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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 6:9-17

In the remaining part of this chapter we have the opening of the fifth and the sixth seals. I. The fifth seal. Here is no mention made of any one who called the apostle to make his observation, probably because the decorum of the vision was to be observed, and each of the four living creatures had discharged its duty of a monitor before, or because the events here opened lay out of the sight, and beyond the time, of the present ministers of the church; or because it does not contain a new... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 6:12-14

6:12-14 I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the heaven fell upon the earth, as a fig-tree casts its figs, when it is shaken by a high wind; and the heavens were split like a roll that is rolled up, and the hills and islands were moved from their places. John is using pictures very familiar to his Jewish readers. The Jews always regarded the end as... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 6:12

The sixth seal - This seal also is opened and introduced by Jesus Christ alone. A great earthquake - A most stupendous change in the civil and religious constitution of the world. If it refer to Constantine the Great, the change that was made by his conversion to Christianity might be very properly represented under the emblem of an earthquake, and the other symbols mentioned in this and the following verses. The sun - the ancient pagan government of the Roman empire, was totally... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 6:13

The stars of heaven - The gods and goddesses, demi-gods, and deified heroes, of their poetical and mythological heaven, were prostrated indiscriminately, and lay as useless as the figs or fruit of a tree shaken down before ripe by a tempestuous wind. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 6:14

And the heaven departed as a scroll - The whole system of pagan and idolatrous worship, with all its spiritual, secular, and superstitious influence, was blasted, shrivelled up, and rendered null and void, as a parchment scroll when exposed to the action of a strong fire. And every mountain - All the props, supports, and dependencies of the empire, whether regal allies, tributary kings, dependent colonies, or mercenary troops, were all moved out of their places, so as to stand no longer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 6:1-17

Six seals opened. The ground thought of this book is "The Lord is coming." Concerning this Professor Godet remarks, "L'histoire du monde dans son essence se resume dans ces trois roots: Il vient; il est venu; il revient. C'est sur cette idee que repose le plan du drame apocalyptique." £ Even the prophecies of the Old Testament, which dealt so largely with the first coming, shot far ahead and reached even to the second, e.g. Joel. Our Lord himself is very clear on this topic ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 6:1-17

The opening of the seals. The Book of Revelation may be said to consist—with the exception of Revelation 2:1-29 and Revelation 3:1-22 —of a vast picture gallery. And this not so much because of the number of the pictures, as their sublimity and extent. Revelation 1:1-20 . is the portraiture of "the Son of man." Then there is a vast canvas, stretching from Revelation 4:1-11 to 11, and representing the judgment and fall of Jerusalem. Then from Revelation 12:1-17 to 19 another... read more

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