Revelation Chapter 6
Showing all 17 verses for Revelation Chapter 6.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"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. "
"Jesus (the Lamb) breaks the first of seven seals on the sealed scroll, and one of the four living creatures around God's throne booms out like thunder, "Come and see" - summoning John to watch what's released."
I am inviting you to look honestly at the world's brokenness, not to look away from it. Real freedom starts with facing things clearly rather than pretending struggle isn't real.
"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. "
"A rider on a white horse appears, armed with a bow and given a crown - a symbol of conquest and empire-building, riding out to win victory after victory."
Watch what happens when the hunger to conquer and control others takes the driver's seat in your life or your world - it never satisfies, it only compounds. Choose to build rather than conquer.
"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. "
"The Lamb opens the second seal, and the second of the four living creatures calls out, "Come and see" - announcing the next horseman."
I don't rush truth at you all at once - I reveal what you need to understand at the pace you can actually take it in. Stay attentive; don't tune out the pattern because it repeats.
"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. "
"A fiery-red horse goes out; its rider is given power to strip peace from the earth so people turn on each other, armed with a great sword - a picture of war and violent conflict breaking loose."
I want you to notice how quickly peace can be lost when anger and self-interest take over - guard peace in your own relationships fiercely, because it's more fragile than it looks and worth protecting.
"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. "
"The third seal opens, and the third living creature says "Come and see": a black horse appears, its rider holding a pair of scales."
When resources feel scarce, notice whether fear is making you grasp and hoard, or whether you can still choose generosity. I ask you to hold on loosely to what you have.
"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. "
"A voice among the four living creatures announces famine pricing: a whole day's wages for a small measure of wheat, or three measures of barley - while luxury oil and wine are told to be left untouched."
Notice who crisis really hurts - it's rarely the wealthy. I ask you to care about fairness and to share what you have rather than hoard it while others go without.
"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. "
"The Lamb opens the fourth seal, and the fourth living creature calls, "Come and see" - introducing the final and most severe horseman."
Consequences build on each other - the choices a society makes compound over time. I ask you to break harmful patterns early, in your own life and around you, rather than letting them run their course.
"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. "
"A sickly pale-green horse appears, ridden by Death, with the grave following close behind; together they're given authority over a quarter of the earth to kill through war, famine, disease and wild animals."
Life is short and fragile - I'm not telling you this to frighten you but so you'll live your days with real purpose and stop postponing what matters, like kindness, honesty, and love, until 'later.'
"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: "
"The fifth seal reveals the souls of people killed for their faith and honesty, gathered beneath a heavenly altar."
Nothing you sacrifice for what's right is ever lost on me - I see it, and I keep it close, even when the world moves on and forgets.
"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? "
"The souls cry out loudly, "How long, holy and true Lord, until you judge those on earth and avenge our blood?""
If you've ever cried out 'how long?' over an injustice, you're not alone - I hear that cry, and it matters to me, even when the answer doesn't come on your timetable.
"And white robes were given unto every one of them; 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. "
"Each of them is given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the full number of others who will be killed just as they were is complete."
Patience isn't passive giving up - it's trusting that things will be set right, while you keep living with integrity in the meantime rather than taking justice into your own hands.
"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; "
"The sixth seal triggers a massive earthquake; the sun turns black like coarse funeral cloth, and the moon turns blood-red."
Everything you can see and touch - power, status, the world's usual order - is temporary. I want you to build your life on something that doesn't shake: love, honesty, and trust in what actually lasts.
"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. "
"Stars appear to fall from the sky like unripe figs shaken loose from a tree in a violent storm."
When something you thought was fixed and permanent suddenly gives way, I want you to have already built your footing on something steadier than appearances.
"And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. "
"The sky rolls up like a scroll being closed, and every mountain and island is shifted out of place."
Nothing in this world, however solid it looks, is truly unshakeable. I invite you to root your identity somewhere that outlasts even mountains.
"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; "
"Everyone - kings, powerful officials, generals, the wealthy, and ordinary people, whether slave or free - runs to hide in caves and among the rocks of the mountains."
No title, salary, or reputation defines your worth or protects you from the truth of who you really are. I'd rather you face that truth honestly now than spend your life hiding from it.
"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: "
"They beg the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.""
Running from the truth about yourself only makes the fear bigger. I would rather you come to me honestly now, however imperfect you are, than spend your life trying to disappear.
"For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? "
""For the great day of his wrath has come - and who can possibly stand?""
I never dodge the hard questions about consequence and accountability - but stick with the story, because the answer to 'who can stand' is far more hopeful than this moment alone suggests.