Revelation 6:7-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:9

And when he had opened the fifth seal ,.... Of the seven seals of the sealed book; here is no beast speaking here, nor horse and rider presented to view; it was now a very dark time both with respect to the church of God and ministry of the word, and the Roman empire. This seal refers to the times of Dioclesian, and the persecution under him; and instead of the voice of one of the living creatures, John hears the voice of martyrs: I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:10

And they cried with a loud voice ,.... With great ardour and fervency, being very pressing and importunate; and which shows that they were awake, and not asleep, and that the soul does not sleep with the body in the grave, or is after the death of that in a state of insensibility and inactivity, as some imagine: saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true ; the person they address is either the Lamb in the midst of the throne, with whom they were, and under the shelter of whom they were safe... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:11

And white robes were given to everyone of them ,.... The Alexandrian copy, and some others, read in the singular number, "a white robe", and so does the Syriac version; as a token of their innocence, that they did not suffer, or were slain, for any capital crime or immorality they were guilty of; and of their purity and perfection they now enjoyed; as also of that spiritual delight and pleasure, which was unspeakable and full of glory, they now had in the presence of God and Christ; and in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:12

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal ,.... Of the sealed book which the Lamb took out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne, in order to open it, and unloose its seals. About this seal interpreters much differ; some refer this to the destruction of Jerusalem, because of the likeness of expressions here used, and in Matthew 24:7 ; but this was past many years before this seal was opened; and besides, though that time was a day of wrath to the uttermost upon the Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:13

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth ,.... All the other inferior deities lost their esteem, worship, and honour; for the idol temples being now opened, the idols and statues were exposed to the common people, and were found to be stuffed with hay and straw, which brought them into great contempt F12 Sozomen, l. 2. c. 5. . Moreover, as stars sometimes signify the ministers of the Gospel in the Christian church, Revelation 1:20 , and sometimes the priests in the Jewish church, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:14

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together ,.... The manner of writing formerly was on rolls of parchment; hence the word volume is used for a book, which, when rolled up, the writing within could not be seen, not a syllable nor letter of it. In like manner the Roman empire, as Pagan, which was like a large sheet, or rather like the expanse or firmament of the heaven, stretched out over all the earth, was now, as to the Paganism of it, rolled up together, so that there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:15

And the king's of the earth, and the great men ,.... The Roman emperors, and other principal magistrates, governors of provinces and cities: and the rich men ; among the commonalty; these three may design perhaps more particularly the emperors, nobles, and senate of Rome: and the chief captains ; or captains of thousands, that had the command of the Roman legions and the mighty men ; the soldiers that were under them, men of strength, courage, and valour; and every bondman,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:16

And said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us ,.... They chose death rather than life. Dioclesian being invited by Constantine to a marriage feast, excused himself by reason of his old age; but receiving threatening letters, the historian F20 Aurel. Victor. Epitome. says, in which he was charged with having favoured Maxentius, and with favouring Maximinus, he poisoned himself; and others of the emperors are said to lay violent hands upon themselves: and hide us from the face of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 6:17

For the great day of his wrath is come ,.... The Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, "of their wrath"; both of him that sits upon the throne, and of the Lamb, against the Heathen gods and Heathen persecutors, in answer to the cry of the martyrs in Revelation 6:9 . And who shall be able to stand ? against either of them, or in their presence, and so as to bear their wrath and displeasure; all which expresses guilt, shame, fear, and despair. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 6:7

The fourth beast - That which had the face of an eagle. read more

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