(The Beginning of Sorrows)
(Chap. 6:1-8:5)
The part of the earth that the “seal” and “trumpet” judgments are concerned with is Western Europe, and perhaps North America—western nations that have outwardly embraced Christianity. “The Lamb” (Christ) proceeds to open the seals, signifying the bringing to pass of certain events and judgments in that part of the earth. These judgments will prepare the way for Him to take the inheritance and reign over it in His kingdom glory.
The word by the four living creatures is not, “Come and see,” as the KJV renders it (vss. 1, 3, 5, 7), but simply, “Come,” denoting Christ’s providential power to bring these things to pass. Hence, “come” in this sense, refers to His providential command to cause these events to come to pass. The horsemen represent human agencies that will be moved by the providence of God. The Lord called the first half of Daniel’s prophetic week of years—wherein is found the first six seal judgments—“the beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:8).
The First Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:1-2)
What is portrayed in the rider on “a white horse” is the very first thing that will happen on earth after the Rapture. The rider is not Christ (chap. 19:11), nor is it the Antichrist (1 John 2:18). It refers to the Church of Rome using its power, influence, and money to gather ten nations in Western Europe into a federation called “the beast.” This is the revival of the Roman Empire indicated in Daniel 2:41-43 and 7:7-8. Revelation 17:1-6 also points to this. It indicates that the Roman Catholic Church (under the figure of the whore) will have control of this newly formed federation of nations in the first 3½ years of the prophetic week in Daniel 9:27. If it will be under the control of that religious system during that time, it must of necessity have been revived prior to it.
The horse here in chapter 6 is “white,” signifying papal Rome’s pretense of uprightness and purity of purpose. The rider has a “bow” with no arrows, indicating that Rome’s conquest over the nations of Western Europe and the bringing of them together into a super-power will be a bloodless thing. It will be accomplished by summit meetings and treaties rather than through warfare. The Catholic Church’s rule over the newly-revived empire will be the empire’s 7th form of government in its history—but it will only “continue a short space”—the first 3½ years of Daniel’s prophetic week (chap. 17:9-11).
Immediately upon the emergence of this new empire in the West, the Roman “prince” at the head of its political operations under the Catholic Church will make a “covenant” with the Jews for their “protection” from the Islamic nations that surround them (Dan. 9:27a). Prophecy does not give us any further detail as to who this man is. He is simply a political figurehead of the Church of Rome who will fill the office of “the prince” at the beginning of the final week of years. He is identified as “he” in Daniel 9:27a.
This man could not be the “little horn” (Dan. 7:8, 20-21)—the personal “Beast” (Rev. 13:4-7; 19:20, etc.) because that man rises to power and seizes the office of the Roman prince in the middle of the week. We know this because Revelation 13:5 and Daniel 7:25 tell us that his tenure will be for “forty and two months” or “time and times and the dividing of time.” These time periods in prophecy are measured from the middle of the week through to the end of the week (Dan. 12:11). Hence, the reign of the “little horn” or the personal Beast will be during the latter half of the week—the time of the Great Tribulation. When he seizes the office of the Roman prince in the middle of the week, he will proceed to breach the terms of the covenant which will have been made with the Jews (Dan. 9:27b – the 2nd “he.”). Thus, as L. Laurenson has pointed out, there is the making of the covenant, and there is a breaking of the covenant; these are two different things done by two different men (Messiah the Prince, p. 160). (In the book of Daniel, the positions of those that rule among the Gentile kings are offices that don’t necessarily refer to one individual. For instance, in connection with the Greek Empire in chapter 11, there are nine or ten different men mentioned in the role of the King of the North, who succeed each other in that office: likewise, with the King of the South. It is the same in Daniel 9:27, in connection with the Roman Empire. The “prince”—the first “he” and the second “he” are not the same person.)
The making of this covenant is significant in prophecy. It marks the resumption of the cycle of weeks (of years) in Daniel 9:24-27, with the 70th and final week about to be fulfilled—after which God will bring in the kingdom as promised in Daniel 9:24. As a result of this pact being made with Israel, the Jews, who are presently scattered worldwide, will feel safe to return to their homeland, and will do so en masse in the first part of the week (Isa. 18:1-4; Psa. 73:10). This covenant will enable the Jews to practice Judaism (“the sacrifice the and oblation” – Dan. 9:27) according to the Law of Moses without being molested. Killing their sacrifices and presenting them to Jehovah is something that they have not done for over 2000 years (Hos. 3:4).
The Second Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:3-4)
Civil peace will be taken away from the nations in Western Europe (Matt. 24:6-7a). The horse is “red” indicating bloodshed.
The Third Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:5-6)
Agriculture will fail and widespread famine will follow (Matt. 24:7b). The horse is “black” indicating a time of lamentation and mourning. “The oil and the wine” refers to the wealthy in society—particularly the Jews who will have returned en masse to their homeland (Prov. 21:17).
The Fourth Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:7-8)
Pestilence (disease) will spread over Western Europe (“the fourth part of the earth”) and many will die (Matt. 24:7c). The horse is “pale” indicating sickness and death.
The Fifth Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:9-11)
The authorities in Rome will begin to martyr the Jewish witnesses who will preach the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:9). This gospel announces that there is a King who is coming who will put down all governmental power and will establish His own kingdom wherein He will reign supreme (Psa. 96). This will be considered subversive to the Catholic regime (the harlot – chap. 17) which will be in control of the empire (the beast) at that time, and it will draw out its wrath against these witnesses, whom it will see as revolutionists. Thus, they will be apprehended by the authorities and executed—martyred (Rev. 17:6). The souls of these witnesses will remain in the separate state until the end of the prophetic week, and then they will be resurrected (Rev. 14:13).
The Sixth Seal Opened
(Chap. 6:12-17)
As things approach the middle of the week, Satan will be cast to the earth (chap. 12:7-9, 13), and he will immediately cause a convulsion in the government in the confederated nations of the West under the leadership of the Catholic system. Thus, there will be a great shake-up politically. This is presented symbolically under the figure of “a great earthquake.” As a result, the government offices in the West will be temporarily thrown into a state of confusion and anarchy. It is not mentioned here, but Satan will then energize a man (the personal Beast) who will rise up out of the turmoil and seize control of the leadership of the empire (Rev. 13:1-10), and he will motivate the ten kings (nations) in the federation to put down the Catholic regime—the harlot (Rev. 17:16-17).
Men’s hearts will fail them for fear in view of what is to come (Luke 21:25-26). The fact that they speak of “the wrath of the Lamb” shows that they are enlightened people who are familiar with the gospel and certain Biblical truths, but sadly they have neglected to receive Christ as their Saviour when they had opportunity to do so. They mistakenly think that He is about to come and judge the world, but that will be later.