Apocalypse Explained #350
1. And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying as with the voice of thunder, Come and see.
2. And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him had a bow; and there was given to him a crown; and he went forth conquering and that he might conquer.
3. And when he had opened the second seal I heard the second animal saying, Come and see.
4. And there went forth another horse that was red; and to him that sat upon him, to him it was given to take peace from the earth, that they should slay one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.
5. And when he had opened the third seal I heard the third animal saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a black horse; and he that sat upon him had a balance in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals saying, A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius, and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
7. And when he had opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying, Come and see.
8. And I saw, and behold a pale horse, and he that sat upon him his name was Death, and Hell followed with him. And there was given unto them the authority to kill over the fourth part of the earth, with sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth.
9. And when he had opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the Word of God and because of the testimony that they held.
10. And they cried out with a great voice saying, How long, O Lord, who art holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth?
11. And there was given to each one of them white robes; and it was said unto them that they should rest yet a little time until their fellow-servants, and their brethren, who were to be killed as they also were, should be fulfilled.
12. And I saw when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.
13. And the stars of heaven fell upon the earth, as a fig-tree casteth her unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
14. And the heaven withdrew as a book rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great ones and the rich, and the commanders of thousands, and the mighty, and every servant, and every freeman, hid themselves in the caves, and in the rocks of the mountains.
16. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb.
17. For the great day of His anger is come; and who is able to stand?
EXPOSITION.
Verses 1, 2. And I saw when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying as with the voice of thunder, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him had a bow; and there was given to him a crown; and he went forth conquering and that he might conquer.
1. "And I saw," signifies manifestation of the states of those who are of the church where the Word is n. 351; "when the Lamb had opened the first of the seals," signifies the first manifestation of the Lord. n. 352); "and I heard one of the four animals saying as with a voice of thunder," signifies out of the inmost heaven from the Lord. n. 353); "Come and see," signifies attention and perception (n. 354).
2. "And I saw and behold a white horse," signifies the understanding of truth from the Word n. 355; "and he that sat upon him had a bow," signifies the doctrine of charity and faith, by which there is combat against evils and falsities, and by which they are dispersed (n. 356, 357); "and there was given to him a crown," signifies eternal life, which is the reward of victory n. 358; "and he went forth conquering and that he might conquer," signifies the removal of evils and of falsities thence at the end of life, and afterwards to eternity n. 359.
