I saw
when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Revelation 6:12-14
Revelation 6 [9.] When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, [c] who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.
Revelation 6 [12.] I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?”
Meaning:
The imagery presented in these verses is both striking and ominous. The great earthquake symbolizes a cataclysmic disruption of the earth's stability, marking the onset of divine judgment. Throughout Scripture, earthquakes are often associated with God's intervention in human affairs and the shaking of earthly powers (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 16:18).
The darkening of the sun and the moon turning to blood are symbolic of cosmic disorder and upheaval. These celestial phenomena signify the disruption of the natural order and the impending judgment of God. The imagery of celestial bodies being darkened or altered is a recurring motif in apocalyptic literature, underscoring the magnitude of the events unfolding (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20).
The falling of stars from the sky adds to the sense of cosmic chaos and upheaval. This imagery symbolizes the collapse of worldly powers and the overthrow of earthly kingdoms in the face of God's righteous judgment. It evokes a sense of awe and dread at the sight of these celestial bodies plummeting to the earth like ripe fruit shaken from a tree (Isaiah 34:4).
The description of the sky being removed like a scroll being rolled up emphasizes the radical transformation of the heavens and the earth. This imagery suggests the dissolution of the present order and the unveiling of God's hidden purposes. It evokes the image of a divine revelation unfolding, exposing the hidden truths of God's plan for creation (Isaiah 40:22).
In our own lives, Revelation 6:12-14 serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment and the need for repentance and spiritual readiness. It calls us to consider the ultimate significance of our actions and choices in light of God's righteous judgment. Just as the events described in this passage herald the coming of God's kingdom and the establishment of His reign, so too are we called to live in anticipation of the day when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead (Matthew 24:30-31).
Furthermore, Revelation 6:12-14 points us to the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over the forces of evil and darkness. Despite the chaos and upheaval described in these verses, they ultimately serve as a prelude to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, where righteousness and justice will reign forever (Revelation 21:1-4).
As we reflect on Revelation 6:12-14, may we be mindful of the sobering reality of divine judgment and the urgency of living in accordance with God's will. May we heed the call to repentance and faith, and may we find hope and assurance in the promise of God's ultimate victory over sin and death.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible