ScriptureDepth's study of Revelation 6
“for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?”
Revelation 6:17
The kings and people of the earth cry out in fear of the Lamb's wrath, questioning who can withstand the impending judgment and chaos described throughout this chapter.
What Revelation 6 is about
The Lamb opens the first seal, revealing a rider on a white horse given a crown and a bow who comes out to conquer (vv. 1-2). The second seal brings a red horse and a rider given power to take peace from the earth, leading to killing among people (vv. 3-4). The third seal reveals a black horse, and the rider holds a balance, announcing scarcity, with a voice declaring the high price of wheat and barley (vv. 5-6). The fourth seal introduces a pale horse, whose rider is named Death, granted authority over a fourth of the earth to kill by various means (vv. 7-8). The fifth seal reveals the souls of martyrs beneath the altar, crying out for justice and told to wait until their fellow servants are killed (vv. 9-11). The sixth seal opens with a cosmic disturbance, where the sun turns dark, and the moon appears blood-red, leading all to hide from divine wrath (vv. 12-17).
The great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?
Revelation 6 at a glance
- Revelation 6:1–2The First Seal: Conquest
- Revelation 6:3–4The Second Seal: War
- Revelation 6:5–6The Third Seal: Famine
- Revelation 6:7–8The Fourth Seal: Death
- Revelation 6:9–11The Fifth Seal: Martyrs' Cry
- Revelation 6:12–14The Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
- Revelation 6:15–17Human Response to Wrath
Key verse: Revelation 6:17
One thing to notice
The phrase 'Come and see' appears in verses 1, 5, and 7, spoken by the four living creatures at the first, third, and fourth seals. This phrase invites the reader to observe the events unfolding with each seal.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Revelation 6 (WEB)
The First Seal: Conquest Revelation 6:1–2
1Verse 1. I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see!” 2Verse 2. And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
The Second Seal: War Revelation 6:3–4
3Verse 3. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4Verse 4. Another came out, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.
The Third Seal: Famine Revelation 6:5–6
5Verse 5. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come and see!” And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance in his hand. 6Verse 6. I heard a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don’t damage the oil and the wine!”
The Fourth Seal: Death Revelation 6:7–8
7Verse 7. When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see!” 8Verse 8. And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.
The Fifth Seal: Martyrs' Cry Revelation 6:9–11
9Verse 9. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. 10Verse 10. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Verse 11. A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.
The Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances Revelation 6:12–14
12Verse 12. I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. 13Verse 13. The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. 14Verse 14. The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Human Response to Wrath Revelation 6:15–17
15Verse 15. The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. 16Verse 16. They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17Verse 17. for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?”
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Revelation 6
Divine Judgment
In verses 15-17, the rulers and powerful individuals of the earth, including 'the kings of the earth' and 'the rich', express terror at the impending divine judgment. They seek refuge from 'the face of him who sits on the throne' and 'the wrath of the Lamb'. This strong reaction illustrates the seriousness of the judgment that has come upon them, marking a clear delineation between divine authority and human power.
Persecution and Martyrdom
Verses 9-11 present the souls of martyrs who were killed for 'the Word of God' and 'the testimony of the Lamb'. They cry out for justice, asking how long until they are avenged, indicating their longing for divine retribution against their persecutors. The response they receive, being given 'a long white robe' and instructed to rest, highlights their status and connection to God amid their suffering.
End Times Imagery
In verses 12-14, vivid cosmic disturbances are described, including the sun turning black and the moon becoming as blood. These signs serve as dramatic indicators of the end times, where the natural order is disrupted. The imagery of the sky being 'removed like a scroll' conveys an apocalyptic vision that accompanies the unfolding of divine judgment.
Sovereignty of God
Revelation 6 presents God's sovereignty through the unfolding of the seals opened by the Lamb. Each seal brings forth significant events in history, such as conquest, war, famine, and death (vv. 2-8). The authority granted to these forces, including 'Death' and Hades in verse 8, reveals God's overarching control over creation and the unfolding of events within it.
Chapter outline
How Revelation 6 unfolds
Revelation 6:1–2 The First Seal: Conquest
The Lamb opens the first seal, prompting one of the four living creatures to say, 'Come and see!' A rider on a white horse appears, holding a bow and receiving a crown, going out 'conquering, and to conquer' (vv. 1-2).
Revelation 6:3–4 The Second Seal: War
Upon opening the second seal, a red horse appears, and the second living creature calls out. The rider is given power to 'take peace from the earth,' leading to conflict and violence among people (v. 4).
Revelation 6:5–6 The Third Seal: Famine
The third seal is opened, and one of the living creatures calls, 'Come and see!' A black horse appears, and its rider holds a balance, as a voice announces 'a choenix of wheat for a denarius' (vv. 5-6).
Revelation 6:7–8 The Fourth Seal: Death
When the fourth seal is opened, a pale horse emerges, and its rider is named Death, followed by Hades. He is granted authority to kill a quarter of the earth's population through various means (v. 8).
Revelation 6:9–11 The Fifth Seal: Martyrs' Cry
The fifth seal reveals the souls of martyrs under the altar, who cry out for divine justice. They are reassured to 'rest yet for a while' until more martyrs join them (vv. 9-11).
Revelation 6:12–14 The Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
The sixth seal is opened, resulting in a great earthquake. The sun becomes black, the moon turns blood-red, and stars fall from the sky, with the heavens shaken as 'the sky was removed like a scroll' (vv. 12-14).
Revelation 6:15–17 Human Response to Wrath
In response to the unfolding disasters, the powerful and common people alike seek refuge in the mountains. They plead for the rocks to hide them from 'the wrath of the Lamb' (vv. 15-17).
Key verses
Revelation 6:17The kings and people of the earth cry out in fear of the Lamb's wrath, questioning who can withstand the impending judgment and chaos described throughout this chapter.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Revelation 6
- observeIn v2, what was given to the rider on the white horse?
- observeIn v10, what do the souls under the altar cry out for?
- interpretThe phrase 'they should rest yet for a while' in v11: what does it indicate about the timing of justice?
- interpretThe imagery of the 'great earthquake' in v12: how does it connect to the response of those who hide?
- applyWhen have you felt overwhelmed like the people hiding from the 'wrath of the Lamb' in v16?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Revelation 6
- Matthew 24Revelation 6:14 and Matthew 24:35Both pass away: Revelation 6:14 says the sky was removed, while Matthew 24:35 states heaven and earth will pass away.
- Revelation 16Revelation 6:14 and Revelation 16:20Both removed mountains: Revelation 6:14 depicts every mountain moved, while Revelation 16:20 states mountains were not found.
- Joel 2Revelation 6:12 and Joel 2:10Both darken sun and moon: Revelation 6:12 describes the moon becoming blood, while Joel 2:10 says the sun and moon are darkened.
- Revelation 20Revelation 6:9 and Revelation 20:4Both witness martyrs: Revelation 6:9 sees souls of martyrs under the altar, while Revelation 20:4 sees souls beheaded for Jesus.
- Revelation 19Revelation 6:10 and Revelation 19:2Both call for judgment: Revelation 6:10 cries out for vengeance, while Revelation 19:2 affirms God's righteous judgments.
- Revelation 8Revelation 6:1 and Revelation 8:1Both open seals: Revelation 6:1 shows a seal opened by the Lamb, while Revelation 8:1 depicts the seventh seal being opened.
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Where to go from here
- Revelation: the whole bookExiled on the island of Patmos for the word of God, John received the visions that close the Christian canon…
- Full Year Chronological Bible, day 360Day 360 of 365: Revelation 3–6.
- HeavenWhat the Bible says about heaven, with verses.
- Common Bible questionsThe questions people bring to Bible study, each answered from the text.
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