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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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 6:15-17

6:15-17 And the kings of the earth and the great ones and the captains and the rich and the strong, and every slave and every free person hid themselves in the caves and the rocks of the hills, and said to the mountains and to the rocks: "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" As John saw it in his vision, the end time was to be one of universal terror. Here... 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 6:12

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

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