The Opening Of The Seals

As one by one the seals of the roll are opened, history unfolds itself before John's eyes.

As we study this section, we must remember one general fact which is basic to its understanding. In this series of visions John is seeing in advance the end of terror and judgment which could bring in the golden age of God.

Before we study the section in detail, we note one general point. In the first section of the visions, Revelation 6:1-8 , the King James Version consistently follows a form of the Greek text which makes each of the four living creatures say: "Come and see!" ( Revelation 6:1 ; Revelation 6:3 ; Revelation 6:5 ; Revelation 6:7 ). In all the best Greek manuscripts it is simply, "Come!" as translated in the Revised Standard Version. This is not an invitation to John to come and see; it is a summons to the four horses and their riders one by one to come forward on the stage of history.