Interpretive Study of Revelation 5-6

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Chapter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, God.

Revelation Chapter 5

links to sentences in this chapter:

C5-S1 (Verse 1), C5-S2 (Verse 2), C5-S3 (Verse 3), C5-S4 (Verse 4), C5-S5 (Verse 5), C5-S6 (Verse 6), C5-S7 (Verse 7), C5-S8 (Verse 8), C5-S9 (Verse 9-10), C5-S10 (Verse 11-12), C5-S11 (Verse 13), C5-S12 (Verse 14), C5-S13 (Verse 14)'.

Chapter Summary: Only God's Lamb can open the title book to the Earth.

C5-S1 : John saw the book in the hand of God.
C5-S2 : the proclamation.
C5-S3 : No one else was found worthy.
C5-S4 : the reaction by John to the action of the prior sentence.
C5-S5 : John was told to stop his worry.
C5-S6 : What John saw after the elder. explained the truth to him.
C5-S7 : the Son of God took the title book to the Earth from the hand of God the Father because He paid the price required to claim it.
C5-S8 : Worship given to The Lamb in Heaven.
C5-S9 : the main part of their worship.
C5-S10 : the worship of angels is added.
C5-S11 : Every creature, in this physical reality, join in on the worship that is going on in Heaven.
C5-S12 : Make the worship of the past sentences part of God's law and something we will be judged for doing or not doing.
C5-S13 : Our example elders humble themselves and add more worship.

Our chapter tells us that no one could take the book, with the title deed for the Earth, from God the Father except for God the Son in His role as The Lamb. He was qualified, in that role, because of the sacrifice He made for all men and for all saved and for those saved people who will return with Him to rule this Earth for 1,000 years. After He took the book, the rest of the chapter tells us about, all beings in Heaven and all creatures on Earth, worshipping Him for the sacrifice He made to redeem us and for the gifts that he gives to men. Thus, this entire chapter is telling us about God the Son in His role as The Lamb and the worship that He receives for what He did in that role.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this chapter: 'Revelation Chapter 5 continues what was shown to the Apostle John in Rev ch4, as these two chapters are a secondary introduction to the rest of the book of Revelation, of what things are to come. If you recall in ch4 John was told to Come up hither, which was symbolic of the rapture of the church, for John was immediately in the spirit and in the throne room of God, where he sees the many wonders there, the throne and the one who sat upon the throne, the emerald rainbow, the 24 elders representing the redeemed of both the Old and New Testaments, and not only did John see in his vision God the Father upon the throne, he sees the Holy Spirit before the throne represented by the seven lamps of fire. He also saw the sea of glass and the four beasts, the four angelic creatures with likenesses of a lion, a man, a calf and an eagle, representative of the characteristics of God and Christ, and then John was witness to a most exciting worship service dedicated to the Creator, to God who the elders and four beasts call worthy to receive glory and honor and power for his creative power. And now in ch5 with John still in the throne room, where he has seen all these wonderful sights, he has his attention drawn to a book''.

C5-S1 (Verse 1) John saw the book in the hand of God.

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside,
sealed with seven seals.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence and chapter. Both sentences, and chapters, need to be considered together for contextual reasons. The prior chapter told us that John was called up to Heaven and what he saw as upon arriving. Now, this chapter is adding the action which he saw after arriving. He was called up to see, and report, the future actions which start in this chapter and continue through the rest of this book.

We have an interesting argument about time that we can consider at this point. Some men argue that time is not really the fourth dimension of this physical reality because ben can not traveled through time. Science fiction writers write stories about men doing that, but they are stories. However, we have three accounts (not stories) in The word of God, about time being changed. The account of Joshua asking The LORD to cause the sun to stay, so that he could finish the battle in Joshua 10. And, in 2Kings 20 went backward ten degrees. And, there is reportedly a third reference which I can not identify. However, when men were sending rockets into outer space, they calculated where the things in space, like the moon, would be when the rocket got there. And, reportedly, they missed every time until they put the Biblically reported changes in time into their aiming calculations. Then they, reportedly, hit what they were aiming for every time. Now, people can deny reality but their denial does not change reality. And, I know of other true evidences which are denied by so-called scientists because my uncle was the head engineer who designed the buggy which was driven, and left, on the moon. The point is that time is a true dimension of this physical reality, and God can control it, even if God prevents any other being, including devils, from controlling it or traveling through that dimension.

Returning to our sentence, we see that time is a dimension of this physical reality but it is not a limiting dimension of the spiritual reality which this physical reality is a subset of. Therefore, we can not travel through time nor can we, in our own ability, know the future. However, spiritual beings are not restricted the same way and they can tell men things of the future, if God allows them to do so. And, that is what we see John do in this Bible book.

Our sentence starts by reporting that John saw a book in the right hand of him that sat on the throne. The only Being Who sits on a throne, in Heaven, is God. And, the right hand is used, symbolically, for the hand of power, in The word of God. Thus we see that God has complete power and control over this book. Finally, while The word of God does not directly say this, the context makes it clear that this book is: 'The title deed to the Earth'.

This book is sealed with seven seals and we are told that the number seven is used, symbolically and in The word of God, for 'completion'. However, we need to be careful about symbolic meanings because they are not absolute and applicable in every instance.

We are also told that thos book was written within and on the backside. I can not tell you what the symbolic meaning of that truth is. However, it must be important because John was told to report it. . . .

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here John sees at the right hand of the Father a book, which is more like a scroll or rolled up parchment (instead of what we think of as a bound book) which has writing on both the front and the back, it is completely filled with writing, and it has 7 seals upon. Now my understanding of such rolled up scrolls/books is that the parchment paper, after it has been written on to a certain point, is rolled up to that point and a waxen seal placed upon it (usually stamped with a signet) and then it is written on further then rolled up further and another seal is placed upon it, then its written on some more, rolled up more and another seal placed, and so on and so forth until the entire scroll is rolled up and a final seal placed upon it. So here is a scroll with 7 sections to it marked by seven seals. So in order for one to read the entire scroll/book all 7 seals must be broken.
Now concerning this book, it contains 3 groups of sevens, the seven seals, later on the seven trumpets and then the seven vials or bowl judgments. Once this scroll is opened, the seals broken, at the breaking of the seventh seal we begin the seven trumpets and then at the seventh trumpet we begin the seven vial judgments. But the question is what exactly is this book, what does it represent? Why are the trumpets and vials linked with it? the answer to this question helps us understand everything else in Revelation, if we misinterpret this we will not properly understand the rest of what the Lord is telling us. this book, this scroll with the seven seals is the title deed to the earth and its inhabitants and gives the right to rule both to the one who possesses it. Whoever has the right to open this deed is entitled, has possession of the earth, possession of all upon it, and the right to rule them all. Adam was actually given this deed at the time of creation, for God gave him, mankind, dominion over the earth, over the beasts, over the vegetation, over all life but this deed, this right, this inheritance, was taken from Adam by Satan during the fall. Mankind forfeited all rights to the claim of rule over creation because of sin, man lost everything, the entire creation because of sin, and from that point on, creation and mankind have been waiting to be redeemed, to be purchased back, they await one who is worthy to buy back this inheritance. Ro 8:22 forwe know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now'until the time of redemption.
and to fully understand this we must understand the principles of the kinsmen redeemer according to Jewish Law: if one lost what was rightly theirs (due to debt or death or such) one who was near kin could come and redeem the property of their impoverished or deceased relative, they would in essence purchase or pay the debt and themselves have the right of ownership. In the book of Ruth we have a perfect example of this where Boaz redeems Ruth as he is near kin to Ruth's deceased father-in-law, Elimelech. Boaz purchases all rights and claim to Ruth and her family, she being redeemed rightfully became Boaz's wife. Boaz is the kinsman redeemer. He redeems that which his kin had lost. One could be a kinsman redeemer for debt or loss of property, for slavery, or for vengeance for a kinman's murder. But the kinsman redeemer had to have three qualifications: 1. they must be a kinsman, 2. they must be able to redeem/able to pay the price, and 3. they must also be willing to redeem. We see in the book of Ruth Boaz approaching one who was nearer kin to Ruth to see if they wished to redeem her, but they were either not able or not willing or both, thus Boaz took upon himself the responsibility as he was willing and able.
So here with creation and mankind, man has lost his right to rule, he is in debt to sin; creation and mankind groan and travail waiting to be redeemed, they yearn to be released from the curse of sin. And here is John in the heavenly throne room witnessing the book that holds the title of creation and mankind, this is what needs to be taken and possessed, but the question arises in v2, who is worthy to take the book, who is worthy to possess it all, who is near kin, who is able, who is willing to open it, to loose the seals and claim ownership? Who is worthy to lay claim to all things?'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S9; 2Corinthians 2:17 and Colossians C1S6 about the words see / sight. The New Testament definition is: 'perception of objects by the eye; view. this word is often used symbolically for spiritual understanding'. Please also see the note for John 6:40-LJC about the phrase see the Son. Please also see the note for Acts 2:25 about the words foresee / foresaw. Please also see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men.

We find the exact phrase of The right hand of God in: Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; Acts 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12; 1Peter 3:22. In these references we see that it is only Jesus Christ who has this position; that He is exalted; that He has power (angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him); and that He maketh intercession for us. The phrase The right hand occurs 170 times in 164 verses of the Bible and in 45 verses of the New Testament. It is used symbolically for: 'The hand of authority and power'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S12 and Colossians C2S7 about the word hand. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'In man, the extremity of the arm, consisting of the palm and fingers, connected with the arm at the wrist; the part with which we hold and use any instrument. Often used symbolically for ability'. Please also see the note for Matthew 18:28 about the phrase laid hands. Please also see the note for 1Peter 5:6-7 about the phrase hand of God. Please also see the note for Mark 16:19 about the phrase right hand of God. Please also see the note for Luke 1:38 about the word handmaid. Please also see the note for 1John 1:1-3 about the word handle. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:1-2 about the phrase at hand. This phrase is defined as: 'it will happen very soon'. Please also see the note for Matthew 18:28 about the phrase laid hands. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To physically grab with the intention of doing great harm which, usually, ends in death'.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word throne. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a royal chair or seat of dignity (De 17:18; 2Sa 7:13; Ps 45:6); an elevated seat with a canopy and hangings, which cover it. It denotes the seat of the high priest in 1Sa 1:9; 4:13, and of a provincial governor in Ne 3:7; Ps 122:5. the throne of Solomon is described at length in 1Ki 10:18-20'.

Please see the note for Luke 3:4 about the word book. the New Testament definition for this word is: 'A general name of every literary composition which is printed; but appropriately, a printed composition bound; a volume. the name is given also to any number of written sheets when bound or sewed together, and to a volume of blank paper, intended for any species of writing, as for memorandums, for accounts, or receipts. 1. A particular part of a literary composition; a division of a subject in the same volume. 2. A volume or collection of sheets in which accounts are kept; a register of debts and credits, receipts and expenditures'. Please also see the note for Galatians 3:10 about the phrase book of the law. Please also see the note for Revelation 13:8-LJC about the phrase book of the life.

Please see the note for Romans 4:23-25 about the word written. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'a retained record which can be used for judgment in a court of law'. Please also see the notes for Romans C15S13; 2Corinthians 1:13-14; Galatians C3-S12; John 20:31-LJC about the word write Please also see the notes for Luke 6:3-4; the Study called Prove; Ephesians C1S3 and Romans C3S15 about the phrase it is written.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S5 about the word seal. The New Testament definition for this word is: ' 'n. L. sigillum. 1. A piece of metal or other hard substance, usually round or oval, on which is ingraved some image or device, and sometimes a legend or inscription. this is used by individuals, corporate bodies and states, for making impressions on wax upon instruments of writing, as an evidence of their authenticity. the king of England has his seal and his privy seal. Seals are sometimes worn in rings'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:1; 5:2; 5:5; 5:9; 6:1; 6:3; 6:5; 6:7; 6:9; 6:12; 7:2-3; 7:4; 7:5; 7:5; 7:6; 7:6; 7:6; 7:7; 7:7; 7:7; 7:8; 7:8; 7:8; 8:1; 9:4; 10:4; 20:3; 22:10.

Please see the note for Matthew 15:34 about the word seven. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Ge 2:2-3). the division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. this number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban; Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number" (see Le 25:4; 1Sa 2:5; Ps 12:6; 79:12; Pr 26:16; Isa 4:1; Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4). the feast of Passover (Ex 12:15-16), the feast of Weeks (De 16:9), of Tabernacles (De 13:15), and the Jubilee (Le 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Le 27:34,34; 8:11,33; 14:9,51), of forgiveness (Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4), of reward (De 28:7; 1Sa 2:5), and of punishment (Le 26:21,24,28; De 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Pr 26:16,25; Isa 4:1; Mt 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Ge 4:15,24; Le 26:24; Ps 79:12'. Please also see the note for Luke 10:1 about the word seventy.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'that sat. Re 4:3 exp: Re 21:5. a book. Re 10:2,8-11; Isa 34:16; Eze 2:9-10 sealed. Re 6:1; Isa 8:16; 29:11; Da 8:26; 12:4-9'.

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C5-S2 (Verse 2) the proclamation.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the book,
and to loose the seals thereof?.

Here, we have a proclamation which is presented as a question. In general, people will think about a question more than they will think about a statement. So, when God really wants us to think about something, He presents it, in The word of God, as a question instead of as a statement.

We read that this angel uses a loud voice is that all of Heaven will hear the proclamation. Not only does the angel do this, but our Lord Jesus Christ makes sure that John arrives in time to hear the proclamation. He does not arrive early, so that is no chance of him being distracted and missing the proclamation. ForThe same reason, he does not arrive late. The only thing which happened before this was Our Lord Jesus Christ told John to write things down and send them to the churches, which represent all saved people. After that, we have this proclamation and God makes sure that all beings in heaven and all saved know about it. Thus, we see the importance of it.

The main part of this question is; Who is worthy?. And, last in this chapter, we see that the only Being Who is worthy is our Lord Jesus Christ in His role as The Lamb. That is, He proved His worth by dying for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2). o one else has ever made as great of a sacrifice. Therefore, no one else was found to be worthy.

The remainder of question is: to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?. This qualifies what is required in order to be worthy. We already discussed The book in the note for the prior sentence. And, Dr. Jeff Wilson writes the historical significance of the seals.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'What I find interesting here is that its not just any angel that proclaims such a question, but it is a strong angel, a high ranking angel of phenomenal power and divinity, who himself has to ask who is worthy as he is not. A mighty angel of God has to ask who is the rightful heir of the world? Who has the title to claim creation as his own? Who is worthy to possess it? Who has paid the price to redeem it? And at such a proclamation, at such a question of supreme importance, everything grows quiet. Not a peep is heard, not a whisper, not a sigh, not a breath''.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word strong. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Having physical active power, or great physical power; having the power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:2; 18:2; 18:8.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S1; Significant Gospel Events; Significant New Testament Events about the word angel. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Literally, a messenger; one employed to communicate news or information or do a job for God'. Please also see the note for Jude 1:7 about the word archangel.

Please see the note for Luke 12:3 about the word proclaim. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 defines this word as: '1. to promulgate; to announce; to publish; as, to proclaim a fast; to proclaim a feast. Lev.23. 1 Kings 21. He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives. Is.61. 2. to denounce; to give official notice of. Heralds were formerly employed to proclaim war. 3. to declare with honor; as, to proclaim the name of the Lord, that is, to declare his perfections. Ex.33. 4. to utter openly; to make public. Some profligate wretches openly proclaim their atheism. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness. Prov.20. 5. to outlaw by public denunciation. I heard myself proclaimed'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S11 about the word voice. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. L. vox; voco. the sense of the verb is to throw, to drive out sound; and voice is that which is driven out. 1. Sound or audible noise uttered by the mouth, either of human beings or of other animals. We say, the voice of a man is loud or clear; the voice of a woman is soft or musical; the voice of a dog is loud or harsh; the voice of a bird is sweet or melodious. the voice of human beings is articulate; that of beasts, inarticulate. the voices of men are different, and when uttered together, are often dissonant. 2. Any sound made by the breath; as the trumpet's voice. 3. A vote; suffrage; opinion or choice expressed. Originally voice was the oral utterance of choice, but it now signifies any vote however given. Some laws ordain, and some attend the choice of holy senates, and elect by voice. I have no words; my voice is in my sword. 4. Language; words; expression. Let us call on God in the voice of his church. 5. In Scripture, command; precept. Ye would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. Deut. 8. 6. Sound. After the fire, a still small voice. 1Kings 19. Canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Job. 40. the floods have lifted up their voice. Ps. 93. 7. Language; tone; mode of expression. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice. Gal. 4. 8. In grammar, a particular mode of inflecting or conjugating verbs; as the active voice; the passive voice.
VOICE, v.t. 1. to rumor; to report. It was voiced that the king purposed to put to death Edward Plantagenet. Little used. 2. to fit for producing the proper sounds; to regulate the tone of; as, to voice the pipes of an organ. 3. to vote'. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven.

Please also see the note for Acts 5:41 about the word worthy. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. G. 1. Deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved. She has married a man worthy of her. thou art worthy of the sway. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies--Genesis 32. 2. Possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; as a worthy citizen; a worthy magistrate. Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be. this worthy mind should worthy things embrace. 3. Suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value; as flowers worthy of paradise. 4. Suitable to anything bad. the merciless Macdonald, worthy to be a rebel. 5. Deserving of ill; as things worthy of stripes. Luke 12.
WORTHY, n. A man of eminent worth; a man distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a man of valor; a word much used in the plural; as the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the words worth / worthily. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines worthily as: 'adv. 1. In a manner suited to; as, to walk worthily of our extraction. Bad. 2. Deservedly; according to merit. You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. 3. Justly; not without cause. I affirm that some may very worthily deserve to be hated'.

Please see the note for John 18:20 about the words open / openly. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes. to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or cover and set open; as, to open a door or gate; to open a desk'.

Please see the note for Mark 11:4 about the word loose. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To untie or unbind; to free from any fastening'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:2; 5:5; 9:14; 9:15; 20:3; 20:7.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 5:13; Isa 40:13-14; 41:28; Ro 11:34'.

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C5-S3 (Verse 3) No one else was found worthy.

And no man in heaven,
nor in earth,
neither under the earth,
was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon.

Our sentence makes it clear that our Lord Jesus Christ waited until a througheral search was made everywhere before He acted. He waited in order to prove that no one else was worthy first, so that there could be no question of His own uniqur worth.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'No one answers. No man is found worthy. there may be many willing to rule the world, but none are found worthy of it. No man steps forward. Not one in heaven, not one in the earth, not one in hell was found worthy or able to open the book or to read it or even look upon its contents. No redeemer of mankind steps forward, they all look away in shame due to their unworthiness. Will man forever be left in the bondage of slavery, will creation always suffer under the curse? Such questions are enough to break the Apostle John's heart, for he, understanding the great importance of this book, what all is riding on the answer of 'who is worthy?', knowing mankind's need of redemption from sin, knowing the travesty that has been inflicted over the centuries upon creation because of the wrong ownership, it is too much to bear, and since no man can be found it breaks John and he begins to weep'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "The eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "The third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah'. In Ge 9:20 "husbandman" is literally "man of the ground or earth." Altars were to be built of earth (Ex 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth (2Ki 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil. (2). As the rendering of 'erets, it means the whole world (Ge 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (Ge 1:10). Erets also denotes a country (Ge 21:32); a plot of ground (Ge 23:15); the ground on which a man stands (Ge 33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (Ge 6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (2Ch 13:9). In the New Testament "The earth" denotes the land of Judea (Mt 23:35); also things carnal in contrast with things heavenly (Joh 3:31; Col 3:1-2)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word earthen. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word earthly. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Revelation 10:11-LJC about the phrase kings of the earth. Please also see the note for Matthew 32-33 about the phrase Judge of all the earth.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:4 about the word look. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The primary sense is to stretch, to extend, to shoot, hence to direct the eye. We observe its primary sense is nearly the same as that of seek. Hence, to look for is to seek'. Please also see the note for Galatians C6S6 about the phrase LORD looketh on the heart.

Please see the note for Acts 6:10 about the word able. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a'bl. L. habitis 1. Having physical power sufficient; having competent power or strength, bodily or mental; as a man able to perform military service - a child is not able to reason on abstract subjects. 2. Having strong or unusual powers of mind, or intellectual qualifications; as an able minister. Provide out of all Israel able men. Ex. 18. 3. Having large or competent property; or simply have property, or means. Every man shall give as he is able. Deut. 16. 4. Having competent strength or fortitude. He is not able to sustain such pain or affliction. 5. Having sufficient knowledge or skill. He is able to speak French. She is not able to play on the piano. 6. Having competent moral power or qualifications. An illegitimate son is not able to take by inheritance'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:3; 6:17; 13:4; 15:8.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 5:13; Isa 40:13-14; 41:28; Ro 11:34'.

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C5-S4 (Verse 4) the reaction by John to the action of the prior sentence.

And I wept much,
because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book,
neither to look thereon.

Remember that John can not see the future. He has to be shown the future before he can report it. And, at this time, he sees that no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Obviously, at this point, John knows that this book is very important. We are not told if he knew what the book was, but he knew that it was very important. That is why he wept. He reacted this way because it appeared as if everything would be lost. And, without the sacrifice of The Lamb, everything would be lost. In addition, anyone who refuses His sacrifice for their own sins will also lose everything. And, while most people want to accept His sacrifice, most refuse His requirement that they also accept Him as their own personal Lord. That is why most people go to Hell and The lake of fire.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'No angel or any man steps forward to claim what was lost, out of the innumerable multitude no man steps forward to possess the right to regain what was forfeited, no man has the right to be the kinsman redeemer. Here we see the complete moral inability of man, he can not redeem his own soul much less all of creation. And so John despairs, he weeps'will redemption be fulfilled?, will things always remain in such a pitiful shape?, will sin always abound? John, in his vision, in heaven, in the throne room, before all the majesty and God Himself weeps and sobs, tears stream down his face, such sorrow and sadness. He weeps because God's plan for redemption for man and creation can not be completed without the book being opened. But as if to comfort John, look what happens''.

The word wept is the past-tense form of the word weep. Please see the note for John 20:11-12 about the word weep. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to express sorrow, grief or anguish by outcry. this is the original sense. But in present usage, to manifest and express grief by outcry or by shedding tears. they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him. Acts 20. Phocion was rarely seen to weep or to laugh. 2. to shed tears from any passion. Persons sometimes weep for joy. 3. to lament; to complain. Numbers 11.
WEEP, v.t. 1. to lament; to bewail; to bemoan. We wandring go through dreary wastes, and weep each others woe. 2. to shed moisture; as, to weep tears of joy. Groves whose rich trees wept odrous gum and balm. 3. to drop; as the weeping amber. 4. to abound with wet; as weeping grounds'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:4; 5:5; 18:11; 18:15; 18:19.

Please also see the note for Acts 5:41 about the word worthy. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. G. 1. Deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved. She has married a man worthy of her. thou art worthy of the sway. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies--Genesis 32. 2. Possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; as a worthy citizen; a worthy magistrate. Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. this worthy mind should worthy things embrace. 3. Suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value; as flowers worthy of paradise. 4. Suitable to anything bad. the merciless Macdonald, worthy to be a rebel. 5. Deserving of ill; as things worthy of stripes. Luke 12.
WORTHY, n. A man of eminent worth; a man distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a man of valor; a word much used in the plural; as the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the words worth / worthily. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines worthily as: 'adv. 1. In a manner suited to; as, to walk worthily of our extraction. Bad. 2. Deservedly; according to merit. You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. 3. Justly; not without cause. I affirm that some may very worthily deserve to be hated'.

We find forms of the word read occurring 82 times in 76 verses of the Bible, 36 times in 33 verses of the New Testament and, in Revelation in: 1:3 and 5:4. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: ', n. See the Verb. 1. Counsel. Obs. 2. Saying; sentence. Obs. READ, v.t. the preterit and pp. read, is pronounced red. Gr. to say or tell, to flow; a speaker, a rhetorician. the primary sense of read is to speak, to utter, that is, to push, drive or advance. this is also the primary sense of ready, that is, prompt or advancing, quick. L. gratia, the primary sense of which is prompt to favor, advancing towards, free. the elements of these words are the same as those of ride and L. gradior, etc. the sense of reason is secondary, that which is uttered, said or set forth; hence counsel also. See Ready. 1. to utter or pronounce written or printed words, letters or characters in the proper order; to repeat the names or utter the sounds customarily annexed to words, letters or characters; as, to read a written or printed discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music. 2. to inspect and understand words or characters; to peruse silently; as, to read a paper or letter without uttering the words; to read to one's self. 3. to discover or understand by characters, marks or features; as, to read a man's thoughts in his countenance. Toread the interior structure of the globe. An armed corse did lie, in whose dead face he read great magnanimity. 4. to learn by observation. Those about her from her shall read the perfect ways of honor. 5. to know fully. Who is't can read a woman? 6. to suppose; to guess. Obs. 7. to advise. Obs.
READ, v.i. 1. to perform the act of reading. So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense. Neh. 8. 2. to be studious; to practice much reading. It is sure that Fleury roads. 3. to learn by reading. I have read of an eastern king who put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence. 4. to tell; to declare. Not in use.
READ, pp. red. 1. Uttered; pronounced, as written words in the proper order; as, the letter was read to the family. 2. Silently perused. READ, a. red. Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned. Well read is the phrase commonly used; as well read in history; well read in the classics. A poet well read in Longinus'. Please also see the note for Luke 6:3 about the phrase have ye not read. Please note that the word readeth means: 'having a lifestyle of reading'.

Please see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'provides a effect where the cause and effect are both in the past'. This is opposed to the use of the word for, which has a New Testament definitionof: 'provides a effect where the effect is in the past but the effect is in the future'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 about the word cause. Please also see the note for John 15:25 Romans C1S10 about the phrase without cause. Please also see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth.

The word found is the past-tense form of the word find. Please see the note for John 1:41 about the word find. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Literally, to come to; to meet; hence, to discover by the eye; to gain first sight or knowledge of something lost; to recover either by searching for it or by accident'. The important part of this definition is the ongoing effort which is required until the desired object is found. The Bible does not use this word for 'stumbling upon something'. The word found is the past-tense form of the word find.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'because. Re 4:1; Da 12:8-9'.

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C5-S5 (Verse 5) John was told to stop his worry.

Equivalent Section: Who spoke to him.

And one of the elders saith unto me,
Weep not:.

Equivalent Section: What John was told.

behold,
The Lion of the tribe of Juda,
The Root of David,
hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Please also see the Significant Gospel Events Study for the Minor Titles of the Son of God for the titles in this sentence (Lion; Root of David).

No one would expect a lion to also be a Lamb. Our Lord Jesus Christ is called a Lion because He wins all battles. However, He willingly became the Lamb of God and was not defeated. This proves His love for us.

He is also called The Root of David because He was Who our Lord Jesus Christ enabled to kill the bear, the lion and Goliath. He was the one Who enabled king David to rule like he did, to worship and prophesy like he did and gave king David his spiritual character. In addition to those things, David was a king Who laid down righteous principals of law. And he learned those from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, because of Who He is, and what He has done and what He will do, one of the elders saith unto me (John), Weep not. The elder, in Heaven already knew what would happen, at leaser as much as God had revealed. However, more than any knowledge of prophecy, the elder knew the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, and what He would do, which is why The elder called Him: The Lion of the tribe of Juda, (and) the Root of David.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read what John was told. And, as we read elsewhere, what he was told starts with the word behold because he, and us, are being told to 'Pay close attention'. And, what we are to 'Pay close attention to' is the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, which allows Him to: open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Notice the word prevailed, in our sentence. He not only dies for our sins, but then the devils took Him into Hell, (he was righteous and did not bust in). After He was there, He took back His own power and authority as Lord God, defeated Satan and all devils by Himself (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21) and took the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). {Before then, Satan had The power of death (Hebrews 2:14)}. This is how He prevailed.

Now, not only has He prevailed, but He will also open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Our next chapter tells us what will happen as He loosens the seven seals thereof. As we read there, He is starting to take rule of the Earth by bringing judgment and death upon the men who have rejected Him as their true King. We see several judgments prophesied in this book, but these are the first judgments against the enemies of God.

The devil is known as a lion in Psalm 7:2; Psalm 10:9; Psalm 17:12; Psalm 22:13; Psalm 22:21; Proverbs 28:15; Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 5:6; Ezekiel 22:25; Daniel 7:4; 1Peter 5:8; Revelation 13:2. (Note: many references to lion in the Bible are references to God or to the Heavenly beasts such as in Revelation 4:7; 5:5). While the devil tries to act like a lion, God's Lamb destroys the devil's lion because, as our sentence says, He is also the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David. God's Lamb is far more powerful than the devil's lion. Therefore, He is a Lamb only to God the Father (He is our Shepherd). Toall others, He is God's Lion. He was completely submissive to God the Father (Philippians 2:5-8) but acts totally different when dealing with other people, as we see throughout this epistle.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'One of the 24 elders, one of the representatives of saved believers, gets up from his throne, walks over to John and quietly whispers to him in the silence as if to comfort the broken apostle, and says almost with a glimmer in his eye 'Weep not:{do not sorrow, do not be sad, do not shed a tear} behold, {look there, cast your attention yonder and look for'} the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. the elder urges John to wipe the tears from his eyes for he has almost missed a most glorious sight, behold the Lion, the one of the tribe of Judah, the majestic king, the conqueror, the courageous, the victor, the overcomer, the one with power to rule and reign, behold the Root of David, the creator of David and his line who is also of the lineage of David, the son of David, who has the right to the throne of David, the Messiah! Behold this one has prevailed, has been found worthy in all ways to take the book, to open the book, to break the seals of the book, to look upon and read the book, one has been found worthy, look John a Redeemer has stepped forward! And so John wipes away his tears and looks once more towards the throne, he searches for a strong and fierce Lion, for a king of the line of David, but what does he see?'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 5:1 about the word elder. The true Biblical definition for this word is: 'An older saved person within the church who has Godly wisdom and is accepted as a leader in the church even if he has no formal position within the church'. Please be careful about this definition as there are several wrong religious definitions which are strongly held by people including 'Good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists'. In addition, many man-written dictionaries have different definitions, and many of those have parts that did not match the Biblical usage.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'lifestyle speaking. A saying that never changes when said by God'. Please also see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. The New Testament definition is: 'Uttering in articulate sounds or words; speaking; telling; relating; reciting'. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please also see the notes for Romans C15S15 and 2Corinthians 2:17 about the word speak. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word speech. Please also see the notes for Ephesians C4S15 and 1Peter 2:1 about the phrase evil speaking. The words speaketh and saith mean that the person 'keeps on keeping on doing the saying'.

Please see the note for Colossians C2S3 about the word behold. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines this word as: 'to fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1. 2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21. BEHO'LD, v.i. to look; to direct the eyes to an object. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lambdas it had been slain. Rev.5. 1. to fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3.word is much used in this manner for exciting attention, or admiration. It is in the imperative mode, expressing command, or exhortation; and by no means a mere exclamation'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden.

Please see the note for Revelation 4:7 about the word lion. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A literal type of physical animal whose character traits are used symbolically for spiritual beings such as The Lion of the tribe of Judah is Jesus Christ'. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events Study for the Minor Titles of the Son of God for this title.

Please see the note for Matthew 24:29 about the word tribe. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A family, race or series of generations, descending from the same progenitor and kept distinct, as in the case of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:5; 7:4; 7:5; 7:5; 7:5; 7:6; 7:6; 7:6; 7:7; 7:7; 7:7; 7:8; 7:8; 7:8; 21:12. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events Study for the Minor Titles of the Son of God.

Juda is one of the tribes of Jews. Please see the note for John 7:3 about the words Jewry / Judaea / Judea / Judah. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'This name occurs in Ezr 5:8 for the territory of Judah; in Da 5:13 the same is called JEWRY. In the N.T. the name at times refers to a much larger district, including all south of about 32 5' N with the plain on the west border of the land to mount Carmel as generally shown on N.T. maps. the land was thus divided by Rome, with Samaria in the centre, and Galilee in the north. In Lu 3:1 Judaea embraces the above and Samaria; but in other passages a smaller area than the above is implied. Ac 12:19 speaks of Herod going down from Judaea to Caesarea, whereas Caesarea would be part of the Judaea of the Romans. Paul, in Ga 1:22; 1Th 2:14, speaks of the 'churches of Judaea' which would seem to embrace the whole of Palestine. the context will almost always show the extent of the district intended. It is called JEWRY in Lu 23:5; Joh 7:1.'. the New Testament definition is: 'The area of land generally associated with the Southern Kingdom and religious control by Jewish rulers but which varies in size from one reference to another'.

Please see the notes for Romans C11S22; Romans C14S27 and 1Timothy 6:10 about the word root. The New Testament definition for this word is: ''The original or cause of anything'. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events Study for the Minor Titles of the Son of God. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:5; 22:16.

In the Bible, we see that king David was: 'The most important king in Jewish history. He was given many promises because of his personal relationship with God. The most important promise given to him was that Christ would be a physical descendent of his'. Please see the Verses in the New Testament about the phrase Son of David. Please also see the note for Luke 1:26-27 about the phrase house of David.

Please see the note for John 12:19 about the word prevail. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority'.

Please see the note for Mark 11:4 about the word loose. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To untie or unbind; to free from any fastening'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'one. Re 4:4,10; 7:13 exp: Da 7:16. Weep. Jer 31:16; Lu 7:13; 8:52; 23:28; Joh 20:13 the Lion. Ge 49:9-10; Nu 24:9; Heb 7:14 the Root. Re 22:16; Isa 11:1,10; Jer 23:5-6; Ro 1:3; 15:12 hath. Re 1:1; 6:1 General references. exp: Ex 37:23; Jg 1:2; Re 11:16'.

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C5-S6 (Verse 6) . What John saw after the elder. explained the truth to him.

And I beheld,
and,
lo,
in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders,
stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Please see the note for Luke 1:67-75 about The horn of salvation and see the message called The Prophecy of Zacharias about the seven horns.

John starts his sentence with the phrase; I beheld followed by: and, lo. That is: 'John paid close attention and he wants us to think about what he is reporting in this sentence'. In the prior sentence, the elder told him that The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed. Only, when he looks, he does not see what he expected to see. Instead, he sees: a Lamb as it had been slain. This is not what we expect to see as a victor. And, yet, that is how The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed. This, obviously, can not be understood using natural reasoning. This requires spiritual understanding. God does not do things the way that men or devils expect Him to do things. God has greater wisdom and understanding and proves it by prevailing in a way which appears as if He would lose. God the Father lets God the Son live, suffer and die, as a weak literal physical man, and lets His soul and Spirit be literally dragged into Hell, before He proves His true power and authority by prevailing against Satan and all devils combined. He is The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, but He prevails by first becoming a Lamb (that) had been slain.

And, as the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ now shows His spiritual understanding and His spiritual wisdom by revealing His seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God. It should be obvious that these seven horns and seven eyes are symbolic language, not physical, for His revealed power (seven horns) and understanding (seven eyes), which were hid until God revealed them.

As explained in the Lord Jesus Christ Study, (use the link in the sentence outline above to access that note), this is the first mention of Lamb in this epistle. And, the rest of this chapter tells us about the woprship of The Lamb in Heaven. But He isn't like any lamb that we know of.

As a perfect sacrifice (Lamb as it had been slain), Jesus met God's requirement to pay for our sin. As the Lamb, He is is related to (some variation of) offering / sacrifice / payment in Genesis 21:28-30; Genesis 22:7-8; Exodus 12:3-5; Exodus 21; Exodus 13:13; Exodus 29:38-41; Exodus 34:20; Leviticus 3:7; Leviticus 4:32; Leviticus 4:35; Leviticus 5:6-7; Leviticus 9:3; Leviticus 12:6; Leviticus 8; Leviticus 14:10; Leviticus 12-13; Leviticus 21; Leviticus 24-25; Leviticus 17:3; Leviticus 22:23; Leviticus 23:12; Leviticus 18-20; Numbers 6:12; Numbers 6:14; Numbers 7:15; Numbers 7:17; Numbers 7:21; Numbers 7:23; Numbers 7:27; Numbers 7:29; Numbers 7:33; Numbers 7:35; Numbers 7:39; Numbers 7:41; Numbers 7:45; Numbers 7:47; Numbers 7:51; Numbers 7:53; Numbers 7:57; Numbers 7:59; Numbers 7:63; Numbers 7:65; Numbers 7:69; Numbers 7:71; Numbers 7:75; Numbers 7:77; Numbers 7:81; Numbers 7:83; Numbers 7:87-88; Numbers 15:5; Numbers 15:11; Numbers 15:3-4; Numbers 15:7-9; Numbers 15:11; Numbers 15:13-14; Numbers 28:19; Numbers 28:21; Numbers 28:27; Numbers 28:29; Numbers 29:2; Numbers 29:4; Numbers 29:8; Numbers 29:10; Numbers 29:13; Numbers 29:15; Numbers 29:17-18; Numbers 29:20-21; Numbers 29:23-24; Numbers 29:26-27; Numbers 29:29-30; Numbers 29:32-33; Numbers 29:36-37; 1Samuel 7:9; 2Kings 3:4; 1Chronicles 29:21; 2Chronicles 29:21-22; 2Chronicles 29:32; 2Chronicles 35:7; Ezra 6:9; Ezra 6:17; Ezra 7:17; Ezra 8:35; Psalms 37:20; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 34:6; Isaiah 43:23; Isaiah 53:7; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 11:19; Jeremiah 51:40; Ezekiel 34:17; Ezekiel 45:15; Ezekiel 46:4-7; Ezekiel 46:11; Ezekiel 46:13; Ezekiel 46:15; John 1:29; John 1:36; 1Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 5:12-13; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 13:8. (Note: While these are most of the references in the Bible that have lamb or lambs, they are not all. Some Biblical references are not about sacrifice.) in this verse, we read that John saw a Lamb as it had been slain. This very clearly speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is a very important part of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 27:31-66 and Mark Matthew 15:20-47 and Luke 23:26-56 and John 19:16-42 contain the gospel accounts of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. Please see those sentences and associated notes. Please also see the note for Mark 14:21 for the prophecies of Jesus Christ being betrayed. See the note for Mark 8:31 for the prophecies of the suffering of Jesus Christ. See the note for Matthew 28:2 for references to Jesus being Lord after His resurrection. ) In Revelation we see that those who have accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sin worship the Lamb while all others fear His wrath.

We see John also reported that Jesus was The Lamb of God in John 1:29; John 1:36. This phrase was well understood by the Jews because a lamb was often used in sacrifice (Exodus 29:38-39 = daily sacrifice and Luke 23:44-46 = Jesus offered at time of evening sacrifice). The reference to the sacrifice of the Son of God is several places in the New Testament and explained quite a bit in Hebrews (see Hebrews 9 and Hebrews 10 and related notes). Further, the concept of The Lamb of God had been used before in the Bible when a sacrificial lamb represented Christ (Genesis 22:8 = place of crucifixion; Exodus 12:3-11 = Acts 8:32; 1Corinthians 5:7; 1Peter 1:19 references Isaiah 53:7; Isaiah 53:11).

We can also apply the concept of a lamb being loved like a family member as seen in the story from Nathan to David in 2 Samuel 12. (Also see Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:17; etc). Many people understand a pet being loved as much or more than children. Pets quickly learn to not be rebellious (unlike most children who are usually slow about these types of lessons). God's Son was beloved beyond any love that anyone has for a pet, yet God the Father was willing to sacrifice Him for our sake. It was not just God the Son who suffered for our salvation.

We see that this vision of the Son of God is in in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders because they are whom God reveals His power and wisdom and understanding to. In addition, our sentence tells us that God has sent (them) forth into all the earth, but we know that men, especially religious men, refuse to listen to God's prophets and to God's true elders, when they deliver God's true wisdom and understanding, which go against natural reasoning and religious traditions. The four beasts represent the seven Spirits of God, and the messengers which God uses to deliver spiritual truths to His true prophets and elders, who then try to deliver God's true message to God's people. God has sent forth (His message) into all the earth and His message is accepter and passed on by His true prophets and elders (as represented by the beings identified in this sentence), but their message is rejected by most people.

In our last two phrases, we read: having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are detailed in Isaiah 11:2 as:

The spirit of Lord, which gives us God's never changing law and judgment.
The spirit of wisdom, which gives us how to apply spiritual truths in our life.
The spirit of understanding, which gives us how different things of The word of God fit together without conflict.
The spirit of counsel, which gives us advice on how to proceed when we face the problems of life.
The spirit of might, which gives us God's power to do what we can not do on our own.
The spirit of knowledge, which gives us what The word of God actually says.
The spirit of the fear of the LORD, which gives us the motivation to stop our sinning.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'John looks for a lion but instead sees a Lamb, for this Lamb is the Lion, as John sees the Lord Jesus, the one who spoke to him to write of what he saw, the one whose breast John had once rested his head upon, he sees the one he walked and talked with, the one he saw nailed to the old rugged cross, tortured and ormented, this is the one he saw die upon Calvary but also the one he saw alive and well on the third day after such a tragedy, the one he saw resurrected from the grave, this is the one he saw ascend into heaven to be with the Father, this is the one he knew and loved; John sees the Lamb, the Lord Jesus who is innocent, meek and gentle, who is as John the Baptist declared Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John sees the one who conquered sin by his own sacrifice, he sees the Redeemer of mankind, the kinsman redeemer, the one who is worthy to take the book, who has the right to take the book and lay claim to the world for he purchased/redeemed it all with his own blood. this is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Messiah, the Christ, the Root of David, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb and Son of God, John sees that it is Jesus who is found worthy to take the book!
Much like God the Father is found worthy in ch4, Jesus is worthy as well for Jesus is God, part of the triune God. that is why he can approach and is in the midst of the throne of God, that's why he can come and take the book out of the right hand of the Father, for that is where Jesus is stationed, at the right hand of the Father. Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; this is one of the most important times, one of the most important scenes, since time began, when Jesus the Lamb of God takes the book, the title deed of man and creation, ready and willing to redeem it, for in the Old Testament we had the question 'where is the lamb'asked by Isaac when Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, in the New Testament we have, as already stated, the proclamation 'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.', and now we will soon have proclaimed 'worthy is the Lamb'. And it is Jesus who is this Lamb!
And we can see this is no ordinary lamb, for John describes this Lamb in such a marvelous subtle way. John says he beheld in the midst of the throne, in the midst of the beasts and the elders, there in the center, standing was a Lamb as it had been slain. this Lamb has the markings of a sacrificial death, this Lamb had died, this Lamb had suffered, this Lamb had given it all, given its life, John can easily see the nail pierced hands and feet of Christ, he can see the spear wound in the Lord's side, and yet this Lamb that had been slain, that had given his life, who had shed his blood to redeem the world, is now standing. He stands in the midst (v6) for he is alive! He is alive forevermore, He is well, He is strong, He is powerful, mighty, righteous, and has overcome death itself, and he is worthy to take the book for he purchased that right with his blood! John sees the Lord Jesus here as we shall see him in eternity, easily identified as the sacrificial Lamb of God, with an eternal reminder of the price he paid for our salvation, forever bearing the scars of the price he paid, he truly is the Lamb of God. Did you know that in the Old Testament Jesus is only referred to directly as the Lamb twice (Isa 53:7, Jer 11:19) and only twice in the gospels (John 1:29, 36), only once in the book of Acts (8:32), and only once in the epistles (I Pet 1:19), but he is referred to as the Lamb 28 times in Revelation. (John Philips). John sees the Lord Jesus in his glory, in his godliness as the Lamb, for look at how John describes Jesus'v6'having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
John sees Christ is all his perfection, the number seven being symbolic of such. And here Jesus has 7 horns, this does not mean that Jesus in some grotesque way has 7 horns growing out of his head, but a horn in the Bible is symbolic of power, so John sees the perfect power and authority of Jesus, the 7 eyes speak of wisdom, Jesus is perfect in his wisdom and intellect, and that wisdom is directly linked with the 7 Spirits of God that are sent to all the earth, speaking of Christ's perfect presence throughout creation. Now this picture is not something we typically think of about Jesus, but let me give you a description we might understand a little better. Perfect power (horns) would refer to his omnipotence. Perfect wisdom (eyes) would refer to omniscience, and perfect presence (Spirits) would refer to his omnipresence as well as Christ sending the Holy Spirit as the Comforter to take His place and to be with all his followers when Jesus left this earth. All three of these characteristics are only possessed by God. And here is the Son of God, part of the triune God, in all his glorious perfection, and as God (who we have seen is worthy in ch4 for his creative power over creation, which all personalities of the Trinity participated in), we now see that God the Son is worthy to take the book, to reclaim the lost title of creation and mankind, to be given dominion over all, eternal dominion, for he paid the price for redemption, he paid the price for sin for he became sin for us. Da 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
And it is this Jesus, the Lamb, who approaches the throne and takes the book out of the hand of the Father. He claims it because he paid the sin debt of creation, he purchased the world to be his own. Even though it was his when he created it, he gave it to man who lost it thru sin, yet Jesus purchased it back on the cross, he redeemed it. But up to this point in time the Lord Jesus has not yet claimed the title deed of this world, not just yet, but here in the throne room, in the hereafter, after the rapture of the church, the Lord Jesus now takes the book and is ready to break the seals (which he begins to do in ch6) and to lay full claim to all. Creation will be set free from its bondage to sin and death and soon, very soon, Jesus will return to the earth to rule and reign all creation. this Lamb will defeat the great red dragon and lay claim to all the earth. It is his for he created it, it is his for he purchased it at Calvary, and now it is his for he is ready to take it by conquest. So is it any wonder he is described as worthy?!? the Lord Jesus now lays claim to what is rightfully and properly His, He lays claim to what He has purchased thru his love and His life, Jesus takes the book! And what happens when the Lord Jesus takes the book? Proclamation of his worthiness is echoed throughout heaven and earth'.

The word beheld is the past-tense form of the word behold. Please see the note for Colossians C2S3 about the word behold. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines this word as: 'to fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1. 2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21. BEHO'LD, v.i. to look; to direct the eyes to an object. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lambdas it had been slain. Rev.5. 1. to fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3.word is much used in this manner for exciting attention, or admiration. It is in the imperative mode, expressing command, or exhortation; and by no means a mere exclamation'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden. Forms of the word beheld are used, in this book, in: 5:6; 5:11; 6:5; 6:12; 7:9; 8:13; 11:12; 13:11.

Please see the note for Luke 18:28 about the word lo. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'exclaim. Look; see; behold; observe. this word is used to excite particular attention in a hearer to some object of sight, or subject of discourse. Lo, here is Christ. Matt 24. Lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:6; 6:5; 6:12; 7:9; 14:1.

Please see the note for John 20:19 about the word midst. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'The middle. there is nothing said or done in the midst of the play, which might not have been placed in the beginning. the phrase, in the midst, often signifies involved in, surrounded or overwhelmed by, or in the thickest part, or in the depths of; as in the midst of afflictions, troubles or cares; in the midst of our contemplations; in the midst of the battle; in the midst of pagan darkness and error; in the midst of Gospel light; in the midst of the ocean; in the midst of civil dissensions. From the midst, from the middle, or from among. Deut.18.
MIDST, adv. In the middle. On earth, join all ye creatures to extol Him first, Him last, Him midst, and without end'.

The four beasts of Revelation are described in Revelation 4:6-8. Please see the notes for those sentences about their descriptions and the symbolism involved in those descriptions. We find the four beasts of Revelation mentioned in: 4:6; 4:8; 5:6; 5:8; 5:14; 6:1; 6:6; 7:11-12; 14:2-3; 15:7 and 19:4.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The word stood is the past-tense form of the word stand. Please see the notes for Romans C14S5 and 1Corinthians C15S1 about the word stand. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'to be upon the feet, as an animal; not to sit, kneel or lie'. Please also see the note for Philippians 1:18 about the word notwithstanding. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C14S2 about the word understand. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast.

Please see the note for Luke 9:22 about the word slain. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'pp. of slay; so written for slayen. Killed'. Please also see the note for Luke 11:49-51 about the word slay.

Please see the note for Luke 1:67-75 about the word horn. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Of animals were used as drinking vessels, and to hold ointments, perfumes, etc., 1Sa 16:1; 1Ki 1:39. the "horns of the altar" were its four corners and elevation on them, Ex 27:2; 30:2. See ALTAR. the principal defense and ornament of many beasts are in their horns; and hence the horn is often a symbol of strength, honor, and dominion. the Lord exalted the horn of David, and of his people; he breaketh the horn of salvation, and of defiling the horn in the dust, De 33:17; 1Sa 2:1,10; Job 16:15; Ps 75:10; Da 7:20-24; Lu 1:69. there may be an allusion in these passages to a very common part of the female dress in some parts of the East. the married women among the Druses of mount Lebanon still wear on their heads silver horns, as in the accompanying cut; the other head is that of an Abyssinian chief'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:6; 9:13; 12:3; 13:1; 13:11; 17:3; 17:7; 17:12; 17:16.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S13 about the word eye. The New Testament definition for this word is: ' the organ of sight or vision; properly, the globe or ball movable in the orbit'. Man written dictionary definitions, for this word, have multiple applications presented as definitions, which leads to doctrinal error when people use those applications to build Bible doctrine. Please also see the note for John 12:45 about the phrase eyes to see.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'in the midst of the throne. Re 4:4-6 a Lamb. An emblematical representation of our Saviour's high priesthood. Re 5:9,12; 6:16; 7:9-17; 12:11; 13:8; 17:14; 21:23; 22:1,3; Isa 53:7-8; Joh 1:29,36; Ac 8:32; 1Pe 1:19-20 exp: Le 4:32; Re 14:1. seven horns. As a horn is the emblem of power, and seven the number of perfection, the seven horns may denote the almighty power of Jesus Christ. 1Sa 2:10; Da 7:14; Mic 4:13; Hab 3:4; Lu 1:69; Php 2:9-11 seven eyes. His infinite knowledge and wisdom; and especially "The treasures of wisdom" laid up in him, to be communicated to the Church by "The seven spirits of God", i.e., the Holy Spirit. 2Ch 16:9; Zec 3:9; 4:10 the seven spirits. Re 4:5 General references. exp: Ge 22:8; Nu 7:39; Job 28:24; Re 11:16'.

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C5-S7 (Verse 7) the Son of God took the title book to the Earth from the hand of God the Father because He paid the price required to claim it.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne

Here we see that the Son of God, as the Lamb as it had been slain, came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. He could claim the title since He paid the required price. As we were told earlier in the chapter, no other being was found anywhere who had fulfilled God's requirements to make that claim.

We saw what Dr. Jeff Wilson wrote about this sentence in the prior note.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'out. Re 5:1; 4:2-3 General references. exp: Re 11:16'.

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C5-S8 (Verse 8) . Worship is given to The Lamb in Heaven.

And when he had taken the book,
The four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,
having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of saints.

As explained in the Lord Jesus Christ Study, the four beasts and four and twenty elders are our personal example of how to worship. They show us to give the worship, that is reserved for our Lord and King, to the Lamb, which is the title of the Son of God in His role where He paid for our sins. He is to be worshipped for that sacrifice which He made for us.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Much like what happened in ch4 when worship for the Creator broke out, the four beasts and the 24 elders fall down and worship, but here they worship the Lamb, they worship the Redeemer, the Son of God. the time for weeping is over, the time for worship has began for one had been found worthy! And notice how they worship, in ch4 the elders (who are representatives of the redeemed) they worship with words and they worship with gifts (crowns), crying out that God is worthy of such worship, and now here in ch5 they worship with prayer, the golden vials full of odors, incense, which in the Bible are symbolic of prayer, Ps 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. But these are the prayers of who? the saints, the saved, the believers, those who have prayed to the Lord for salvation and have asked to be saved by placing their faith in the Lamb and being washed in the blood of the Lamb. Its prayers of the redeemed! Prayers of thanksgiving and praise, prayers of honor and glory!
But the elders also worship with music and song. forhere the elders each have a harp, beautiful music is made to sing praises to the Lamb, to magnify him, glorify him, praise him for his act of redemption and his now taking of the final steps to complete God's perfect plan of redemption by taking the book. So here we see in heaven there is worship, and every believer worships with voice, with sacrifice and giving to God, with prayer and with music and song. And that should be how our worship here on earth should be, all for the point of exalting the Lord Jesus. We are all going to do it up there, we will feel no shame to shout and sing and pray aloud in heaven for our worship will be all about him and all for him. Worship will be focused on him and no one will worry or care what others think because all will only be thinking of Jesus and how he redeemed their unworthy soul. And we know this for look at the new song that is sung in perfect harmony and volume (without practice and without error)'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 3:6 about the word fall. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To drop from a higher place; to descend by the power of gravity alone. Rain falls from the clouds; a man falls from his horse; ripe fruits fall from trees; an ox falls into a pit. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Luke 10'. The words fell and fallen are the past-tense forms of the word fall.

We find forms of the word harp occurring 52 times in 49 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: 1Corinthians 14:7; 5:8; 14:2; 15:2; 18:22. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(Heb kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Ge 4:21). Some think the word kinnor denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Ge 31:27; 1Sa 16:23; 2Ch 20:28; Ps 33:2; 137:2).
In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1Ki 10:11-12). In 1Ch 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." the soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1Sa 16:16,23; 18:10; 19:9. the church in heaven is represented as celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Re 14:2)'.

Nave's Topical Bible provides links for the word harp as: 'A stringed instrument of music: Isa 38:20; Eze 33:32; Hab 3:19. With three strings (margin): 1Sa 18:6. Ten strings: Ps 33:2; 92:3; 144:9; 150:4. Originated with Jubal: Ge 4:21. Made of almug wood: 1Ki 10:12. David skillful in manipulating: 1Sa 16:16,23. Used in worship: 1Sa 10:5; 1Ch 16:5; 25:1-7; 2Ch 5:12-13; 29:25; Ps 33:2; 43:4; 49:4; 57:8; 71:22; 81:2; 92:3; 98:5; 108:2; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3. Used, in national jubilees, after the triumph over Goliath, (margin): 1Sa 18:6. Over the armies of Ammon and Moab: 2Ch 20:28,20-29. When the new walls of Jerusalem were dedicated: Ne 12:27,36. Used in festivities: Ge 31:27; Job 21:11-12; Isa 5:12; 23:16; 24:8; 30:32; Eze 26:13; Re 18:22. In mourning: Job 30:31. Discordant: 1Co 14:7. Hung on the willows by the captive Jews: Ps 137:2. Heard in heaven, in John's apocalyptic vision: Re 5:8; 14:2; 15:2. The symbol used in the psalmody to indicate when the harp was to be introduced in the music was "Neginoth." See titles of: Ps 4; 6; 54; 55; 61; 67; 76'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the word gold. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A precious metal of a bright yellow color, and the most ductile and malleable of all the metals. It is the heaviest metal except platina; and being a very dense, fixed substance, and not liable to be injured by air, it is well fitted to be used as coin, or a representative of commodities in commerce. Its ductility and malleability render it the most suitable metal for gilding. It is often found native in solid masses, as in Hungary and Peru; though generally in combination with silver, copper or iron. 2. Money. forme, the gold of France did not seduce-- 3. Something pleasing or valuable; as a heart of gold. 4. A bright yellow color; as a flower edged with gold. 5. Riches; wealth. Gold of pleasure, a plant of the genus Myagrum. GOLD, a. Made of gold; consisting of gold; as a gold chain'.

We find forms of the word vial in: 1Samuel 10:1; 5:8; 15:7; 16:1; 16:2; 16:3; 16:4; 16:8; 16:10; 16:12; 16:17; 17:1; 21:9. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. L. phiala. A phial; a small bottle of thin glass, used particularly by apothecaries and druggists. Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head. 1Sam. 10. Vials of God's wrath, in Scripture, are the execution of his wrath upon the wicked for their sins. Rev. 16'.

Please see the note for Romans 1:29 about the word fill. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Properly, to press; to crowd; to stuff. Hence, to put or pour in, till the thing will hold no more'. Please see the note for 4:18 about the word full. The New Testament definition is: 'Replete; having within its limits all that it can contain'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:9 about the word fullness. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Replete; having within its limits all that it can contain'. Please also see the note for Romans 15:13 about the word fulfill. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A tautological compound of full and fill. 1. to accomplish; to perform; to complete; to answer in execution or event what has been foretold or promised; as, to fulfill a prophecy or prediction; to fulfill a promise'. Please also see the Studies called Prophecies Fulfilled in the Gospels and Prophecies Fulfilled in the Epistles.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:18 about the word odour. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. L. Smell; scent; fragrance; a sweet or an offensive smell; perfume'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S25 and 2Corinthians C1S6 about the word pray. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'talking to God'. Please also see the Doctrinal Study called Pray for links to papers on prayer.

Please see the notes for Matthew 27:51-53; Romans C16S1; 2Corinthians C1S1 and Colossians C1S1 about the word saint. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'a spiritually mature saved person who is actively involved in the ministry of the church'. The note in Romans has links to every place in the New Testament where this word is used along with a short note for each application. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:8; 8:3; 8:4; 11:18; 13:7; 13:10; 14:12; 15:3; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:8; 20:9.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'The four. Re 5:14; 4:4,8,10; 7:10-12; 19:4; Joh 5:23; Ro 14:10-12; Php 2:9-11; Heb 1:6 having. Re 14:2-3; 15:2; Ps 33:2; 43:4; 81:2; 150:3 golden. Re 15:7 odours. or incense. The prayers. Re 8:3-4; Ps 141:2 General references. exp: Ps 98:5; 118:3; 147:7; Re 11:16'.

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C5-S9 (Verse 9-10) the main part of their worship.

Equivalent Section: they started worship with a song.

And they sung a new song,
saying,
Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof:.

Equivalent Section: What The Lamb did for us.

First Step: What He did in the past.

for thou wast slain,
and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred,
and ongue,
and people,
and nation;

Second Step: What He will do in the future.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:

Equivalent Section: What we will do in the future as a result.

and we shall reign on the earth.

Where the prior sentence told us that The four beasts and four and twenty elders humbled themselves as the start of their worship, this sentence gives us some of the details of their worship.

Our sentence has three Equivalent Sections with each telling us the theme of three verses of the song. The First Equivalent Section tells us Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof because The Lamb personally (Thou) paid the sacrifice to redeem the whole world. The Second Equivalent Section tells us that The Lamb personally (Thou) did things for us personally in addition to what He did for The whole world. The second Equivalent Section tells us that The Lamb has done for our future.

Please also notice that each of these Equivalent Section apply to smaller groups of people. The First Equivalent Section applies to the whole world (1John 2:2). The Second Equivalent Section applies only to people who fulfill His requirements to be truly Biblically saved (Salvation). The third Equivalent Section only applies to saved people who fulfill His requirements to receive a return for the 1,000 year reign of Christ, such as those who truly earn a crown.

In addition to those considerations, we also need to consider that our Second Equivalent Section has two Steps with the First Step telling us what He did in the past and the Second telling us what He did for our current physical lives. Please notice that, in the past, He hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. The word of God tells us: For the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). Therefore, He had to shed His blood in order to pay for our sins and redeem us. Also, the word hast is 'an ongoing never-ending having'. Thus, the redemption, which he provides, never ends. In addition, He hast redeemed us to God. This is not a religious act but is restoring a spiritual relationship with God. Further, He hast redeemed us...out of every kindred, and ongue, and people, and nation. Religion always divides and claims that God's blessings only go to the people who do what the religion commands. God offers His blessings to everyone. Yes, we must fulfill God's requirements, but God makes the offer available to everyone regardless of any physical limitations added by religions. (For example, the Jews claimed that only Jews could be saved.).

In our Second Step, we read that He hast made us unto our God kings and priests. Again, the word hast is 'an ongoing never-ending having'. So, this is a never changing job for the saved while they are physically alive. As priests, the saved are to represent others before God. Unfortunately, most saved pray more for themselves and their own family and friends that they do for lost people. And, most people think that as kings, the saved are supposed to tell everybody else what to do and that they get to tell people whatever that want others to do. However, a king 'puts his character on the people of his kingdom'. Since the saved are also supposed to be God's sons, and receive His character, this role actually requires the saved to teach people to receive the character of God.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'This new song is about the Redeemer, it is centered about Christ, it is the Redeemer's song. And please note here that it is the redeemed who sing it, not the angels, actually angels only sing in one place in the Bible (Job 38), and here the angels have nothing to sing about for they can not be redeemed, this new song does not apply to them. But the first words sung by the redeemed declare the answer to the strong angel's question in v2, who is worthy? thou art worthy! the Lamb is worthy, the Lord Jesus is worthy of such worship, he is worthy to take the book for he purchased with it his own blood, he has the right to it. And as owner he can open the seals and read forth the entire contents of the book, so justice will be done, sin will be judged, the curse lifted, wrong righted, redemption completed. And why else is he worthy, for he was slain!, the song sings. He has redeemed us, the believers, the saved, he has united us once more, broken down the wall of sin, filled in the gap of separation, and brought us back into union with God. It was the Lamb who done this, the man-God, the God-man, the Lord Jesus as divinity manifested in the flesh to be the kinsman redeemer, to come to earth to pay the price to have the right to all mankind and their eternal souls. And we as believers today need to be aware of this, that we still await that day to where we are wholly redeemed, where we are made perfect, changed in a twinkling of an eye. You know our souls/spirit are redeemed right now as believers, but our bodies are not, our bodies will be made new (glorified) at the rapture, but this world still gro and and travails and awaits God's completed plan of redemption. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest {deposit, down payment,a pledge or promise} of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Lu 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Ro 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.22 forwe know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
I want to break here and make a point that H.A. Ironside brings out about the pre-tribulation rapture and what we see here in ch4 and 5. Speaking of the book and the seven seals, we know according to God's word that the tribulation period can not happen until those seals are broken and the book opened as we see in ch6, but here in ch5 we see the Lamb does not break the first seal of the book until the redeemed are seen crowned in heaven (The 24 elders, representatives of the redeemed, have their crowns, their rewards). And furthermore none of the redeemed are crowned/rewarded until they are judged before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the redeemed are not judged until the coming of the Lord Jesus in the rapture. 2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. the crowns/rewards are given out at the judgment, which happens after the rapture but before the breaking of the seals on the book, which is before the great tribulation. So here we easily see in ch4 and 5 that after the church age the rapture happens, we are told to come up hither, and in heaven the saved are judged for their rewards, then the Lamb takes the book, opens the book breaking the seals and the great tribulation begins. And it is this catastrophic event that is probably also on the hearts and minds of those giving worship to the Lamb here for they do not have to face such wrath and judgment, for they have been redeemed, redeemed by the blood, so they worship even more.
(Now back to the song in v9) the Lord Jesus paid the price of our redemption with his blood. And by that precious holy blood the Lord Jesus saved out of every kindred (common ancestor), every tongue (common language), every people (common race) and every nation (common country/rule/government). this encompasses the entire world, all of mankind. forevery human being is part of each of these categories. And in such a salvation of mankind, thru such a gracious act, the Lord Jesus has made such sinners kings and priests, they/we have become part of the heavenly royal priesthood, 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: and as such we will one day rule and reign with our Lord and King, the Lion and Lamb of God here on earth during the millennial kingdom, when the Lord Jesus sets everything straight.
Re 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. this is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And now with such a song echoing throughout heaven, look at what John now sees. foraround the throne, around the Lamb, around the 4 beasts and the 24 elders, is an innumerable host of angels'.

Please see the note for Matthew 26:30 about the words sing / sang / sung. The words sang and sung are the past-tense forms of the word sing Webster's 1828 defines sing as: ''v. i. pret. sung, sang; pp. sung. 1. to utter sounds with various inflections of melodious modulations of voice, as fancy may dictate, or according to the notes of a song or tune the noise of them that sing do I hear Ex. 32. 2. to utter sweet or melodious sounds, as birds. It is remarkable that the female of no species of birds ever sings. And singing birds in silver cages hung. 3. to make a small shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice. O'er his head the flying spear sung innocent, and spent its force in air. 4. to tell or relate something in numbers of verse. Sing of human hope by cross event destroyed.
SING, v. t. 1. to utter with musical modulation of voice. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Rev. 15. 2. to celebrate in song; to give praises to in verse. the last, the happiest British king, whom thou shalt paint or I shall sing. 3. to relate or rehearse in numbers, verse or poetry. Arms and the man I sing. While stretch'd at ease you sing your happy loves'. Forms of these words are used, in this book, in: 5:9; 14:3; 15:3.

We find forms of the word song occurring 98 times in 92 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 15:3. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. 1. In general, that which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of the voice, whether of the human voice or that of a bird. 2. A little poem to be sung, or uttered with musical modulations; a ballad. the songs of a country are characteristic of its manners. Every country has its love songs, its war songs, and its patriotic songs. 3. A hymn; a sacred poem or hymn to be sung either in joy or thanksgiving, as that sung by Moses and the Israelites after escaping the dangers of the Arabian gulf and of Pharaoh; or of lamentation, as that of David over the death of Saul and Jonathan. Songs of joy are represented as constituting a part of heavenly felicity. 4. A lay; a strain; a poem. the bard that first adorn'd our native tongue, tun'd to his British lyre this ancient song. 5. Poetry; poesy; verse. this subject for heroic song pleas'd me. 6. Notes of birds. See Def. 1. 7. A mere trifle. the soldier's pay is a song. Old song, a trifle. I do not intend to be thus put off with an old song'.

Please also see the note for Acts 5:41 about the word worthy. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. G. 1. Deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved. She has married a man worthy of her. thou art worthy of the sway. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies--Genesis 32. 2. Possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; as a worthy citizen; a worthy magistrate. Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. this worthy mind should worthy things embrace. 3. Suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value; as flowers worthy of paradise. 4. Suitable to anything bad. the merciless Macdonald, worthy to be a rebel. 5. Deserving of ill; as things worthy of stripes. Luke 12.
WORTHY, n. A man of eminent worth; a man distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a man of valor; a word much used in the plural; as the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the words worth / worthily. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines worthily as: 'adv. 1. In a manner suited to; as, to walk worthily of our extraction. Bad. 2. Deservedly; according to merit. You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. 3. Justly; not without cause. I affirm that some may very worthily deserve to be hated'.

Please see the notes for Colossians 4:5; Romans C8S21 and Ephesians 5:15-16 about the word redeem. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To purchase back; to ransom; to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying an equivalent'.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word blood. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The fluid which circulates through the arteries and veins of the human body, and of other animals, which is essential to the preservation of life'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:28 about the phrase blood of Christ. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 10:16-LJC about the phrase Christ and blood.

Please see the note for Luke 1:61 about the word kindred. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. from kin, kind. 1. Relation by birth; consanguinity. Like her, of equal kindred to the throne. 2. Relation by marriage; affinity. 3. Relatives by blood or marriage, more properly the former. thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred. Gen.26. 4. Relation; suit; connection in kind.
KIN'DRED, a. Related; congenial; of the like nature or properties; as kindred souls; kindred skies'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S8; 1Corinthians 14:2 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word tongue. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'a human language'. Please also see the note in Acts 2:6 about the word language. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:9; 7:9; 9:11; 10:11; 11:9; 14:6; 16:10; 16:16; 17:15.

We find forms of the word people occurring 2145 times in 1924 verses of the Bible, 235 times in 229 verses of the New Testament and, in this book, in: Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 17:15; Revelation 18:4; Revelation 19:1; Revelation 21:3. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. L. populus. 1. the body of persons who compose a community, town, city or nation. We say, the people of a town; the people of London or Paris; the English people. in this sense, the word is not used in the plural, but it comprehends all classes of inhabitants, considered as a collective body, or any portion of the inhabitants of a city or country. 2. the vulgar; the mass of illiterate persons. The knowing artist may judge better than the people. 3. the commonalty, as distinct from men of rank. Myself shall mount the rostrum in his favor, And strive to gain his pardon from the people. 4. Persons of a particular class; a part of a nation or community; as country people. 5. Persons in general; any persons indefinitely; like on in French, and man in Saxon. People were tempted to lend by great premiums and large interest. 6. A collection or community of animals. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. Prov.30. 7. When people signified a separate nation or tribe, it has the plural number. Thou must prophesy again before many peoples. Rev.10. 8. In Scripture, fathers or kindred. Gen.25. 9. the Gentiles. --To him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen.49.
PEOPLE, v.t. to stock with inhabitants. Emigrants from Europe have peopled the United States'.

Please see the note for Romans 1:5 about the word nation. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A body of people inhabiting the same country, or united under the same sovereign or government; as the English nation; the French nation. It often happens that many nations are subject to one government; in which case, the word nation usually denotes a body of people speaking the same language, or a body that has formerly been under a distinct government, but has been conquered, or incorporated with a larger nation. thus, the empire of Russia comprehends many nations, as did formerly the Roman and Persian empires. Nation, as its etymology imports, originally denoted a family or race of men descended from a common progenitor, like tribe, but by emigration, conquest and intermixture of men of different families, this distinction is in most countries lost'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 4:14 about the word priest. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'One who represents men before God'. Please also see the note for Mark 14:63 about the phrase high priest.

Please see the note for Romans C6S12 about the word reign. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.i. rane. L. regno, a derivative of rego, regnum. 1. to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to rule; to exercise government, as a king or emperor; or to hold the supreme power. George the third reigned over Great Britain more than fifty years. Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness. Is. 32. 2. to be predominant; to prevail. Pestilent diseases which commonly reign in summer or autumn. 3. to rule; to have superior or uncontrolled dominion. Romans 6. this word is never applied to the exercise of supreme power by a legislative body or the executive administration, in the United States.
REIGN, n. rane. L. regnum. 1. Royal authority; supreme power; sovereignty. He who like a father held his reign. 2. the time during which a king, queen or emperor possesses the supreme authority. the Spanish armada was equipped to invade England in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Magna Charta was obtained in the reign of king John. 3. Kingdom; dominion. Saturn's sons received the threefold reign of heav'n, of ocean, and deep hell beneath. 4. Power; influence. 5. Prevalence'. The note in Romans has links to every place where this word is used in the New Testament along with a short note on each application. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:10; 11:15; 11:17; 17:18; 19:6; 20:4; 20:6; 22:5.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'sung. Re 7:10-12; 14:3; Ps 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isa 42:10 exp: Mr 14:26. Thou art. Re 5:2-3; 4:11 exp: Isa 25:1. For. Re 5:6,12; 13:8 exp: Heb 9:15. and hast. Re 14:4,6; Mt 20:28; 26:28; Ac 20:28; Ro 3:24-26; 1Co 6:20; 7:23; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Tit 2:14; Heb 11:14; 1Pe 1:18-19; 2Pe 2:1; 1Jo 1:7; 2:2 out. Re 7:9; 11:9; 14:6; Da 4:1; 6:25; Mr 16:15-16; Col 1:23 General references. exp: Le 25:25; Nu 35:32; Ps 113:8; 118:3; 147:7; Isa 11:6; 42:12; Lu 24:21.
kings. Re 1:6; 20:6; 22:5; Ex 19:6; 1Pe 2:5-9 we. Re 20:6; Da 7:18,27 General references. exp: Nu 26:53; Ps 113:8; 118:3; 147:7; Isa 11:6; 42:12; 66:21; Jer 33:18'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C5-S10 (Verse 11-12) the worship of angels is added.

Equivalent Section: John noticed the voices of the angels.

And I beheld,
and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:.

Equivalent Section: What their worship contained.

First Step: How many angels there were.

and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands;.

Second Step: What they said.

Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches,
and wisdom,
and strength,
and honour,
and glory,
and blessing.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. All of the sentences in this chapter start with the word And. That means that this entire chapter is a single unit of thought and all of it needs to be considered together for contextual reasons. The entire chapter describes what happens as the Son of God claims the title to the Earth. And, within this chapter, our prior sentence told us how The four beasts and four and twenty elders worshipped The Lamb and this sentence adds the worship of angels. Our next sentence adds the worship of every creature And our last two sentences add approval of the worship by others.

Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the note in the Lord Jesus Christ Study and what it points out about the different parts of true worship.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling us that the worship by angels was added to the worship of The four beasts and four and twenty elders. Our Second Equivalent Section gives us details of their worship. They say that He is worthy...to receive the things which are listed here and which are defined below. I personally believe that He received these things, from God the Father, when He returned to Heaven. (The phrase to receive was future tense when He returned and the current worship recognizes that He earned these things before He returned to heaven.) the rest of this book tells us how the Son of God will use these things for the good of the truly saved. Therefore, He is worthy because of what He has done in the past and He is also worthy because of what He will do with them in the future.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The elders have sung about the worthiness of the Lamb, and now the angelic host declares with a loud voice 'Worthy is the Lamb!'they agree whole-heartedly with the words of the elder's song for the Lamb is worthy of such worship and adoration, for He is the Lamb of God that gave it all for all. In Genesis 22 we had a ram that was substituted for Isaac, a picture of Christ giving his life for the individual. At Passover we see a lamb slain for each family. Isaiah states that Jesus died for the nation of Israel {Isa 53:8; John 11:49-52}. And John the Baptist states that the Lamb died for the whole world for it is this Lamb that does take away the sin of the world {Warren Wiersbe}. From one individual to all of humanity, the Lamb paid the price for redemption and salvation, so is there any question of why he is worthy? this Lamb that was slain yet conquered death and hell and who lives forever more now has the right to receive all power (miraculous or mighty strength), all riches (all wealth, possessions, all things), all wisdom and strength (strength of force) and honor (highly esteemed) and glory (worship/praise) and blessing (to be adoringly spoken of, a religious benediction). He is worthy! the Lord Jesus is worthy! Worthy of our worship, worthy of our praise, of our prayers, of our song, of our sacrifice. He is worth it all! John Bunyan states 'Oh, this Lamb of God! He had a whole heaven to Himself, myriads of angels to do His pleasure, but this could not satisfy Him. He must have sinners to share it with Him.'And its those sinners he has redeemed that cry out his worthiness'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S14 and Galatians C3-S7 about the word hear. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Perceiving by the ear. This word is often used symbolically for hearing the spiritual message of the word of God, as sound. 1. Listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded. 2. Attending to witnesses or advocates in a judicial trial; trying'. Please pay attention to the word 'obey' within this definition. That is what most people refuse to do when the Bible says that they do not hear. Please also see the note for James 2:5 about the word hearken. Please also see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The number given in our sentence is more than one hundred million. Please see the note for Matthew 10:30 about the word number. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Used to count things. Also used symbolically in the Bible'. The note from the Morrish Bible Dictionary is extensive and includes 'Numbers are used as Symbols'. Be very careful about the use of this information. Much doctrinal error and division has been caused in God's church by preachers claiming that the symbolicl meaning of numbers provided the single interpretation of The word of God and that the symbolic meaning actually corrected The word of God. All symbolic meanings provide the many applications, must be understood within the context where they are found, and can vary from one application to another. Be careful to not use these symbols beyond their God-given purpose. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:11; 7:4; 7:9; 9:16; 13:17; 13:18; 15:2; 20:8.

Please also see the note for Acts 5:41 about the word worthy. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. G. 1. Deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved. She has married a man worthy of her. thou art worthy of the sway. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies--Genesis 32. 2. Possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; as a worthy citizen; a worthy magistrate. Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. this worthy mind should worthy things embrace. 3. Suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value; as flowers worthy of paradise. 4. Suitable to anything bad. the merciless Macdonald, worthy to be a rebel. 5. Deserving of ill; as things worthy of stripes. Luke 12.
WORTHY, n. A man of eminent worth; a man distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a man of valor; a word much used in the plural; as the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the words worth / worthily. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines worthily as: 'adv. 1. In a manner suited to; as, to walk worthily of our extraction. Bad. 2. Deservedly; according to merit. You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. 3. Justly; not without cause. I affirm that some may very worthily deserve to be hated'.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S1; 1Corinthians C15S1; Colossians C2-S4 about the word receive. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'v.t. L. recipio; re and capio, to take. 1. to take, as a thing offered or sent; to accept. He had the offer of a donation, but he would not receive it. 2. to take as due or as a reward. He received the money on the day it was payable. He received ample compensation. 3. to take or obtain from another in any manner, and either good or evil. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Job 2. 4. to take, as a thing communicated; as, to receive a wound by a shot; to receive a disease by contagion. the idea of a solidity we receive by our touch. 5. to take or obtain intellectually; as, to receive an opinion or notion from others. 6. to embrace. Receive with meekness the engrafted word. James 1. 7. to allow; to hold; to retain; as a custom long received. 8. to admit. thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Ps. 73. 9. to welcome; to lodge and entertain; as a guest. they kindled a fire and received us every one, because of the present rain and because of the cold. Acts 28. 10. to admit into membership or fellowship. Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye. Rom. 14. 11. to take in or on; to hold; to contain. the brazen altar was too little to receive the burnt-offering. 1Kings 8. 12. to be endowed with. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Acts 1. 13. to take into a place or state. After the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven. Mark 16. 14. to take or have as something ascribed; as, to receive praise or blame. Rev. 4. Rev. 5. 15. to bear with or suffer. 2Cor. 11. 16. to believe in. John 1. 17. to accept or admit officially or in an official character. the minister was received by the emperor or court. 18. to take stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen'. In addition, please see the note for Matthew 10:41; which explains that in order to truly receive a person, we must receive their character as our own.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force. 1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing anything; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength' Please also see the note for John 5:41 about the phrase power of God. Please also see the notes for Romans C8S40 and Ephesians C6S8 about the phrase spiritual powers.

Please see the notes for Romans C11S35 and Colossians C1S6 about the word riches. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. this is in the singular number in fact, but treated as the plural. 1. Wealth; opulence; affluence; possessions of land, good or money in abundance. Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion than our neighbors. 2. Splendid sumptuous appearance. the riches of heav'n's pavement, trodden gold. 3. In Scripture, an abundance of spiritual blessings. Luke 16. the riches of God, his fulness of wisdom, power, mercy, grace and glory, Eph. 1, 2; or the abundance supplied by his works. Ps. 104. the riches of Christ, his abundant fulness of spiritual and eternal blessings for men. Eph. 3. the riches of a state or kingdom, consist less in a full treasury than in the productiveness of its soil and manufactures, and in the industry of its inhabitants'. The note for Romans has links to every place where forms of this word are used in the New Testament along with a short note about the usage. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C1S2 about the word enriched.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S12 about the word wisdom. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. s as z. G. See Wise. 1. the right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. this is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. I differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus. Wisdom gained by experience, is of inestimable value. It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom; that they will yield every thing to reason, and refuse every thing to force. 2. In Scripture, human learning; erudition; knowledge of arts and sciences. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Acts 7. 3. Quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension; dexterity in execution; as the wisdom of Bezaleel and Aholiab. Exodus 31. 4. Natural instinct and sagacity. Job 39. 5. In Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. this is the wisdom which is from above. Psalm 90. Job 28. 6. Profitable words or doctrine. Psalm 37. the wisdom of this world, mere human erudition; or the carnal policy of men, their craft and artifices in promoting their temporal interests; called also fleshly wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2. 2 Corinthi and 1. the wisdom of words, artificial or affected eloquence; or learning displayed in teaching. 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 '. Please also see the notes for Romans C16S23 and 1Corinthians C1S12 about the word wise. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'people who exercise true wisdom'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 5:12; 7:12; 13:18; 17:9; 21:27.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C1S6 about the word strength. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'That property or quality of an animal body by which it is enabled to move itself or other bodies'.

Please see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word honour. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word dishonour.

Please see the note for Romans C15S14 about the word glory. There is a lot of information about this word in that note. The New Testament for this word is: 'Brightness, splendor, luster'. The New Testament for the word glorified is: 'past-tense form of the word glory'. The New Testament for the word glorifying is: 'applying the word glory in an ongoing manner'. The New Testament for the word Glorious is: 'Illustrious; of exalted excellence and splendor; resplendent in majesty and divine attributes; applied to God'. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:1 about the phrase Jesus Christ return in glory. Please also see the Minor Titles of the Son of God to see the title of: hope of glory. All true Biblical hope is based in Him. Think about what was revealed in the 'Mount of transfiguration'.

Please see the notes for Galatians C3-S10 about the word bless. In particular, please see the note for Galatians which explains why the commonly accepted dictionary definition is wrong. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'receiving, or wishing another to receive, the spiritual good from God which produces spiritual joy even while it might make us less happy in the flesh'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'many. Re 7:11; 1Ki 22:19; 2Ki 6:16-18; Ps 103:20; 148:2 the throne. Re 4:4,6,9-10 was. Re 19:6; De 33:2; Ps 68:17; Da 7:10; Heb 12:22 General references. exp: Ex 18:10.
Worthy. Re 5:9; Zec 13:7 exp: 2Sa 22:4. Toreceive. Re 4:11; 7:12; 19:1; Mt 28:18; Joh 3:35-36; 17:2; 2Co 8:9; Php 2:9-11; 1Ti 1:17 General references. exp: Ge 22:8; Ex 18:10'.

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C5-S11 (Verse 13) Every creature, in this physical reality, join in on the worship that is going on in Heaven.

And every creature which is in heaven,
and on the earth,
and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea,
and all that are in them,
heard I saying,
Blessing,
and honour,
and glory,
and power,
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Romans 8:18-22 says: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. forThe earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. forThe creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. forwe know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. So, that reference tells us how all of creation is presently suffering and our current sentence tells us that they will all praise The Lamb when they realize that their suffering is about to end.

And every creature.. join in the worship of the Lamb, thereby recognizing His position as Lord and King (1Chronicles 29:11; Psalms 72:18-19; Psalms 96:11-13; Psalms 148:2-13; Isaiah 24:14; Isaiah 42:10; Matthew 6:12; Luke 2:14; Romans 9:5; Romans 11:36; Romans 16:27; Ephesians 3:21; Colossians 1:23; 1Peter 4:11; 5:11; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:8-14; Revelation 7:9-10). As all of these verses show us, all through the Bible we find our leaders leading us in personal worship. Even if all around us are cursing our Lord and King, we personally are to be worshipping and praising Him for all that he has done and that He will do for us. Notice that this worship occurs before God starts any of His judgments. (This is faith.) this sentence says that even Satan and the devils worshiped before their defeat was final (And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them). It reminds of Luke 19:40 where the religious were offended by the worship of Jesus (God in human flesh) and He prophesized of the day that all would worship Him. This verse seems to be the fulfillment of Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10; although it is commonly taught that those verses won't be fulfilled until later.

While I could go into more detail, what has already been presented, along with the Word Definitions, below, should be sufficient for the reader to understand what this sentence says.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'What we read in v13 will include us, we will participate in such adoration of the Lamb that was slain. It is not only the redeemed and the angels that give praise but all of creation now gives praise to the Lamb. But not just angels, but both fallen and unfallen angels, the cherubim, the seraphim, the archangel, the demon hordes, the angels bound near the Euphrates, even Satan himself, and along with them will be all of mankind, every soul, living and dead (heaven and hell), and every creature in all creation, every one in heaven, alive on the earth, under the earth, all that are in the sea, every beast, every fowl, every fish, every bug, every living single cell organism, all cry out that the Lamb is worthy, all acknowledge him as Lord. Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. At last from every possible corner of creation and from every single tongue, dead or alive, saved or unsaved, angel or man or beast comes the united acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is Lord, all acknowledge him as such and are in full agreement. What a time that will be! An ecstatic, electric time of true and pure worship that is solely focused on the Lord Jesus! And He is worthy of it all! He is worthy of blessing and honor and glory and power (dominion)'Da 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
This universal praise is ascribed to the one that sits upon the throne, God the Father, and to the Lamb, and in v14 the four beasts add a resounding Amen! But notice also after such an astounding worship event, the 24 elders, representatives of all the saints, fall down and worship the Lamb even more. they can not get over the fact of what the Lamb has done for them and how worthy he is of their praise, they know how unworthy they were of Christ's love and sacrifice, and for such a one to do what the Lord Jesus done to save each one of them from an eternal hell and instead give them everlasting life, he deserves it all, and by him taking the book, he takes it all, for it all is rightfully his.
So to sum up what we have looked at in ch5 Bro Jerry Honeycutt gives a neat little outline'.
1. the great book: v1
2. the great question: v2
3. the great search: v3
4. the great sorrow: v4
5. the great comfort: v5
6. the great victory: v6-7
7. the great sight: v8
8. the great song: v9-10
9. the great throng: v11-14'.

Please also see his book for His sermon on: HEAVENLY WORSHIP.

Please also see the note for Colossians 1:9-17 about the word creature. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'That which is created; every being besides the Creator, or every thing not self-existent. the sun, moon and stars; the earth, animals, plants, light, darkness, air, water, etc., are the creatures of God'. Please see the note for Colossians 1:9-17 about the word create. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Formed from nothing; caused to exist; produced; generated; invested with a new character; formed into new combinations, with a peculiar shape, constitution and properties; renewed'. Please also see the note for Revelation 4:11-LJC about the phrase God created us. Please also see the note for Romans 1:20-21 about the word creation. Please also see the note for 1Peter 4:19 about the word Creator.

Please see the note for John 6:16-17 about the word sea. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A large bason, cistern or laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. this was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1 Kings 7. 2 Chron. 4 2. A large body of water, nearly inclosed by land, as the Baltic or the Mediterranean; as the sea of Azof. Seas are properly branches of the ocean, and upon the same level. Large bodies of water inland, and situated above the level of the ocean, are lakes. the appellation of sea, given to the Caspian lake, is an exception, and not very correct. So the lake of Galilee is called a sea, from the Greek. 3. the ocean; as, to go to sea. the fleet is at sea, or on the high seas. 4. A wave; a billow; a surge. the vessel shipped a sea. 5. the swell of the ocean in a tempest, or the direction of the waves; as, we head the sea. 6. Proverbially, a large quantity of liquor; as a sea of blood. 7. A rough or agitated place or element. In a troubled sea of passion tost. Milton'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:29 about the phrase Red Sea. Please also see the note for John 21:1 about the phrase sea of Tiberias.

The phrase ever and ever has the same application as the word everlasting. Please see the note for Luke 16:9 about the word everlasting. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'ever and lasting. Lasting or enduring for ever; eternal; existing or continuing without end; immortal'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'every. Re 5:3; 7:9-10; Ps 96:11-13; 148:2-13; Lu 2:14; Php 2:10; Col 1:23 such. Isa 24:14; 42:10 blessing. Re 5:12; 1:6; 1Ch 29:11; Ps 72:18-19; Mt 6:13; Ro 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; Eph 3:21; 1Ti 4:16; 1Pe 4:11; 5:11; Jude 1:25 exp: Re 7:12. him. Re 4:2-3 and unto. Re 5:6,9; 6:16; 7:10 General references. exp: Ex 18:10; Ps 66:2; 113:2; 115:18; 1Pe 5:11; Re 5:3'.

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C5-S12 (Verse 14) Make the worship of the past sentences part of God's law and something we will be judged for doing or not doing.

And the four beasts said,
Amen.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. Both sentences need to be considered together for contextual reasons. This Amen provides the second saying that is needed to let us know that the doctrine of what was just written is something that all saved are to accept. .

The title of this sentence explains what is going on. When the Bible says something literally, two or more times, that something is part of God's law and something which we will be judged for doing or not doing. And, when the word Amen occurs in The word of God, it doubles what occurred just before it.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please also see the note for Revelation 3:14 because we are told that a title for our Lord Jesus Christ is: The Amen. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events for this, and other, Minor Titles of the Son of God.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'The four. Re 19:4 exp: Re 5:8. General references. exp: Nu 14:5; Re 11:16'.

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C5-S13 (Verse 14) Our example elders humble themselves and add more worship
And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'And the four and. Re 4:9-11 General references. exp: Nu 14:5; Re 11:16'.

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Revelation Chapter 6

links to sentences in this chapter:

C6-S1 (Verse 1), C6-S2 (Verse 2), C6-S3 (Verse 3), C6-S4 (Verse 4), C6-S5 (Verse 5), C6-S6 (Verse 5), C6-S7 (Verse 6), C6-S8 (Verse 7), C6-S9 (Verse 8), C6-S10 (Verse 8), C6-S11 (Verse 9-10), C6-S12 (Verse 11), C6-S13 (Verse 12-13), C6-S14 (Verse 14), C6-S15 (Verse 15-17)'.

Chapter Summary: the seals are opened.

C6-S1 : John reports what he sees as the first six seals are opened.
C6-S2 : What John saw as a result of the first seal being opened.
C6-S3 : the opening of the second seal.
C6-S4 : What John saw as a result of the second seal being opened.
C6-S5 : the opening of the third seal.
C6-S6 : What John saw as a result of the third seal being opened.
C6-S7 : What this judgment caused.
C6-S8 : the opening of the fourth seal.
C6-S9 : What John saw as a result of the fourth seal being opened.
C6-S10 : What Death and Hell did.
C6-S11 : the opening of the fifth seal and what John saw as a result of the fifth seal being opened.
C6-S12 : What these souls were given at that time.
C6-S13 : the opening of the sixth seal and what John saw as a result of the sixth seal being opened.
C6-S14 : God gives one more undeniable evidence of His power and authority over this physical reality.
C6-S15 : the response to God's demonstration of power.

Our chapter tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ, as The Lamb of God, breaking the first six of the seals on the title deed to the Earth. As He breaks them, we see a different judgment brought upon men who have rejected our Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and King. Please see the Detailed Notes for Chapter 6 to learn more about these seals and related judgments. The reader can also see a summary of them under the Section called; Significant Characters other than God.

Due to our sin nature, men want to lie, cheat and deceive others. However, a Biblical truth, which most of the world rejects including saved people and preachers, is that we will be judged according to our works (1Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12-13). People think that this law of God should apply to everyone except themselves and, maybe, their own loved ones. But, this entire life is a test to reveal our true character. And, this being who sat on a white horse is being sent out to test everyone. Those who believe his lies, will be sent to Hell and, afterwards, to the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20; (Revelation 20:10; (Revelation 20:14-15).

Our chapter tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ (The Lamb of God) breaking the first six of the seals on the title deed to the Earth. As He breaks them, we see a different judgment brought upon men who have rejected our Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and King. Please see the Detailed Notes for Chapter 6 to learn more about these seals and related judgments.

Breaking the first seal sent out a being on a white horse to deceive and test people (6:1-2). Those who believed his lies will be sent to Hell and, afterwards, to the lake of fire.
Breaking the first seal sent out a being on a white horse (6:3-4) and he brought deception.
Breaking the second seal sent out a being on a red horse (6:3-4) and he brought war.
Breaking the third seal sent out a being on a black horse (6:5-6) and he brings famine.
Breaking the fourth seal sent out a being on a pale horse (6:9-11) and all of the devils were let free from Hell.
Breaking the fifth seal revealed under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God. They were rewarded because they did not reject God as their Lord, as was done by everyone who suffered under the opening of the prior seals.
Breaking the sixth seal brought destruction of the natural order (6:12-14).
Before the breaking the seal seventh seal, God had an angel seal His hundred and forty four thousand virgin male Jewish witnesses.
Breaking the seal seventh seal put silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour and then the judgments of the seven trumpets (Revelation 8).

C6-S1 (Verse 1) John saw the opening of the seals on the book.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals,
and I heard,
as it were the noise of thunder,
one of the four beasts saying,
come and see.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence and this chapter is added to the prior chapter. All of the sentences in this chapter start with the word And. That means that this entire chapter is a single unit of thought and all of it needs to be considered together for contextual reasons. The entire chapter describes what happens as the seals are broken. Please see the Section on Significant Characters other than God for a summary of all of these judgments.

In the prior chapter we saw God's Lamb prove that He is worthy to take the book, which is the title deed for the Earth, from the hand of God the Father. That action is followed by all of Heaven and every creature on Earth truly worshipping Him for the sacrifice that He made, in order to take the title, and for what He will do once he takes the title. And, the first thing that He does is allow this lying representative of Satan loose on the world to deceive the world.

This chapter tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ, in His role as God's Lamb open six of the seven seals on the title deed of the Earth. This sentence introduces this chapter. And, notice, that opening the first seal is accompanied by: as it were the noise of thunder. Thunder is used, symbolically, for the voice of God warning about coming judgment. Please see what the American Tract Society Dictionary says about thunder: 'And lightning are significant manifestations of the power of God, and emblems of his presence, Ex 19:16; 1Sa 2:10; 12:17; Ps 18:13. thunder is poetically called "The voice of the Lord" in the sublime description of a thunder-storm in Ps 29:11; "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon," etc. See also Job 37:1-5; 40:9; Jer 10:13. In illustration of Ps 29:9, Moffat, while describing the thunder-storms of South Africa, say that the antelopes flee in consternation; and that he has observed the Bechuanas starting off early on the morning following such a storm in quest of young antelopes prematurely born. In Ps 78:48, "hot thunderbolts" means lightning'.

Please also what we are told by Smith's Bible Dictionary, which is: 'Thunder is hardly ever heard in Palestine form the middle of April to the middle of September; hence it was selected by Samuel as a striking expression of the divine displeasure toward the Israelites: 1Sa 12:17. Rain in harvest was deemed as extraordinary as snow in summer: Pr 26:1. and Jerome states that he had never witnessed it in the latter part of June or in July. Comm. on: Am 4:7. In the imaginative philosophy of the Hebrews, thunder was regarded as the voice of Jehovah: Job 37:2,4-5; 40:9; Ps 18:13; 29:3-9; Isa 30:30-31. who dwelt behind the thunder-cloud: Ps 81:7. Thunder was, to the mind of the Jew, the symbol of divine power: Ps 29:3. etc., and vengeance: 1Sa 2:10; 2Sa 22:14'.

Also, Nave's Topical Bible provides links for the word thunder as: 'Sent as a plague upon the Egyptians: Ex 9:23-34. The Philistines, in battle with the people of Israel: 1Sa 7:10. Sent as a judgment: Isa 29:6. On Mount Sinai: Ex 19:16; Ps 77:18; Heb 12:18-19. A sign of divine anger: 1Sa 12:17-18. A manifestation of divine power: Job 26:14; Ps 77:18. Sons of Zebedee called sons of: Mr 3:17'.

Thus, we see many Bible references for this symbolic meaning. And, following that warning, we read: one of the four beasts saying, come and see. The rest of our chapter reports what John saw. The second beast spoke when the second seal was opened. The third beast spoke when the third seal was opened. The fourth beast spoke when the fourth seal was opened. Therefore, it is reasonable that this beast was like a lion. The lion, in this beast, symbolically represents the Son of God in His role as the Lion of Judah, Who conquerors. And this seal lets loose Satan's false conqueror.

Please be sure to read, and apply, the note before Dr. Jeff Wilson's note on the chapter. There is a very real danger to God's people serving God when they believe that a beast is 'The Antichrist'. Other than that, all of the following note is good.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here John hears more thunder, as the great storm of destruction is drawing ever closer. One of the beasts says to John 'come and see'. And what does he see? He sees a rider upon a white horse, who has a bow and a crown and he goes forth conquering and to conquer. Now there are many who believe this is the Lord Jesus returning, riding on his white horse coming to conquer in his return to earth as we see in ch19. But the problem with that thought is Jesus is in heaven opening the book at that very moment, and ch19 is the end of the tribulation period where this event is just the beginning. So that leads us to believe this rider is one trying to imitate the Lord Jesus, riding a white horse coming to conquer. Remember the devil is an imitator, one that comes as an angel of light and Jesus said in Mt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 formany shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. this here is Satan's mocking imitation of the second Coming, thus this rider is the Antichrist.
The white horse symbolizes royalty, as a prince riding his white steed. Horses in the Bible represent God's activity upon the earth and different powers in action and here the last events are set into motion with the revealing of the antichrist. Horses are also only used for war or preparation for warfare in the Bible, they are never used for peaceful purposes but always stand for military powers, such as when Jesus does return to earth riding on the white horse, and this is of course why he did not enter Jerusalem riding a horse as a conqueror would, but instead rode in on the back of a donkey. But what is deceiving here is the color of this horse, it is white, which symbolizes peace, thus this rider is coming to achieve a 'peaceful'victory as he is imitating the Prince of Peace, we know this as his bow has no arrows, he has no weapons. He is coming to conquer with words and diplomacy, with answers to the world's problems, not with weapons of war. the bow also speaks of distant (future) warfare and far reaching objectives, not actions that have immediate results, but pl and that take time to come to fruition. thus we see there is cunning and strategy in the antichrist's long reaching plans. the bow also speaks of limited power, for when a bow has no arrows it is not very effective in warfare, especially in close combat. But when the Lord Jesus comes riding a white horse he comes with a sword not a bow and he means to wage war and blood will flow (Rev ch19).
But here we do not see such an image. We see a rider, with an impotent bow, on a peaceful horse, and we notice he has a crown. Not a crown he has taken, not a crown of a conquering king, but a crown that is given to him, a crown of achievement like the crown of olive leaves the athletes of the Olympics receive. the Lord Jesus wears a crown of a king, a diadem, not a crown of achievement, in addition he also wore a crown of thorns in the world's rejection of him, yet here the world embraces the antichrist, giving him a victor's crown. I believe this crown represents the rule and authority that will be given to the antichrist when he gives the world peace for a season. All will look up to him, all will praise his efforts, his genius. He will be like a god to mankind, he will be worshipped. And don't you dare say man would never act like that, all you have to do is go back to the last two national elections to see how the president was treated like some messiah, even some television reporters referred to Obama as a god hovering above us, and many artists painted pictures and such that depicted him as some sort of divine being. And have you heard of the clip going around the internet lately, a video a little boy's parents took of him praying to Obama, what's wrong with this world!?! that's sickening and an abomination. But if man is willing to do that for someone who is not the antichrist, although as Brother Dewey Williams once said 'I believe the president is second cousin to him', then what will man do when the Antichrist comes on the scene? He WILL be worshipped and praised as a god, he will be supremely uplifted in pride and great will be his fall. Jesus says in Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
And notice that such a peaceful man, one who comes with polite and politically correct words, with diplomatic ideas that will impress the leaders of the world, what purpose does he ride forth for? to conquer. As soon as he goes forth he has a scheme in the back of his mind, his ulterior motive from the beginning is to conquer the world, to rule, to be worshipped as god. He sets forth to form a worldwide dictatorship. the future world ruler comes as a peacemaker but will usher in a reign of war, bloodshed, famine and death, especially against those who are sided with God. But see how he imitates the Lord Jesus. Jesus came as a peaceful Lamb to die for the world, not to conquer it, but he will come back one day as the Lion, he will still bring peace but also devastation, just not to the redeemed. God had his man for the job in the form of Jesus Christ, and here we see Satan has his man in the form of the Antichrist. And following is a short list that describes this antichrist {Brother Jerry Honeycutt's list of facts concerning the Antichrist p30 Vol 2}.
-he will not be revealed until 'The day of the Lord'II thess 2:1-3
-he comes from a Gentile nation 13:1
-his rise comes thru his peace program Dan 8:25
-he is characterized by great intelligence Dan 8:23
-he will be a talented orator Dan 7:8, 20
-he will cause craft to prosper Dan 8:25
-he will rule over ten nations 13:1; 17:12
-three of the original ten rulers are eliminated in his rise to power Dan 7:8, 24
-his influence will be world-wide 13:8
-he shall establish a covenant with the Jews Dan 9:27
-he breaks that covenant with the Jews Dan 9:27
-he sets himself up as God Dan 11:36-37; II thess 2:4; Rev 13:5
-he will be energized by Satan 13:4; Dan 8:24
-he blasphemes the true God Dan 7:25; Rev 13:1, 5-6
-he will be a miracle worker II thess 2:7-9
-he will be accepted by all who have heard and rejected the gospel II thess 2:10-12
-he will control Palestine and set up his headquarters in Jerusalem Dan 11:42, 45
-he will be supported by a corrupt religious system 17:3-5
-he will be promoted by a false prophet 13:11-18
-he will destroy the religious system 17:16-18
-he will be conquered by the Lord at the end of his seven year reign 19:19-21
So do you see why such warning is given in the Bible of the Antichrist (whom we believers will not see due to the rapture) and other antichrists like him, which are now in the world and we struggle with daily? 2Jo 1:7 formany deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. this is a deceiver and an antichrist.
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
When the Antichrist does comes on the scene, peace will be a large part of his plan, but that plan is ended when he desires to be worshipped,'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:65 about the word noise. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Sound of any kind, or proceeding from any cause, as the sound made by the org and of speech, by the wings of an insect, the rushing of the wind, or the roaring of the sea, of cannon or thunder, a low sound, a high sound, etc.; a word of general signification. 2. Outcry; clamor; loud, importunate or continued talk expressive of boasting, complaint or quarreling. In quarreling, it expresses less than uproar. What noise have we about transplantation of diseases and transfusion of blood? 3. Frequent talk; much public conversation. Socrates lived in Athens during the great plague which has made so much noise in all ages, and never caught the least infection.
NOISE, v.i. to sound loud. Harm those terrors did me none, though noising loud'.

Please see the note for John 12:29 about the word thunder. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'And lightning are significant manifestations of the power of God, and emblems of his presence, Ex 19:16; 1Sa 2:10; 12:17; Ps 18:13. thunder is poetically called "The voice of the Lord" in the sublime description of a thunder-storm in Ps 29:11; "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. the voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. the voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon," etc. See also Job 37:1-5; 40:9; Jer 10:13. In illustration of Ps 29:9, Moffat, while describing the thunder-storms of South Africa, say that the antelopes flee in consternation; and that he has observed the Bechuanas starting off early on the morning following such a storm in quest of young antelopes prematurely born. In Ps 78:48, "hot thunderbolts" means lightning'.

The four beasts of Revelation are described in Revelation 4:6-8. Please see the notes for those sentences about their descriptions and the symbolism involved in those descriptions.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. Re 5:5-7 the noise. Re 4:5; 10:3-4; 11:19 one. Re 6:3,5,7; 4:6-7; Ac 4:20 General references. exp: Re 6'.

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C6-S2 (Verse 2) What John saw as a result of the first seal being opened.

Equivalent Section: The white horse.

And I saw,
and behold a white horse:.

Equivalent Section: the rider.

First Step: What he held.

and he that sat on him had a bow;

Second Step: His authority.

and a crown was given unto him:.

Equivalent Section: What he did.

and he went forth conquering,
and to conquer.

The Equivalent Sections of our sentence might not appear to have equivalent messages unless you understand the truer meaning of the symbols. I will explain.

In our First Equivalent Section, we read about the white horse. However, this is a false white horse and the Significant Characters other than God Section gives the reference to the true white horse. This sentence represents God allowing the beast, whom many wrongly call 'The antichrist', to enter the World. He has a white horse because he is pretending to be Christ. God allows him the deceive all people who have rejected God's true Christ as their personal Lord. He will set himself up as lord of all of the Earth.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we have two Steps which describe him and prove him to be a liar and deceiver. He comes preaching peace but he had a bow, and we read this in the First Step. That is a symbol of war and he truly came to bring war on the Earth and the war that he wants will kill everyone. He is following the spirit of Islam which claims to be a peaceful religion but, from the start, has started non-stop wars and tells the followers to hate and kill anyone who disagrees with them. And, since we all disagree with everyone that we know at one time or another, this is a spirit to murder everyone.

In the Second Step, of our Second Equivalent Section, we read that; a crown was given unto him. Satan gives him this crown, but God allows it as a test. Those people who submit to his authority, and receive The mark of the beast (Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20). By doing so, they condemn themselves to Hell and The lake of fire.

In our third Equivalent Section, we read what he did. He planned to conquer all of the Earth and he succeeded except for the Jews. That is why he brought all of the armies of the Earth against God's people in time for Christ to conquer him and everyone who supports him.

Please see 1:14 for references to every place where the word white is used in this book. With the exception of the being on a white horse, who was sent to deceive lost people, every other reference to the word white is used for spiritually pure and associated with spiritually clean.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence was presented in the note above.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:36 about the word white. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'a symbol of purity (2Ch 5:12; Ps 51:7; Isa 1:18; Re 3:18; 7:14). Our Lord, at his transfiguration, appeared in raiment "white as the light" (Mt 17:2, etc.)'.

We find forms of the word horse occurring 154 times in 144 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: James 3:3; 6:2; 6:4; 6:5; 6:8; 9:7; 9:9; 9:16; 9:17; 14:20; 18:13; 19:11; 19:14; 19:18; 19:19; 19:21. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The horse was used among the Israelites only for war, either in chariots or for what is now called cavalry; but its use betokened failure in confidence on the Lord: see Ho 14:3. they had been forbidden to multiply horses, De 17:16; and at first they hamstrung the horses, and burnt the chariots of the Canaanites. Jos 11:6,9. David, however, after the defeat of Hadadezer, reserved 100 horses for chariots. 2Sa 8:4. (See a description of the war-horse in Job 39:19-25.) Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen. 1Ki 4:26.
Symbolically the horse represents careering imperial power, in general providentially controlled. In the early part of Zechariah the prophet had visions of horses of different colours, they are called spirits of the heavens, and as such they acted in the four great Gentile empires described by Daniel. When these are further spoken of, the red horses are not named, for the Chaldean empire had passed away when Zechariah saw the vision. Zec 1:8; 6:1-7.
In the Revelation also there are horses and riders thereon, representing the powers engaged in the providential course of God's dealings. Re 6:1-8; cf. Re 9:7,9,17. In Rev. 19 the Lord Jesus, the Faithful and True, comes forth on a white horse, to make war in righteousness. Re 19:11-21'.

Nave's Topical Bible provides links for the word horse as: 'Description of: Great strength Job 39:19-25. Swifter than eagles: Jer 4:13. Snorting and neighing of: Isa 5:28; Jer 8:16. A vain thing for safety: Ps 33:17; Pr 21:31. Used by the Egyptians in war: Ex 14:9; 15:19. Used by the Israelites: 1Ki 22:4. Used for cavalry: 2Ki 18:23; Jer 47:3; 51:21. Egypt famous for: Isa 31:1. Forbidden to the kings of Israel: De 17:16. Hamstrung by: Joshua: Jos 11:6,9. David: 2Sa 8:4. Israel reproved for keeping: Isa 2:7; 31:1; Eze 17:15; Ho 14:3. Exported: From Egypt: 1Ki 10:28-29; 2Ch 9:25,28. From Babylon: Ezr 2:66; Ne 7:68. Bits for: Jas 3:3. Bells for: Zec 14:20. Harness for: Jer 46:4. Color of: Zec 1:8. Commerce in: Re 18:13. Dedicated to religious uses: 2Ki 23:11. SYMBOLICAL: Zec 1:8; Re 6:2-8; 9:17; 19:11-21'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word bow. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'n. See bow, to bend. An instrument of war, and hunting, made of wood, or other elastic matter, with a string fastened to each end. the bow being bent by drawing the string, and suddenly returning to its natural state by its elastic force, throws an arrow to a great distance, and with force sufficient to kill an animal. It is of two kinds, the long-bow, and the cross-bow, arbalest or arbalest. the use of the bow is called archery'.

Please see the note for James 1:12 about the word crown. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Crowns show that the person wearing them has authority and a special position'. Some saved people will be in Heaven but will not be allowed to return with Christ, to this Earth, for His 1,000 years reign. Anyone with a crown will be returning with Him and ruling under Him.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:5 about the word give. The New Testament definition is: 'ppr. Bestowing; confering; imparting; granting; delivering. GIV'ING, n. the act of confering'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the words gave and given. The New Testament definition for the words gave and given are: 'the past-tense form of the word give'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giving. The New Testament definition of giving is: 'the ongoing form of the word give'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giveth. The New Testament definition of giveth is: 'a life-style of giving'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. The New Testament definition of the word giver is: 'the person who gives'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 about the phrase giving of thanks.

The word conquer is only in this sentence within the Bible. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.t. 1. to subdue; to reduce, by physical force, till resistance is no longer made; to overcome; to vanquish. Alexander conquered Asia. the Romans conquered Carthage. 2. to gain by force; to win; to take possession by violent means; to gain dominion or sovereignty over, as the subduing of the power of an enemy generally implies possession of the person or thing subdued by the conqueror. thus, a king or an army conquers a country, or a city, which is afterward restored. 3. to subdue opposition or resistance of the will by moral force; to overcome by argument, persuasion or other influence. Anna conquers but to save, and governs but to bless. He went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelations. 6. 4. to overcome, as difficulties; to surmount, as obstacles; to subdue whatever opposes; as, to conquer the passions; to conquer reluctance. 5. to gain or obtain by effort; as, to conquer freedom; to conquer peace; a French application of the word.
CONQUER, v.i. to overcome; to gain the victory. The champions resolved to conquer or to die'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'a white. this seems to be a representation of the person and dignity of Christ, and the mild and beneficent triumphs of his Gospel over all the powers of paganism. Re 19:11,14; Zec 1:8; 6:3-8 and he that. Ps 45:3-5; 76:7 and a. Re 14:14; 19:12; Zec 6:11-13; Mt 28:18 and he went. Re 11:15,18; 15:2; 17:14; Ps 98:1; 110:2; Isa 25:8; Ro 15:18-19; 1Co 15:25,55-57; 2Co 10:3-5 General references. exp: Ps 18:37'.

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C6-S3 (Verse 3) the opening of the second seal.

And when he had opened the second seal,
I heard the second beast say,
come and see.

The prior two sentences told us the result of the first seal being broken. This sentence gives us the result of the next seal being broken. We are told that he second beast was like a calf. He represented Jesus being offered as a sacrifice for our sins. Isaiah 55:7-8 tell us that Jesus never objected to being sacrificed. However, this horse and man bring war. Thus, we are shown that the way of God and the way of Satan are opposites.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here the second beast tells John to come and see as the Lord Jesus opens the second seal of the book. John sees another horse, red in color, approaching with a rider. Now, as to the identity of this rider he is more symbolic of what the first rider, the antichrist, sets into play - War. this rider, like the next two riders, is more of a force or power rather than a single being or personality. Remember this is a vision and there is a lot of symbolism here. I think this because thru this rider peace is taken from the earth, world war breaks out, and there is no single person who is doing this, rather it is mankind vs mankind.
Now the red horse's color, already symbolic of warfare, also symbolizes bloodshed and murder and killing. there will be strife and struggle and fighting and war when this rider comes, there will be war without, nation against nation, ally against ally, and there will be war within, civil war, class warfare (poor vs rich as we will see in the 3rd seal), racial warfare, armed rebellion, man against man, brother against brother, and much blood will be spilt. this world will see war and violence on a scale never known before. Mt 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 fornation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. We also see this rider has a great sword given to him, another symbol of mighty catastrophic war and bloodshed (unlike a bow with an empty quiver). You think of all the available weapons and technology mankind has today and how destructive our militaries are. Nuclear and atomic warfare, biological and chemical warfare, guns of all kinds and capacities, drones and robots, all kinds of technology capable of mass destruction, bombs and missiles, tanks and jets and ships and satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles, destroyer mounted rail guns, the sheer ability to kill the world's entire population many times over from miles away, all this will be turned loose upon mankind, with the Antichrist at the helm. You think of all the wars America has been in, WWI, WW II, Vietnam, Korea, the Gulf wars, Civil, Revolutionary and all the others and how tragic those were of lives lost, of the atrocities committed against man, all those combined will not touch the tragedy one will see during the tribulation. And as with all war we then see supplies begin to run short, food becomes scarce, fertile land is laid waste and so famine sets in'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 6:1; 4:7 exp: Re 6:7'.

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C6-S4 (Verse 4) What John saw as a result of the second seal being opened.

Equivalent Section: He saw a red horse.

And there went out another horse that was red:

Equivalent Section: the rider brought war to all of the Earth.

and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,
and that they should kill one another:

Equivalent Section: He had a symbol of great war.

and there was given unto him a great sword.

Our sentence adds the results of the second seal being broken to the prior sentence which told us that it was broken. These sentences are not complicated but there is doctrinal error taught about them because people don't know The correct way to interpret the symbols involved.

Please note that the first seal, and the first houseman represented the beast, whom people call 'The Antichrist' in doctrinal error. He took power of the Earth by lying and promising peace. Now, this horse man brings war. I'm not going into all of the other prophecies about this time, but we can separate, and reject, some doctrinal error which is taught by matching claims with the time of peace and the time of war and the time of the other seals being broken. There is not any error in The word of God but there is much error taught which people claim comes from The word of God.

So, our sentence has three Equivalent Sections. The First Equivalent Section tells us about the red horse, which is symbolic for war. Think about the so-called god of war, who was associated with Mars, which is also called 'The red planet'. And, there are many other ancient associations between the color red and way.

In our Second Equivalent Section we see two phrases which each describe the results of war. The beast, who was released with the first seal, used a campaign of world peace to get into power. But, now, this seal is proving all of his promises to be lies.

In our third Equivalent Section we read the symbolic phrase of: there was given unto him a great sword. As the Word Studies, below, point out, in The word of God, a sword is: 'is a symbol of divine chastisement (De 32:25; Ps 7:12; 78:62)' and 'of a slanderous tngue (Ps 57:4; 64:3; Pr 12:18)'. Like men throughout history who wanted to rule the world, the beast slanders the Jews and blames them for all of the war. This is a starting point for his eventually getting all of the armies of the world to attack Israel in order to murder all Jews. And, God allows him to do so as 'is a symbol of divine chastisement' because the Jews, as a nation, rejected Jesus as their Christ and King.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence was presented in the note above.

Please see the note for Revelation 6:2 about the word horse. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The horse was used among the Israelites only for war, either in chariots or for what is now called cavalry; but its use betokened failure in confidence on the Lord: see Ho 14:3. they had been forbidden to multiply horses, De 17:16; and at first they hamstrung the horses, and burnt the chariots of the Canaanites. Jos 11:6,9. David, however, after the defeat of Hadadezer, reserved 100 horses for chariots. 2Sa 8:4. (See a description of the war-horse in Job 39:19-25.) Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen. 1Ki 4:26.
Symbolically the horse represents careering imperial power, in general providentially controlled. In the early part of Zechariah the prophet had visions of horses of different colours, they are called spirits of the heavens, and as such they acted in the four great Gentile empires described by Daniel. When these are further spoken of, the red horses are not named, for the Chaldean empire had passed away when Zechariah saw the vision. Zec 1:8; 6:1-7.
In the Revelation also there are horses and riders thereon, representing the powers engaged in the providential course of God's dealings. Re 6:1-8; cf. Re 9:7,9,17. In Rev. 19 the Lord Jesus, the Faithful and True, comes forth on a white horse, to make war in righteousness. Re 19:11-21'.

Please see the note for Matthew 16:2 about the word red. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'RED, a. Gr red, and a rose, from its color. Heb. to descend, to bring down. L. gradior, also to correct, to teach, erudio. Of a bright color, resembling blood. Red is a simple or primary color, but of several different shades or hues, as scarlet, crimson, vermilion, orange red, etc. We say red color, red cloth, red flame, red eyes, red cheeks, red lead, etc. Red book of the exchequer, an ancient English record or manuscript containing various treatises relating to the times before the conquest. Red men, red people, red children, the aboriginals of America, as distinguished from the whites.
RED, n. A red color; as a brighter color, the best of all the reds'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:29 about the phrase Red Sea.

Please see the notes for Romans C12S16; Galatians C1-S1 and Jude 1:1 about the word peace. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines peace as: 'n. L. pax, paco, to appease. 1. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind. 2. Freedom from war with a foreign nation; public quiet. 3. Freedom from internal commotion or civil war. 4. Freedom from private quarrels, suits or disturbance. 5. Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquility; calmness; quiet of conscience. Great peace have they that love the law. Ps.119. 6. heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven. 7. Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance. 8. Public tranquility; that quiet, order and security which is guaranteed by the laws; as, to keep the peace; to break the peace. This word is used in commanding silence or quiet; as, peace to this troubled soul. Peace, the lovers are asleep. Tobe at peace, to be reconciled; to live in harmony. Tomake peace, to reconcile, as parties at variance. Tohold the peace, to be silent; to suppress one's thoughts; not to speak'. Please also see the notes for Philippians 4:7 and Colossians 3:15 about the phrase peace of God. Please also see the notes for Romans 10:15 and Hebrews 12:14-LJC about the phrase peace with God.

Please see the note for Romans C13S12 about the word kill. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'v.t. 1. to deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or by any means. to kill an animal or a plant, is to put an end to the vital functions, either by destroying or essentially injuring the org and necessary to life, or by causing them to cease from action. An animal may be killed by the sword or by poison, by disease or by suffocation. A strong solution of salt will kill plants. 2. to butcher; to slaughter for food; as, to kill an ox. 3. to quell; to appease; to calm; to still; as, in seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind'.

Please see the note for Romans C8S37 about the word sword. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex 32:27; 1Sa 31:4; 1Ch 21:27; Ps 149:1; Pr 5:4; Eze 16:40; 21:3-5).
It is a symbol of divine chastisement (De 32:25; Ps 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tngue (Ps 57:4; 64:3; Pr 12:18). the word of God is likened also to a sword (Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17; Re 1:16). Gideon's watchword was, "The sword of the Lord" (Jg 7:20)'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'horse. Re 12:3; 17:3,6; Zec 1:8; 6:2 power. Re 13:10; Ex 9:16-17; Isa 37:26-27; Eze 29:18-20; Da 2:37-38; 5:19; Joh 19:11 and there. Ps 17:13; Isa 10:5-6; Eze 30:24-25 '.

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C6-S5 (Verse 5) the opening of the third seal..

And when he had opened the third seal,
I heard the third beast say,
come and see.

The prior two sentences told us the result of the second seal being broken. This sentence gives us the result of the next seal being broken. The third beast had a face as a man. Opening this seal brings judgment upon all men who rejected Jesus as their Christ and King. This seal brought famine and death all across the Earth as prices rose above the ability of many to buy enough to eat.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here the third of the four beasts around the throne speaks to John and urges him to come see. And here the beloved apostle sees a rider upon a black horse, which is symbolic of Famine (reference Jer 14:1-2; Lam 5:10) as well as economic disaster. foras I said war causes shortages, and shortages drive up costs, the scarcity of basic needs causes governments to step in and take control and begin rationing food and other supplies. WW II caused even the us to ration certain supplies, some of you might remember that. We see this rationing depicted in this verse by the scales, the pair of balances, this third rider is carrying, a way of measuring out, rationing out, an allotment of food for every individual. So after war breaks out, food has to be measured out, as the cost of food sky rockets with inflation, the basic principles of supply and demand set in and low supply and high demand means exorbitant prices. And John hears a voice referencing such prices in v6 'A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine., a measure (a day's supply of wheat) for a penny (a day's wages), or one can choose three measures of barley, a lesser quality grain that was typically given to slaves and animals of biblical times for a day's wages. One would have to work an entire day just to have enough food for one day for himself, this does not count his family and others depending upon him to feed them. So along with famine we see malnutrition, hunger and even starvation setting in, for not everyone will be working or be able to afford such prices. there will be no freezers fully stocked, refrigerators crammed full or pantries overloaded, shelves will be bare, gardens ransacked, people will steal and plunder and even kill to feed themselves and their families. Anarchy will set in. the world will be in chaos, or atleast among the masses, for John also hears the voice that calls for the oil and wine to not be touched, not to be hurt, not to be affected by high costs or inflation. Oil and wine are considered luxuries, the food of the rich, while wheat and barley are food for the poor. the rich will apparently enjoy some luxury while the poor starve. Here we see class warfare, poor vs the rich, the haves vs the have nots, and if you have not been paying attention to whats happening in America, you are missing this very thing being staged, tax the rich give to the poor, take from those who have and spread the wealth around, hate the haves, love the have nots. One of the many antichrists is already prepping the way for such civil warfare in this country. this scarcity of food, economic disaster, chaos in the streets is one way I believe the antichrist will assume control over the world economy, all so he can feed the masses, he will satisfy their basic needs in exchange for their worship. Re 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. But during all this war and famine, there is always another step, where people starve and do all sorts of atrocities to survive, we now see pestilence and death set in'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'he had. Re 6:1; 4:6-7; 5:5,9 General references. exp: Re 6:7'.

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C6-S6 (Verse 5) What John saw as a result of the third seal being opened.

First Step: John saw the horse.

And I beheld,
and lo a black horse;.

Second Step: John saw the symbol of the judgment brought.

and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

This sentence, and the next sentence, are added to the prior sentence to tell us the judgment brought on men as a result of this seal being broken. Where the prior seal brought judgment upon the Jews, as a nation, this seal brings judgment upon all men. In the case of both seals, we see judgment brought upon men who rejected Jesus as their Christ and King. This seal brought famine and death all across the Earth as prices rose above the ability of many to buy enough to eat.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence was presented in the note above.

Please see the note for Hebrews 12:18-24 about the words black / blackness. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The color of back. Also used, symbolically, for darkness; atrociousness or enormity in wickedness'.

We find forms of the word balance in: Leviticus 19:36; Job 6:2; Job 31:6; Job 37:16; Psalms 62:9; Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 16:11; Proverbs 20:23; Isaiah 40:12; Isaiah 40:15; Isaiah 46:6; Jeremiah 32:10; Ezekiel 5:1; Ezekiel 45:10; Daniel 5:27; Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11; Revelation 6:5. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The emblem of justice (Job 31:6; Ps 62:9; Pr 11:1) the test of truth and honesty. the emblem of scarcity, food being weighed out Re 6:5). Mozenaim, "double scales" (Ge 23:16). Qaneh, "The beam of a balance" (Isa 46:6). Peles, "scales" (Isa 40:12): literally, "The beam", or else the aperture in which the tongue or beam moves'. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Moznayim, ζυγός, a pair of balances or scales: such are seen on the Egyptian monuments, with the weights in one scale and the article to be weighed in the other. they were needful also in early days for weighing the money: when Abraham bought a burying place he "weighed to Ephron the silver." Ge 23:16: cf. Jer 32:10. Job asked to be weighed in an even balance, Job 31:6: cf. Le 19:36; Eze 45:10, for men contrived to falsify the balance, as well as the weights, which was an abomination to the Lord. Pr 11:1; 16:11; Ho 12:7; Am 8:5. In Isa 46:6 another Hebrew word is used, qaneh, which signifies a reed, rod or beam, which may refer to the beam of the scales, for it is not known that the steel-yard was then in use. In Re 6:5 the rider on the black horse had a pair of balances with which to weigh out the food, showing that great scarcity will be one of God's judgements in the future'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'a black. Zec 6:2,6 had. Le 26:26; La 5:10; Eze 4:10,16 General references. exp: Re 6:7'.

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C6-S7 (Verse 6) What this judgment caused.

First Step: the cost of basic food.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say,
A measure of wheat for a penny,
and three measures of barley for a penny;.

Second Step: Protection of food for the rich.

and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

This sentence, and the prior two sentences, are added together to tell us the judgment brought on men as a result of this seal being broken. Where the prior seal brought judgment upon the Jews, as a nation, this seal brings judgment upon all men. In the case of both seals, we see judgment brought upon men who rejected Jesus as their Christ and King. This seal brought famine and death all across the Earth as prices rose above the ability of many to buy enough to eat.

Our sentence has two Steps with the First Step telling the price of basic food to the average person. That is why many people died from famine. However, the Second Step tells us about protection of food that only the rich can afford. As always, even in time of famine, the rich have enough.

It needs to be recognized that some people claim that the reference to oil, in this sentence, is speaking about petroleum products needed for machines. However, the context limits the meaning of oil to food.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence was presented in the note for Revelation 6:5; above.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please see the note for John 3:34 about the word measure. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'This word specifies a way to figure proportional values. the whole extent or dimensions of a thing, including length, breadth and thickness. It is applied also to length or to breadth separately. It can also specify a quantity or value such as when applied to money'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:6; 11:1; 11:2; 21:15; 21:16; 21:17.

Please see the note for Luke 16:7 about the word wheat. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'one of the earliest cultivated grains. It bore the Hebrew name hittah, and was extensively cultivated in Palestine. there are various species of wheat. that which Pharaoh saw in his dream was the Triticum compositum, which bears several ears upon one stalk (Ge 41:5). the "fat of the kidneys of wheat" (De 32:14), and the "finest of the wheat" (Ps 81:16; 147:14), denote the best of the kind. It was exported from Palestine in great quantities (1Ki 5:11; Eze 27:17; Ac 12:20). Parched grains of wheat were used for food in Palestine (Ru 2:14; 1Sa 17:17; 2Sa 17:28). the disciples, under the sanction of the Mosaic law (De 23:25), plucked ears of corn, and rubbing them in their hands, ate the grain unroasted (Mt 12:1; Mr 2:23; Lu 6:1). Before any of the wheat-harvest, however, could be eaten, the first-fruits had to be presented before the Lord (Le 23:14)'. Basically, a measure of wheat for a penny would be 'enough food for one day costing all of the earnings, for a common laborer, of that day'.

Please see the note for John 6:7 about the word penny. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The daily pay of a Roman soldier in the time of Christ'.

Please see the note for John 6:9 about the word barley. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A grain that was used by the poorest people to make bread'. Basically, barley was considered to be 'The poor man's bread'. Therefore, three measures of barley for a penny would be 'enough food for three people for one day, if it was the cheapest meal, costing all of the earnings, for a common laborer, of that day'.

Please see the note for Mark 16:17-18 about the word hurt. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'to bruise; to give pain by a contusion, pressure, or any violence to the body. We hurt the body by a severe blow, or by tight clothes, and the feet by fetters. Ps.105. 2. to wound; to injure or impair the sound state of the body, as by incision or fracture. 3. to harm; to damage; to injure by occasioning loss. We hurt a man by destroying his property. 4. to injure by diminution; to impair. A man hurts his estate by extravagance. 5. to injure by reducing in quality; to impair the strength, purity or beauty of. Hurt not the wine and the oil--Rev.6. 6. to harm; to injure; to damage, in general. 7. to wound; to injure; to give pain to; as, to hurt the feelings.
HURT, n. A wound; a bruise; anything that gives pain to the body. the pains of sickness and hurts. 1. Harm; mischief; injury. I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. Gen.4. 2. Injury; loss. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Ezra.4'.

Please see the note for Luke 10:33-34 about the word oil. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Its three principal uses among the Hebrew were: (1) to anoint the body so as to mollify the skin, heal injuries, and strengthen muscles (Ps 104:15; 109:18; 141:5; Isa 1:6; Lu 10:34; 2Ch 28:15; Mr 6:13; Jas 5:14) (See ANOINT.) (2) As we use butter, as food (Nu 11:8; 1Ki 17:12; 1Ch 12:40; Eze 16:13,19; Ho 2:5). (3) to burn in lamps (Ex 25:6; Mt 25:3). Type of the Holy Spirit's unction (2Co 1:21; 1Jo 2:20,27) and illumination (Zec 4:11-12). the supply of grace comes not from a dead reservoir of oil, but through living "olive trees."' Lots of people argue about the symbolic meaning of oil in this sentence including assigning it to what is used for mechanical devices siuch as cars. Such use was not known at the time of this book being written. In addition, the context of the sentence makes it applied to food.

Please see the note for Mark 15:23 about the word wine. That note had a large definition and men argue that there were six original language words which are rendered wine. Therefore, there are many arguments about the symbolic meaning of this word. Some of those arguments are perversions of the truth which are intended to justify sin. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A basic drink of people where the Bible was written. It was also used for medicine'. Please also see the note for Luke 7:34 about the word winebibber. Please also see the note for Matthew 21:33-34 about the word winepress. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: Re 6:6; 14:8; 14:10; 14:19; 14:20; 16:19; 17:2; 18:3; 18:13; 19:15.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'A measure. "The word choenix signifieth a measure containing one wine-quart and the twelfth part of a quart." and see. Re 9:4; Ps 76:10'.

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C6-S8 (Verse 7) the opening of the fourth seal..

And when he had opened the fourth seal,
I heard the voice of the fourth beast say,
come and see.

The prior three sentences told us the result of the third seal being broken. This sentence gives us the result of the next seal being broken. The beast, who spoke, was like a flying eagle. The eagle is presented as a great predator, hunter and eater of other animals within The word of God. As a flying eagle, it is hunting. And, the next two sentences are added to this sentence to tell us about the results of this seal being broken. With that in mind, we see that our second next sentence says that power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The symbolism on this seal tells us that as a result, the strong will be devouring the weak.

In his note, below, claims that there are two riders on this horse, one called Death and the second called Hell. He is mistaken about that point but, otherwise, his note is accurate. Our sentence says that Hell followed with him. Hell is with him, but is following. Here, Hell is referencing devils who were previously bound in Hell. They are with Death, and following Death, but they are not on the same horse.

The difference between the two interpretations is due to understanding grammar. However, doctrinally, there is no big difference. There are other places where a place is named for the people within it. A Baptist church is not Baptist because of the building but because of the people in it. A Chinese embassy is not Chinese because of the building but because of the people in it. in this sentence, the word Hell is used to identify the angels released from there to help Death do the work of this seal.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'As the Lord Jesus opens the fourth seal, the fourth beast tells John to come and see, and here he sees a pale horse which depicts pestilence, sickness, and deadly disease. And no, this is not Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider, but in fact it is two personages. One rides a greenish, corpse colored pale horse and his name is Death and then we see that Hell follows him. We must remember Christ has the keys to death and hell (1:18), he has power and control and authority over them, and one day both death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire, suffering the second death (Rev 20:14), but for now they are loosed upon the earth with the breaking of the fourth seal. Death rides forth with Hell nipping at his heels like a rabid dog. We see in these two powers the ability to claim the physical body in Death and the spiritual soul in Hell, and now they ride forth to claim their prey. And power is given to them, by none other than the Lord Jesus, for it is He who holds the book and has set these two powers loose and who has the keys of authority over them. they are given power to kill one quarter of the world's population. to kill with sword (war, murder, strife, all acts of violence), with hunger (famine), and with death (disease, pestilence) and with beasts of the earth (all types of animals that are hungry as well, think wild animals, dogs, rats, swarms, diseased animals, etc, and included in this I believe could be viruses, parasites and deadly bacteria, all those are living organisms and as we know they can kill swathes of people in one go in the form of plagues and epidemics (not to mention any biological warfare agents used). this world has at least 7 if not 8 billion people on it as of right now, so that means around 2 billion of those will die with the breaking of the 4th seal, there were only approximately 230,000 people killed during the tragic tsunami of 2004 in the Indian Ocean, 60-85 million in WWII, and with the 4th seal we have only just begun, still before us are the rest of the seals, the 7 trumpets and the 7 vials of judgment. Mt 24:7 fornation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. So far we have been looking at the events set into motion by the Lamb, the Lord Jesus, taking the book that was at the right hand of the Father and breaking the seals one by one and opening the book, the title deed to the earth. Remember this occurs in the hereafter, the time after the church age, after the dispensation of grace, for the church age ended with the rapture of the saints, of all saved believers upon the earth being removed. And with that the tribulation period begins, the time frame referred to as Daniel's 70th week. this started with the first seal being broken and the antichrist being revealed upon the earth (also remember we have the viewpoint from heaven looking down upon the earth to see the results of each seal that is broken), the antichrist comes on the scene with talk of peace and diplomacy when truly his ulterior motive is to conquer and to be worshipped as we see in the following verses'
II thessaloni and 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 forThe mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This Antichrist, this son of perdition, mimics Christ the coming king by bringing a false peace, the antichrist comes riding a white horse like Christ, but instead of peace he brings bloodshed and disaster. Yet it is this very man the world will bow down to, will proclaim to be leader, dictator, god (where they rejected the true Prince of Peace and crucified Him); this will usher in the next 3 horsemen, as the Lord Jesus in heaven breaks the 2nd thru the 4th seals, and the horsemen that appear are instruments of God's wrath and judgment to be poured out upon the earth.
The second rider on the red horse brings war and violence on a scale never before seen, and as with all great wars, famine sets in, thus the 3rd rider. With this comes scarcity of food and basic supplies, governmental rationing of such things, which then leads to many going hungry, starving or resorting to ill means to feed themselves and their families. But with so many dying from war and famine and even by the hands of their own neighbors, that much death can only lead to disease and pestilence being spread, and thus the 4rth rider appears, Death comes in and along with him comes Hell. One has power to take life from the body, the other has power to take one's soul. And when these two come on the scene, one quarter of the world's population will die, catastrophically and violently in an unparalleled bloodbath upon the earth.
So is it any wonder we see such worship of the Lamb in heaven by the elders and the saved. forwe being part of that gathering will not have to face such tribulation, we will not have to face the judgment poured out upon the earth. We will not have to resist the antichrist, we will not have to face war on such a scale or famine or pestilence or violence or horrible death, yes we may have to face events like them, even death, but nothing of the severity that this world will see when the Lord Jesus opens the book and breaks the seals. that is why he is worthy of our worship and praise, we will not have to suffer thru this awful time, for we as saved by grace believers are not appointed to wrath (I thes 5:9).
And now here in ch6:9-11 we see the scene shift once more as the 5th seal is opened. Our view is directed once more back into the throne room of heaven where John sees the souls of those martyred during the tribulation. As we begin looking at these verses I want us to think about how they compare to Jesus'words in Matthew 24:3-14. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 formany shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.7 fornation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 6:1,3,5; 4:7'.

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C6-S9 (Verse 8) What John saw as a result of the fourth seal being opened.

Equivalent Section: He saw the horse.

And I looked,
and behold a pale horse:.

Equivalent Section: He saw the rider and his followers.

and his name that sat on him was Death,
and Hell followed with him.

Naves Topical Bible claims that the pale horse is: 'a symbol of death'.

As explained in the note above, this sentence uses Hell for devils who were previously bound in Hell. They are with Death, and following Death, but they are not on the same horse. Please be sure to read the note from Dr. Jeff Wilson about the symbolism involved in these sentences.

As explained in the Significant Characters other than God; which of the four beasts speaks to John is related to the type of judgment brought by the breaking of that particular seal. None of this is coincidence and all is related so that we can understand the symbolism which is used. in this case, God is showing men the end result of their choosing to follow doctrines from devils.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence was presented in the note above.

We find forms of the word pale only in: Isaiah 29:22; Jeremiah 30:6; Revelation 6:8. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. L. palleo, pallidus. 1. White or whitish; wan; deficient in color; not ruddy or fresh of color; as a pale face or skin; pale cheeks. We say also, a pale red, a pale blue, that is, a whitish red or blue. Pale is not precisely synonymous with white, as it usually denotes what we call wan, a darkish dun white. 2. Not bright; not shining; of a faint luster; dim; as the pale light of the moon. The night, methinks, is but the daylight sick; It looks a little paler.
PALE, v.t. to make pale.
PALE, n. L. palus; coinciding with Eng. pole, as well as pale. It has the elements of L. pala,a spade or shovel. 1. A narrow board pointed or sharpened at one end, used in fencing or inclosing. this is with us more generally called a picket. 2. A pointed stake; hence to empale, which see. 3. An inclosure; properly,that which incloses, like fence, limit; hence,The space inclosed. He was born within the pale of the church; within the pale of christianity. 4. District; limited territory. 5. In heraldry, an ordinary, consisting of two perpendicular lines drawn from the top to the base of the escutcheon, and containing the third middle part of the field.
PALE, v.t. to inclose with pales or stakes. 1. to inclose; to encompass'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C1S1 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word name. The New Testament definition is: 'How a person or thing is identified. In the Bible, the power and authority which is associated with the name is always part of the message where this word is used'. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S4 about the phrase The name. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where the phrase in the name. occurs along with links to where similar phrases occur in the New Testament. Please see the note for 1Peter 4:14-LJC about the name of Christ. Please see the note for Luke 13:35 about the phrase name of the Lord. Please also see the Summary and verses documents about the use of this word for the Son of God. Please also see the note for Acts 1:23 about the word surname.

Please see the notes for Romans C6S4; 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20 and Colossians C1S4 about the words dead / death / die. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Physical death is separation of soul and spirit from body and the second death is eternal separation from God'. Please also see the notes for Revelation 2:11; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8 about the phrase death, second.

Please see the note for James 3:6 about the word hell. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered: (1.) Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. this word sheol is derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence insatiableness (Pr 30:15-16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Ge 37:35; 42:38; 44:29,31; 1Sa 2:6, etc.). the Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule. In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered "hell," the place of disembodied spirits. the inhabitants of sheol are "The congregation of the dead" (Pr 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Nu 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps 9:17; 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Ps 16:10; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13, etc.). Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (Job 10:21-22), with bars (Job 17:16). the dead "go down" to it (Nu 16:30,33; Eze 31:15-16,17). (2.) the Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1Pe 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Mt 16:18; Re 1:18), and it is downward (Mt 11:23; Lu 10:15). the righteous and the wicked are separated. the blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise (Lu 23:43). they are also said to be in Abraham's bosom (Lu 16:22). (3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Mt 23:33). the fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Mt 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; Lu 16:24, etc.). (See Hinnom.)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 16:18 about the phrase gates of hell.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C4S16 about the word follow. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To go after or behind; to walk, ride or move behind, but in the same direction. Soldiers will usually follow a brave officer'. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 dictionary and it provides several more applications, if they will help the reader to understand this word. Please also see the note for Romans C14S25 about the phrase follow after. Please also see the note for Mark 2:14 about the phrase follow me. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:8; 8:7; 14:4; 14:8; 14:9; 14:13; 19:14.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'pale. Zec 6:3 was Death. Re 20:13-14; Isa 25:8; Ho 13:14; Hab 2:5; 1Co 15:55 (margin) unto them. or, to him. over. Re 8:7-12; 9:15,18; 12:4 kill. Le 26:22-33; Jer 15:2-3; 16:4,16; 43:11; Eze 5:15-17; 14:13-21'.

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C6-S10 (Verse 8) . What Death and Hell did.

And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,
to kill with sword,
and with hunger,
and with death,
and with the beasts of the earth.

This particular sentence is added to the prior two sentences to tell us the result of the fourth seal being broken.

Please realize that this is 25% of humanity killed. I've heard estimates from others, and have not added it up myself, but this is just the start of Satan's plan to kill everyone because God loves the whole world and wants to save every one. Satan is the father of lies. He promises peace but delivers war. He promises pleasure but delivers addiction. He does not care about any men, he just wants all to go to hell because God wants all to go to Heaven.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence is in the note for Revelation 6:7.

Please see the note for Romans C12S18 about the word hunger. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. An uneasy sensation occasioned by the want of food; a craving of food by the stomach; craving appetite. Hunger is not merely want of food, for persons when sick, may abstain long from eating without hunger, or an appetite for food. Hunger therefore is the pain or uneasiness of the stomach of a healthy person, when too long destitute of food. 2. Any strong or eager desire. forhunger of my gold I die. HUN'GER, v.i. to feel the pain or uneasiness which is occasioned by long abstinence from food; to crave food. 1. to desire with great eagerness; to long for. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Matt.5'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

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C6-S11 (Verse 9-10) the opening of the fifth seal and what John saw as a result of the fifth seal being opened.

Equivalent Section: John sees the people who ere slain for the word of God during the great tribulation.

And when he had opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God,
and for the testimony which they held:.

Equivalent Section: John reports their cry.

And they cried with a loud voice,
saying,
How long,
O Lord,
holy and true,
dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?.

Please see Habakkuk 1:2-4 which basically says the same thing as the Second Equivalent Section of this sentence.

The prior three sentences told us the result of the fourth seal being broken. This sentence gives us the result of the next seal being broken. All of the prior seals being broken resulted in additional judgment being brought upon men living on Earth. However, this seals does not show us God's judgment but reveals the people who suffered from Satan's haltered of God and of God's word. Here, God is taking a moment to show the different end result which will be given to people who remain true to God even through martyrdom.

2Corinthians 2:15-16 is a verse that most people have a hard time understanding. It says: For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? the fact is that this entire life is a test. First, God is seeing if we will truly accept our Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord. Then He is seeing how well and how long we will obey with everlasting rewards, or 1,000 years of punishment, as our reward. And, at times, He requires His children to remain true through a martyr's death so that he is justified in giving them a greater reward than others receive and so that he is justified in punishing those who persecuted and martyred them.

So, what we read about here are these souls who have suffered and died and are still waiting for their reward and for God to take vengeance (Romans 12:19). And, while all of God's promises are reliable and true, we need to remember that God's sense of time is not our sense of time.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections. The First Equivalent Section identifies the souls which John sees and the Second Equivalent Section tells us their request from God.

In the First Equivalent Section, we read about people who are going to be martyred during the great tribulation. Our next sentence says that they were given their reward, when this seal was broken, but that they had to wait until it was God's time to bring vengeance upon the sinners who persecuted and killed them. Until our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rule the Earth, God is letting sinful men build up evidence which will justify His sending them to Hell and The lake of fire.

Please also notice that they were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. (These are two different things.) Today, people argue about The word of God and offer their own personal opinion as if it had great authority. However, in the future, people will shut their mouths, under fear of persecution and death, unless they truly are willing to die for The word of God. In addition, this is not speaking about all of the man-written 'bibles', because no one will die for them. In fact, most people who use them use several looking for the opinion which supports their favorite doctrinal error of the moment.

The phrase: for the testimony which they held is not speaking about what people mouthed but what they lived and held, even through persecution and unto death. Mouthy people shut up when threatened, or experiencing, violent opposition to their words.

Please see the note from Dr. Jeff Wilson about the phrase: under the altar. As he explains ther, these souls were closerto the altar, and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, than other sved people were in Heaven.

In the Second Equivalent Section, we see the request made by the souls which were identified in the First Equivalent Section. Their primary question is; how long?. And, as already pointed out in this note, God's sense of time is not our sense of time. We must be positive that God will keep all of His promises but he will do it in His time and His way.

Next they identify Him as holy and true. These are a couple of God's primary character traits. (Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, these the note on true.) As being completely holy, God must eliminate anything which is around Him and is not holy. When He does that is when he will give these souls their vengeance.

Next, notice that it is the Lord, and not Jesus Christ that is the role they approach God in when they want vengeance and justice. This is proper because these things only come through the role of Lord.

One of the most neglected, and misunderstood, words in The word of God is: according ('Like notes in a musical chord move up or down together, the cause and effect, of what is according, move up and down together'). In particular, our Second Equivalent Section identifies them that dwell on the earth as the people who persecuted and martyred these souls. Therefore, their judgment and punishment must be according to what they did to these souls.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The Lord Jesus in heaven now opens the 5th seal of the book, and John sees under the altar of heaven souls of those that were slain. Now the first question that comes up is who are these souls? these are not the saved of our dispensation, the age of grace, as that age has ended and all of the believers of that age are raptured before the tribulation (remember the church and Old Testament saints are represented by the 24 elders), but we must remember there will be multitudes of people, both Jew and gentile, who will be saved and thus martyred during the tribulation. Re 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and ongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb'. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The reason for the existence of these believing martyrs is that as the Apostle Paul tells us that the spiritual blindness of the Jews will be removed and Israel will be saved for they will come to realize their rejection of the true Messiah and their spiritual state due to that rejection and they shall turn to Jesus during this time of Jacob's troubles. Ro 11:25 forI would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:27 for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Many will be saved during the tribulation by the same gospel that John the Baptist preached. Mt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. the gospel of the kingdom will be preached, the return of Christ will be preached, many will believe and be saved, all by faith in Jesus Christ, but such belief will antagonize the antichrist and the world, these tribulation saints will refuse the mark of the beast brought on by war and famine, they will be as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (who refused to bow and worship a mere man and were thrown into the fiery furnace) but unlike those three Hebrew children the tribulation saints will be killed/martyred for their stand and their faith, they will be hunted down and butchered. And so John sees this growing remnant, the souls of those martyred here in heaven, but the odd thing is he sees them under the altar.
So the next question is what does under the altar mean? Well John sees them under or at the bottom or at the foot of the altar. Now in the Old Testament a priest would present an animal sacrifice by pouring the blood of the animal out at the base of the brazen altar, but here the lives of those martyred were poured out as sacrifices to the glory of God, their lives are poured out at the base of this altar as a sacrifice unto God. Two altars are mentioned in Revelation, "The golden altar" of incense, Re 9:13; and the altar of burnt-offerings, mentioned here, and Re 8:5; 14:18; 16:7. these saints have been gathered here as an offering to God because they willingly gave their lives for their beliefs. Paul said something similar to such a life offering in 2Ti 4:6 forI am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. And in Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Now the word martyr actually means witness, so these saints will be killed for their witness of the truth of Christ and his coming kingdom, their witness that Jesus is coming to overthrow the antichrist and rule the world with righteousness and justice, they will die for their testimony of the truth. See we as redeemed believers are to be a living sacrifice as pointed out in Romans ch12, but here those that believe during the tribulation period will actually give their lives in death as a sacrifice unto God, for John says they were slain for the word of God and for their testimony. they were truly as the Apostle Paul wrote 2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; forwe read in Re 12:11 which I think refers to these saints'And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. And now they are in heaven under the sheltering protective care of their Lord, under the altar, having brought glory to God by their stand and statement of faith.

Verse 10.
In v10 we hear these martyrs cry out with a loud voice. these tribulation saints cry out to the Lord, the holy one, the true one, the just and right one, 'How long do we wait for you to judge, how long must we wait for vengeance upon those that slew us?'these saints cry out for vengeance, how long will they have to wait for God to do something, to bring justice and judgment upon their enemies. Many who suffer unfairly at the hands of others can cry out a similar question (ex. Christians being killed in Egypt and Mideast), but the comforting thing we read in Rom 12:19 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Vengeance and payback are in God's hands, and none can escape His all-seeing, all powerful,l divine judgment. This cry is also similar to the imprecatory Psalms, where the writer cries out for vengeance upon his enemies, asking God to smite them. Ps 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? these martyrs cry for justness to be done, for judgment upon the wicked, for vindication of their murders. this may not sound very Christian to some, wishing judgment upon others, but we must remember the age of grace has ended, the time for judgment has arrived, they await the ultimate judge to appear and set things right. the martyred saints cry for Jesus to come and right the wrongs done to them as referenced in II thessaloni and 1:8'In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:. God replies to the martyred saint's cries in v11'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S22 about the word altar. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'any structure of earth (Ex 20:24) or unwrought stone (Ex 20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Also used symbolically for a heart attitude of dedicating a life to the service of God. Used in Heb 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--The sacrifice Christ offered'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:9; 8:3; 8:5; 9:13; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7.

Please see the notes for Romans C13S1 and Psalms 119:20 about the word soul. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The long-term result of the short-term actions of our heart in deciding how we will think, how we will act emotionally to circumstances of life and how we will decide the issues of life'. Please also see the note for James 1:21 about the phrase save your soul. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:9; 16:3; 18:13; 18:14; 20:4.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word word. The New Testament definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, The word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please also see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. Please also see the note for John 1:1 for an extensive note explaining the differences, and similarities, between the capitalized and the non-capitalized word word. When a Bible reference uses an uppercase word, it is referring to Jesus Christ. The uppercase makes this a formal name of the Son of God. However, while the exact definition is different, the properties are spiritually similar to the lowercase word. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the phrase word of the Lord. Please note that The word of the Lord is a sub-set of The word of God. The word of God contains all of God's written truth including recording the lies of Satan. The word of the Lord is that part of The word of God which will be used to judge us. The lies from Satan are not included within the word of the Lord.

Please see the note for Psalms 119 about the words testimony / testimonies. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'statements that are used in a court of law to judge the legality of someone's actions. these require first-hand experience because anything else would be rumor and not legal to present in court'. Please also see the note for Matthew 19:21 about the phrase testimonies of the LORD. Please also see the note for Galatians 5:3 about the word testify. Please also see the Message called Testimony of God. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: Acts 13:22; Acts 14:3; Acts 22:18.

The word held is the past-tense form of the word hold. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To stop; to confine; to restrain from escape; to keep fast; to retain'. Please see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Stopping; confining; restraining; keeping; retaining; adhering; maintaining, etc'. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden. Please see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:17-19 about the phrase lay hold.

The word cried is the past-tense form of the word cry. Please see the note for Mark 1:3 about the word cry. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Loud notorious exclamation as a crying sin or warning'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:10; 7:2; 7:10; 10:3; 12:2; 14:15; 14:18; 18:2; 18:18; 18:19; 19:17; 21:4.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; 1Corinthians C3S17; Philippians 1:3-7 and Colossians C1S6 about the word holy. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'a. 1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, Godly. Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1. 2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood. 3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal. 4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God. 5. Sacred; as a holy witness. Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year. Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls. Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner'. Please also see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the phrase holy city. Please also see the Word Study on the Holy Ghost for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost. Please also see the note for 1John 2:20 about the phrase Holy One. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events for this, and other, Minor Titles of the Son of God. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

Please see the notes for Matthew 7:1 about the word judge. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To hear and determine, as in causes on trial; to pass sentence'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C4S5 and Ephesians C5S6 about the phrase we are to judge. Please also see the notes for Romans 8:1-LJC; Galatians C5-S6 and Revelation 19:2-LJC about the phrase judged by works. Please also see the notes for Romans C2S2; Philippians 1:9-11 and Psalms 119 about the word judgment. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment Seat. Please also see the notes for Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment Seat of Christ. Please also see the note for Romans 14:8-LJC and 2Thessalonians 1:9-LJC about the phrase judgment without mercy. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:10; 11:18; 14:7; 15:4; 16:5; 16:7; 17:1; 18:8; 18:10; 19:2; 19:11; 20:4; 20:12; 20:13.

Please see the note for Acts 7:24 about the word avenge the New Testament definition for this word is: 'To take satisfaction for an injury by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer. Also see revenge and revenger'.

Please see the note for Romans C7S24 about the word dwell. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'ppr. Inhabiting; residing; sojourning; continuing with fixed attention. DWELL'ING, n. Habitation; place of residence; abode. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer.49. 1. Continuance; residence; state of life. thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. Dan.4'. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I saw. Re 8:3; 9:13; 14:18; Le 4:7; Joh 16:2 (Gr) Php 2:17; 2Ti 4:6 the souls. Re 20:4; 2Co 5:8; Php 1:23 slain. Re 1:9; 2:13; 11:3-7; 12:11-17; 19:10; 2Ti 1:8 General references. exp: Mt 21:35; Heb 12:4.
they cried. Ge 4:10; Ps 9:12; Lu 18:7-8; Heb 12:24 How. Ps 13:1; 35:17; 74:9-10; 94:3-4; Da 8:13; 12:6; Zec 1:12 exp: Hab 1:2. holy. Re 3:7; 15:3-4 dost. Re 11:18; 16:5-7; 18:20,24; 19:2; De 32:36-43; Jg 16:28; 1Sa 24:12; Ps 58:10-11; Isa 61:2; 63:1-6; Lu 21:22; Ro 12:19; 2Th 1:6-8 avenge. this seal seems a prediction of the terrible persecution of the church under Dioclesian and Maximian, from A.D. 270 to 304, which lasted longer, and was far more bloody, than any or all by which it was preceded, whence it was called "The 'ra of the martyrs." exp: Nu 31:2; De 32:43; Lu 18:7. General references. exp: Ps 74:10; Isa 34:8; 64:12; Jer 51:24; La 3:64; 2Th 1:6; Heb 12:4'.

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C6-S12 (Verse 11) What these souls were given at that time.

First Step: they were given their Heavenly reward.

And white robes were given unto every one of them;

Second Step: they were given a promise.

and it was said unto them,
that they should rest yet for a little season,
until their fellowservants also and their brethren,
that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled.

This sentence adds a report of rewards given to the souls who were identified in the prior sentence. Please see the Promises Section of the Significant New Testament Events about other promises given by God. Those promises can only be 'claimed' by the people who were given the promise and only if they fulfill God's to requirements to receive the particular promise.

One of the most popular doctrinal errors, which is accepted by most people who claim to be saved, is that we can 'claim' rewards without fulfilling God's requirements for receiving those promises. And, one of the biggest lies accepted by 'Good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists' is that 'only those who believe in the Health and Welfare doctrine are so deceived'. Yet, many of the same people believe 'they will get a white robe in heaven' without checking God's requirements for receiving one. Many of them also believe that they 'will receive a mansion' without checking God's requirements for receiving one. Many of them also believe that they 'will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb' without checking God's requirements for being allowed to. Many of them also believe that they 'will return with Christ to rule for 1,000 years' without checking God's requirements for being allowed to. And I could go on but the point should be obvious. I have listed well over 800 promises given for the 'Church Age' in the Significant Gospel Events Study and the Significant New Testament Events Study, not counting prophecies. In every case, the particular promise was given to a particular group of people and included requirements for them to fulfill in order to receive those promises. No one who was outside of the group identified could 'claim' the specified promise. In addition, No one who failed to fulfill God's requirements could 'claim' the specified promise. And, too many people believe that they have some exception to God's law because they claim to be a preacher or they claim to be 'Good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists'.

In our First Step, we see that these particular saved people were given white robes unto every one of them. Note, there will be people in Heaven, such as Lot, who are not given this particular reward. When anyone is truly Biblically saved, they will go to Heaven. However, they will receive the specific rewards for serving God's kingdom only if they actually did the required service while they were physically alive. Our prior sentence told us what these all did to earn their white robe.

In our Second Step, we read the promise given to them and, again, this promise is only given to them. They were promised that God would give them vengeance, but only after those who did wrong had finished providing full justification for God sending them to Hell and The lake of fire (until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were). God does things in His timeans, as our Step tells us, it is after He has all of the legal evidence to justify His judgment of people.

The thing for God's people to keep in mind is that, when they seem to be getting away with ongoing sin, they are actually building up evidence for God to use when he punishes them. Yes, God does give mercy. But when we prove that we are willfully doing ongoing sin, that pretty much eliminates our right to ask for mercy.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'This remnant of martyred believers are given white robes, which is also seen in ch7:13-14, for they are saved by faith in the Lamb, much like those of the Old Testament, they placed faith in the coming Christ, yet these tribulation saints were awaiting the Lord's second coming to earth, his earthly kingdom, but it is still faith in Jesus that washes them clean of their sins.
But what is now said to this remnant to calm them and their cries for vengeance? they are told to rest for a little season, to wait, to be patient. Why, what are they to wait for? Well it is explained to them, they are not going to be alone, they will be joined by many more of their fellow servants, many more upon earth will be martyred, slain before this is all over with. they are to wait until the Great Tribulation is over and Christ comes and avenges them by destroying his enemies as the true rider upon the white horse, these martyred saints will have their day of vengeance when Jesus comes back to this earth. Re 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Jesus is going to have the victory, the final say!'.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:36 about the word white. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as 'a symbol of purity (2Ch 5:12; Ps 51:7; Isa 1:18; Re 3:18; 7:14). Our Lord, at his transfiguration, appeared in raiment "white as the light" (Mt 17:2, etc.)'.

Please see the note for John 19:2 about the word robe. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. 1. A kind of gown or long loose garment worn over other dress, particularly by persons in elevated stations. the robe is properly a dress of state or dignity, as of princes, judges, priests, etc. See Ex. 29:55. 1Sam. 24:4. Matt. 27:28. 2. A splendid female gown or garment. 2Sam. 13. 3. An elegant dress; splendid attire. 4. In Scripture, the vesture of purity or righteousness, and of happiness. Job 29. Luke 15.
ROBE, v.t. 1. to put on a robe; or to dress with magnificence; to array. 2. to dress; to invest, as with beauty or elegance; as fields robed with green. Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:11; 7:9; 7:13; 7:14.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:12-13 about the word rest. The New Testament definition for this word is: ' Cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being; as rest from labor; rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. Also ceasing the action of separation'.

Please see the note for Mark 12:2 about the word season. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A fit or suitable time; the convenient time; the usual or appointed time; as, the messenger arrived in season; in good season'.

Please see the note for Matthew 11:16-17 about the word fellow. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. Heb. to tie or connect, to be joined or associated. 1. A companion; an associate. In youth I had twelve fellows, like myself. Each on his fellow for assistance calls. 2. One of the same kind. A shepherd had one favorite dog; he fed him with his own hand, and took more care of him than of his fellows. 3. An equal. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts. Zech. 13. 4. One of a pair, or of two things used together and suited to each other. Of a pair of gloves, we call one the fellow of the other. 5. One equal or like another. Of an artist we say, this man has not his fellow, that is, one of like skill. 6. An appellation of contempt; a man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble man; as a mean fellow. Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow. 7. A member of a college that shares its revenues; or a member of any incorporated society. 8. A member of a corporation; a trustee'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 8:23 about the word fellowhelper. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the Please see the note for Philippians 1:3-7 about the word fellowship. Please also see the Message called Fellowship in the Gospel for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S21 and 2Timothy C1-S2 about the word serve. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To work for; to bestow the labor of body and mind in the employment of another'. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:17 about the word service. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S4; 1Corinthians C7S27 and Ephesians C6S4 about the word servant. The New Testament definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C6S10 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word brother. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A human male born of the same father and mother'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word brotherly. Please also see the note for Matthew 1:2 about the word brethren. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Spiritually used for God's people: the Jews and the people are saved, baptized and active members of the church'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:11; 12:10; 19:10; 22:9

Please see the note for Romans C15S11 about the word fulfill. The New Testament definition is: 'To accomplish; to perform; to complete; to answer in execution or event what has been foretold or promised; as, to fulfill a prophecy or prediction; to fulfill a promise'. Please also see the note for Romans C15S11 about the word fill. Please also see the Studies called Prophecies Fulfilled in the Gospels and Prophecies Fulfilled in the Epistles.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'white. Re 3:4-5; 7:9,14 that they. Re 14:13; Isa 26:20-21; Da 12:13 until. Re 7:14; 13:15; 17:6; Mt 10:21; 23:34-35; Joh 16:2; Heb 11:40 exp: Mic 7:9; Re 17:17. General references. exp: Isa 34:8; Heb 12:4'.

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C6-S13 (Verse 12-13) the opening of the sixth seal and what John saw as a result of the sixth seal being opened.

First Step: the sixth seal was opened and there was an immediate result in the Earth.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,
and,
lo,
there was a great earthquake;.

Second Step: there was a result in the near space.

and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
and the moon became as blood;.

Third Step: there was a result in the further space.

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs,
when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

The prior two sentences told us the result of the fifth seal being broken. This sentence gives us the result of the next seal being broken. By starting with the word And, our sentence is telling us that this sentence, and the remainder of this chapter, is added to everything prior in this chapter. In addition, the last three sentences need to be considered together as they describe how God displays His power to everyone.

In our First Step, we read that The sixth seal was opened and that there was an immediate result (lo), which was a great earthquake. This is a result in the Earth and the context of the next two Steps shoe us that God is letting men know that He controls all of the physical reality. If the opening of the prior seals has not made this fact clear, this seal should make the truth clear to everyone who is not deceived by a strong delusion (2Thessalonians 2:11). The people who have received a strong delusion will not believe the truth no matter what evidence they are given. They are going to Hell and The lake of fire, and there will be no changing that even though they are still alive. No, God is providing the evidence of these seals for other people. Satan, and his false christ are claiming to be the most powerful beings in existence and this sentence is proof that their claims are lies.

In our Second Step, we read: The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. Now, people can be fooled into believing that a great earthquake was somehow natural. However, there is no way that anyone can claim that either of these two events are natural. And, there is no hiding them from anyone in the world. Now, Satan, and his false christ might try to claim that the events of this Step are caused by invaders from outer space, but that destroys their claim of being the greatest power in existence and their claim of protecting everyone who serve them.

And, after the first two Steps, we read about the third Step, which is: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth. Again, they might claim that these are meteorites and that this is something rare but natural. However, the phrase: even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind lets us k now that everywhere on the Earth is completely covered by these meteorites and their destruction. People will ask: 'How could you not see this coming and avoid it or at least warn us?'. Those people who are willfully deceived will believing the lying excuses. However, there will be some people who are not deceived and will actually search for the true God and the true word of God, which is what God wants so that some might be saved even during the great tribulation.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'When the Lamb opens the 6th seal an earthquake occurs, but not just any kind of earthquake, the verse says it's a great earthquake, a mighty and powerful and devastating quake. Now I will tell you some commentators do not take this earthquake literally, they believe it applies more to major societal disruptions, the downfall of government rule and mankind and his civilization being thrown into utter chaos and anarchy. But just from the reading of these verses I can't agree with that, even though much of that may happen in the end times, for I don't think all of mankind would fear like they do in v15-17 If this was just the downfall of laws and society, as many people live in areas where chaos rules, where laws do not apply, where government has no authority, but you don't see them running and hiding and cursing the wrath of God for it. So I believe the 6th seal is a literal earthquake, that shakes the earth to its very foundations, as Jesus himself said in Mat 24 there would be earthquakes in diverse places. And we see in the Bible that God does use the shaking of the earth to get mankind's attention, for did not the earth quake at Jesus'death upon the cross and at his resurrection? Mt 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mt 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And we see there are more earthquakes that happen later in Revelation, for example after the two witnesses in the streets of Jerusalem ascend to heaven we read in Re 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. And then at the opening of the 7th vial we read in Re 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. this description sounds very similar to what happens here at the 6th seal doesn't it, just larger and more devastating. Now what happens under this seal was actually foreseen by the Old Testament prophets. Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.7 therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.10 forThe stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.13 therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Joe 2:10 the earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Joe 2:31 the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Joe 3:15 the sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.16 the LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Even Jesus referenced this time'Lu 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
The earthquake here in ch6 will be off the charts of the Rictor Scale and I believe it will cause other catastrophes. We can't ignore tsunamis, although flooding is not mentioned here it's a distinct possibility. But I do believe there will be great coastal damage with this quake of the 6th seal as we see in v14 the islands are moved out of their places, some disappear, some move, some may even be created, this quake is going to change the global map. Also we see in v14 that the mountains move as well, whole mountain ranges are pushed up or down and even a few dormant volcanoes will most likely come to life, as one would expect volcanic eruptions with such a quake, for if you have tectonic plates shift that much you could very well have eruptions all over the planet to relieve the vast pressures under the earth's crust, in addition to this one would expect explosions and gases and ash and magma to be all blasted into the atmosphere with such volcanic eruptions, which is what I believe John is describing for us.
For after the great earthquake the sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair, this is the same kind of sackcloth that one would wear in mourning. Now when I think of this sackcloth I imagine its not the best of material, kind of like a burlap sack, and that if one puts it over their head, there are thin places in the material or gaps between the strands where some light makes it thru, even though it is still dark in the sack its not pitch black. So what I believe John is saying here is one can see where the sun is but due to the quake and all the volcanic activity with smoke and ash being blown into the atmosphere and carried by the wind currents around the earth, the sky becomes immensely dark and clouded with all this debris, and thus the sun is obscured, some light makes it thru but not much, almost like its dusk, even at midday. And just as the sun is obscured the moon is as well, it becomes a dark almost black red, barely able to be seen in the night sky. Remember when Mt Saint Helens erupted the ash produced from that was in the atmosphere for months if not years and actually altered the global temperature because of the ash blocking the sun, so just think what 10 or 20 Mt Saint Helens would do.
Verse 13
Here we see even more catastrophe. Now what John describes here with the stars of heaven falling to the earth could easily be a mighty meteor shower where earth is bombarded with large rocks from outer space. It can not be literal stars, for one star would destroy the earth in an instant. Remember our sun is a star, and a small one in comparison to others, yet you can fit 1.3 million earths inside the volume of our sun, so if these are truly stars that fall to earth, our whole solar system is destroyed, so it can not really be stars, and the Greek word for star here supports that, as it means star both literally and figuratively, meaning it could be some other kind of light or body in the sky.
So what is John describing? Well like I said it could be a cosmic rain of death, where God has sent large meteors crashing to earth, causing untold devastation, for a large enough meteor can have the same devastating effect as a nuclear bomb, that's what the scientists say created the Gulf of Mexico and killed the dinosaurs. But I actually don't think this is referencing meteors (at least not in totality) for when we look at the context here and compare this Scripture with the earthquake we read about at the 7th vial judgment we see a similarity. Lets look at that selection of verses again'Re 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. After this earthquake it seems there were volcanic explosions that caused massive rocks to be blasted into the air to rain back down upon mankind, so could not John be describing something similar here in ch6, maybe its magma blasted into the atmosphere, glowing and shining globs of molten rock that streak across the sky like a star falling to earth by the hundreds or thousands, for John says they are many of them, just as if you went up to a fig tree that was heavily laden with figs and just shook it and caused many of those figs to fall to the ground. So this could be more volcanic activity in v13 or it could be a vast meteor shower that 'coincidently'happens at the same time as this quake'.

Please see the note for Revelation 16:18 and Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The first earthquake mentioned is when Elijah was told to stand before the Lord. there passed by a strong wind that rent the rocks, then an earthquake, and fire; but the Lord was not in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but in a still small voice: a lesson for Elijah when he was thinking much of himself. 1Ki 19:11-12. In the days of Uzziah there was a great earthquake, from which the people fled. Am 1:1; Zec 14:5. Josephus (Ant. ix. 10, 4) states that this happened when the king went into the temple and was struck with leprosy. 2Ch 26:16-21. there was an earthquake at the death of the Lord, and the rocks were rent, which drew from the centurion the saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." Mt 27:51,54. there was also a great earthquake at the resurrection of the Lord. Mt 28:2. When Paul and Barnabas were in the prison at Philippi there was a great earthquake that shook the prison, which led to the conversion of the jailer. Ac 16:26. Josephus (Ant. xv. 5, 2) relates the particulars of a dreadful earthquake in Palestine about B.C. 31, when as many as 10,000 of the inhabitants lost their lives. In the future judgments on the earth, earthquakes are often mentioned. Isa 29:6; Mt 24:7; Mr 13:8; Lu 21:11; Re 6:12; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:18. Symbolically they point to the upheaval of the lower masses of society, overthrowing the social system either partially or entirely.''. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word earthen. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word earthly.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:45 about the word sun. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Ge 1:14 translated "let there be luminaries," literally, "light bearers". Genesis only tells what the sun, moon, and stars are in relation to the earth. When the mists were dispelled, and the seas confined within bounds, the heavenly bodies assumed their natural functions, marking days and nights, seasons and years, and God appoints the sun to rule the day and the moon the night. "Let them be for signs," as eclipses, portents of extraordinary events (Mt 2:2; Lu 21:25) and divine judgments (Joe 2:30; Jer 10:2; Mt 24:29), and indicating the four quarters of the heavens (Ps 50:1) and also the changes in the weather; "and for seasons, days, and years." the sun regulated the length of the Israelite year by the recurrence of Pentecost at a fixed agricultural season, namely, when the grain was ripe'. This word is used symbolically for: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ providing: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, guidance and related gifts which are regarded as being intellectual'.

Please see the note for Luke 10:13 about the word sackcloth. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'cloth made of black goats' hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Ge 37:34; 42:25; 2Sa 3:31; Es 4:1-2; Ps 30:11, etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Mt 11:21). It was put upon animals by the people of Nineveh (Jon 3:8)'.

Please see the note for Luke 7:37-38 about the word hair. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jewish men, except Nazarites, Nu 6:5,9, and cases like that of Absalom, 2Sa 14:26, cut their hair moderately short, 1Co 11:14, and applied fragrant ointments to it, Ex 30:30-33; Ps 23:5; Ec 9:8. In mourning they wholly neglected it, or shaved it close, or plucked it out by handfuls, Jer 7:29. Women prized a fine head of hair, and plaited, perfumed, and decked it in many ways, Isa 3:18,24; 1Co 11:15, so much as to call for apostolic interdictions, 1Ti 2:9; 1Pe 3:9. "Hair like women's" characterized the locusts of antichrist, Re 9:8. Lepers when cleansed, and Levites, on their consecration, shaved the whole body, Le 13; 14:8-9'.

Please see the note for Mark 13:24-25 about the word moon. Please also see the note for Colossians C2S9 about the phrase new moon. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'heb. yareah, from its paleness (Ezr 6:15), and lebanah, the "white" (Song 6:10; Isa 24:23), was appointed by the Creator to be with the sun "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Ge 1:14-16). A lunation was among the Jews the period of a month, and several of their festivals were held on the day of the new moon. It is frequently referred to along with the sun (Jos 10:12; Ps 72:5,7,17; 89:36-37; Ec 12:2; Isa 24:23, etc.), and also by itself (Ps 8:3; 121:6).
The great brilliance of the moon in Eastern countries led to its being early an object of idolatrous worship (De 4:19; 17:3; Job 31:26), a form of idolatry against which the Jews were warned (De 4:19; 17:3). they, however, fell into this idolatry, and offered incense (2Ki 23:5; Jer 8:2), and also cakes of honey, to the moon (Jer 7:18; 44:17-19,25)'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:12; 8:12; 12:1; 21:23.

Please see the note for Matthew 2:2 about the word star. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Matthew 2. (See MAGI.) Smith's Bible Dictionary ably disproves the theory of its being a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which took place thrice in 7 B.C. (i.e. three years before Jesus' birth, for the B.C. dates from the fourth year after His birth), May, September, and December, answering to the seven months which would intervene between the beginning and the end of the wise men's journey. Tacitus, Suetonius, and Josephus in their statements as to the universal expectation then prevalent of some great One about to appear in the East refer to Vespasian long after Christ. the star was probably a meteoric body employed by the God of nature to be His instrument in the world of revelation, to guide the wise men to the divine Messiah. Curiously a star appeared in September, 1604, between Mars and Saturn, after a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces, but at a shorter interval than the star of the Magi after the conjunction in 7 B.C'.

Please see the note for James 3:13 about the word fig. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The fig-tree is used, symbolically , in the Bible, for our religious activity'. In this sentence, the symbolism is: 'God is showing that He curses all unrepentant men just like God rejects religious works which are not in obedience to His Holy Ghost'.

Please see the note for Mark 11:13 about the word tree. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. 1. the general name of the largest of the vegetable kind, consisting of a firm woody stem springing from woody roots, and spreading above into branches which terminate in leaves. A tree differs from a shrub principally in size, many species of trees growing to the eighth of fifty or sixty feet, and some species to seventy or eighty, and a few, particularly the pine, to a much greater eighth. Trees are of various kinds; as nuciferous, or nut-bearing trees; bacciferous, or berry-bearing; coniferous, or cone-bearing, etc. Some are forest-trees, and useful for timber or fuel; others are fruit trees, and cultivated in gardens and orchards; others are used chiefly for shade and ornament. 2. Something resembling a tree, consisting of a stem or stalk and branches; as a genealogical tree. 3. In ship-building, pieces of timber are called chess-trees, cross-trees, roof-trees, tressel-trees, etc. 4. In Scripture, a cross. --Jesus, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Act.10'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S28 about the phrase olive / olive tree.

Please see the note for Luke 1:29 about the word cast. The the New Testament definition for this word is: 'In general "to throw," with various degrees of violence; usually, with force, but not so necessarily, as e.g. in cast a net," cast lots'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S19 about the phrase cast away. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:8-10 about the phrase cast down. Please also see the note for Mark 9:28 about the phrase cast out. Please also see the note for Romans C11S1 about the phrase God will not cast away his people.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:3 about the word time. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The fourth dimension of this physical reality'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the word birthday. Please also see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. Please also see the notes for Romans C3S31 and 1Corinthians 9:21-LJC about the phrase kinds of laws that apply to us tday.

Please see the note for Luke 6:47-48 about the word shake. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to cause to move with quick vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to agitate; as, the wind shakes a tree; an earthquake shakes the hills or the earth. I shook my lap, and said, so God shake out every man from his house- Neh. 5. He shook the sacred honors of his head. Dryden. -As a fig casteth her untimely fruit, when it is shaken of a mighty wind. Rev. 6. 2. to make to totter or tremble. the rapid wheels shake the heav'n's basis. Milton. 3. to cause to shiver; as, an ague shakes the whole frame. 4. to throw down by a violent motion. Macbeth is ripe for shaking. Shak. But see shake off, which is generally used. 5. to throw away; to drive off. 'Tis our first intent to shake all cares and business from our age. See Shake off. Shak. 6. to move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to endanger; to threaten to overthrow. Nothing should shake our belief in the being and perfections of God, and in our own accountableness. 7. to cause to waver or doubt; to impair the resolution of; to depress the courage of. that ye be not soon shaken in mind. 2 thess. 2. 8. to trill; as, to shake a note in music'.

Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word might. . The New Testament definition for this word is: 'having great bodily strength or physical power; very strong or vigorous; as a mighty arm'. Please see the note for Revelation 4:8-LJC about the word Almighty. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:13; 6:15; 7:12; 10:1; 12:14; 12:15; 13:17; 16:12; 16:18; 18:2; 18:10; 18:21; 19:6; 19:18.

Please see the note for Luke 7:24 about the word wind. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'air in motion with any degree of velocity, indefinitely; a current of air. When the air moves moderately, we call it a light wind, or a breeze; when with more velocity, we call it a fresh breeze, and when with violence, we call it a gale, storm or tempest'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'there. Re 8:5; 11:13; 16:18; 1Ki 19:11-13; Isa 29:6; Am 1:1; Zec 14:5; Mt 24:7; 27:54; 28:2 the sun. Isa 13:9-10; 24:23; 60:19-20; Eze 32:7-8; Joe 2:10,30-31; 3:15; Am 8:9; Hag 2:6-7,21-22; Mt 24:29; 27:45; Mr 13:24-25; 15:33; Lu 23:44-45; Ac 2:19-20 General references. exp: Isa 13:10; 42:15; 50:3; Joe 3:15; Mr 13:24.
The stars. Re 8:10-12; 9:1; Eze 32:7; Da 8:10; Lu 21:25 untimely figs. or green figs. of a. Isa 7:2; 33:9; Da 4:14; Na 3:12 General references. exp: Isa 13:10; 42:15; Joe 3:15; Na 3:12; Mr 13:24'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C6-S14 (Verse 14) God gives one more undeniable evidence of His power and authority over this physical reality.

First Step: God reveals His power in The heaven.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;

Second Step: God revealed His power in the Earth.

and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. All of the sentences in this chapter start with the word And. That means that this entire chapter is a single unit of thought and all of it needs to be considered together for contextual reasons. The entire chapter describes what happens as the seals are broken. In addition, the last three sentences need to be considered together as they describe how God displays His power to everyone.

Our sentence has two Steps which tell us that God will display His power. The first Step says that he will display it in The heaven. Since The word of God uses the word heaven for three separate places, this could be 'outer space' or it could be 'The atmosphere of this world'. Given the context of the Second Step, I personally believe this is speaking about 'The atmosphere of this world'. And, what I've seen from commentators, no one else can provide a Bible reference to say which option is true. In addition, the references that I see are related to this Step, but do nothing more to clarify the actual meaning. Therefore, I believe that God put this phrase to test if fools will try to be more specific that God's word allows for.

In our Second Step, we have a more specific description of what will happen but it defies belief as much as the First Step. History has recorded volcanoes erupting with great power which can destroy the volcano, and even the island that is part of it. And, it is believable that an earthquake can do the same. However, to have every mountain and island were moved out of their places, there must be this type of force in thousands of places on the Earth. Such is beyond comprehension and imagination. in this sentence, God is, very clearly, demonstrating power beyond comprehension and imagination. And, what is beyond understanding is that most people still in the Earth, at that time, still refuse to bow and recognize God's power and authority.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'v14 continues the description of this cataclysmic event. Now I must admit I have to use my imagination to figure out what the heaven rolled up like a scroll is describing. there are other references to the heavens being rolled up as a scroll in the Bible but for the sake of time I'm not going to get into them although it might put some light on our understanding of this phrase. But the gist of this, and I could very well be wrong, is that the heavens, what we see in the sky at day or most likely night here disappear, for when a scroll is rolled up one can not read it, its closed, so my guess is the sky, the atmosphere is closed off by rolling billowing clouds of ash and smoke and dust, thus obscuring the sun and moon, and the stars totally disappear, the only true light coming from the devastation of the stars falling upon the earth. From all this destruction I think man will see he is truly alone, as the earth will be truly sealed off from the rest of the universe and man will see he is all by himself to face the wrath of God, no one will help him, no one will come to his aid. And as we see in v15 this will affect every living soul on the planet, it will affect them equally with no preference to class, rank or standing'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "The eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "The third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fullness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 12:8 about the word depart. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to go or move from. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. Matt. 25. It is followed by from, or from is implied before the place left. I will depart to my own land, that is, I will depart from this place to my own land. Num. 10. 2. to go from; to leave; to desist, as from a practice. Jehu departed not from the sins of Jeroboam. Jehoshaphat departed not from the way of Asa his father'.

We find forms of the word scroll only in this sentence and in Isaiah 34:4. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. probably formed from roll, or its root. A roll of paper or parchment; or a writing formed into a roll. Here is the scroll of every man's name. The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. Is. 34'.

We find forms of the word roll occurring 43 times in 41 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Matthew 27:60; Matthew 28:2; Mark 15:46; Mark 16:3; Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; Revelation 6:14. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The common form of ancient books. the Hebrew word rendered "roll" or "volume" is meghillah, found in Ezr 6:2; Ps 40:7; Jer 36:2,6,23,28-29; Eze 2:9; 3:1-3; Zec 5:1-2. "Rolls" (Chald. pl. of sephar, corresponding to Heb sepher) in Ezra 6:1 is rendered in the Revised Version "archives." In the New Testament the word "volume" (Heb 10:7; R.V., "roll") occurs as the rendering of the Greek kephalis, meaning the head or top of the stick or cylinder on which the manuscript was rolled, and hence the manuscript itself. (See Book.)'.

Please see the note for John 6:3 about the word mountain. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land, but of no definite altitude. We apply mountain to the largest eminences on the globe; but sometimes the word is used for a large hill. In general, mountain denotes an elevation higher and larger than a hill; as the Altaic mountains in Asia, the Alps in Switzerland, the Andes in South America, the Allegheny mountains in Virginia, the Catskill in New York, the White mountains in New Hampshire, and the Green mountains in Vermont. the word is applied to a single elevation, or to an extended range'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:14; 6:15-16; 8:8; 16:20; 17:9; 21:10.

Please see the note for Acts 27:16 about the word island. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(Heb 'i, "dry land," as opposed to water) occurs in its usual signification (Isa 42:4,10,12,15, comp. Jer 47:4), but more frequently simply denotes a maritime region or sea-coast (Isa 20:6, R.V.," coastland;" Isa 23:2,6; Jer 2:10; Eze 27:6-7). (See Chittim.) the shores of the Mediterranean are called the "islands of the sea" (Isa 11:11), or the "isles of the Gentiles" (Ge 10:5), and sometimes simply "isles" (Ps 72:10); Eze 26:15,18; 27:3,35; Da 11:18)'. Please also see the note for Acts 13:6 about the word isle.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'The heaven. Ps 102:26; Isa 34:4; Heb 1:11-13; 2Pe 3:10 and every. Re 16:20; Isa 2:14-17; Jer 3:23; 4:23-26; 51:25; Hab 3:6,10 General references. exp: Isa 13:10; 42:15; Mr 13:24; Re 16:20'.

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C6-S15 (Verse 15-17) the response to God's demonstration of power.

Equivalent Section: How men responded.

First Step: they tried to hide themselves.

And the kings of the earth,
and the great men,
and the rich men,
and the chief captains,
and the mighty men,
and every bondman,
and every free man,
hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;.

Second Step: they sought death.

And said to the mountains and rocks,
Fall on us,
and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb :.

Equivalent Section: Why they responded this way.

First Step: Why they were so afraid.

For the great day of his wrath is come;

Second Step: they realized their inability to fight God.

and who shall be able to stand?.

Jesus Himself prophesied these things in Luke 23:29-30. We also find these things prophesied in Isaiah 2:10; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 42:22; Isaiah 63:1-6; Jeremiah 30:5-7; Joel 2:31; Micah 7:17; and Zephaniah 1:14-18 and many other places in the Bible.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. All of the sentences in this chapter start with the word And. That means that this entire chapter is a single unit of thought and all of it needs to be considered together for contextual reasons. The entire chapter describes what happens as the seals are broken. In addition, the last three sentences need to be considered together as they describe how God displays His power to everyone.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling us how men responded to God's demonstration of power and the Second Equivalent Section telling us why. The people on Earth finally realized that they can't fight God. I know that we read about them trying to fight God throughout the remainder of this book. But I believe that is because they got over their fear or they figured they had nothing more to lose.

Our First Equivalent Section has two Steps with the First Step identifying many groups of men and making is clear that there is no type of man who avoided this reaction. Our Second Step tells us that, at first, they tried to hide in the Earth and then realized that the Earth could not protect them because of God's demonstrated power over the Earth. Therefore, they even sought death (Fall on us), because they realized that non-existence was preferable to being sent to Hell and The lake of fire. However, in spite of the belief of many, death does not end existence.

Our Second Equivalent Section also has two Steps with the First Step telling us why they reacted as described in the First Equivalent Section. They had lived their life refusing warnings and sincerely believing that they would never have to pay for their sins. However, the phrase his wrath lets us know that they realize that our Lord Jesus Christ has wrath because He suffered as God's Lamb to pay for their sins and they treated it as something with no value and even despised His payment. So, now, they realize His reaction to their treatment of His payment and, our Second Step adds their realization of their inability to avoid His wrath.

What Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Such a worldwide earthquake that causes untold amounts of damage will bring kings, great men, chiefs, rich and poor alike, slave and freeman alike, and even mighty and brave men to their knees. they scramble to find some hole in the ground to protect themselves, they search for peace and safety but do not find it. they hide in caves and in the rocks of the mountains trying to find somewhere they will be safe, some place to survive the ruin raining down upon them, but it is useless, hopeless with such devastation taking place. this attempt to hide from God in the end reminds me of the beginning of mankind in his sin when Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden, man has always tried to hide his sin, but nothing is hid from God and his justice will be meted out. Warren Wiersbe writes 'If men and women will not yield to the love of God, and be changed by the grace of God, there is no way for them to escape the wrath of God.'
But the strange thing is man does not beg for forgiveness, they do not beg for mercy, they do not repent, instead they cry out to be hid, they cry out for death, they cry out to the mountains and rocks instead of God.
Verses 16-17
These people cry out for death from protection from the wrath of God (The one who sits upon the throne) and the wrath of the Lamb. What a paradoxical statement that is. Wrath and Lamb should never go together, maybe wrath and Lion, but you don't think of lambs being wrathful, dangerous or even scary, they are cute and fluffy and peaceful, unless we are talking about the righteous and divine and holy Lamb of God that is Jesus Christ. forJesus deals justly with evil, with sin, for this wrath is evidence of His holy love for all that is right and his holy hatred for all that is evil. Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. these people that cry out to the mountains and rocks show us just how stubborn and prideful and willful man can be, for these people have not believed, they have rejected Jesus, rejected God, rejected the truth, refused to submit to the Lord, refused to submit to His will and instead have accepted the Antichrist and his lies and that has led them to their destruction. they cry out to the creation instead of the Creator. they tremble and fear from what they now realize is true, that God is real, he is in control, that the Lamb did die and came to life to save mankind's souls, that Jesus is the Savior, but now it's too little too late and so they now stand at the brink of suffering divine wrath being poured out upon their wickedness. So they cower in fear at the wrath and judgment of God and the Lamb, and ask who shall be able to stand? And the answer is no one, no one except for those who have the seal of the living God, which we are introduced to in ch7'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 11:5 about the word chief. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Highest in office or rank; principal; as a chief priest; the chief butler. Gen 40:9'.

Please see the note for Luke 22:4 about the word captain. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The man who goes with a military or police force and is in charge of them'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C7S16 about the word bond. Please also see the note for 2Peter 2:19 about the word bondage. The New Testament definition forboth of these words is: 'Slavery or involuntary servitude; captivity; imprisonment; restraint of a person's liberty by compulsion'. In John 8:33 we are told that sin puts us into bondage. Please also note that our personal relationship with Christ can make us free. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:15; 13:16; 19:18.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C7S29 about the word free. The New Testament definition for this word is: ' Being at liberty; not being under necessity or restraint, physical or moral; a word of general application to the body, the will or mind, and to corporations'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:15; 13:16; 19:18; 21:6; 22:17.

Please see the note for Luke 19:45-46 about the word den. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a lair of wild beasts (Ps 10:9; 104:22; Job 37:8); the hole of a venomous reptile (Isa 11:8); a recess for secrecy "in dens and caves of the earth" (Heb 11:38); a resort of thieves (Mt 21:13; Mr 11:17). Daniel was cast into "The den of lions" (Da 6:16-17). Some recent discoveries among the ruins of Babylon have brought to light the fact that the practice of punishing offenders against the law by throwing them into a den of lions was common'.

Please see the note for Acts 27:29 about the word rocks (plural). The New Testament definition for this word is: 'A large mass of stony matter, usually compounded of two or more simple minerals, either bedded in the earth or resting on its surface. Sometimes rocks compose the principal part of huge mountains; sometimes huge rocks lie on the surface of the earth, in detached blocks or masses'.

Please see the note for Revelation 2:17 about the words hide / hidden. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'To conceal; to withhold or withdraw from sight; to place in any state or position in which the view is intercepted from the object'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'The power, position, authority and presence of the being that is presented to us'.

Please see the notes for Romans C4S16; Galatians C5S20; Ephesians 4:26-27 and Colossians C3S6 about the word wrath. The New Testament definition for this word is: 'Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 6:16-17; 11:18; 12:12; 14:8; 14:10; 14:19; 15:1; 15:7; 16:1; 16:19; 18:3; 19:15.

Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "The cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18; the great day of final judgment'. The New Testament definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The New Testament definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: ''.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

Interpretive Study of Revelation 5-6

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation Chapter 5

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary: Only God's Lamb can open the title book to the Earth.

Revelation Chapter 6

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary: the seals are opened.

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