A Study Of The Book Of Revelation
Lesson No. 9: Chapter 6

Date: August 20^th and 27^th, September 3^rd, 2003, Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Class
Speaker: John Phillis
Note: Much of the information for this Study of Revelation was taken from the book “Revelation Through First Century Glasses” by W. B. West. Other sources: “The Living Word, Study of Revelation, Parts I & II” by Dr. Frank Pack; “Revelation” by Jim McGuiggan; “Commentary on Revelation” by Homer Hailey; “Commentary on Revelation” by Burton Coffman; “The Book of Revelation – Spiritual Sword Lectureship, October 18 – 22, 1998”; “Commentary on Revelation” by Howard Winters; “Revelation for Christians Today” by Lonnie Woodruff; “Unlocking Revelation” by J. Stafford North.

Objective in Studying this Chapter:

To consider what may be the meaning of the different seals and their symbols.

An Introduction

Just to remind us, we are still in that heavenly scene—that heavenly view—that heavenly vision—that John has been given. We saw there in Chapter 5 that as the call went out, and the search went out throughout heaven and on earth, and even under the earth, no one was found worthy to take the scroll—to open the scroll—except for One—the Lamb Who had been slain.

We closed out Chapter 5 with the Lamb stepping forward and taking the scroll. The heavenly host—the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, a host of angelic beings—yea, even the entire creation were singing a new song, falling down to worship the Lamb.

We transition from that scene to now seeing what the Lamb is going to do with the scroll in opening those seven seals. Here in the 6^th Chapter, we will see Him open six of those seven seals. This we can look at. You remember that the scroll was written within and without—on the back and on the front, which made it quite unusual, and it was sealed with seven seals, which indicated that no one had tampered with it, it had not been opened, no one knew the contents. If we accept that what is contained in the scroll is God’s plan for mankind—that great plan of all eternity—then, as the seals are being opened, we will begin to see that plan revealed.

We want to notice that what we’re going to see is not so much what is contained in words. In other words, it’s not going to be an oral description of events, but, rather, it’s going to be a scene which unfolds, which John is going to be privileged to see. Then, he’s going to be privileged to write that down.

It’s going to have various elements, various characters, if you will. There are going to be horses and riders of those horses. They’re going to have different elements—different components, and so on. The contents of the scroll, in effect, are going to be played out. It’s interesting that if you put this in the context of the scene being played out in front of John (perhaps in front of even the heavenly host), the riders and the horses come on the scene, and in a sense, they ride across, and then they “ride off into the sunset,” so to speak, without really saying who it is, or even what they represent.

But we must always remember that we are interpreting symbols here. We are seeing symbols. We are seeing God’s great plan for mankind, and all the events that surround that, being played out through these characters—through the implements—these components, and so on. We must interpret them. Thus, it is true that there are variations on the interpretation. But again, keep in mind that these are symbols—that these are visions. We look at this in the context of how it’s presented and try to understand and appreciate what the Holy Spirit, through John, is relating to the people who would have been reading this for the very first time in the latter part of the 1^st Century, and what Message may be held for those of us even here in the 21^st Century.

As an example, there are some who get rather— Well, not to make too much of play on words here, but they “get wrapped around the axel” right away, because in that first image that’s going to be seen here, we’re going to suggest that that rider is the Lord Himself.

There are some people who would say, “Well, you know, that just isn’t possible, because, after all, isn’t the Lamb the Lord, and He’s the One Who has the scroll; He’s the One Who’s opening the seals; and so, how can He be the same One Who is the rider on this white horse?”

Again, we’re interpreting visions—we’re interpreting symbols. Many symbols are contained in the Bible—many in the Old Testament. We’re going to refer to many symbols in the Old Testament which parallel some of these. But take, for example, from Ezekiel, chapter 1, verse 16, where Ezekiel has a vision of a chariot, and his vision is a wheel within a wheel such that, according to the description which he gives there, the chariot can go any direction without making a turn.

Well, you scratch you head and say, “How can that be?” In the natural realm—in the physical realm—it can’t be, because you can’t have a wheel within a wheel. A vehicle of any kind can’t change directions, and whatnot, without turning, without cornering, and so on. And wheels must be connected by axels. Again, that is a vision—it’s an image—it’s a symbol.

So, in a sense, anything is possible. Let’s keep this frame of mind, then, as we begin to open the seals of this scroll and we think about the images, and we try to ascertain what these images are.

Let’s go ahead and read the 6^th chapter of Revelation. It’s only seventeen verses. We’ll just read this entire chapter as we get started here. I’m reading from the English Standard Version for a couple of reasons, one of which we’ll mention in just a moment.