

Conclusion

Christ reigns over history — even its darkest hours.

Judgment is certain — mercy is available now, not later.

Our hope is in the One who holds the scroll — not in politics, peace treaties, or earthly prosperity.

Gospel Bridges

1. The Wrath of the Lamb… and the Love of the Lamb

In v. 16–17, the world trembles at “the wrath of the Lamb.”

But that same Lamb laid down His life for His enemies (John 1:29; Rom. 5:8).

Bridge: The Lamb whose wrath terrifies the unrepentant is the Lamb whose blood saves the repentant.

Gospel call: Don’t wait until you meet Him in wrath — meet Him now in grace.

2. “Who Can Stand?” — Revelation 6:17 → Revelation 7:9

The chapter ends with the haunting question: “Who can stand?”

Revelation 7 answers it: Those washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Bridge: On that day, only those clothed in Christ’s righteousness will stand. You can stand before Him now in grace, or fall before Him later in judgment.

Gospel call: Today is the day to be sealed by God.

3. History in His Hands — and Yours

The seals show Christ guiding history toward its appointed end.

He’s not wringing His hands over the world’s chaos — and neither should you if you belong to Him.

Bridge: If He can hold the scroll of history, He can hold your soul secure. Trust Him with your eternity, not just your today.

Gospel call: Surrender your life to the Lamb who reigns now and forever.

Application