Revelation 6:3-8

What does Revelation 6:3-8 mean?

The command "Come!" isn't just an invitation to witness; it’s issued by the living creature symbolizing God's providential governance. This highlights that the ensuing wars aren't random chaos but are part of God's active, even if judgment-filled, oversight of human events.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

English Standard Version (ESV)

What Revelation 6:3-8 means

As the Lamb opens the second seal of the scroll, a divine voice, attributed to the second living creature, calls John to witness what unfolds next. This scene immediately introduces a red horse and its rider, symbolizing the outbreak of war and violence that will seize peace from the earth, inciting people to mutual slaughter. This vision follows the initial, seemingly peaceful expansion of the gospel, highlighting that Christ's coming doesn't automatically end conflict, but rather, human resistance can turn even peace into an occasion for strife.

A Divine Invitation to Witness

Every seal broken by the Lamb elicits a powerful command: "Come!" What does this invitation mean when the world that follows is filled with chaos and suffering?

The opening of each seal in Revelation isn't just about revealing future events; it's a divine invitation. The living creatures, angelic beings present before God's throne, are the messengers. When the second seal is opened, it's the second living creature that cries out, "Come!"

This isn't a call to participate in the unfolding events, but a solemn summons to witness. John, and by extension, all believers, are called to observe God's sovereign hand at work, even in the midst of war and bloodshed. It’s a reminder that God isn't distant from our struggles, but has an active, though often mysterious, role in them.

War's Inevitability and Divine Purpose

The red horse and its rider bring violence and bloodshed. Why does God permit such devastation, and what does it reveal about humanity?

The opening of the second seal unleashes a vision of war. The rider on the red horse is given authority 'to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.' This isn't random chaos; it's a judgment, a consequence.

The commentary highlights a crucial, though challenging, truth: the arrival of Christ does not automatically bring earthly peace. Human resistance to God's good, and humanity's own fallen nature, leads to conflict. As Jesus Himself said, 'I have not come to send peace, but a sword' (Matthew 10:34). This doesn't negate the pursuit of peace but acknowledges that in a fallen world, war is an expected, albeit tragic, reality. These conflicts, born from human sin, become instruments of God's judgment upon the earth.