Revelation 6
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedAs the Lamb opens the first four seals, four horsemen go out: a white horse whose rider "went forth conquering, and to conquer," a red horse given power "to take peace from the earth," a black horse whose rider has "a pair of balances," and "a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him." At the fifth seal John sees "the souls of them that were slain for the word of God" crying "How long, O Lord," and they are given white robes and told to rest a little while. At the sixth seal there is a great earthquake, the sun becomes black and the moon "as blood," and people hide from "the wrath of the Lamb," for "the great day of his wrath is come." Revelation 6:2Revelation 6:4Revelation 6:5Revelation 6:8Revelation 6:9Revelation 6:10Revelation 6:11Revelation 6:12Revelation 6:16Revelation 6:17
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
The Lamb, the four beasts, the four riders, the souls of the slain, and "the kings of the earth, and the great men" who hide. Revelation 6:1Revelation 6:2Revelation 6:8Revelation 6:9Revelation 6:15
Where
The vision moves between heaven, where the souls are "under the altar," and the earth. Revelation 6:4Revelation 6:9Revelation 6:13
When
Traditionally about AD 95-96, near the end of the emperor Domitian's reign. Most scholars agree; some date it about AD 68-69, soon after Nero's death. Revelation overview
How it fits
Chapter 5 ended with every creature praising the Lamb; here he opens six seals. Chapter 7 pauses before the seventh: "I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth." Revelation 5:13Revelation 6:1Revelation 7:1
Key verses
- Verse 10
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth." Revelation 6:9Revelation 6:10
- Verse 12
"The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood." In Matthew 24:29 Jesus says that "the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." Revelation 6:12Matthew 24:29
- Verse 16
"Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Hosea 10:8 and Luke 23:30 use the same words about calling on the mountains. Revelation 6:16Hosea 10:8Luke 23:30
Takeaway
The Lamb holds history in His hands; those slain for God's word are seen and kept, and no one can stand against His judgment. Revelation 6:1Revelation 6:11Revelation 6:17
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-11-01.
The four horsemen
1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The souls under the altar
9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The great day of wrath
12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?