he opening of the seals, The first, second, third, and
fourth. (1-8) The fifth. (9-11) The sixth. (12-17)
Verses 1-8: Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what
appeared. A rider on a white horse. By the going forth of this
white horse, a time of peace, or the early progress of the
Christian religion, seems to be intended; its going forth in
purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent his apostles
to teach all nations, adding, Lo! I am with you alway, even to
the end of the world. The Divine religion goes out crowned,
having the Divine favour resting upon it, armed spiritually
against its foes, and destined to be victorious in the end. On
opening the second seal, a red horse appeared; this signifies
desolating judgments. The sword of war and persecution is a
dreadful judgment; it takes away peace from the earth, one of
the greatest blessings; and men who should love one another, and
help one another, are set upon killing one another. Such scenes
also followed the pure age of early Christianity, when,
neglectful of charity and the bond of peace, the Christian
leaders, divided among themselves, appealed to the sword, and
entangled themselves in guilt. On opening the third seal, a
black horse appeared; a colour denoting mourning and woe,
darkness and ignorance. He that sat on it had a yoke in his
hand. Attempts were made to put a yoke of superstitious
observances on the disciples. As the stream of Christianity
flowed further from its pure fountain, it became more and more
corrupt. During the progress of this black horse, the
necessaries of life should be at excessive prices, and the more
costly things should not be hurt. According to prophetic
language, these articles signified that food of religious
knowledge, by which the souls of men are sustained unto
everlasting life; such we are invited to buy, (Isa 55:1). But
when the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, denoted by
the black horse, spread over the Christian world, the knowledge
and practice of true religion became scarce. When a people
loathe their spiritual food, God may justly deprive them of
their daily bread. The famine of bread is a terrible judgment;
but the famine of the word is more so. Upon opening the fourth
seal, another horse appeared, of a pale colour. The rider was
Death, the king of terrors. The attendants, or followers of this
king of terrors, hell, a state of eternal misery to all who die
in their sins; and in times of general destruction, multitudes
go down unprepared into the pit. The period of the fourth seal
is one of great slaughter and devastation, destroying whatever
may tend to make life happy, making ravages on the spiritual
lives of men. Thus the mystery of iniquity was completed, and
its power extended both over the lives and consciences of men.
The exact times of these four seals cannot be ascertained, for
the changes were gradual. God gave them power, that is, those
instruments of his anger, or those judgments: all public
calamities are at his command; they only go forth when God sends
them, and no further than he permits.
Verses 9-11: The sight the apostle beheld at the opening the fifth seal
was very affecting. He saw the souls of the martyrs under the
altar; at the foot of the altar in heaven, at the feet of
Christ. Persecutors can only kill the body; after that there is
no more they can do; the soul lives. God has provided a good
place in the better world, for those who are faithful unto
death. It is not their own death, but the sacrifice of Christ,
that gives them entrance into heaven. The cause in which they
suffered, was for the word of God; the best any man can lay down
his life for; faith in God's word, and the unshaken confession
of that faith. They commit their cause to Him to whom vengeance
belongs. The Lord is the comforter of his afflicted servants,
and precious is their blood in his sight. As the measure of the
sin of persecutors is filling up, so is the number of the
persecuted, martyred servants of Christ. When this is fulfilled,
God will send tribulation to those who trouble them, and
unbroken happiness and rest to those that are troubled.
Verses 12-17: When the sixth seal was opened, there was a great
earthquake. The foundations of churches and states would be
terribly shaken. Such bold figurative descriptions of great
changes abound in the prophecies of Scripture; for these events
are emblems, and declare the end of the world and the day of
judgment. Dread and terror would seize on all sorts of men.
Neither grandeur, riches, valour, nor strength, can support men
at that time. They would be glad to be no more seen; yea, to
have no longer any being. Though Christ be a Lamb, he can be
angry, and the wrath of the Lamb is exceedingly dreadful; for if
the Redeemer himself, who appeases the wrath of God, be our
enemy, where shall we find a friend to plead for us? As men have
their day of opportunity, and their seasons of grace, so God has
his day of righteous wrath. It seems that the overthrow of the
paganism of the Roman empire is here meant. The idolaters are
described as hiding themselves in their dens and secret caves,
and vainly seeking to escape ruin. In such a day, when the signs
of the times show those who believe in God's word, that the King
of kings is approaching, Christians are called to a decided
course, and to a bold confession of Christ and his truth before
their fellowmen. Whatever they may have to endure, the short
contempt of man is to be borne, rather than that shame which is
everlasting.
he opening of the seals, The first, second, third, and
fourth. (1-8) The fifth. (9-11) The sixth. (12-17)