In Revelation chapter six, we see Jesus, the one that is worthy to open the scroll, begin to break the seals. Until this time, John had been in heaven, writing about what he was seeing there. Now as the seals are broken, John's attention turns toward the earth where the judgments of the broken seals are being carried out.
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b]and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
The first four seals release the most well known sign, commonly known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. When Jesus breaks the first seal, one of the living creatures around the throne says "come" beckoning the first horseman, the white horse. The rider of this horse had a bow and was given a crown of conquest. Since this rider does not carry any arrows, he may symbolize a person that will conquer using peace; The white horse represents peace. It is commonly thought that this rider represents the Antichrist, who will come to power by promising peace. After he is in power, he will reveal his true agenda which is world conquest.
After this rider has been released, Jesus breaks the second seal. The second living creature beckons the second horseman. The red horse is revealed, he symbolizes war. He had a large sword, and was given the power to take peace from the earth. This seems to follow the idea that the first horseman was bent on conquest. After the Antichrist comes to power, he will instigate war with those that try to stand against him.
The third seal releases the black horse, who represents famine. This rider has a pair of scales in his hand. The living creature calls out: “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b]and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!” This is to show the extent of the famine that will occur at this time. Basically a days wage for enough food for the day. The rider is also told not to damage the oil and wine. There will always be people that will get rich on others misfortune and have the money to have all the luxuries.
The fourth seal will release the Pale horse named Death. It stands to reason that death would follow along behind the three preceding horses. This rider had a companion named Hades followed behind him. They were given the power to kill one fourth of the earth by sword, famine, plague and wild beasts. They had only to follow the first three riders to fulfill their charge.
Once the horsemen have been released, Jesus opens the fifth seal. John sees an altar in heaven, and under the altar all those that had been killed as martyrs for following Christ. They cry out, asking when will the inhabitants of the earth be judged for what they had done and when will their sacrifice be avenged. They are given the white robes of the martyr and told to wait for all the other martyrs that would be killed during the Tribulation period. God is just and merciful, He will not institute judgment until everyone is given a chance to turn to Him.
When Jesus opens the sixth seal, there is a huge earthquake. This earthquake was so large that every mountain and island was moved. The sun turned black, the moon turned red and stars fell from the sky.
31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. Joel 2:31
The peoples of the earth are terrified when this judgment occurs. They blame God for what is happening instead of repenting.
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