Revelation 6 Study Notes

6:8 Hades was popularly known as the grave and resting place after Death (see note at 20:11-15). The text does not say that a fourth of the population of the earth was killed, but only that authority was given to “Death” and “Hades” over this proportion of the world, allowing them to kill freely.

Sphragis (seal) could refer to an instrument used to apply a seal (Rv 7:2) or to the seal (Rv 5:1-2,5) or inscription (2Tm 2:19) itself. The related verb sphragizo means to mark with a seal, in order to secure (Mt 27:66; Rv 20:3) or hide something (Rv 10:4; 22:10). The person who owns the stamp enjoys authority over what is sealed. This authority indicates ownership, protection, and approval, themes that predominate in Revelation (Rv 7:3-5,8; 9:4). The seven-sealed scroll belongs to God, and only the Lamb is worthy to break the seals to reveal the scroll’s contents (Rv 5-6; 8:1).

Metaphorically, a seal could indicate official authentication or confirmation of a truth, and in this sense Paul speaks of circumcision as the seal (i.e., authentication, Rm 4:11) of Abraham’s faith-based righteousness. Similarly, the Corinthian church was the seal (i.e., confirmation; 1Co 9:2) of Paul’s apostleship.

6:9-11 The phrase under the altar and the mention of blood recall the sacrificial blood poured at the base of the altar in Ex 29:12. The souls of those who had been slaughtered may refer to believers killed during the removal of the first four seals (6:2,4,8) or generally to “the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on the earth” (18:24). Their being killed because of the word of God and their testimony for Christ is the same reason given for John’s imprisonment on the island of Patmos (1:9). Since the “hour of testing” (i.e., the tribulation period; 3:10) is focused on the “earth dwellers,” the delay here (rest a little while longer) implies the “hour of testing” has not yet begun. The Lord’s just vengeance (Rm 12:19) for the martyrs begins in earnest in Rv 16:4-7 and is not completed until 19:2. On white robe, see note at 3:4-5. It is not known when the number of their fellow martyrs is completed.

6:12-17 The effects when the sixth seal is lifted from the scroll (sun turned black and moon became like blood) are very similar to those in Jl 2:28-31, which are said to occur just before the day of the Lord (Jl 2:31). This is the same as the great day of the wrath of God the Father and the Lamb (vv. 16-17; Zph 1:14-15). Some think this is the time of the second coming of Christ because of the similarity in wording between certain aspects of the sixth seal and Mt 24:29-31. Because the identical Greek word and form for come is used in regard to the prophecy in Jd 14, which has a futuristic meaning, it is best to translate it here as “the great day of their wrath is (about to) come.” The question and who is able to stand? is answered in chap. 7.