Behold | Sermons through the Revelation

Sermon #14 | Revelation 6:12-17 | The Sixth Seal | Dr. Randy White

Revelation 6:12-13 | The Sixth Seal: its timing

• The wording of the sixth seal has enough precision to help us in the chronology of the revelation.
  • On seals 1-5, the ideas and events match perfectly with Matthew 24:4-28 (see sermon #12).
  • On seal 6, the words of verses 12-13 match perfectly with Matthew 24:29. | Revelation 6:12-13 | Matthew 24:29 | | :—————————-| :—: | —–:| | The sun became black | Shall the sun be darkened | | The moon became as blood | The moon shall not give her light | | The stars of heaven fell | The stars shall fall from heaven | | As a fig tree when she is shaken | The powers of the heavens shall be shaken |
  • Because we can pinpoint Matthew 24:29 with the sixth seal, we are able to move back to determine that the fifth seal the darkened sun of verse 29, thus verses 8-28 describe the fifth seal.
  • As we read verses 8-28, we find that they align in content with the fifth seal of Revelation 6:9-11.
• Because the fifth seal contains the abomination of desolation (Mt. 24:15), we know that the fifth seal must fall in the middle of the tribulation (using Daniel 9:27).
• Based on Matthew 24:8, we know that the first four seals are the beginning of sorrows, thus we place the fifth seal as “sorrows” themselves, and thus the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel.
• Further confirmation that there is a division of the seals from “pre-70th week” to “70th week.”
  • Matthew 24:3 speaks of the end of the world
  • Matthew 24:6 says the end is not yet
  • Matthew 24:8 says the things in 4-7 are the beginning of sorrows.
  • From these three passages, we are expecting the beginning and then the end.
  • Matthew 24:3, end = συντέλεια [sunteleia], “together with the end”
  • Matthew 24:6, end = τέλος [telos], “the end.”
• If the fifth seal includes the midpoint, then the 6th seal must be in the second half. And, because of the events of this seal, it must be very close to the end of the second half, because life is unsustainable for long after this seal.

  Revelation 6:12-17 | The Sixth Seal: its content

• The first event is a great earthquake (v. 12).
  • This seemingly worldwide earthquake is often mentioned in Scripture, and always just before the very end of time. See Haggai 2:6-7, 21-22, for example.
  • In the book of Revelation, there is an earthquake in 11:13 and 16:18. As we progress, we will attempt to determine whether there are three quakes or one, described in three places.
• The second event is the signs of the sun, moon, and stars (vv. 12-13).
• The third event is the “remodel” of heaven and earth (v. 14). Note that (as with the earthquake) there are several Biblical references to the mountains and islands being removed (Jer. 4:24, Rev. 16:20). By nature, these almost have to be describing the same events, thus Revelation 16:20 and 6:14 should be tested as being the same event.
• The fourth event is the recognition of the source of their troubles, yet hiding from Him (vv. 15-16).
  • This recognition is also often seen in parallel Scriptures. See Hosea 10:8 and Luke 23:30.
• The sixth event is the great day of his wrath (v 17).
  • This day is often spoken of in Scripture, and the details are consistently the same.
  • Compare Joel 2:11 for virtually the same wording.
  • Joel 2:31 speaks of the same chronology.
  • Zephaniah 1:14 also speaks of this day in similar ways as this passage.
• The question of the sixth seal: who shall be able to stand?
  • Will anyone survive? Will all be like those in Psalm 1:4-6?
  • The question will be answered beginning in chapter 7, which will go backward in time.

The Sixth Seal: Concluding Remarks

• This seal is at the very end of the tribulation. Only the seventh remains.
• We can therefore speculate that the book of Revelation is not chronological. Many of the remaining passages will describe events which happen somewhere in seals five and six.
• To avoid these events, accept the gift of salvation God offers today in Jesus Christ.