Revelation 6:3

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast saying, Come, and see.

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 And I saw, that the lamb had opened one of the seven seals. And I heard one of the four beasts saying, as a voice of thunder, Come, and see.

2 And I saw, and lo! a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given to him. And he went out overcoming, that he should overcome.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast saying, Come, and see.

4 And an other red horse went out; and it was given to him that sat on him [power], that he should take peace from the earth, and that they slay together themselves; and a great sword was given to him.

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast saying, Come thou, and see [Come, and see]. And lo! a black horse; and he that sat on him had a balance in his hand.