King James Version
Revelation 6
17 verses with commentary
The Seven Seals
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language char...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **And **I **saw when the Lamb **(the diminutive form of Lamb is still used) . . .—The words “and see” are doubtful. They are found in some MSS. and omitted in others: the authority for their omission and for their retention is about equally divided. Under these circumstances we may fairly be guided by the context. To whom is the summons addressed? Who is bidden to come? If it was taken to be a...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18. grow--**Not only do not "fall from" (2Pe 3:17), but grow onward: the true secret of not going backward. Ep 4:15, "Grow up into Him, the Head, Christ."
**grace and ... knowledge of ... Christ--**"the grace and knowledge of Christ" [Alford rightly]: the grace of which Christ is the author, and the knowledge of which Christ is the object.
**for ever--**Greek, "to the day of eternity": the d...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic lang...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Conquering, and to conquer.—**Better, *conquering*, *and that he might conquer.* One version has, “and he conquered.” All commentators seem to be agreed that this rider represents victory. The emblems —the crown and white horse—are obviously those of victory. The crown *(stephanos)* is the crown of triumph. The horses used in Roman triumphs were white. On the white horse of triumph the crown...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
THE FIRST GENERAL EPISTLE OF JOHN
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prophetic literature, drawing heavi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3, 4) **And when he had opened **. . .—Better, *And when he opened the second seal*, *I heard the second living being*, *saying*, *Come. And there came forth another horse*, *red; and to him that sat on him was given to take peace from the earth*, *and that they* (i.e., the inhabitants of the earth) *shall kill one another*, *and there was given to him a great sword.* This seal is the distinct an...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 swo...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
INTRODUCTION
**Authorship.--**Polycarp, the disciple of John [Epistle to the Philippians, 7], quotes 1Jo 4:3. Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 3.39] says of Papias, a hearer of John, and a friend of Polycarp, "He used testimonies from the First Epistle of John." Irenæus, according to Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 5.8], often quoted this Epistle. So in his work Against Heresies [3.15; 5, 8] h...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5, 6) **When He had opened.**—Better, *When he opened.* The words “and see” are to be omitted here, as in the other seals. *And I saw*, *and behold a horse, black, and he that sat on him having a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living beings, saying*, *A choenix of wheat for a denarius* (penny), *and three choenixes of barley for a denarius* (penny), *...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. the life--**Jesus, "the Word of life."
**was manifested--**who had previously been "with the Father."
**show--**Translate as in 1Jo 1:3, "declare" (compare 1Jo 1:5). Declare is the general term; write is the particular (1Jo 1:4).
**that eternal life--**Greek, "the life which is eternal." As the Epistle begins, so it ends with "eternal life," which we shall ever enjoy with, and in, Him w...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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 measure: the word choenix signifieth a measure containing one wine quart, and the twelfth part of a quart
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text u...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. That which we have seen and heard--**resumed from 1Jo 1:1, wherein the sentence, being interrupted by 1Jo 1:2, parenthesis, was left incomplete.
**declare we unto you--**Oldest manuscripts add also; unto you also who have not seen or heard Him.
**that ye also may have fellowship with us--**that ye also who have not seen, may have the fellowship with us which we who have seen enjoy; what t...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prophetic literature, ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7, 8) **The fourth seal.***—And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being*, *saying, Come. And I saw*, *and behold, a horse, pallid *(or, *livid), and he that sat upon him his name was Death, and Hades was following with him; and there was given to them power over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild b...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4. these things--**and none other, namely, this whole Epistle.
**write we unto you--**Some oldest manuscripts omit "unto you," and emphasize "we." Thus the antithesis is between "we" (apostles and eye-witnesses) and "your." We write thus that your joy may be full. Other oldest manuscripts and versions read "OUR joy," namely, that our joy may be filled full by bringing you also into fellowship ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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. unto them: or, to him
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5. First division of the body of the Epistle (compare Introduction).
**declare--**Greek, "announce"; report in turn; a different Greek word from 1Jo 1:3. As the Son announced the message heard from the Father as His apostle, so the Son's apostles announce what they have heard from the Son. John nowhere uses the term "Gospel"; but the witness or testimony, the word, the truth, and here the messag...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
The 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 ...
Read full commentary →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:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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:...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalypti...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9-11) **The fifth seal **differs from the four earlier seals. It is not introduced by the voice of the living beings, and the cry “Come.” The voice which is now heard is not the cry of the groaning world, but of the oppressed and troubled Church. In the fourth seal the climax of world-sorrow seemed to be reached in the accumulation of war, famine, pestilence, and noisome beasts. It declared to th...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**6. say--**profess.
**have fellowship with him--**(1Jo 1:3). The essence of the Christian life.
**walk--**in inward and outward action, whithersoever we turn ourselves [Bengel].
**in darkness--**Greek, "in the darkness"; opposed to "the light" (compare 1Jo 2:8, 11).
**lie--**(1Jo 2:4).
**do not--**in practice, whatever we say.
**the truth--**(Ep 4:21; Joh 3:21).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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?...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic lang...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **How long . . .?—**Better. *Until when. O Master *(the word is the correlative of “servant,” see Revelation 6:10) *the Holy and True, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood from* (on) *those who dwell on the earth?* By a dramatic figure the persecuted and slain ones are represented as crying for retribution on their oppressors. It is not the Christians themselves (Luke 23:34; and Acts 7:60...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7. Compare Ep 5:8, 11-14. "We walk"; "God is (essentially in His very nature as 'the light,' 1Jo 1:5) in the light." Walking in the light, the element in which God Himself is, constitutes the test of fellowship with Him. Christ, like us, walked in the light (1Jo 2:6). Alford notices, Walking in the light as He is in the light, is no mere imitation of God, but an identity in the essential element o...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 a...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **And white robes were given **. . .—The victims, however, are not forgotten. *There was given to them (each) a white robe.* The white robes, the glistening apparel of the saints (comp. Revelation 3:4-5), shall be theirs; each shall receive it. They are robes of righteousness (Revelation 19:8); they are robes of honour (Revelation 4:4), for those who wear them are like God, seeing Him as He i...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
8. The confession of sins is a necessary consequence of "walking in the light" (1Jo 1:7). "If thou shalt confess thyself a sinner, the truth is in thee; for the truth is itself light. Not yet has thy life become perfectly light, as sins are still in thee, but yet thou hast already begun to be illuminated, because there is in thee confession of sins" [Augustine].
**that we have no sin--**"Have," ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →The Sixth Seal
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;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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;...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid a...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12-17) **The sixth seal.**—The seals follow the lines laid down by our Lord in Matthew 24. There He tells His disciples that wars (Revelation 6:6), famines and pestilences (Revelation 6:7), and persecutions (Revelation 6:9) are to be expected; these are necessary features in the history of the world. But these features are described by our Master as preliminary to His Coming and the end of the wo...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9. confess--**with the lips, speaking from a contrite heart; involving also confession to our fellow men of offenses committed against them.
**he--**God.
**faithful--**to His own promises; "true" to His word.
**just--**Not merely the mercy, but the justice or righteousness of God is set forth in the redemption of the penitent believer in Christ. God's promises of mercy, to which He is fait...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →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. untimely figs: or, green figs
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic o...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
10. Parallel to 1Jo 1:8.
**we have not sinned--**referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in 1Jo 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have ... sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the prese...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →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;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 m...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15-17)* **And the** **kings . . .**—*Translate,* And the kings of the earth, and the magnates, and the commanders of hosts, and the wealthy, and the strong, and every man, bond and free, hid themselves (going) into the caves and into the rocks of the mountains; and say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 2
1Jo 2:1-29. The Advocacy of Christ Is Our Antidote to Sin While Walking in the Light; for to Know God, We Must Keep His Commandments and Love the Brethren, and Not Love the World, Nor Give Heed to Antichrists, against Whom Our Safety Is through the Inward Anointing of God to Abide in God: So at Christ's Coming We Shall Not Be Ashamed.
1. (1Jo 5:18.)
**My little children--**The dimi...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →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:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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:...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language ch...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. And he--**Greek, "And Himself." He is our all-prevailing Advocate, because He is Himself "the propitiation"; abstract, as in 1Co 1:30: He is to us all that is needed for propitiation "in behalf of our sins"; the propitiatory sacrifice, provided by the Father's love, removing the estrangement, and appeasing the righteous wrath, on God's part, against the sinner. "There is no incongruity that a...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of seven seals - god's judgments on rebellious earth, cry of martyrs employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prophetic literature, drawing heavily from Dani...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17) **Who shall be **(or, *is)* **able to** **stand?—**The thought is derived from Malachi 3:2, which spoke of a coming of the Lord. Every advent of Christ is the advent of One whose fan is in His hand, and who will thoroughly purge His floor. Whether it be His advent in the flesh, He tested men; or whether one of His advents in Providence—such as the fall of Jerusalem, the overthrow of Pagan Rom...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. hereby--**Greek, "in this." "It is herein," and herein only, that we know (present tense) that we have knowledge of (perfect tense, once-for-all obtained and continuing knowledge of) Him" (1Jo 2:4, 13, 14). Tokens whereby to discern grace are frequently given in this Epistle. The Gnostics, by the Spirit's prescient forewarning, are refuted, who boasted of knowledge, but set aside obedience. "...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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...
Read full commentary →