Revelation 6:17
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Revelation 6:17
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights that the "great day of wrath" isn't just an event that might happen someday; it's presented as something that has arrived. The question, "who can stand?" isn't just rhetorical fear, but a profound recognition that without divine intervention, no one is equipped to face God's judgment.
The dramatic events of the sixth seal—earthquakes, darkened skies, and falling stars—have terrified all humanity, from kings to slaves. This terrifying scene culminates in the chilling realization that this is not just a natural disaster but the onset of God's righteous anger. The question posed is one of utter helplessness: in the face of such divine wrath, who could possibly survive or remain standing?
We hear about 'the day of wrath,' but what does that really mean? Is it just a fiery end, or something more profound?
This verse points to a specific, ultimate day of God's judgment – the 'great day.' It's not just a bad day or a difficult time; it's the culmination of God's righteous anger against sin and rebellion.
A Day Like No Other
The phrase 'the great day' is used in Scripture to signify a singular, decisive event. It's the day when God’s justice will be fully revealed and executed. This day is characterized by His wrath, a powerful expression of His holiness and opposition to all that is evil.
Who Faces This Wrath?
The context here suggests this wrath is directed against those who have opposed God and His people. The cries of the martyrs in the previous verses (Rev 6:9-10) are answered by the arrival of this day, indicating it’s a response to injustice and persecution.
Faced with God's ultimate judgment, humanity is left with a terrifying question: Can anyone possibly survive this?
The verse culminates in a profound and unanswerable question for the unrighteous: 'and who can stand?' This isn't a call for volunteers; it's a declaration of the overwhelming power and justice of God's wrath.
The Futility of Human Strength
In the face of divine judgment, all human power, wealth, and status become utterly useless. The natural world is in chaos (as described in the preceding verses), and human systems are crumbling. No one can 'stand' on their own merits or might against the Creator of the universe.
The Answer Found Elsewhere
While this verse poses the question in despair, the rest of Revelation provides the answer. Those who 'stand' are not those who are inherently strong or righteous, but those who are found in Christ, protected by His sacrifice and sealed by God. Their standing is not of themselves, but a gift of grace through faith.
Understand the original words
hēmera · Greek Noun
A technical term in apocalyptic literature for the time when God intervenes in human history to judge the wicked and vindicate His people, signifying the finality of the age.
dynamai stēkō · Greek Verb
To abide, endure, or hold one's ground in the presence of God’s judgment. It implies having a standing or righteousness that allows one to exist before a holy God.
This verse describes the terror and despair of those who violently opposed the growing Christian faith, facing the realization that their power is crumbling under God's judgment, particularly during the dramatic shift in the Roman Empire from paganism to Christianity.
c. 303 AD - 311 AD
The Great Persecution
Emperor Diocletian initiates the most severe and widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, aiming to eradicate Christianity.
311 AD
Edict of Toleration (Galerius)
Emperor Galerius, facing internal pressures and perhaps ill health, issues an edict granting some tolerance to Christians, effectively ending the Great Persecution.
312 AD— this verse
Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Constantine I defeats Maxentius and emerges as the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire. He attributes his victory to the Christian God, marking a significant shift in imperial policy.
313 AD
Edict of Milan
Constantine and Licinius issue the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire and officially ending state-sponsored persecution of Christians.
This passage directly echoes the question 'Who shall be able to stand?' when anticipating God's powerful arrival, highlighting the consistent theme of divine judgment and human unpreparedness.
Joel 2:11This verse describes the 'day of the Lord' as a day of wrath and judgment, mirroring the immense fear and destructive power implied in Revelation 6:17.
Nahum 1:6Similar to Revelation, Nahum asks 'Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?' emphasizing the overwhelming nature of God's wrath.
Romans 8:31While Revelation 6:17 asks who can stand in God's wrath, Romans 8:31 offers a counterpoint by asking 'If God is for us, who can be against us?', suggesting that right relationship with God is the key to standing firm.
Ephesians 6:13This passage provides the answer to the question of 'who can stand?' by detailing the 'whole armor of God,' equipping believers to withstand difficult times and stand firm in faith.
ellicottRevelation 6:17: "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
(17) Who shall be (or, is) able to stand?— The thought is derived from Malachi 3:2 , which spoke of a coming of the Lord. Every advent of Christ is the advent of One whose fan is in His hand, and who will thoroughly purge His floor. Whether it be His advent in the flesh, He tested men; or whether one of His advents in Providence—such as the fall of Jerusalem, the overthrow of Pagan Rome, the convulsions o…
pulpitRevelation 6:17: "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
Verse 17. - For the great day of his wrath is come. Of their wrath, which is read in the Revised Version, is found in א, C, 38, Vulgate, Syriae; but αὐτοῦ, "his," is supported by A, B, F, Coptic, Andreas, Arethas, Primasius. The article is repeated, making the term almost a proper name - the day, the great [day]. Alford remarks that this of itself should be sufficient to keep commentators right in confini…
This verse highlights that the "great day of wrath" isn't just an event that might happen someday; it's presented as something that has arrived. The question, "who can stand?" isn't just rhetorical fear, but a profound recognition that without divine intervention, no one is equipped to face God's judgment.
The dramatic events of the sixth seal—earthquakes, darkened skies, and falling stars—have terrified all humanity, from kings to slaves. This terrifying scene culminates in the chilling realization that this is not just a natural disaster but the onset of God's righteous anger. The question posed is one of utter helplessness: in the face of such divine wrath, who could possibly survive or remain standing?
The dramatic events of the sixth seal—earthquakes, darkened skies, and falling stars—have terrified all humanity, from kings to slaves. This terrifying scene culminates in the chilling realization that this is not just a natural disaster but the onset of God's righteous anger. The question posed is one of utter helplessness: in the face of such divine wrath, who could possibly survive or remain standing?
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c. 315 AD - 325 AD
Reign of Constantine the Great
Constantine actively favors Christianity, patronizing the church, building basilicas, and intervening in theological disputes, fundamentally altering the religious landscape of the empire.
390s AD
Final End of Paganism
Under Emperor Theodosius I, pagan temples are closed or destroyed, and Christianity becomes the official state religion, solidifying the massive religious shift initiated by Constantine.
"for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”" — This verse highlights that the "great day of wrath" isn't just an event that might happen someday; it's presented as something that has arrived. The question, "who can stand?" isn't just rhetoric…