6:1 one of the four living creatures Each of the four living creatures summons one of the riders as the first four seals are broken.

6:2 white horse Christ Himself rides a white horse in 19:11–13, and it is sometimes argued that He is also referred to here. However, it is more likely that this rider represents evil in its pale imitation of Christ. In Mark 13:5–6, Jesus speaks of those who falsely come in His name, and the forces of evil in the nt are sometimes depicted as imitating Christ (compare Rev 13:1 with 19:12; and 5:6 with 13:3).

a crown was given This rider is given a crown (a symbol of political power) by God to execute His judgments.

he went out conquering Perhaps related to Mark 13:7–8 (compare Rev 11:7; 13:7).

6:4 fiery red May suggest warfare and bloodshed (compare Mark 13:7–8).

6:5 black horse Represents famine, a common consequence of war (compare Rev 6:6; Mark 13:8).

had a balance scale in his hand The scale will aid in rationing out food and drink at exorbitantly high prices. Supplies left over after war (see Rev 6:2) will need to be carefully apportioned.

6:6 A quart of wheat for a denarius Suggestive of someone rationing out supplies in a government food line and selling them at inflated prices (compare 2 Kgs 6:24–25). A denarius, the coin mentioned here in the Greek text, was a day’s wage earned by a common laborer. Such rations could feed only one person, so a worker would not have been able to afford to feed his family. The result would have been widespread hunger and starvation.

the olive oil and the wine The necessities (wheat and barley) are sold for exorbitant prices, but luxury items (oil and wine) are unaffected. This may point to the role greed can play in intensifying the effects of a famine.

6:8 pale green horse May indicate pestilence and death, as its rider signifies. Expanding on Mark’s version of Jesus’ apocalyptic discourse, Luke adds “plagues” to famines (see Luke 21:11; compare Lev 26:25; Ezek 14:19).

named Death This personification of death is in direct contrast to the life offered by the Lamb, Jesus (Rev 7:14).

Hades followed after him Physical, bodily death is connected to the netherworld of Greek mythology—the place where people go after their bodily death. This personification, along with the personification of death, is likely meant to evoke the idea that these two evil powers are at work in the world—physical death and the spiritual death that can follow it (compare Hos 13:14).

the wild beasts of the earth In addition to the tactics of the second and third horsemen, Death and Hades also employed wild animals (see Lev 26:22; Ezek 14:15).

6:9 fifth seal While the martyrs make an appeal for vengeance, God forestalls His wrath. More must be added to their number before He strikes back.

the souls of those who had been slaughtered The martyrs are under the altar: They were sacrificed because of their faith in Christ (see 20:4).

6:10 How long This prayer often shows up in the midst of persecution (e.g., Zech 1:12; Pss 13:1–2; Isa 6:11). It is answered later in the book (Rev 10:6 and note; 19).

6:11 white robe See 3:4 and note; 7:14 and note.

fellow slaves and their brothers Believers appear to be going through the judgments as well.

6:12 great earthquake Language of natural phenomena, as in vv. 12–14, is typical when referring to God’s judgment. It normally refers to the end of the age (e.g., Isa 13:10; Ezek 32:7–8; Joel 2:10; Mark 13:8). John may be using the language to parallel the events associated with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that were still fresh in the mind of his audience (see Rev 8:8 and note).

6:13 stars of heaven fell to the earth May refer to the massive chunks of rock and debris thrown from a volcano. Alternatively, the earthquake might be so violent that it even appears to shake the heavens.

6:14 sky was split apart Smoke and lava spewing hundreds of feet in the air may give the illusion of a splitting and vanishing sky.

6:15 every All kinds of people—rich and poor, powerful and weak, slave and free—will seek refuge from the wrath of the Lamb.

6:16 Fall on us Compare Hos 10:8; Luke 23:30.

6:17 the great day of their wrath The wrath is of God and the Lamb. This day is the final outpouring of judgment on the world. Those who have been bought by the Lamb are safe from this judgment (Rev 5:9). They are able to stand (compare Joel 2:11).