New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Revelation 6
1
I watched as the Lamb broke open the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!"
Reference
2
I looked, and there in front of me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow in his hands. He was given a crown. He rode out like a hero on his way to victory.
Reference
Parallel theme
Zechariah 1:8
3
The Lamb broke open the second seal. Then I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
Reference
4
Another horse came out. It was flaming red. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. He was given a large sword.
Reference
5
The Lamb broke open the third seal. Then I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.
Reference
6
Next, I heard what sounded like a voice coming from among the four living creatures. It said, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay. And three quarts of barley for a day's pay. But don't spoil the olive oil and the wine!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 9:4
7
The Lamb broke open the fourth seal. Then I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
Reference
8
I looked, and there in front of me was a pale horse! Its rider's name was Death. Following close behind him was Hell. They were given power over a fourth of the earth. They were given power to kill people with the sword, hunger and sickness. They could also use the earth's wild animals to kill.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Hosea 13:14
Zechariah 6:3
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 9:18
Revelation 9:15
Isaiah 25:8
Word
Jeremiah 16:4
Ezekiel 5:12
9
He broke open the fifth seal. I saw souls under the altar. They were the souls of people who were killed because of God's word and their faithful witness.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 2:13
2 Corinthians 5:8
References God
John 16:2
Sacrifice
Revelation 14:18
Revelation 16:7
Leviticus 4:7
Witness
2 Timothy 1:8
Word
Revelation 20:4
Revelation 1:9
Revelation 1:2
10
They called out in a loud voice. "How long, Lord and King, holy and true?" they asked. "How long will you wait to judge those who live on the earth? How long will it be until you pay them back for killing us?"
Reference
Blood
Psalm 9:12
Psalm 79:10
Holy
Revelation 3:7
Revelation 18:20
Revelation 18:24
Judgment
Revelation 19:2
Revelation 11:18
Romans 12:19
Parallel theme
Luke 21:22
References Lord
Zechariah 1:12
11
Then each of them was given a white robe. "Wait a little longer," they were told. "There are still more of your believing brothers and sisters who must be killed."
Reference
12
I watched as he broke open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned black like black clothes that were made from the hair of a goat. The whole moon turned as red as blood.
Reference
13
The stars in the sky fell to earth. They dropped like ripe figs from a tree shaken by a strong wind.
Reference
14
The sky rolled back like a scroll. Every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
Reference
15
Everyone hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. This included the kings of the earth, the princes and the generals, rich people and powerful people. It also included every slave and everyone who was free.
Reference
Kingdom
Psalm 76:12
Parallel theme
Isaiah 2:19
Isaiah 2:21
Isaiah 2:10
Hebrews 11:38
Isaiah 42:22
1 Samuel 13:6
Judges 6:2
Micah 7:17
16
They called out to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne! Hide us from the anger of the Lamb!
Reference
17
The great day of their anger has come. Who can live through it?"
Reference
Judgment
Romans 2:5
Revelation 11:18
Jude 1:6
Parallel theme
Psalm 76:7
Joel 2:11
Malachi 3:2
Revelation 16:14
Jeremiah 30:7
Joel 2:31
Luke 21:36
Summary of Revelation 6
Revelation 6 begins the opening of the seven seals of God's scroll, revealing a dramatic sequence of conquest, warfare, economic hardship, widespread death, persecution of faithful believers, and finally cosmic upheaval and universal fear before God's judgment, showing that human power cannot ultimately prevent divine justice, while the suffering of God's people is remembered by Him and the final judgment will reach every class of society.
The chapter follows directly from Revelation 5.
The Lamb has received the scroll from the One seated on the throne, and now He begins to open its seals.
Each seal reveals another stage in the unfolding vision.
The first four seals are represented by four horsemen, one of the most famous images in Revelation.
The first rider appears on a white horse.
He carries a bow, receives a crown, and goes out conquering.
The identity of this rider has been interpreted in different ways, but within the sequence of the four horsemen, the imagery is commonly understood as representing conquest.
The second rider appears on a red horse.
He receives a great sword and takes peace from the earth.
People turn against one another, resulting in widespread violence.
The third rider appears on a black horse holding scales.
A voice announces extremely high prices for basic food.
This represents scarcity, famine, inflation, and economic hardship.
The striking reference to oil and wine suggests that economic suffering may not affect all goods or all people equally.
The fourth rider appears on a pale horse.
His name is Death, and the grave follows him.
He is given authority over a large portion of the earth to bring death through warfare, famine, disease, and wild animals.
The first four seals therefore create a progression:
conquest ? war ? scarcity ? death.
The fifth seal changes the focus.
Instead of another horseman, John sees the souls of people who have been killed because of their testimony for God.
They are beneath the altar and cry out for justice.
Their question is essentially:
How long will God allow injustice to continue?
This is an important biblical expression of faith.
The martyrs do not deny God because they have suffered.
Instead, they appeal to God because they believe He is just and will ultimately judge evil.
They receive white robes and are told to rest until the appointed time.
This means that God has not forgotten those who suffer for Him.
Their lives and deaths remain before Him.
The sixth seal then produces an extraordinary series of cosmic disturbances.
There is a great earthquake.
The sun becomes black.
The moon becomes like blood.
Stars fall from the sky.
The heavens appear to roll away like a scroll.
Mountains and islands are moved.
The imagery is deliberately overwhelming.
It communicates that God's judgment is not merely a local political event.
It reaches the entire created order.
The reaction of humanity is equally significant.
Kings, powerful people, military commanders, wealthy people, slaves, and free people all hide themselves.
The list covers essentially every level of society.
Political power cannot protect people.
Military power cannot protect people.
Wealth cannot protect people.
Social position cannot protect people.
Everyone is confronted by the authority of God.
The frightened people call upon the mountains and rocks to hide them from the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
This is a striking description of Jesus.
Earlier, the Lamb was presented as the One who was slain to redeem people.
Now the same Lamb is associated with judgment.
Revelation therefore holds together two truths: Christ is the sacrificial Savior, and Christ is also the authoritative Judge.
The chapter ends with a dramatic question:
Who can stand?
This question prepares the reader for Revelation 7, where God reveals those who are sealed and protected as His servants.
The central message of Revelation 6 is that the Lamb has authority to open God's plan and bring history toward judgment, revealing through the four horsemen the destructive consequences of conquest, war, scarcity, and death, while remembering the suffering and martyrdom of His faithful people, and ultimately confronting every human being—regardless of wealth, power, military strength, or social position—with the reality that God's justice will prevail and that no earthly power can hide from the authority of God and the Lamb.
The chapter follows directly from Revelation 5.
The Lamb has received the scroll from the One seated on the throne, and now He begins to open its seals.
Each seal reveals another stage in the unfolding vision.
The first four seals are represented by four horsemen, one of the most famous images in Revelation.
The first rider appears on a white horse.
He carries a bow, receives a crown, and goes out conquering.
The identity of this rider has been interpreted in different ways, but within the sequence of the four horsemen, the imagery is commonly understood as representing conquest.
The second rider appears on a red horse.
He receives a great sword and takes peace from the earth.
People turn against one another, resulting in widespread violence.
The third rider appears on a black horse holding scales.
A voice announces extremely high prices for basic food.
This represents scarcity, famine, inflation, and economic hardship.
The striking reference to oil and wine suggests that economic suffering may not affect all goods or all people equally.
The fourth rider appears on a pale horse.
His name is Death, and the grave follows him.
He is given authority over a large portion of the earth to bring death through warfare, famine, disease, and wild animals.
The first four seals therefore create a progression:
conquest ? war ? scarcity ? death.
The fifth seal changes the focus.
Instead of another horseman, John sees the souls of people who have been killed because of their testimony for God.
They are beneath the altar and cry out for justice.
Their question is essentially:
How long will God allow injustice to continue?
This is an important biblical expression of faith.
The martyrs do not deny God because they have suffered.
Instead, they appeal to God because they believe He is just and will ultimately judge evil.
They receive white robes and are told to rest until the appointed time.
This means that God has not forgotten those who suffer for Him.
Their lives and deaths remain before Him.
The sixth seal then produces an extraordinary series of cosmic disturbances.
There is a great earthquake.
The sun becomes black.
The moon becomes like blood.
Stars fall from the sky.
The heavens appear to roll away like a scroll.
Mountains and islands are moved.
The imagery is deliberately overwhelming.
It communicates that God's judgment is not merely a local political event.
It reaches the entire created order.
The reaction of humanity is equally significant.
Kings, powerful people, military commanders, wealthy people, slaves, and free people all hide themselves.
The list covers essentially every level of society.
Political power cannot protect people.
Military power cannot protect people.
Wealth cannot protect people.
Social position cannot protect people.
Everyone is confronted by the authority of God.
The frightened people call upon the mountains and rocks to hide them from the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
This is a striking description of Jesus.
Earlier, the Lamb was presented as the One who was slain to redeem people.
Now the same Lamb is associated with judgment.
Revelation therefore holds together two truths: Christ is the sacrificial Savior, and Christ is also the authoritative Judge.
The chapter ends with a dramatic question:
Who can stand?
This question prepares the reader for Revelation 7, where God reveals those who are sealed and protected as His servants.
The central message of Revelation 6 is that the Lamb has authority to open God's plan and bring history toward judgment, revealing through the four horsemen the destructive consequences of conquest, war, scarcity, and death, while remembering the suffering and martyrdom of His faithful people, and ultimately confronting every human being—regardless of wealth, power, military strength, or social position—with the reality that God's justice will prevail and that no earthly power can hide from the authority of God and the Lamb.