Revelation:  Things Which Must Be Hereafter
Event Scripture Hist. Interp. Time Of Historicist Fut. Interp. Futurist Book
Chapter 6 Title References Strength Occurrence Interpretation Strength Interp. References Comments
This spreadsheet is meant to be used with the Revelation Puzzle Pieces Series of Articles.  Please go to the Revelation Puzzle Pieces series at http://usaprophet.com/propheticsuperpages.html Six seals, representing the fall of the Pagan Roman Empire.  These are seals of the Rev. 5:1-3 Book, and the simplest method of interpretation, suggested by the internal arrangement, is that each seal, trumpet and bowl presents events that are chronologically arranged as to their starting date, yet there may be some overrunning of those events that follow as to the time of effect.  Elliott interprets the first seal as prosperity of the Roman Empire in it's sallying forth to conquer that immediately preceded the decline of the Empire.  This prosperity lasted from 80-90 years after John's banishment.  The Triplicate nesting view of Seals, Trumpets and Bowls is discussed by Elliott in Vol 1, p322 to p 323 Guinness, “History Unveiling Prophecy”, p234 chart, Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 122, footnote 1, also p130, also p 322-p323 INTRODUCTION:  These four beasts are the same as identified in chapter 4 and 5:  the six winged creatures of Rev 4:7-8.  Guinness maintained that in order to identify the events of the apocalypse, we need to look first for those symbols that are Divinely interpreted within the text.  The Holy Spirit told me to fill those events in as we would a crossword puzzle where certain words are quite surely known, and proceed forwards and backwards from the known position chronologically to identify those events where there is no Divine interpretation given, but where history provides interpretive help, which is less reliable than Divine identification.  This seems almost like filling in the blanks to fit.  Hence, Historicists apply these six seals to the Roman Empire because John was under censure by that Empire and because Rev. 17 clearly delineates that the seven headed beast is set on seven hills (Rev 17:9).  Since this identfies this beast as Rome, it becomes very easy to identify the ten horns as the Papal States.  Next in order, the 5th and 6th trumpet, along with the identity of the two witnesses, seems to me most assuredly identified.  
Rev 6:1  And 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.  Event 1-1st Seal Moderate 170 AD to 180 AD 6:1  Robert Fleming feels this first seal, with its' rider who initially has no crown, is Jesus.  I disagree. Christ has already conquered according to Rev. 1:18, so I will defer to Elliott and Guinness.  He carries a bow but no arrows are seen, which may be an allusion to Daniel's prophecy that he will destroy wonderfully through peace. Weak Yes Fleming, "The Rise And Fall Of The Papacy", p43 6:1    Futurism ascribes all of Revelation 6 to 19 to some future, seven year tribulation period.  They ask you to ignore, among other things, the rise of the Christian Emperor Constantine to the throne in 312, succeeding ten previous emperors who poured out terrible persecution on the church.  Without any doubt, this sixth seal earthquake refers to Constantine and the five seals leading up to it refer to events just prior to that period of great shaking (Grk-Seizmos)
Rev 6:2  And 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.  6:2    Expositors maintained for many hundreds of years, through the writings of Bishop Mede, that this rider was Christ.  Elliott and Guinness both feel this is erroneous. Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 124 6:2    I agree with Guinness: 1)  first identify the Divinely interpreted Papal Roman Empire of Revelation 17.  2)  Then, identify the 5th trumpet as Mohammed and successors for 150 years   3) Next, identify the French Revolution as the Seventh trumpet and five of the vials. 4) Next, identify the Turkish woe of the 6th trumpet as the fourth most certain, 5)  Next, identify the two witnesses. 6)  Identify the going forth of the angel with the everlasting gospel and 7) Identify that it was the Turkish-Moslem horde that were bound at the Euphrates at Baghdad for several hundred years prior to the Turkish woe.  Once you have placed these seven identified symbolic events in the Chronology, the rest are much more readily identified.
Rev 6:3  And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.  Event 2-2nd Seal Moderate 185 AD to 192 AD 6:3    Outbreaking violence between 185AD and 192 AD according to Elliott, while Robert Fleming places it from Nero (66AD, through Domitian's persecutions and up until Hadrian's wars in the year 134 AD.   Quite honestly, it may be either one, just as long as the event referred to is prior to the certain identification of of the fifth seal as ending in Diocletian's persecution  Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 148    AND   Robert Fleming, "The Rise and Fall of The Papacy", P44 6:3    This (Rev 17) is, in my opinion, the first and most well documented sign in the whole Book of Revelation.  It is also the only one that is divinely interpreted within Revelation 17 itself.  So, if you are filling out your Revelation puzzle, this is the first piece that you fit into place on your chronological time-line, as every single symbol that is given by John has been explained in a very neat and tight fit into the 1,260 year time-line for the rise and fall of the Papacy.  This Revelation 17 event most certainly fits with great exactness into the time of the French Revolution, as displayed in Revelation 16, Vials one through five.  Given that so much of Revelation 12 and 13 describe this same beast empire, yet in an earlier, more imperial and less religious form, it serves as the foundation post from where we begin to unlock the secrets of the meaning of this entire Book of Revelation.  Strong argument is therefore made that the seals and first four trumpets most probably refer to the fall of Imperial Rome prior to 476 AD.
Rev 6:4  And 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. 
Rev 6:5  And 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.  Event 3-3rd Seal Moderate 248 AD to 265 AD 6:5    The scale and balance appeared on the Roman Imperial coin of Alexander Severus Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 181
Rev 6:6  And 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.  6:6    Our translation of “Penny” is unfortunate, as “Denarius” is used, which was a standard Roman coin that had about the silver contained in a US quarter pre 1965, Hence John hears something that denotes pricing in the Roman Empire.  Elliott believes this speaks of corruption in the assessing of taxes as it went forth in the third century AD and in unfair and innacurrate balances used to weigh out the grain, oil and wine. Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 188
Rev 6:7  And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.  Event 4-4th Seal Moderate 286 AD to 292 AD 6:7    Symbolizing death in all its' causes and forms, including plague, wich raged from 248 to 265, and famine, also from 286 to 292 Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 191-p201
Rev 6:8  And 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. 
Rev 6:9  And 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:  Event 5-5th Seal:  The Martyrs Strong ** 303 AD to 312 AD 6:9    Elliott marks it from Dicletian's persecution, which began in 303, as this was known as the era of the martyrs, as it followed after forty years of peace and acceptance of Christian religion in the realm, though there were ten periods of persecution, beginning with Nero, around 65, followed by Domitian and others.  Robert Fleming runs this seal from Decius (250) to Diocletian (306) Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 209-p223 AND Robert Fleming, "The Rise and Fall of The Papacy", p45 6:9    http://www.usaprophet.com/tribvoice/today09252017.html   Revelation Puzzle-Part 4 (The Great Earthquake)
Rev 6:10  And 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?  6:10    I say this aera, though instituted for other and astronomical purposes, has received its title from it,"* and is called the Aera of Martyrs. Churches to be demolished, the Holy Scriptures burnt, church property confiscated, the holders of religious assembhes put to death, and Christians generally put out of the protection of the law,—such were the heads of the first edict. Then followed others, imposing penalties of imprisonment, tortures, and death, first against the Christian bishops, presbyters, and other ecclesiastics, then against all Christians, if obstinate in their faith. In this series of cruel edicts, Diocletian declared " his intention of abolishing the Christian name." The fury of the populace readily, for the most part, seconded the declared intention of the emperor. And thus, with the partial exception of the western provinces, under the rule of the Caesar Constantius Chlorus, (I say partial, for Spain and Britain too furnished many victims,)^ Christian blood was shed throughout the extent of the Roman world.  Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 209-p210 And, long before the nine or ten years of the persecution expired, such had been its efiect that the three other emperors, Diocletian, Maximian, and Galerius, united to raise pillars commemorative of their success ; on which pillars inscriptions, not long since and perhaps still extant, recorded their vain boast of having extirpated Christianity.^ Por church-service the Christians now met in caves and catacombs. Their only way of visibly and publicly witnessing for Christ was by martyrdom.
Rev 6:11  And 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 
Rev 6:12  And 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;  Event 6-6th Seal:  The Great Earthquake Strong *** 306AD-312 AD 6:12    Constantine accedes to the throne in 312AD, Christianity becomes the religion of the empire, persecutions cease.  Thus, as Elliott renders it:  “Thus, in the political heavens, had the sun of Pagan supremacy been darkened, the moon become eclipsed and blood-red, and of the stars not a few been shaken violently to the ground.” Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 235-p 252 6:12    The Greek word “seizmos”, here translated as “Earthquake”, is the same Greek word found in Matthew 8:24, where it is rendered as a “tempest” on the sea of Galilee.  The word denotes a great shaking and it's use is proper where any type of shaking will suffice, whether it be of natural, political or religious origin.  http://www.usaprophet.com/tribvoice/today09252017.html   Revelation Puzzle-Part 4 (The Great Earthquake)
Rev 6:13  And 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.  6:13    Thus, to show how the symbols of the sun, moon, and stars were used of rulers as a reference has been made to Joseph's dream, (Gen. xxxvii. 9,) in which the sun and moon are expressly interpreted of the chief heads of a nascent nation, the stars of its inferior heads.—To illustrate the meaning of an earthquake, and the consequent convulsions and changes in the firmamental heavens and their luminaries, there have been quoted passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others ; in which the symbol is used of political revolution in a state or kingdom, of the subversion of its institutions, and fall of its governing powers. So in Jeremiah's vision (iv. |23, &c.) of the destruction and desolation of the Jewish kingdom by the Babylonians : "I beheld the land, and lo ! it was without form and void ; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and lo ! They trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. . . I beheld, and lo ! all the cities thereof were broken down, at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. . . For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens be black. " So in Ezekiel, (xxxii. 7, &c.,) of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his kingdom by the king of Babylon : " When I shall put thee out, I will cover the heavens, and make the stars thereof dark " Elliott, Horae, Vol 1, P 247 6:13    Futurism ascribes all of Revelation 6 to 19 to some future, seven year tribulation period.  They ask you to ignore, among other things, the rise of the Christian Emperor Constantine to the throne in 312, succeeding ten previous emperors who poured out terrible persecution on the church.  Without any doubt, this sixth seal earthquake refers to Constantine and the five seals leading up to it refer to events just prior to that period of great shaking (Grk-Seizmos)
Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  6:14    First, then, it should be distinctly understood that the expressions here used respecting the earthquake, and the phenomena in the sun, moon, and stars, cannot be interpreted literally, or as referring to those physical changes in the material earth and firmament of heaven, which other prophecies lead us undoubtingly to expect at the consummation of the great day. The clearest literal description of these physical changes is perhaps that given in 2 Peter iii. 10 :—" The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens (i. e. the firmament. Gen. i. 7, 8) shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. Now of a conflagration, like this, no hint is given in the vision of the sixth Seal. Elliott, Horae, Vol 1, P 249
Rev 6:15  And 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;  6:15     Finally, to illustrate what is said of the pagan hosts " hiding themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and saying to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne," &c., a reference has been made to Hosea's prediction ^ of the Israelites thus calling on the mountains to cover them, and the hills to fall on them, under the terror and calamities of Shalmanezer's invasion. To which we may add what is told us, historically, of the Israelites hiding in such rocky caverns, whensoever, as in the times of Saul or of the Maccabees,^ the enemy might have gained possession of the country.—All which being put together, there will not, I believe, remain a single symbolic phrase in this prophecy of the sixth Seal unillustrated, or with the interpretation referring it to a political revolution (such as has been here given) unconfirmed, by similar figures in other prophecies, to which the scriptural context has itself already furnished a similar interpretation. Elliott, Horae, Vol 1, P 248
Rev 6:16  And 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:  6:16    Thus my conclusion from simply comparing the descriptive language in the two passages is this,—that they portray different and distinct earthquakes ; that of the sixth Seal the less, that of the seventh Vial much the greater: although it is allowed that the former may be possibly in a certain sense typical of the latter ; in the same way that a less event, of the same character, is often in Scripture typical of a greater following :—a conclusion confirmed by the figuring of the earth, sea, and sky, in this same Seal's next vision, as all restored ; so as after the last earthquake they certainly will not be. Elliott, Horae, Vol 1, P 251
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?