Revelation of John 6:1-8
Summary for Rev 6:1-17: 6:1–16:21 a Three sets of seven judgments—the seals, trumpets, and bowls—form the core of Revelation. Some suggest that the judgments form a chronological sequence from beginning to end, with each set of judgments flowing from the seventh judgment of the previous set for a total of twenty-one successive judgments. More likely, the relationship is cyclical (as in other Jewish apocalyptic works; cp. Dan 2 b, 7 c, 8 d, 11 e), with each set conveying increasing intensity and adding new details of God’s judgment on those who rebel against him. In this perspective, all three cycles end at the same chronological point, with the return of Christ.Summary for Rev 6:1-8:1: 6:1–8:1 f The Lamb breaks the seven seals to reveal the significance of history from God’s perspective.
Summary for Rev 6:1-8: 6:1-8 g The four horses and their riders (see Zech 1:8-11 h; 6:1-8 i) sum up the power structures of the world; their activities primarily lead to war, violence, economic imbalance, and death. It is pointless to put our hope in these power structures.
6:2 j While some have understood the rider on a white horse to be Christ, as in 19:11 k, the only similarity between these two images is the horse. The four riders represent the destructive, senseless world and show no redeeming qualities.
• The bow was typical Greco-Roman military hardware; here it is a symbol of war.
• win many battles ... gain the victory: The double use of the Greek word nikaō (conquer) confirms that this rider is powerful. The focus on war and conquest illustrates human depravity.
Summary for Rev 6:3-4: 6:3-4 l The red horse represents bloody violence on the earth. Although peace was what the Roman Empire promised (the pax Romana), widespread violence was the horrible reality. This rider represents slaughter, including civil upheavals and ethnic cleansing.
Summary for Rev 6:5-6: 6:5-6 m The black horse represents economic and social dysfunction, indicated by scales used in commerce. Rampant inflation is shown by the cost of the staples of life: A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. Yet the prices of luxuries such as oil and wine would remain unchanged. It is an image of social and economic imbalance.
Summary for Rev 6:7-8: 6:7-8 n With the fourth seal comes a ghastly looking horse. In the ancient world, pale green was the color for depicting a corpse.
• the Grave: Greek Hades. In Greek thought, Hades was the underworld abode of bodiless beings. The Hebrew idea of Sheol, the place of the dead (1 Sam 28:15 o), was similar.
• The killing of one-fourth of those on earth indicates that the final judgment has not yet arrived (contrast Rev 6:16-17 p).
• This fourfold set of woes (sword and famine and disease and wild animals; cp. Ezek 14:21 q) summarizes the tragedies of earthly existence. The world cannot offer hope to humanity.
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