Apocalisse 6:1-7

1 Poi vidi quando l’Agnello ebbe aperto uno dei sette suggelli; e udii una delle quattro creature viventi, che diceva con voce come di tuono: Vieni.
2 E vidi, ed ecco un cavallo bianco; e colui che lo cavalcava aveva un arco; e gli fu data una corona, ed egli uscì fuori da vincitore, e per vincere.
3 E quando ebbe aperto il secondo suggello, io udii la seconda creatura vivente che diceva: Vieni.
4 E uscì fuori un altro cavallo, rosso; e a colui che lo cavalcava fu dato di toglier la pace dalla terra affinché gli uomini si uccidessero gli uni gli altri, e gli fu data una grande spada.
5 E quando ebbe aperto il terzo suggello, io udii la terza creatura vivente che diceva: Vieni. Ed io vidi, ed ecco un cavallo nero; e colui che lo cavalcava aveva una bilancia in mano.
6 E udii come una voce in mezzo alle quattro creature viventi che diceva: Una chènice di frumento per un denaro e tre chènici d’orzo per un denaro; e non danneggiare né l’olio né il vino.
7 E quando ebbe aperto il quarto suggello, io udii la voce della quarta creatura vivente che diceva: Vieni.

Apocalisse 6:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 6

This chapter contains the vision of the opening six of the seals of the sealed book, by the Lamb, and of the events following thereupon. The preparation to the vision of the first seal is in Re 6:1; the Lamb opens it, John hears a noise like thunder, and one of the living creatures bids him come and see; upon which he saw a horse, of a white colour, and a rider on it, who is described by a bow and crown given him, and by the victory he obtained, Re 6:2; at the opening of the second seal, the second living creature invites him as before; and he sees a horse, of a red colour, with a rider on it, described by his power, to take peace from the earth, and suffer men to kill one another, and by a great sword given him, Re 6:3,4; at the opening of the third seal, the third living creature addresses him in like manner as the other; and he sees a horse, of a black colour, and a rider on it, with a pair of balances in his hands; and hears a voice from among the four living creatures, expressing dearness of provisions, and a charge not to hurt the oil and wine, Re 6:5,6; at the opening of the fourth seal, the fourth living creature speaks to John, as the rest; and he sees a horse, of a pale colour, and a rider on it, described by his name, Death, by his follower, hell, or the grave, and by his power to destroy a fourth part of the earth with the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts, Re 6:7,8; at the opening of the fifth seal, John saw the souls of the martyrs, under the altar; hears their cry for vengeance; observes that white robes were given them, and that they were bid to be quiet until the slaying and suffering time of their brethren was over, Re 6:9-11; at the opening of the sixth seal follow an earthquake, strange changes in the heavens, the sun becomes black as sackcloth, the moon becomes as blood, the stars fall, and the heaven itself departs, and every island and mountain are moved out of their places, Re 6:12-14, the kings and great men of the earth, and even all sorts, of men, upon this, fly to the rocks and mountains to hide them from the face of God the Father, that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, the opener of the sealed book; giving this as a reason for it, that the time of his great wrath was come, and none could stand before him, Re 6:15-17.

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