Revelation 6:3

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"

Revelation 6:3 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 6:3

And when he had opened the second seal
Of the sealed book; that is, the Lamb, as before:

I heard the second beast say, come and see;
this living creature was the ox, whose situation was on the west side of the throne, as the standard of Ephraim, on which was an ox, was on the west of the camp of Israel; no mention is made of the noise of thunder, as before, the voice of the ox being lower than that of the lion; and this perhaps may point out a decrease in the Gospel ministry; to fix on any particular person, as, with Grotius, the Evangelist Matthew, because he says, ( Matthew 24:7 ) , nation shall rise against nation, which carries in it some likeness to what is said at the opening of this seal; or, as with Brightman, Justin Martyr, whose second apology was not regarded by the emperor, is mere conjecture; the ministers of the Gospel are intended who lived under this seal, who, though they might not be strong and courageous like the lion, or their predecessors, yet were like the ox, laborious in preaching, and patient in suffering; and these are represented in this vision as inviting John to behold and observe the following hieroglyphic.

Revelation 6:3 In-Context

1 Then I looked on as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"

2 So I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow and was given a crown. And he went forth from victory to victory.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"

4 Out came another horse, fiery red. Its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth so that people would kill each other. He was given a large sword.

5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" So I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a balance for weighing in his hand.