The sixth seal – Physical destruction: (6:12-17)
God alone acts with the 6th seal. By the time this seal is opened, the tribulation’s midpoint has passed. By this time the Antichrist has desecrated the temple in Jerusalem (the abomination of desolation). The world worships him and a massive persecution of Jews and Christians has broken out. Here the language shifts from symbolic horses and souls to literal signs and disasters. There would be worldwide convulsions and catastrophes. Let’s see these catastrophes or disasters.
Sixth Seal
On November 1, 1755, Lisbon, Portugal was the centre of a tremendous earthquake. Its effects were felt over an area of 4 million square miles. On 19 May 1780 beginning around 9:00 a.m. heavy black clouds blotted out the sun drawing the dark of night over New England. That night, when the darkness finally lessened and the moon appeared, it had the appearance of blood. November 13, 1833, brought the most extensive display of falling stars which has ever been recorded. These are the same signs that Jesus gave to let us know when His coming would be near (Matt.24:29-30).
- There would be a great earthquake. There were many earthquakes before, but this one would be far more powerful. This one would shake the earth with tremendous force.
- The sun becomes black as sackcloth made of hair. The sun will turn as black as a mourner’s robe. (Joel 2:31)
- The whole moon becomes like blood. There will be vast clouds of ash and smoke spewed out by the volcanic activity. (Isa. 13:10, Joel 2:10. This phenomena affects every aspect of life as the normal cycle of daylight and darkness is disrupted. The total eclipse sun and moon will add more reason for the world to be in panic.
- The stars of the sky fell to the earth. The world translated “stars” can refer to the actual stars, but it can also describe any heavenly body other than the sun and the moon. The stars are far too large to fall to the earth and would incinerate it long before they strike. This is most likely a reference to asteroid or meteor showers bombarding the earth.
- The earth’s atmosphere is affected as the sky appears to split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up. It is not the final dissolving of heaven which comes later (21:1; 2 Pet.3:10)
- Every mountain and island are moved out of their places. The whole unstable crust of the earth begins to move and shift. This impact will be far more destructive than any of the current doomsday scenarios.
Even though John wrote using symbolic language, these verses describe a scene that would frighten even the most courageous person. The reaction of the unbelieving world to the terrors unleashed by the 6th seal will not be repentance, but panic. They will finally acknowledge that the disasters they have experienced are God’s judgement. Yet they will continue to follow Antichrist. As a result, God will abandon them. The panic stricken sinners will react irrationally, foolishly attempting to hide themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains (Isa. 2:17-21). People will try to hide from the face of God and from the face of the Lamb! Dr. Vance Havneronce said: that the day would come when the most expensive piece of real estate would be a hole in the ground. People would so terrified that they would rather die than face the wrath of a holy God. The scene closes with a rhetorical question “Who is able to stand?” The answer is “No one.”
In these precious hours while time yet remains, we can still make peace with God through Jesus Christ who loves us. To those who repent, He extends forgiveness and cleansing (1 Jn. 1:9); for those who persist in evil, He dispenses punishment in the lake of fire and the second death (20:14-15).