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Studies in the Apocalypse
The first four Seals
AD 96 - 303
Revelation 6:1-8
Opening the seals – Revealing internal events in the
Roman empire
1
(6:1)
Peace
2
3
4
5
6
(6:3)
(6:5)
(6:7)
(6:9)
(6:12)
Civil War
Distress
Death
Persecution Paganism
Overthrown
White
Red
Black
Pale
horse
horse
horse
horse
AD96
180
211
235
Souls
Earthquake
under altar
303
312
Rev.6:1 And I saw when the
Lamb opened one of the seals,
and I heard, as it were the
noise of thunder,
Thunder indicates
divine displeasure & the
resulting Judgments
1 Samuel 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to
pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a
voice like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array
thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is
proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread
down the wicked in their place.
AD96 - 180
Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) had a definite ego
problem! In Imperial Rome the senate would deify an
emperor upon death. However, like Gaius Caligula, and
well attested by ancient writers, Domitian could not wait
until death and deified himself.
Upon his death, the Roman Senate was overjoyed . . .
They assailed the dead emperor with the most insulting
and stinging kind of outcries . . . Finally they passed a
decree that his inscriptions should everywhere be erased,
and all record of him obliterated (Rolfe 1992: 385).
AD96 - 180
ROME, 18 September 96. Domitian,
who has been conducting a reign of
terror for the past three years, is
assassinated as a result of a plot by
his wife and two praetorian guards”
(Chronicle of the world P.222)
Rev.1:9 ¶ I John, who also am your
brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ, was in the
isle that is called Patmos, for the
word of God, and for the testimony
of Jesus Christ.
The thunder of
divine displeasure
was about to
remove Domitian
AD96 - 180
“one of the four beasts” Gr. zoon - living creature
They represent “The Redeemed” see ch.5:8-9
they appear in the following “Kingdom Visions”
The throne in Heaven
Ch.4 & 5
The White Robed Multitude
Ch.7
The Lamb on Mount Zion
Ch.14 & 15
The Marriage of the Lamb
Ch.19
Why are the living creatures evident during the
first four seals?
During the period of the first four seals, the
community of believers established by the spirit gifted
Apostles were “turning the world upside down” (Acts
17:6) in the Roman empire.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 19:20
AD96 - 180
The Horse in Roman social life
The chariot races were the passion of all social classes and
bound wealthy and poor together. There were keen
rivalries between teams -- Reds, Whites, Blues and
Greens.
A Brief Social History of the Roman Empire
Steven Kreis
The Horse in Roman social life
In the reign of the horse-crazed Caligula, the Emperor
was a fanatical supporter of the green party. He spent
hours in their stables, amongst the horses and
charioteers, he even ate there.
The public adored the top drivers. They were quite
literally comparable to modern day sports stars. And,
quite naturally, there was a huge amount of betting
surrounding the races.
Illustrated History of the Roman Empire
The Horse - Key to Military success
Denarius - 123 BC,
MINERVA, Roman Goddess of War,
driving a Four Horse Chariot 90 BC
Denarius - 116 BC,
Denarius - 105 BC,
Minerva riding horse 154 BC
Return of Marc Antony's Legionary
Standards from Partia 18 BC
SILVER Denarius,
Augustus, 29 BC to 14 AD
Denarius
DOMITIAN, 81 to 96 AD
PROBUS - 276 to 282 AD
Horseman running down Enemy
Soldier looks over Rome from the PiazzaVenezia
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.
Peace, - Truth Prospers
AD96 - 180
Rev.6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse….
White = righteousness
Isa.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the
people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people
mourn.
AD96 - 180
High point of the empire
Nerva
96-98
Trajan
98 - 117
Hadrian
117 - 138
Antoninus Pius
138 - 161
Marcus Aurelius 161 - 180
(Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre)
“were a man called to fix upon an epoch in the history
of the world during which the condition of the human
race was most happy and prosperous, he would
without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the
death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus"
This is from AD96 to 180. (Gibbon - Decline & Fall)
AD96 - 180
Rome 101. In the three years since he
became emperor, Trajan has gained wide
popularity with his public work schemes and
generous benefits for the poor. At the same
time he has promised not to to increase
taxes. He is reforming the civil service to root
out corruption and promote efficiency”.
(Chronicle of the world P.225 column 1)
AD96 - 180
Righteousness produces Peace
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is
sown in peace of them that make peace.
Psalms 72:7 In his days shall the righteous
flourish; and abundance of peace so long as
the moon endureth.
Rome basks in peace and prosperity
Travelling Emperor inspects his empire
Rome 132
Hadrian has spent 12 of the 21
years he has reigned inspecting his
empire and his army, marking his
route with temples, basilicas and
other Roman monuments.
The emperor has taken advantage
of an unprecedented period of
peace and prosperity in Rome to
inspect his vast empire.
Hadrian the lawgiver
Chronicle of the World P.229
AD96 - 180
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.
Gen.49:22-26
Some men were drawn to Christianity by its purity, its
simplicity, its insistence on brotherly love, the hope it held
out of a good life here, and a happy one hereafter. Others
were repelled, because to them there was something which
was fearful and mysterious about the new religion which
was spreading so secretly and so rapidly.
(An outline of Christianity [Waverley] Vol. 2 page 4)
Christian Churches in the First Century (46 shown)
AD96 - 180
Christian Churches 2nd century (84 shown) AD96 - 180
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;)
“They were originally a small society of harmless
enthusiasts, striving to lead a pure life and awaiting
the return of their master. They inculcated
submission to authority, save when it ordered them
to be faithless to their Lord.” (An outline of
Christianity [Waverley] Vol. 2 page 4)
The Roman empire looked upon the church as an
illegal society, to belong to which was in itself a
punishable offence…… And so those who declined
to offer so much as a grain of incense to the Genius
of Rome and Caesar were suspected of disloyalty to
the government; it was like insulting the flag.
When, therefore, the Christians refused to worship
the gods they were called “atheists,” and when they
would not adore Caesar they were declared “enemies
of the human race” (Ibid page 4)
AD96 - 180
Although the
empire was at
Peace, a warefare
was in progress,
conquests were
being made
AD96 - 180
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.
Second Seal - AD 180 -211
Civil War
Rev.6:3-4
Commodius
180
Caracalla
211
Pertinax
193
Geta
211
Didius Julianus
193
Niger
193
Septimus Severus 193
"Commodiana 189. The son of Marcus Aurelius
believes he is the god Hercules and has renamed
Rome 'Commodiana' after himself. He prefers killing
captive men and animals, in his favourite role as
gladiator, to running the empire. Instead of politics
there are games lasting 14 days in which men are
chained together and obliged to kill one another. By
way of change there are deadly chariot races led by
the drunken ruler. Senators and nobles must attend,
for no-one is safe. Indeed, most citizens must now
pay 'voluntary' sums to Commodus to avoid
assassination". (Chronicle of the World page 237)
AD 180 -211
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the
people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the
people mourn.
Isa.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.
AD 180 -211
" Rome February 212. Geta is murdered on the
orders of his brother Carracalla, who proceeds to
unleash bloody repression in Rome. Among the
20,000 victims is the famous jurist Papinian".
(Chronicle page 238)
"Italy 206. While provincial governors and
commanders of legions embrace treatury and murder in
seeking to gain the imperial purple, people live in fear".
(Chronicle page 239)
AD 180 -211
193AD The public discontent (in Rome) was soon
diffused from the centre to the frontiers of the empire.
The armies of Britain, of Syria, and of Illyricum,
lamented the death of Pertinax, in whose company
they had so often fought and conquered.
They received with surprise and indignation the
extraordinary intelligence that the pretorians had
disposed of the empire by public auction; and they
sternly refused to ratify the ignominious bargain. Their
immediate and unanimous revolt was fatal to Julian,
but it was also fatal to the public peace…. (Gibbon
decline & fall vol 1 p.107)
AD 180 -211
Rome 202 An edict is issued against
Christianity in the Roman empire. All
Christian or Jewish proselytising is
forbidden, opening the way for local
persecutions in Africa, Gaul and Egypt.
(Chronicle p. 238)
AD 180 -211
Third Seal - AD 211 -235
Mourning and distress
Rev.6:5-6
Caracalla
211
Geta
211
Opilius Macrinus
217
Diadumenian
217
Alexander Severus
222
Murderous ruler
widens tax base
Roman Empire, 212
The year will be remembered
for two things done by the 23year-old Caracalla: he had his
brother
and
co-ruler
murdered, and he has granted
citizenship to all throughout
the empire.
The citizenship decree has a
scarcely less ignoble motive:
the new citizens do not get
the vote, they simply lose their
exemption from taxes.
Caracalla: making his name
AD 211 -235
“Caracalla was the common enemy of mankind.
He left (A.D. 213) the capital about a year after the
murder of Geta. The rest of his reign was spent in
the several provinces of the empire ….. Each
province was by turns the scene of his rapine
(pillage) and cruelty. (Gibon - Decline and fall
vol.1 P.132)
The most wealthy families were ruined by partial
fines and confiscations and the great body of
his subjects oppressed by ingenious and
aggravated taxes. (Ibid. P132)
AD 211 -235
The senators, compelled
by fear to attend his
capricious
motions,
were obliged to provide
daily entertainments at
an immense expense,
which he abandoned
with contempt to his
guards; and to erect, in
every city, magnificent
palaces and theatres,
which
he
either
disdained to visit, or
ordered
to
be
immediately
thrown
down.
One dangerous maxim, worthy of a
tyrant, was remembered and abused
by Caracalla, “To secure the
affections of the army, and to
esteem the rest of his subjects as of
little moment”. - (Gibbon)
AD 211 -235
Mourning and distress
Black = Mourning, distress, famine
Jer.8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my
people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath
taken hold on me.
Jeremiah 14:2 Judah mourneth, and the gates
thereof languish; they are black unto the ground;
and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
Lamentations 5:10 Our skin was black like an
oven because of the terrible famine.
And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that
sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Leviticus 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just
ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD
your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 45:10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just
ephah, and a just bath.
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.
Hurt - “adikeo” - to be unjust, to do wrong
The diet of most people was frugal, based on corn
(grain) oil and wine…. Cereals, mainly wheat,
provided the staple food (Handbook to life in Ancient
Rome p.342)
AD 211 -235
Already by the second century BC, Rome was
receiving large quantities of grain as taxes in kind
from some of its provinces ……
The collection of taxes by the tax collectors or
publicans was open to fraud……
Tax collection was contracted out to the highest
bidder, and many publicani were corrupt.
(Handbook to life in Ancient Rome pages 46, 199)
AD 211 -235
Hosea 12:7 ¶ He is a merchant, the balances of
deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be
gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that
we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small,
and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by
deceit?
The Third Seal (AD 211 - 235)
Rev.6:5….and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him
Rev.6:5
And
when he
opened
the third
seal,
I
had
a pair of
balances
in had
his hand
.6 And
I heard
a voice
the third
Come
see. AndofI wheat
beheld,for
in heard
the midst
of thebeast
four say,
beasts
say,and
A measure
and lo and
a black
horse;
and he
sat for
on him
had aand
pair
a penny,
three
measures
ofthat
barley
a penny;
balances
in his
seeofthou
hurt not
thehand.
oil and the wine.
Coin of Alexander Severus
(222-235) - Symbol shows
careful control to maintain
a supply of corn) AEQUITAS AUGUSTI =
Emperors Justice
Rome 222 Pope Callistus is killed during
an anti-Christian popular uprising. This is
at a time when the church is undergoing
great expansion and Christians are
mostly tolerated by the authorities. They
even have contacts with the powerful
Empress Julia Mamaea, Mother of the
emperor Alexander Severus.
(Chronicle P. 240)
AD 211 -235
Fourth Seal
Pale horse
Rev.6:7-8
Pale - gr. Chlorus
the pale green
colour the skin
turns on the
approach of death
Revelation 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.
During the period 235285, 39 men claimed to
be Emperors - all were
assasinated - they were
known as ‘sons of death’
“He that slew the
slayers slayer had
the shortest respite
before he himself
was slain” - Gibbon
Rome c.260
With wars raging throughout the empire and inflation
rampant at home, Rome is facing a major economic crisis
which is compounded by the political and military
troubles now besetting the empire which have resulted in
armies electing their own “caesars”.
New coins are being produced in record numbers, but with
their silver content reduced by more than 90 per cent. The
depreciation of the denarius - combined with dangers on
road and sea - has paralysed trade.
Plague has broken out again and food production has been
hit by drought. Famines have become commonplace.
(Chronicle of the World - Page 245)
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.
Gibbon identifies the fourfold division of the empire
1. The praefact of the east. (Egypt, Persia & Thrace)
2. The praefact of Illiricum. (Pannonia, Dacia,
Macedonia & Greece)
3. The praefact of Italy. (Italy and to the North as far as
the Danube and Northern Africa)
4. The praefact of the Gauls. (Including Spain &
Britain)
Roman Empire
under Constantine
Times Atlas of European History (Page 42)
Revelation 6:8 And
power was given unto
them over the fourth
part of the earth, to kill
with the sword and
with hunger, and with
death, and with the
beasts of the earth.
Headlines in the Chronicle
Murderous end to
female dynasty (235)
Bloodthirsty Caracalla
stabbed to death 217)
Army kills debauched
emperor (221)
Roman soldiers kill
their own general (269)
Revelation 6:8 And
power was given unto
them over the fourth
part of the earth, to kill
with the sword and
with hunger, and with
death, and with the
beasts of the earth.
Division of Empire brings
huge tax burden
Rome 293…..Tax is being
collected “in kind”: members
of municipal senates are
expected to find quantities of
wheat and other produce from
farms already depleted of
workers who are being
conscripted into the army in
ever increasing numbers.
(Chronicle p.247)
Revelation 6:8. And
power was given unto
them over the fourth
part of the earth, to kill
with the sword and and
with hunger, and with
death, and with the
beasts of the earth.
The Plague of Cyprian is the name given to a pandemic,
probably of smallpox, that afflicted the Roman Empire from
AD 250 onwards. It was still raging in 270, ... In 250 to 266, at
the height of the outbreak, 5,000 people a day were said to be
dying in Rome. (Wickipedia)
Revelation 6:8 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.
Barbarians move across
the Danube
Roman Empire 238 The first
barbarian invasion of the
empire came about five years
ago, when the Germanic
Alimanni raided the frontier of
the upper Rine. Earlier this
year the Goths and the Carpi,
crossed the danube and invaded
the province of Moesia.
1st seal - White Horse Peace in the empire - rapid
spread of Christianity brings
(AD 96 - 180)
conflict between pagans &
Christians
2nd seal - Red Horse
Peace removed - a period of
Bloodshead & killing
(180 - 211)
3rd seal - Black Horse Mourning - distress - famine
result from excessive taxation
(211 - 235)
4th seal - Pale horse
(235 - 303)
Wholesale death within the
empire
Asia Minor 304 Since his purge of the
army and the court in 302 Diocletian has
issued four edicts at destroying Christianity
in the Roman Empire. Churches
dismantled, clergy arrested and Christians
forced to sacrifice to the pagan Gods on
pain of death
(Chronicle p. 248)