The Gospel Truth and Bible Prophecy

Chapter Thirteen: THE REVELATION JUDGMENTS

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21

The book of Revelation tells us of the judgments that God will send on an unbelieving world during the Tribulation. They will leave no doubt as to the degree of His wrath against the sins of the world, but they are also designed to bring Israel to its knees in repentance and acceptance of Christ.

The Seal Judgments

First Seal (Revelation 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.

Many believe this is a picture of the second coming of Christ. In Revelation 19, we see that the Lord does return on a white horse, but He has many crowns, and He has a sword not a bow. This is not Christ, but represents all false religions by the coming of the Antichrist.

Second Seal (Revelation 6:4):

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereof to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

This represents war and bloodshed, and there will be a great deal of both during the Tribulation.

Third Seal (Revelation 6:5b-6):

And I beheld and lo a black horse' and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 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 wine.

This rider represents famine and a food shortage. Back in the first century a penny was a day's wages. Food will be rationed and cost as much as a day's wage. But the luxuries, the oil and wine, will be unaffected.

Fourth Seal (Revelation 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.

This represents pestilence and widespread death from disease through plagues and possibly biowarfare, and from wild beasts.

These first four seals are known as the "four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and offer a terrifying glimpse of what is to come.

Fifth Seal (Revelation 6:9):

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.

This represents the souls of the martyred Christians. During the Tribulation the Antichrist will try to kill all who fail to worship him and him alone. We can see that the persecution and killing of Christians is happening all over the world. Even in America Christians are discriminated and persecuted. People are already immune to it, so the Antichrist will have little resistance in this area.

Sixth Seal (Revelation 6:12-17):

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth...and every mountain and island were moved out of their places, And the kings of the earth, and [all men] hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains...for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?