The Sixth Seal and its Symbol Rev. 6:12-17

A Tremendous National upheaval

The Sixth Seal

Rev. 6. 12-17.

No matter how the scenes of the various visions of John change, the theme of the Apocalypse remains—Rome versus Zion. The Truth of God in its contest with the fables and untruths of men, will remain as the great issue among humanity even to the coming of Christ.

All those who oppress Israel both natural and spiritual will receive a recompense from the Father. This is the lesson of history, and the warning of scripture.

A Great Earthquake

During the time of the first five seals the true servants of God had suffered much tribulation and the truth had been resisted strongly, because of the hold which paganism had over the people of the Empire. Had it been possible for a person to look over the whole of Rome’s dominion and to know the minds of the people at this time, it would have appeared that the teaching and work of Christ had been in vain.

However such is the power of God that at that very time (A.D. 311-312) He was about to give a salutary lesson to both rulers and people of the Empire.

Verses 12 and 13 of the 6th chapter say, “. . . when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind”.

An earthquake in the symbology of Scripture represents a political upheaval, and is so used in Isa. 13. 13, Rev. 11. 13 and Heb. 12. 26.

“The sun became black”

The sun is the supreme body in God’s physical universe, and aptly symbolises the ruling political power of the day. In Jeremiah 15. 9 the fall of Israel’s rulers is described thus, “Her sun is gone down while it is yet day”. In the case before us the pagan government of Rome was overthrown, and just as sackcloth represents mourning so the pagans were in mourning because of their political eclipse.

“The Moon became as blood”

Among the heavenly bodies of God’s creation the moon reflects the light of the sun. In symbol here it represents the pagan religion of the Empire which derived its power from the government of the day. Being turned into blood indicates that the overthrow of the power was occasioned by much bloodshed.

“The Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth”

Here is represented the political satellites of the ruling power, the statesmen and lesser rulers.

“When she is shaken of a mighty wind”

In Jer. 4. 11-13 the power of Babylon is depicted as a wind. In this passage of Revelation is indicated the power and army of Constantine.

“Heaven Departed as a Scroll”

The “Diaglott” commenting on the word “heaven” (when used otherwise than as the dwelling place of God) says, “Heaven is always the symbol of government, the higher places in the political universe”.

A scroll when in use is unrolled; in this case being rolled up, indicates that no further use was found for the operation of the pagan government.

“Every Mountain and Island”

The change wrought under Constantine, swept away every vestige of previous rule in the Roman habitable. In Jer. 51. 24­-26 Babylon was represented as a destroying mountain. In Dan. 2. 35 and 44 the kingdom of God is represented first as a little stone power which eventually becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. Therefore the scripture indicated that “every mountain and island” or in other words, every independent power or block of individuals were, “moved out of their places”.

Flight of Pagan Rulers from Constantine’s Presence

Verse 15 of chapter 6 indicates that not merely the “kings” but also “chief captains, mighty men, merchants, rich men, every bondman and every freedman hid themselves”. This is another way of telling us that the complete pagan establishment, commercial, spiritual, military and administrative was swept away. So great was the fury of Constantine’s forces that the scripture notes that his enemies hid themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains (verse 15) and even implored the mountains and rocks to fall on them and so hide them from the wrath of the new ruler.

“Hide us from the Wrath of the Lamb”

The remainder of their request is most remarkable. The pagans pleaded to be hidden from the wrath of the Lamb (verse 16). This was because they thought that the day of his (Christ’s) wrath had come. They further concluded, “who shall be able to stand”. Historians have recorded that the pagans believed that their calamities had been visited upon them by Christ. They knew that the true believers looked for Christ’s return, and waited in the expectation that God’s vengeance would be visited upon their enemies. Gibbon, the historian, makes frequent reference to the beliefs, manners and customs of the Christians, and it is not surprising therefore that the pagan worshippers of the Empire should make the claim as recorded in Rev. 6. 15-17.

Great Day of the Lamb’s Wrath Prefigured

In a minor sense the victory of Constantine and nominal Christianity in A.D. 312­-324 prefigured the work of Christ and the saints (his brethren) when they come into collision with the power of the nations as foretold in Isa. 2. 18-22. So great will be the Lamb’s wrath that the nations who oppose Him, will flee and seek to “hide from the wrath of Him that sitteth upon the throne”.

History of the Period

During the time of the 5th Seal, A.D. 303-312, the true servants of God had suffered bitterly at the hands of the pagans. The severest trials had been toward the end of the seal. Symbolically their blood like that of Abel cried out for God’s vengeance. They were told to rest for a “little” while. The “little season” of some 10 years passed, but during its course the forces of Rome were gathering within the Empire for the mighty political earthquake which was to follow and thereby usher in the Sixth Seal.

At the commencement of the Sixth Seal four Emperors were ruling the Empire; they were Constantius, Maximin, Maxentius and Licinius. Constantius who ruled over Gaul, Britain and Spain, died, and his son Constantine took his place. The son like his father was favourable to the Christians and let it be known that should he succeed to sole control of the empire, he would adopt Christianity as the state religion.

Maxentius ruled Italy and Africa, Licinius in Illyricum or Greece and Maximin in Asia Minor, Smyrna and Egypt. The various rulers disagreed among themselves, and Constantine being wise and powerful took the opportunity to seize complete control of the empire. As the historical details of the period are so great it will probably be of more benefit to explore Revelation chapter 12 which deals with the same period but under different symbology. This we will do God willing, in our next article.