for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Revelation 6:17
What does Revelation 6:17 mean?
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Revelation 6:17
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This isn't just about a future judgment; the question "who can stand?" echoes the prophets' warnings that God’s wrath already falls on those who persecute His people. The sheer terror described makes it clear that human power and systems are utterly inadequate to face divine justice.
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The sixth seal has just been broken, revealing cataclysmic cosmic signs and widespread terror among all people, from kings to slaves, who try to hide from the unveiled wrath of God. This moment of cosmic upheaval and profound fear is depicted as the arrival of "the great day of wrath," a judgment so terrifying that no one can face it. The passage directly answers the question posed by the martyrs in the previous chapter, showing the ultimate doom awaiting those who opposed God and His people.
What exactly is this 'great day of wrath' that causes kings and commoners alike to tremble?
This isn't just a future event; it's a reality that unfolds throughout history. The 'great day of wrath' refers to God's ultimate judgment, a time when His righteous anger against sin and rebellion will be fully revealed.
Historical Expressions of Wrath
While pointing to the final judgment, this day has also been foreshadowed in historical events where God has intervened to judge wickedness. Think of the fall of empires that oppressed His people, or moments of great upheaval that shook the foundations of evil.
The Ultimate Confrontation
The ultimate 'great day' is when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead. It’s a day of reckoning, where all will stand before Him. This judgment is both terrifying for the unrepentant and a final vindication for the faithful.
When faced with divine judgment, humanity's biggest question becomes: 'Who can survive?'
The question, 'and who can stand?' is the profound realization of utter helplessness. It's not a question of human strength, wisdom, or status.
Human Limitations Exposed
When God’s judgment falls, all earthly defenses crumble. Kings, rulers, the powerful, the wealthy – their might is useless. Their usual refuge is gone, and they are left exposed and terrified.
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The Answer Found Elsewhere
This question highlights our need for a mediator and a Savior. The context of Revelation, particularly in the following chapter, reveals the answer: not those who rely on themselves, but those who are sealed, those who belong to the Lamb. Our ability to 'stand' is not of our own doing, but by God’s grace and the redemption through Christ.
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 reflects the immense terror and upheaval experienced by pagans during the dramatic decline of Roman paganism and the rise of Christianity, particularly following the Edict of Milan. They faced a world-shattering change where their gods and empires seemed to crumble, prompting the desperate question: 'Who can stand?'
c. 303 AD
Great Persecution of Christians
Emperor Diocletian launches a severe persecution against Christians throughout the Roman Empire, ordering the destruction of churches and scriptures, and the arrest and torture of believers.
311 AD
Edict of Toleration by Galerius
Galerius, one of the emperors, issues an edict granting some tolerance to Christians, partly due to his own suffering from illness and a growing recognition of Christianity's resilience.
312 AD
Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Constantine I defeats Maxentius and becomes the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire. He later attributes his victory to the Christian God, marking a turning point for Christianity.
313 AD— this verse
Edict of Milan
Issued by Constantine and Licinius, this edict grants religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire, officially ending the great persecution and allowing Christians to worship freely.
c. 325 AD
First Council of Nicaea
Constantine convenes the first ecumenical council to address theological disputes within the church, particularly Arianism. This signifies the growing influence and institutionalization of Christianity.
379-395 AD
Reign of Theodosius I
Theodosius I makes Nicene Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire and suppresses paganism, completing the shift from a persecuted faith to a dominant one.
This passage directly echoes the question, 'Who shall be able to stand when he appears?', linking the awe-inspiring judgment of Revelation to the Old Testament anticipation of God's arrival.
Joel 2:11Joel describes the 'day of the Lord' as a day of wrath and dread, mirroring the language and overwhelming terror evoked by the 'great day of his wrath' in Revelation.
Nahum 1:6This prophetic text powerfully describes the Lord's fury and asks 'Who can stand before his indignation?', a sentiment that resonates deeply with the unanswerable question in Revelation.
Romans 8:31While Revelation asks 'Who can stand?', Romans boldly proclaims that 'If God is for us, who can be against us?', offering a crucial contrast and a hopeful answer for believers facing divine judgment.
Ephesians 6:13Paul's exhortation to 'take up the whole armor of God' is a direct response to the challenge of standing firm in the face of spiritual opposition, providing practical guidance for enduring the 'evil day' mentioned in Revelation.
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 isn't just about a future judgment; the question "who can stand?" echoes the prophets' warnings that God’s wrath already falls on those who persecute His people. The sheer terror described makes it clear that human power and systems are utterly inadequate to face divine justice.
The sixth seal has just been broken, revealing cataclysmic cosmic signs and widespread terror among all people, from kings to slaves, who try to hide from the unveiled wrath of God. This moment of cosmic upheaval and profound fear is depicted as the arrival of "the great day of wrath," a judgment so terrifying that no one can face it. The passage directly answers the question posed by the martyrs in the previous chapter, showing the ultimate doom awaiting those who opposed God and His people.
The sixth seal has just been broken, revealing cataclysmic cosmic signs and widespread terror among all people, from kings to slaves, who try to hide from the unveiled wrath of God. This moment of cosmic upheaval and profound fear is depicted as the arrival of "the great day of wrath," a judgment so terrifying that no one can face it. The passage directly answers the question posed by the martyrs in the previous chapter, showing the ultimate doom awaiting those who opposed God and His people.
"for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”" — This isn't just about a future judgment; the question "who can stand?" echoes the prophets' warnings that God’s wrath already falls on those who persecute His people. The sheer terror described mak…
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Last reviewed October 2026