The First Seal (Rev. 6:1–2)
Intro to the Seven Seals The vision of the scroll, introduced in chapters 4 and 5, begins here. Christ received the scroll sealed with seven seals from God (Rev. 5:1–7). The first four seals reveal four horses and their riders. These are commonly called “The Horses of the Apocalypse” (Rev. 6:1–8). Many commentators assume the Horses of the Apocalypse represent the work of the Antichrist, who will soon unleash a series of end-time devastations. Thus, some commentators have exchanged the passage’s Christ-centered view for a demonic one over the last century! On the other hand, many Christians believe the white horse (the first rider) symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. It would make no sense that opening the scroll would bring destruction and calamity to God’s people. The bitter weeping of John as he was looking for someone worthy to open the sealed scroll would also make no sense if disaster followed the opening of the scroll (Rev. 5:4). Likewise, the praises in heaven would also mak...