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“This chapter,” writes Dr. Gill, “contains the vision of the
opening six of the seals of the sealed book, by the Lamb, and of the events
following thereupon. The preparation to the vision of the first seal is in verse
one. The Lamb opens it. John hears a noise like thunder and one of the living
creatures bids him come and see...These are called seals because they were sealed
among God’s treasure. Or were resolved on and decreed by Him and because
they were hidden and unknown until they came to pass. And when they were come
to pass, they were pledges of what God would do in the destruction of Rome Papal--as
here in the destruction of Rome pagan. For these seals, at least the first six
of them, concern the Pagan empire and the state of the church in it...and these,
with the seven trumpets, which the last seal introduces, reach from the times
of the apostles to the end of time--as appears from chapter 10:6-7.”
“From the point of the seals forward, E. B. Elliott briefly summarized
the journey which lies before us as we uncover the apocalyptic symbols:
‘Turning from the prophecy to the history, there seems to me on the whole to be six chief parts, or acts, clearly defined in the sacred prefigurative drama before us...their historic subject matter being, respectfully as follows:
‘A. That of the temporary glory, and then the decline and fall of Rome Pagan, before the power of Christianity--the subject of the six first seals.
‘B. The ravage and destruction of Rome Christian, after its apostasy, in its divisions both east and west; of the western empire by the Goths, of the eastern by the Saracens and Turks--the subject of the six first trumpets.
‘C. The history of the Reformation, as introduced about the middle of the sixth trumpet.
‘D. The supplemental and explanatory history of the rise and character of the Papacy and Papal Empire, that sprung out of the Gothic inundation’s of Western Europe--a part corresponding, as I see it, with the writing without on the prophetic roll--and which was exhibited in preparation for the figuration of the Popedom’s final overthrown.
‘E. The final overthrow of the Papacy and Papal Empire, under the outpouring of the vials of God’s wrath--and the coming of Christ to judgment. Consequent on which follows:
‘F. The glorious consummation.’
What a wonderful field of historic exploration lies before us. A journey which will take us through nineteen centuries, and bring us to our place in the book of Revelation.”
Others of the Historicist view have already taken it upon themselves to explain
the history of the Roman Empire to great length. Such works by Albert Barnes,
Adam Clarke, E. B. Elliott (which is almost impossible to locate), Matthew Henry,
Fred P. Miller, Robert Caringola, Steve Gregg, and, my most cherished, Dr. John
Gill offer a vast resource of Historicist material. Some even take it upon themselves
to draw from Gibbon’s book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, at
great length as further proof of this view’s authenticity. I shall not
dwell so much upon this but refer the reader to those others whose writings
far supersede my own in this area of history.
“To which may be added the following observation. That though the several
[historical] steps and methods which God took to punish, weaken and destroy
the Roman Pagan Empire were remarkably seen in the distinct periods to which
these first four seals belong, yet they must not be entirely restrained and
limited to these periods. As if they were not made us of in others. So though
the gospel proceeded with remarkable success under the first seal, in the times
of the apostles, to the subduing of multitudes in the Roman Empire, it was also
preached with great success under the following seals. Though there were most
grievous wars under the second seal, [which is the answer to this particular
question], in the times of Trajan and Adrian, so there were also in after times.
That was not the only period of war. Though it was remarkably so. Likewise,
there was a famine in the times of Claudius under the first seal. (Acts 11:28)
And in the time of Trajan under the second seal. And of Commodus as well as
under the third. There were pestilences also in those times as well as under
the fourth seal. Because God did by each of these weaken, break, and at last
bring to ruin that Empire, they are showed to John one after another.”
6:1 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.
This is the first living creature to speak to John and it is the lion. Anyone who has witnessed such a creature upon Earth and heard him when he roars would think “it were the noise of thunder.” No, this is not the apostle Peter speaking as Grotius thought and taught. Rather, it is the ministers of the gospel. The sons of thunder who loudly and publicly preached the gospel. Boldly declaring the Sovereignty of God’s Eternal doctrine of Predestination in mankind’s history. Right up to and including the fact that Christ Jesus was preordained before the foundation of the world to be slain for the sins of God’s elect. As a propitiation for their sins and a ransom for these many. As lions these ministers during this apostolic period bravely defended and took notice of God’s Providence and how that Providence brought them success in spreading the gospel teachings of Christ Jesus to both the Jews and the Gentiles. How, by His Omnipotence, it weakened the kingdom of Satan in the Roman world of that day. So it was that these ministers in the first seal, as represented by the lion, bid John to “come and see.”
6:2 And I saw and behold a white horse. And He that sat on him had a bow. And a crown was given unto Him. And He went forth conquering and to conquer.
Whom does the rider on the white horse going forth conquering and to conquer
represent? “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.”
“To many, the four horsemen represent the universal sequence of conquest,
war, famine, and death, oft repeated in history, but here revealed as proceeding
from God’s Sovereign Purpose in judging a corrupt humanity. On this view,
the white horse and rider represent the generic concept of military conquest,
at whatever time or place in history it may occur, and is seen as God’s
way of raising up and removing kings. The ebb and flow of political empires
are in the hand of God. He does not always give such government as a people
would prefer, but may give them oppressors that will serve His ends of judging
a wicked society.” So why would He do this? “Come and see.”
See what? The white horse and the rider who rode thereon. William Ramsey writes this about the color: "Color was also an important and significant detail...White had been the sacred color among the old Persians, for whom the Parthians stood in later times; and sacred white horses accompanied every Persian army. The commentators who try to force a Roman meaning on this figure say that the Roman general, when celebrating a Triumph, rode on a white horse. This is a mistake; the general in a Triumph wore the purple and gold embroidered robes of Jupiter, and was born like the god in a four horse car." The fact of it being white denotes, as always in Scriptures, its purity of the gospel truths these apostles taught in that period of history. They taught no Socinianism, Pelagianism, Antinomianism, Arminianism, Fullerism, or Scofieldism. But they taught only the pure unadulterated Truth concerning God’s Eternal Predestination in mankind’s history. These times were just concluding as John was writing the Revelation. Having once been a horse owner, I can imagine how this white horse bolted at the beginning of this historic period’s starting gate as the Holy Spirit came down and lit upon each of the twelve apostles-- empowering them on that day of Pentecost. And how it was that each of them must have felt the spiritual stamina and vitality that a fine white Arabian stud experiences when he is given the reins to charge forward upon the path. They preaching the gospel of Christ Jesus “in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the Earth.” [Acts 1:8] What a wonderful period in history it must have been. Yes, “come and see.”
See what? See the rider upon that horse. First notice everything about Him. “And He that sat upon him had a bow and a crown was given unto Him and He went forth conquering and to conquer.” [Revelation 6:2b] This bow, and obviously arrows to go with it, represents the Word of God that they preached in that apostolic period. Today we still have this bow at our disposal. It is now written down for us in what we call the Bible. But in that period of history, all Peter, James, John, Andrew, Matthew, and the others had were the Words spoken to them verbally by Christ Jesus before He ascended. And, though I write it not to be misunderstood, I am thinking it might have been better to have had the pure Word spoken by Christ Jesus in Person than to have had what has been written down and translated--albeit I believe it to be God-breathed. For with the verbal bow they better placed the arrows of His doctrines as He had personally delivered them by Word of mouth. There could be no controversy or mistake at that time what He meant as there is today. For it had come straight from His mouth and traveled directly into their hearing ears. In writing history, this is called Primary Source material and ranks above letters, journals, diaries, etc. “Come and see” this Primary Source in God’s revealed history.
Behold Him in His Person and Word. Some would argue and claim this cannot be Christ Jesus upon this white horse. For He had no need of a crown to be given unto Him. Yet, in the exaltation of Christ Jesus before the throne in Heaven, which John personally witnessed in chapter 4-5, such a ceremony would not be out of line or improper for God the Father to give unto His only begotten Son a Crown to signify the endorsement of His Son’s regal power, authority, honor, dignity, victory and conquest over Satan, Sin, Death and Hell. Why seek to limit God the Father from doing such a thing simply because we cannot imagine or accept it. Yea, of the rider Himself, “come and see.”
See what? See His name. “The government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6] Yea, He Himself declares: “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life.” [John 14:6] “But Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.” [John 1:17] Yea, if this rider were given a name it would be the name of Truth. For the Word of God, Christ Jesus, is Truth. It was God’s Truth these apostles spoke that brought thousands of Jews and Gentiles into the Kingdom of God during this period in history. Why, three thousand souls alone were added to the church on the day of Pentecost. (When is the last time since in history this happened?) It was the Truth of God’s Word they spoke that was powerful enough to conquer the lies of Satan and his Roman rule. Truth conquers all which it comes into contact with in history. “Thou are fairer than the children of men. Grace is poured into Thy lips. Therefore God has blessed Thee forever. Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. In Thy majesty ride prosperously because of Truth and Meekness and Righteousness and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies. Whereby the people fall under Thee.” [Psalms 45:2-5] Thus, as the Word of God’s Truth, “He went forth conquering and to conquer.”
6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come
and see.
6:4 And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him
that sat thereon to take peace from the Earth. And that they should kill one
another. And there was given unto him a great sword.
In writing about this seal and the rider on the red horse, we find in the Scriptures that this living creature speaking to John in this instance was the ox. The ox is on the west side of the throne. This was the standard of the tribe of Ephraim, whose tribe is not named in the 144,000 listing, who was situated on the West of the camp of Israel. Another interesting note is that there is no mention of the thundering noise as in the first seal. This, in my understanding and belief, is because the spread of the gospel during this age was decreasing. The ox is not as thundering like the lion. The gospel ministers in this instance, who lived under this period or seal, though they were not as strong and courageous as their predecessors, yet they bore similarities like the ox--they were laborious in preaching the gospel and patient in the suffering and tribulations they incurred. And these invited John to “come and see.”
See what? To view the hieroglyphic of the red horse and him that sat thereon.
The horse itself has, in my acceptance, a three-fold meaning. (1) He is the
emblem of the suffering state of the church within this period, the Smyrnian
church. This I have already discussed at length elsewhere. (2) The contentions
and divisions occasioned among men through the preaching of the gospel. Not
the warlike divisions but the more peaceable ones, yet through the corruption
and total depravity of mankind, still bring about, not peace, but a sword of
division. It is like that which divides most of the Baptist today. They either
teach the complete and absolute Sovereignty of God concerning the doctrine of
Eternal Predestination or they teach some watered down version and this, though
it is usually peaceful, still brings great division among the Baptist churches
resulting in over 100 different varieties and flavors. (3) The bloody wars that
came during this period from the accepted Historicist view point. The wars that
erupted in the Roman Empire and were the direct fulfillment of God’s Eternal
Decrees and Purpose as punishment on the enemies of His gospel. “Come and
see.”
See what? The rider upon the red horse and recognize that “power was given
to him that sat thereon to take peace from the Earth and that they should kill
one another and there was given unto him a great sword.” [Revelation 6:4b]
This is not Christ Jesus whom Zechariah describes in chapter one verse eight.
Nor do I think it was Satan though to take away the peace of the world would
please him immensely. But this is Trajan the Roman emperor who was in power
at the time of the death of John or thereabouts. As the ox was to the West of
the throne so Trajan came from the West in Spain to rule over the Empire. And
he caused the peace of the Earth, the Roman Empire, to be taken from it by the
permissive will of God so that there was great war and they killed one another.
The Jews murdering the Greeks and Romans and the Romans and Greeks murdering
the Jews during this time in history. Consequently, though this rider, unlike
the rider on the pale horse, is not given a name per se, we may correctly deduce
from his description that he would be named War. For all of the earmarks of
War belong to him. “Thou could have no power at all against Me,” spake
Christ Jesus to Pilate, “except it were given thee from above.” [John
19:11] Likewise, we find that War, the rider upon the red horse, was unable
to ride until “power was given to him.” [Revelation 6:4] “The
horrors and carnage of war are another means by which God judges sinful societies.”
The Providence of God Almighty writes the pages of history by His own hand and
no event shall occur or be written upon those pages of history without He gives
unto the players the power to perform that duty. Even in times of great tribulation
His finger scrawls the lines of history according to His Plan as outlined within
the Revelation of Christ Jesus. “Come and see” God’s Truth revealed
in history.
6:5 And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say: Come and see. And I beheld and lo a black horse. And he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
As proof that nothing in history has changed but that history continues to repeat itself, Gregg writes: “Caracalla (218-222) granted citizenship to all free men in the Empire but only so he could tax them more.” Sounds a lot like the idea behind today’s annexations of country property into the city limits. “When He had opened the third seal I heard the third beast say: Come and see. I beheld and lo, a black horse.” [Revelation 6:5a] The living creature or beast speaking in this seal is the man and he is upon the south side of the throne. Such was the case with Reuben that had the figure of man upon his camp at the south side of Israel’s camp. This is most representative of the ministers of the gospel whose voice, not as roaring as the lion or laborious as the ox, was still lower and retained its humanity, reasoning, prudence, and wisdom. Thereby we see the infiltration of humanism taking root in the church age. Though it will manifest more fully as time progresses, yet this is the seed of its beginning. It is still the church period of Smyrna that blackens with the persecution, schisms, errors, and heresies, which were many, that slowly made their way into the teachings. Speaking great swelling words of vanity and deceit and black as symbolic of their dishonesty in doctrinal stands. Yea, even the words of darkness itself. But even the dark forces of Satan could not overcome the Light of God in the history of this period. That is why this beast bid John to “come and see.”
6:6 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. And see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Some have thought this was the Roman emperor Septimius Severus--a Negro from Africa and the only Black man to serve as an emperor in the Roman Empire. Likewise, as the beast here is on the South side of the throne, so also Severus came from the South. And his country was famous for black horses. While this may be, historically speaking, because of the fact his rule was one of strict justice, for which he was famous, representative of the balances in his hands, I am inclined to see this rider’s name was Famine. Great famine, as a matter of fact. But is this the only famine we can find in this period of history? “Come and see.”
See what? See that there is a famine in an allegorical sense also. For it concerns the principal doctrines of God’s Word that are about to suffer in this period. “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” [Matthew 4:4] Yea, the principal doctrines, equivalent to the oil and wine, Christ Jesus Himself does take care of in history. Therefore they shall not be hurt or harmed by the false teachers and heretics in history. Let the Fullerites proclaim their false teachings lacking the fullness of God’s doctrinal bounty. “His Truth endures to all generations.” [Psalms 100:5] When the dark forces of Satan and his servants of famine appear to prevail the most, thereby bringing about a lack of God’s Word in the world, and when the church is blackened and darkened by false teachings, as it became in this period of history, His Word still endures. “The Truth of the Lord endures forever.” [Psalms 117:2] His Bounty is the “voice in the midst of the four beasts.” “Come and see.”
See what? It is Christ Jesus--God’s Bountiful Gift to a starving and hungry people in need of the saving nourishment found within God’s Word. He is still standing and, at this point under the third seal, He is speaking and His Word is Law. “A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny,” He declares. “In obedience to the third living creature, a rider holding a set of scales came forth on a black horse. This represents famine, which often follows war. A voice in the middle of the four living creatures announced that wheat and barley were being sold at prohibitive prices. The scales were used to weigh the rationed grain and were thus a symbol of famine. The expression do not harm the oil and the wine is difficult. Some say that these were the food of the poor. If they were staple items, then they must be protected in order to preserve life. It seems more likely, however, that the luxury items of the rich are contemplated here: historically, even in famine the rich can get some luxuries.” Back in Matthew 20:2, we find this was the daily wage for a laborer in the vineyard. “The same quantity for a day was given by the Romans to their shepherds and servants and is generally said to be about two pounds.” So He speaks about the scarcity of the Real Bread of Life at this time in history. It is delivered out by weight to mankind as His distributors are few and far between because of the dark persecution. “See thou hurt not the oil and wine.” Yet, even with most famines in history, there is an abundance. As I wrote above, God’s Word shall not decrease due to Satan’s efforts to thwart it. How can I be so sure? Because Jesus speaks these words at this point. You cannot harm His Word though it even be scarce in the land. Though it is difficult today to find a Baptist church teaching the Particular Atonement of God’s Grace, as though a famine was in America; nonetheless, His Word is available to us and none are able to hurt “the oil and wine” of His doctrines. “Come and see.”
6:7 And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say: Come and see.
Now we arrive at the living creature or beast that is the eagle. He is on the North side of the throne and found upon the standard of the tribe of Dan who, like Ephraim, is not among the 144,000. The opening of this seal begins with the Roman emperor Maximinus who was from the far north of Thrace. It is symbolical of the ministers of the gospel in general during these times. They have not the courage and strength of the lion as did Ephesus. Nor the patience and laboriousness of the ox as did those of Smyrna. Not even the solidity and prudence of the man. Yet we find in them that they retained some degree of the Light and Knowledge of God’s doctrinal Truth. They had a sagacity, penetration and contempt of the world and the teachings of the worldly church. This is signified by the eagle. Under this seal particularly, all the judgments of God upon Rome Pagan come to a head and meet together. Pagan Rome is on her way out of history as far as her power and authority are concerned. She is to quickly be replaced by Rome Papal--an even more deadly serpent. “Come and see.”
See what? That which he does and why he does it. For he is a symbol of the state of the church in this period of history. Pale but not because of persecution as some would want us to think. Rather, this church is dying because of the hypocrisy and superstition on the part of the majority of her members. Who, by their superstition, were opening the door to the revealing of the man of sin. Therefore, we can safely surmise that this church was growing sick and dying. O in what weakened condition it appeared as do the dying within the hospitals and nursing homes of today. Peaked and sickly, pale and dying, diseased from the wages of sin and its just payment. Of such there is an abundance today. Yea, “come and see.”
6:8 And I looked. And behold a pale horse! And his name that sat on him was Death. And Hell followed with him. 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.
No! This is not Satan himself who had, until Christ Jesus took it from him, the power of death. But it is Death itself. This is one way we may clearly know that Christ Jesus is opening the seals because only He has the power over Death. Death has no will of its own nor can it seek out and digest any unless it be released by the Omnipotent hand of God. “O Death, where is thy sting? O grave [Hell] where is thy victory?” [1 Corinthians 15:55] It has none unless it is given unto it by the Father above. [John 19:11]
"A pale horse. The symbol of death. Pallida mors, pale death, was a very usual poetic epithet; of this symbol there can be no doubt, because it is immediately said, His name that sat on him was DEATH. And hell followed with him. The grave, or state of the dead, received the slain. This is a very elegant prosopopaeia, or personification. Over the fourth part of the earth. One fourth of mankind was to feel the desolating effects of this seal. To kill with sword. WAR; with hunger — FAMINE; with death — PESTILENCE; and with the beasts of the earth — lions, tigers, hyaenas, etc., which would multiply in consequence of the devastations occasioned by war, famine, and pestilence."
This is the only rider of the four who is named for us and we need not look any further or surmise upon our own to determine his name. He is Death. And he rides upon a pale, ghastly horse. And Hell, like the languishing howl of a hound, whose ears are wrecked by the unheard sounds from beyond, caterwauls with him through the land. In less than a fifty year span, between the time of Maximinus (236 A.D.) to that of Dioclesian (285 A.D.) there were known to be over twenty emperors in Rome in addition to thirty other tyrants of rule. Nearly all of these were killed or murdered in some ghastly way or another. Each brought to a violent death by the Divine Providence of God manifest upon the Roman Empire. This is further noticed and proven by the fact that again we read how it was that “power was given unto them.” That is, to Death and Hell. And, if we were to search out the history of the Roman Empire, we would find numerous occasions of this as a “fourth part of the Earth” suffered death and destruction at this time. “From the years 248 to 296, ‘five thousand persons died daily in Rome; and many towns that escaped the hands of the barbarians were entirely depopulated.’ Does this not correspond well with the figure of Death and Hades riding rampant in the Earth?” These and others are far too numerous to name at this point but are clearly revealed in books dealing with the subject and may be easily researched by anyone interested in proving this history. But of a truth, in this period of history, they did exist. “Come and see.”