1st Seal.

Revelation Chapter 6 represents a momentous shift in the celestial narrative as the Lamb, Christ Himself, begins to open the seven seals of the great scroll. These events spark the unleashing of forces both divine and destructive, embodied in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, offering a dramatic picture of the divine judgment.

Revelation 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."

New International Version
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”

In Revelation 6:1, we encounter the opening of the first of the seven seals. As the Lamb breaks the seal, one of the four living creatures declares in a voice like thunder, “Come!” This event sets the stage for the unfolding of significant events in the book of Revelation. The imagery and symbolism in this passage are rich and thought-provoking.

This chapter typifies the dramatic, heavily symbolic description of end-times events for which Revelation is famous. John sees a series of visions corresponding to Jesus opening the first six seals of the scroll He received in chapter 5.

The first four seals unleash four horsemen, respectively symbolizing a world leader, war, famine, and death. The fifth seal reveals the prayers of martyrs pleading with God to avenge their deaths. The sixth seal unleashes massive natural disasters. In response, the people of the world cower in fear, admitting that they are suffering under the wrath of God.

In this verse John watches as the Lamb of God opens the first of seven seals. We learn from chapter 5 that Jesus is the Lamb and He alone has the moral and legal right to open the scroll that He took from God's right hand (Revelation 5:5–7). Further, He alone is worthy to open the seven seals that kept the scroll shut.

When the Lamb removes the first seal, one of the four living creatures (Revelation 4:6–8) shouts in a thunderous voice. It is a command, to the first horseman, to come forth. Revelation 6 will continue by showing that the opening of each of the first four seals is followed by a living creature's command to come. As the horsemen respond, calamitous judgments fall on the earth.

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, h“Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, ia white horse! And jits rider had a bow, and ka crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

When the apostle Paul preached in Athens, he announced that God has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed. Paul identified that man as the one whom God raised from the dead, meaning Jesus (Acts 17:31). During the events described in Revelation 6, the time of judgment at Jesus' hands has come.

Revelation 6:1–8 introduces John's vision of Jesus, the Lamb, opening the first four of seven seals. He also heard one of the four living creatures issue the thunderous command, ''Come!'' What John saw next was the first calamity to strike the earth in the tribulation: seven years of judgment following the rapture of the church. There is no way to know whether the four horsemen follow each other sequentially or ride forth simultaneously.

If they follow each other sequentially, we cannot know how much time elapses between their rides. The judgments appear to belong to the first half of the tribulation. However, some interpreters believe the sixth seal may be an exception.

5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and jthe sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and lthe stars of the sky fell to the earth mas the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.

14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Let’s delve into the first seal judgment from the Book of Revelation.

The opening of the first seal introduces a white horse and its rider (Revelation 6:1–2). Here are the key points:

The White Horse and Rider:

The rider on the white horse represents the Antichrist. He is given a crown, symbolizing his rise to power.

The color white signifies that he initially gains influence through peace and diplomacy.

Interpretation:

Dispensational pretribulationists often view this rider as the Antichrist, who initially conquers through deception (Matthew 24:5; Revelation 6:2)2.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, or simply the Four Horsemen, are described in Revelation chapter 6, verses 1–8. The Four Horsemen are symbolic depictions of different events that will take place in the end times. As an example of the Bible’s influence on culture at large, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been referenced many times in literature, paintings, movies, and other media, often as portents of an imminent cataclysm or the means by which a disaster comes to pass.

His conquest may involve state-sanctioned wars and oppressive governments, setting the stage for future events.
Remember, the Book of Revelation is rich in symbolism, and interpretations may vary. If you have further questions or need more details, feel free to ask!

What is most amazing, or perhaps terrifying, is that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just precursors of even worse judgments that come later in the tribulation (Revelation chapters 8—9 and 16). For all the horror brought by the Four Horsemen, there is much more to come.

We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.