Revelation 6
The Seals
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. 5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
(JAS Comments – Start)
A note before looking at the seals and plagues:
Notice that many (most) of the plagues God brings on the earth come through nature, conditions with which we are familiar, but the degree and extent are far greater than anything seen previously in history. Again, we go back to Luke 18:8 “But the Son of Man coming then, will He find faith on the earth?” Those who chose not to believe in God and Christ will attribute these happenings to natural occurrences, much as they do now when looking at previous miracles. Those who do truly believe and have faith in God will recognize these events for what they are, God’s judgment for sin. “Each part seems to have its particular seal, that when opened, discovers its proper events; these seven parts are not unsealed and opened at once, but successively, one scene of Providence introducing another, and explaining it, till the whole mystery of God’s counsel and conduct be finished in the world.” (M. Henry Commentary on Revelation) We can see these same four horses in Zechariah 6:1-8, although the details are a bit different.
VERSE 01
Dan 12:4 To seal something indicates the matter is finished and cannot be changed, It also serves to maintain the integrity of something so it cannot be disturbed until the appointed time. A seal, could only be broken by the one who has authority over it. In breaking the seals and disclosing God’s judgments, Christ demonstrated His own divine authority over creation. (Amplified Bible)
Dan 6:10-23 is an example of a king throwing Daniel into a lion’s den and then sealing the den in order that none might save Daniel from the lions. The seal of man does not bind God and Daniel was alive the next morning. While the seal of man means very little to God the seal of God means everything to man. What God has declared and sealed cannot be changed regardless of man’s efforts. The only one able to open God’s seal is Jesus, the Son of God and part of the Trinity. Notice also the reoccurrence of the number seven. This denotes perfection and God’s plan is perfect and will be unfolded in seven distinct parts. This does not imply they happen consecutively, although they may. Here we again see the voices of the heavenly beings sounding like thunder. We see the same in Revelation 4:5, 10:3-4, 11:19; John 12:29 and Job 37:1-5. The voice comes from one of the four living creatures. We are not told which one, but many interpret it to be the lion since lions denote power and kingship. Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah. “Come” is not an invitation to John to come and see; it is a summons to the four horses and their riders one by one to come forward on the stage of history. (Barclay)
VERSE 02-03
White shows purity and the crown kingship. The bow indicates power and victory. All of these would lead us to believe the rider is Jesus and He is the Righteous {entirely sinless, pure} King of all who has conquered Sin and Death, Satan. A bow can shoot an arrow at a distance and is thus able to kill or wound at a distance. The thinking is the rider on the white horse is Christ, the Word of God, and God’s Word convicts of sin at a distance and thus everyone is without excuse. Christ opens the second seal and one of the four living creatures instructs another horse to come. Since this horse and rider bring judgement on sin it is thought this creature saying come is the ox which was very often used as sacrifice for the people’s sin. As the ox was slain as a sacrifice for sin so many people are slain because of their sin.
VERSE 04
Fire is judgment on sin. Fire is a purifying agent. Fire removes contaminants {dross}. Most metals are refined and strengthened in fire. Red often indicates sin and corruption {although it is also the color of blood}. The rider of the fiery red horse brought warfare to the earth. Beyond actual warfare the rider took peace from the earth. People would not be at peace with each other even if they were not killing each other. Taking away peace involves removing peace of mind, peach in relationships, peace in families, etc. This rider takes peace from the earth and as a result people kill each other. A sword also denotes war, slaughter and the spilling of blood. A large sword means a great amount of killing and blood. The vision of the end was a vision of a time when all human relationships would be destroyed and the world a seething cauldron of embittered hate. (Barclay)
VERSE 05
We have a third living creature saying “come” to the horse. Since this section deals with people cheating each other and taking advantage of each other it is thought this creature saying “come” is the man. Black usually signifies affliction, death, plague, starvation. Prov. 11:1 God’s scales are just and accurate
VERSE 06
Black is Affliction—anguish, moral darkness, sin, apostasy. The rider was holding scales. Daniel 5:27 provides a possible meaning for the scales mentioned here. In Daniel the king saw handwriting appear on the wall and called Daniel to interpret it. The interpretation was God had weighed the king in God’s balances {scales} and the king was weighed as deficient, not up to standard. The rider has the balance of God (scale) and the world was found deficient. Because of the world’s refusal to worship God affliction, moral darkness and sin would be their lot. Part of the affliction will be famine throughout the earth. It seems this affliction may not affect those who worship the one true God and have been saved through Christ. An example is Israel in Egypt. During the plagues the Israelites did not suffer the plagues that struck the Egyptians. (Exodus 9:4) It interesting to note that the Egyptians who feared the Word of the Lord took their livestock to safe places and did not suffer the loss of their livestock as did those who did not fear the Word of the Lord. (Exodus 9:20-21) (JAS Comments - End)
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 07
Once again, the fourth living creature calls the horse to “come.” Nothing can happen until the Lamb opens the seal, and only the Lamb can open the seal. It is thought the eagle is the creature that calls the horse to “come.”
VERSE 08
A pale horse is the one that brings fear and trembling to the people. {Nahum 2:10 & Joel 2:6}. In Lev. 26:21-25 states if the people do not turn to God then He will send wild beasts to destroy them as well as the sword, famine, plague, etc. Death and Hades partnered here. It might be those who do not turn to God will take part in the second death, eternal death, and be consigned to Hell, which their actions showed they wanted. (JAS Comments – End)
The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 09-10
The altar is where offerings are made to God. These are the souls of those killed for their belief in Christ, they offered all they had, their lives, to the Lord. This verse presents something we do not often discuss, it seems to go against our sensibilities. Those killed for their beliefs are crying out for God to avenge their deaths and judge the earth. They are asking YHWH to end this thing.
VERSE 11
The fifth seal is very different from the previous four. Here John sees the souls of all those who had been slain because of their belief in God and in His Son Jesus. It is important to emphasize they were slain because of the testimony they maintained. Regardless of what was done to them they maintained their testimony. They persevered in this even though it meant their death. They were under the altar. The altar in the Temple was where the sacrifices were made. These souls were willing sacrifices for the Word of God. There is some question as to whether these were old covenant or new covenant believers. My thinking is they could very well be both. Pre-Christ believers believed and followed the Law and the prophets, which is what God had given them at that time. Post-Christ believers believe in salvation through the blood the Christ, the Son of God, shed for mankind. In both cases these people maintained their beliefs and died for them. Their call for the Lord to avenge their blood may seem a bit harsh but there is a twofold reason for it. First and foremost is their total commitment to the Lord and second wanting to see sin and Satan, who caused them to be killed, eternally condemned. The souls were given white robes indicating their purity through the Word of God. Then their answer was to wait just a bit longer until Satan’s evil and rebellion reached its fullness with even more believers slain, then they would be avenged. Satan, sin and Satan’s followers would be removed and condemned to hell. God, being completely Holy and just will not condemn anyone before they have been given full opportunity to repent and accept Jesus the Christ as the Son of God and Savior. (JAS Comments – End)
The Sixth Seal—Terror
12I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 12
Is. 29:6 Isa. 5:30 The events of an earthquake, sun turned black and the moon turned blood red may well be connected. Earthquakes of give rise to or can be caused by volcanoes. Debris from earthquakes and especially debris clouds from volcanoes can cause the sun to be black and the moon to appear red. These would seem to be natural, not miraculous, events and would be explained away as such by the world. These events will happen at the specific time Christ is returning. There is a chronology that will be missed by the world but not by true believers. In Luke 18:8 Christ asks, “But the Son of Man coming then, will He find faith on the earth?” Recognizing the signs comes from true belief in Christ and faith. These events are very consistent with the way the Hebrews throughout their history have viewed the end of the world, the end of time. (See Amos, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc.)
VERSE 13
Stars usually denote angels. Could this be saying the rebellious angels fell to earth. They came to earth to deceive man?
VERSE 14
A scroll was rolled up at the end of reading it. A scroll being rolled up denotes the end, the finish Isa. 64:1
VERSE 15
At this time there are no artificial hierarchies between peoples, all are equal in the sight of the Lord. All are equal in their fear of the judgment and their refusal to accept salvation through Christ.
VERSE 16
Isa. 2:16; Eze. 33:27
VERSE 17
Isaiah 2:10-19, 13:9-13; Joel 2:11 & 31; Amos 5:18 The seventh seal is opened in Chapter 8 At this point people finally realize what is happening and try to hide. They see utter and complete destruction due to their continuing sin and refusal to acknowledge God and accept Christ. The wages of sin are finally recognized.
Isaiah 34:1-4. (JAS Comments - End)
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 01
Here again we have a demonstration of God’s absolute control over the earth and all thing associated with the earth. God has His angels stop all the winds over all the earth. The air would be absolutely still, a stillness very, very seldom felt anywhere on earth let alone over the entire earth. This is an attention getter and a prelude to what is coming. The winds are stopped (this is after the four horsemen and before subsequent plagues and terrors) for the people from the tribes of Israel to be sealed. God has not forgotten His chosen people, Israel. Quite often we Christians have been taught that God’s chosen people were supplanted by Christians and Gentiles. This is NOT the case. The Bible makes it quite clear we are the spiritual children, nowhere does it say God forgot or supplants the Natural children of Abraham.
VERSE 02-03
God sends another angel to take His order for the four angles to harm the earth, but they could not start until God’s seal had been placed on His designated servants. The second job of the angel was to seal His servants. A seal is a mark of ownership. It states these are mine and do not touch them. The seal, once placed, can only be removed by the person who placed it. It is worth noting the believer, those who accepted Christ as their savior were sealed on their forehead, not their foreheads OR hands like those who followed Satan. Those who follow God were not ashamed to let everyone know who they followed. For those who follow God their thoughts and actions are the same, they do not try to present one thing yet do another. Their thoughts and actions are consistent because they are led by the Holy Spirit.
VERSE 04
This makes it very clear these 144,000 were from the tribes of Israel. In Eze. 9:1-11 we see God telling the angel to mark those who mourn due to the idolatry and sin of the world. We also see God telling other angels to go after the angel doing the marking and kill those without the mark of God. Could the 144,000 be referring to a “full measure” and not a finite number? That is, 12 time 12 equals 144,000. 12 tribes times 12,000 from each tribe equals a full measure of those from Israel who believe. Exodus 13:16
VERSE 05-08
Eze. 9:1-11 This is the first set of 144,000 mentioned. This set is specific to the 12 tribes of Israel. There is a second, different, set of 144,000 mentioned in Chapter 14. (JAS Comments - End)
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 09
There is a false doctrine that states only 144,000 will be saved. Here we see a multitude of people from all nations and walks of life before the throne of God. This multitude was dressed in white robes showing purity, washed by the blood of Jesus the Christ and praising God. This proves the doctrine of only 144,000 being saved is false. This multitude worship God and Christ. The eternally dead (in Hell) do not, nor want to, worship God.
VERSE 10
Note that these saved persons praise God and ascribe their salvation to God and His Christ.
VERSE 11-12
All God’s creation in Heaven responded to the cries of the saved by worshipping God and saying AMEN, so be it, it is true and there is nothing more to be added. To God belongs all praise, glory and wisdom. There is nothing more to be added.
(JAS Comments - End)
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 13
Now one of the elders (which one is not specified) asks John a question. The question appears to be aimed at the elder providing the answer, an explanation.
VERSE 14-15
This defines who the multitudes are and where they come from. They have come through the great tribulation. This would seem to indicate that there were Christians present during the great tribulation. Whether they were saved before the tribulation started, were saved during the tribulation or both, we cannot tell. These are given the great honor of directly serving God and being directly protected by God. The idea of being protected goes beyond our simple definition of protection but includes all of the creature being protected, loved, etc.
VERSE 16
The concerns man faces on the earth will no longer be a concern to them. Their food and drink come from Christ. It is spiritual food and drink that truly satisfies the soul, not just the body.
VERSE 17
This underscores the fact this multitude are saved through the Christ. The 144,000 seem to be a special group but I am not sure in what way they are special. It is not special in-so-far as being saved but there is something special about them. In addition, we see that Christ is at the center of the throne and, as in Psalm 23, leads His followers to living water and provides for all of their needs. The trials, tribulations, persecutions and suffering they went through for Christ will be wiped away by Christ. The great joy of being with Jesus and worshipping Him will wipe away the tears of the past.
(JAS Comments - End)
Discuss morph
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
(JAS Comments – Start)
When looking at the Seventh seal we must look at it as part of the first six seals discussed in chapter 6, it is not independent but is the last in a series of events. When we look at the results of the seven trumpets sounding (as well as all the judgements in Revelation), we can see a definite similarity to the plagues of Egypt in Exodus 7:14 – 12:32.
VERSE 01
Christ, the Lamb, opens the seventh and last seal and silence ensues for about half an hour. This begins the work of the seven angels with their seven trumpets.
VERSE 02 - 05
Take us back to the seven spirits standing before God’s throne {Revelation 1:4-11}. Each of these seven spirits, angels, was responsible for one of the seven churches named in the Rev. 1:4-11. In the Scriptures the trumpet (shofar) denoted a clear call to the people. { Ex 19:13; Lev 25:9; Psalms 47:5, Matt 24:31; 1 Cor. 14:8}
o Give sound of the Shofar here.
“The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints” takes us back to Rev. 6:9-11 where we read of the saints under the altar asking God how long until they are avenged. Their prayers as well as the prayers of the living saints ascend to God. It is interesting that the censer, being filled with fire from the altar, caused thunder, rumblings, lightning and earthquakes. These came before the angels sounded their trumpets. This is a wakeup call to the world before the seven angels sound their trumpets and usher in the plagues? (JAS Comments - End)
The Trumpets
6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
(JAS Comments – Start)
We now go from seven seals to seven trumpets.
o Seals hide something until the time is appropriate to open them. A trumpet makes a clear sound everyone can hear and is a call to action.
o Here we should think of the trumpet as a shofar. The shofar was used to warn God’s people and call them to action.
These events might possibly be seen and explained away as “natural”, although catastrophic, occurrences. Christ asked when He returned would He find faith (Luke 18:8). The unbeliever will always be looking for an explanation, any explanation, that denies or ignores God’s existence and work. Through the Holy Spirit the believer will see God’s working. The first four (shofars)are marked off from the last three (shofars) (as in the case of the seals) by distinctive features.
o The first four refer to the natural life, while the last three are connected more closely with the spiritual life of man. The first four are connected and interdependent; the last three are distinct and more detached. (esword.com, Pulpit Commentary)
VERSE 06
Again seven. This time with trumpets to issue a clear call that the normal routines have been usurped. A call to mankind that God has decided the time has come to punish sin and restore creation back to what He intended.
VERSE 07
The first shofar loosed hail and fire mixed with blood upon the earth.
o This is similar to Exodus 9:23 – 26, 34 where God sent thunder, hail and fire on the Egyptians.
Here we see a repetition of thirds. A third of the earth and trees were destroyed by fire. It is important to note all the green grass was destroyed.
o Grass is the staple food of many of the herbivores. Grass grows from the bottom up which means regardless of how much is eaten as long as the root is not destroyed the grass will grow and continue to feed the animals.
o Here we see that continuous food source is destroyed. This would result in the grazing animals dying, then the predators. It would also result in great starvation among people.
Hail and fire are both instruments of judgment and cleansing. We are familiar with fire as a refining and cleansing agent. We use fire to refine gold and other minerals. Fire also cleanses and prepares the earth for new growth. As fire removes dross from gold so fire removes dead and dying plant life from the earth. The blood seems to represent the blood of the righteous being returned upon those who killed them. Could God be providing the cleansing and the reason for the cleansing? The fire and hail is not arbitrary but has a reason behind it. The unrighteous are receiving what they asked for….blood and death.
VERSE 08-09
With this judgement we have the sea as well as the earth involved. We have another third. In this case a third of the sea was turned into blood (See Exodus and the Nile turning into blood). In addition, a third of the living creatures in the seas and a third of the ships on the seas were destroyed. This was the result of something like a mountain being thrown into the sea.
o We are not told what this mountain is or where it came from.
o In Remembering that when this was written the writer did not have the vocabulary we have today. He could describe what he saw but did not have a word for it. Is it possible he could be describing a meteor or asteroid hitting the Earth?
o In Psalm 46:2; Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23 we see the same thought of the mountain being thrown into the sea. In Jeremiah 51:25 we see the idea of a “burnt mountain”. None of these images would be unusual to the original readers.
God always uses what is created to accomplish His will and work. Many of the scientists posit that a meteor or asteroid hitting the ocean would make much of the water uninhabitable and would cause great destruction. People ignore God and blame the occurrence on natural phenomenon and not recognize God’s work. (Just a personal thought.)
VERSE 10-11
Once again a third. We are not told the details of what will happen or how, we are just required to have faith. Water is essential to life, Christ said he was the Living Water. Those who do not accept Christ but rather turn to the things of the world (controlled by Satan) are drinking poisoned water. They die spiritually. Here we again have God giving people in the natural what they ask for in the spiritual, deathly water, not the living water from Christ.
VERSE 12
Another third. Here we have a third of the sun, moon and stars becoming dark. A third of the day and the night was dark. We are not used to total darkness at night. There is always some light from the stars. Here we have a third of the night as well as the day turning very, very dark. Again, turning to recent science and events we can see a similitude of this event. During recent volcanic eruptions the sun, the moon and the stars have been darkened by volcanic ash. These were minor occurrences compared to what is possible. Science has told us a massive eruption could cause a widespread blackout killing much flora and fauna, including people. I am not saying this is how God will do what He does but, again, if we look to Exodus we see God uses that which is created to punish non-believers and to bring people back to Him.
VERSE 13
For John and others of his time the eagle would be seen as a bird of terror. They are fast, powerful, have great vision and do not stray from their prey until they have caught it. The KJV translates the word eagle as angel but eagle is the correct translation. Here the eagle is warning the people that what is to come is worse than what has happened, and God will not stray until His will is accomplished. The use of three woes indicates the importance and gravity of what is to come. It also serves to call people to repentance. Although this is not specifically stated, a warning is always a call to repent before the woes strike. We must remember Exodus 8:22 and 9:26, God WILL protect His people. (JAS Comments - End)
Revelation 9
The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit
Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 01
Could this be referring to Satan? Luke 10:18 This angel had the keys to open the pit. We are not told anything about this being, is it Satan or another angel?
VERSE 02
Here there is a repetition of the sun and sky being darkened. Note the sun and the air was darkened. People were not able to see the light nor were they able to take clean air into them. The light being cut off the people are without physical light. They are also taking smoke, unclean air into their very inner being.
o This mirrors how people choose to live, without the light of God’s Word or His Holy Word.
o People choose to live in darkness and spiritual smog.
VERSE 03 - 04
Exodus 10:14; Joel 2:1-11 That these are not normal locusts is shown by the fact they are told NOT to harm the grass, plants, trees, etc. but only those who did not have the seal of God. Locusts are known for eating every plant, tree, grass they can find. These were special and prepared for this time. They were locusts that could sting like scorpions. This tells us there are people who have the Seal of God present.
VERSE 05
Scorpions were and are greatly feared. Not all scorpions kill with their sting, but they cause great pain to the point people stung often wish they were dead.
While this torture may seem excessive it is what those being tortured asked for by denying God. The state of their souls are having physical results.
VERSE 06
Locusts are a swarming insect that destroys everything in their path. Locusts were one of the plagues that struck Egypt at the time of the exodus. The locusts destroyed all the grain in Egypt, except that belonging to the Israelites.
In this case the locusts are even more destructive and dangerous than those in Egypt, and other countries after that. These had the power inflict great pain and torture for five months. This is far beyond the power to destroy the grain {food supplies}. My thought is part of that torture is knowing the torture has come because the individuals rejected God and His Christ.
Before we think God is being too harsh, we must remember all these plagues, etc. are there to wake people up and have them turn to Him. Most will not wake up and will instead blame and curse God for the plagues.) (JAS Comments - End)
7The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. 10 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek, he has the name Apollyon.
12The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 07-10
To the ancients the horse was a vision of fear and dread. Most horses were used for warfare and to see them often meant slaughter. Notice these locusts look good, they appear to have crowns, but it is only appearance, the crowns (which imply power and rulership) are false. The hair like he hair of women may imply they are beautiful to look at. The teeth of lions and breastplates of iron also imply power and indestructability, both of which are false. Finally we see their stings are in their tails. The harm comes after people have been deluded. Satan blinds people to his real character, motives and intentions. It is only after people are deluded and pulled into his lies and delusions the sting of death and hell happen. Often what looks good is not at all good. See Joel 1:4 In Joel we read God calling to the people to repent, accept Christ, and escape the results of their sin. God uses the plagues and terrible happening to get people’s attention and bring them to Him. God has tried everything else and now uses the plagues and destruction to get people’s attention. Again, despite everything, people refuse to turn to God.
VERSE 11
Verse 11 makes it very clear these creatures are led by the destroyer (Apollyon), the enemy, Satan
Abaddon and Apollyon both mean destruction. (JAS Comments – End)
12 The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. 13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 12 -14
Here we have another set of three. The three woes seem to be a subset of the seven angels with the seven trumpets. These three are part of what the sixth angel brings. The voice from the altar that is before God must be God, perhaps Christ. It is the voice of authority who tells the sixth angel to release four angels prepared and held for this specific time and work. The work of the four angels was to kill one third of mankind. This was done through mounted troops numbering 200,000,000. Three seems to be at work again here. In Revelation 12 we are told one-third of the angels fell, were cast out of Heaven, and here one-third of mankind will be killed. (JAS Comments - End)
17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 17-19
Note that the colors on the breastplate are the same as the colors of the three plagues. Can the fact the colors are on the breastplate mean that is what is in their hearts? See Joel and Nahum. This one third is a repeated theme in Revelation and, again, appears to take us to the rebellion against God where one-third of the angels followed Satan, rebelled against God and were thrown out of Heaven and away from God’s presence.
20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE20-21
The lack of repentance, even after God’s fury and correction are made manifest, tells us why the plagues, etc., continue. Perhaps people will not see the hand of God but rather will blame all that is happening to natural catastrophes. Their eyes will be blinded. (JAS Comments - End)
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 01-04
After people choose not to repent of their sins and turn to God there are more messengers and warnings. This is a clear indication what follows is a result of people refusing to acknowledge God or accept Christ as savior. There are seven thunders that speak. John is told not to write down what they said. This is unusual for Revelation. God is keeping something hidden only God and John know. Could this be used as a verification at the appropriate time and place of God’s work and John’s position? The next verse indicates the finality that is about to happen. (JAS Comments - End)
5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 05-07
The angel swears by Christ, the Son of God, who created everything, that all that was written and prophesied will be accomplished. Since Jesus is the Son of God, part of God, there is nothing greater the angel could swear by. “These two characteristics of God His eternity and His omnipotence—are referred to in order to demonstrate the certainty of the fulfilment of the prophecy which follows.” (Pulpit Commentary) The Bible tells us not to swear an oath since we cannot change God or His plan but in this case the angel is simply swearing by the Lord that His will shall be done. When the angel states there will be no more delay, he announces that when the seventh angel sounds, speaks, then what God planned and told His prophets and servants will be finished. The angel swearing by the Lord means there is no doubt, what God said will happen. (JAS Comments - End)
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 08-11
Many times people read the Word of God and it is sweet. We hear the words of salvation and know the Lord is speaking to us through His written Word. Once the initial euphoria is gone, we come face to face with the responsibility that comes with the Word. This includes the responsibility to be committed to Him in every part of our lives. The responsibility to love, completely and without thought of reward. It includes the responsibility to put His Love and our faith into action, to work for Him because we love Him. John’s eating the scroll shows how sweet is God’s Word but also how unsettling it can be when confronted with the responsibility that comes with true love for God and God’s creation. John had work to do. He was to tell people what was going to happen to them and their children into the distant future. This did not make him a popular fellow. If we truly follow God’s Word and our individual calling, we also may not be very popular. Matthew 11:14, 17:11-12; Mark 9:12-13 refer to 1 Kings 18:16-41. In this passage Elijah meets the pagan prophets on Mount Caramel. During this meeting the pagan prophets call on their false gods but there is no answer. Elijah calls on YHWH, the only true God and God answers.
§ This passage is worth its own study, but the short version is Elijah proved to the people YHWH is the only true God.
§ Before Christ came did the same thing, he announced the coming of the only true savior. (As an aside, John even dressed so he would look like Elijah. Elijah was a hairy man with a leather belt [2 Kings 1:8] and John dressed in camel’s hair so he looked the same. [Matthew 3:11])
§ In Revelation we see the same actions, the false prophets and false god (the man of sin) are shown for what they truly are by God’s prophet(s).
In verse 11 John is told he must prophesy again. John died before he could fulfill that verse. This does not mean God’s Word will not happen but rather a person will come with that same spirit and revelation John had and will prophesy in fulfillment of verse 11. This is the same thing we see in Matthew 11:14, 17:11-12; Mark 9:12-13 where Jesus said Elijah has come (referring to John the Baptist) but he will come again at the end time. That is a person with the same spirit to do the same work Elijah did at Mount Carmel and via John the Baptist will be done again at the end. Remember, Elijah did two different but the same works. He showed false prophets and false gods for who they are and revealed Christ. This is very consisted with what will happen at the end. The person(s) with the spirit of Elijah and John the revelator will show the false prophets and false gods for who they are and revealed Christ’s coming again and the pla. Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:4 Daniel 12:4 (JAS Comments - End)
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so, if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 02
3.5 years is 42 months.
VERSE 03
3.5 years is 1260 days. The two witnesses will prophesy for 3.5 years, the same amount of time as the nations tread underfoot the Holy City. These are possibly (probably) concurrent events. The witnesses will be dressed in such a way everyone will know they are in mourning, Their message will match their attire and be one of mourning for the world and warning the world what is coming.
VERSE 04
Zech 4:1-14 Romans 11:17-23 The two olive trees represent Jew and Gentile. The same with the two lampstands. Olive oil is what was burned in the lamps to give light. The Holy Spirit works thru the two witnesses to give the light of God’s Word to the world.
VERSE 05
This verse is a mystery to me. Is this literal fire?
VERSE 06
See Elijah & Luke 4:25 See Moses in Egypt It has been said the two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments. Given the context of the verse this does not seem likely. The two witnesses are given power to stop the rain, turn waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. This would seem to be specific to men sent by God, living, breathing men. To understand this section we must look at what was happening at the time Elijah stopped the rain (1 Kings 17:1-17) as well as the plagues in Israel. Each plague was specific to an Egyptian pagan deity. (Exodus 4-12) (JAS Comments - End)
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 07
Their death comes only after their work is completed. Satan has no power to stop their testimony until they have completed their work.
VERSE 08
Jerusalem. The Lord was crucified in Jerusalem. The city is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt because their people were enslaved (Egypt) to and by sin (Sodom).
VERSE 09-10
Again, 3.5 Their bodies are kept on display where they were killed. The world leadership does this is to give the people who are not Christians a chance to gloat and disparage the testimony of the two witnesses. Again, the world leadership is not in control, God has His plan and is working it out by using the decisions of the world leader. This is very similar to what happened with the Christ. The Jewish leaders made decisions based on their agendas and what they thought was good for them and the nation. Their decisions (generated by Satan) backfired on them. The giving of gifts because of the death of the witnesses shows how far from the Truth and God’s Word the people of the earth had gone. Instead of hearing the message and taking heed to the signs the witnesses performed the people were just thrilled to get rid of those they considered to be the source of their problem. This is similar to Elijah and Ahab. Ahab saw Elijah as the source of the problems in Israel. Ahab did not recognize he was the problem, his turning away from God, his sin, his rebellion. His leading the people of Israel astray. (1 Kings 16-22)
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
VERSE 11-14
Again, 3.5 What happens to the two witnesses is similar in a number of ways to the work of the Christ. Jesus was crucified after 3.5 years of ministry. The two witnesses were not raised from death until after 3.5 days. Jesus completed His work and then Satan could have Him crucified. The work of Satan (having Jesus killed) could not happen until Jesus allowed it to happen. The two witnesses could not be killed until their work was completed and the Lord allowed them to be killed. Jesus was resurrected after 3 nights and 3 days. The two witnesses were given life again after 3.5 days. After His resurrection (40 days after) Jesus was taken into heaven in a cloud. (Moses was in the mountain 40 days, Christ was tempted 40 days and Christ was seen on earth for 40 days after His resurrection.) After the resurrection (immediately after) of the two witnesses they were taken into heaven in a cloud. Immediately after the witnesses were received into Heaven there was an earthquake in the city. In this earthquake seven thousand people were killed. When Jesus was crucified and died there was also an earthquake and the curtain to the Holiest of Holies was torn in two. There is no doubt that the earthquake was tied to the killing and resurrection of the two witnesses. The earthquake made a great impression on many of the survivors who gave glory to God. This does not say they became Christians or believers. It does show they recognized God as the only true God. If we go to James 2:19 (“You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” KJV) we can plainly see believing there is one God and that God does exist is not enough to save a person. As James points out the fallen angels know for a certainty God exists, God is real, God created and controls everything, but that knowledge does not save. It is too late for the fallen angels but not for humans. We can still be saved through the blood of the Christ.
VERSE 14
After all that has happened the in the world’s judgment, there is a third woe to come. (JAS Comments - End)
The Seventh Trumpet
15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,17 saying,
“We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
(JAS Comments – Start)
VERSE 15-19
Now starts the third woe. Notice that many (most) of the plagues God brings on the earth appear to come through nature, conditions we are familiar with, but the degree and extent are far greater than anything seen in history. The two witnesses are certainly an exception and they were given power similar to that of Elijah and Elisha. Once again I take us back to Luke 18:8 “But the Son of Man coming then, will He find faith on the earth? ”Those who chose not to believe in God and Christ will attribute these happenings to natural occurrences, much as they do now when looking at God’s works. Those who do truly believe and have faith in God will recognize these events for what they are, God’s judgment for sin. I wonder who will have ears to hear the voice. John 12:28-30 (Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. KJV) tells us not all hear the voice of God when He speaks. As with the attitude that miracles are only natural happening many will say the voice of God is only thunder or another “natural” occurrence. The Ark of the Covenant has been missing for millennia. It is now revealed in Heaven. The Ark being shown now indicates God is living up to His end of the Covenant even those humans have not. (JAS Comments - End)
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