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Revelation 6:12-17, Part 1 – A Great Earthquake

Updated May 6, 2024

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;
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.
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.
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;
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:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Introduction

Because of the gross darkness in the church as a whole in this particular section of scripture, we are going to deal with these verses by establishing the meaning of the last verse in this chapter first. The last verse of this section specifically mentions “the great day of His wrath”, and it is crucial that we do not exclude this part of “the things written therein” from what we are told to “keep, read, and hear.”

Rev 1:3  Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Next study we will start at verse 12 and work our way down to verse 16.

How the principle of “line upon line” works

There are some who have a limited understanding about the spiritual nature of this prophecy. Andrew Jukes, the renowned 19th century writer for example, makes this statement in his book Types In Genesis in the section “V” entitled “Noah’s Failure”:

“It would exceed my limits to give examples of the “brick for stone,” as it is to be seen this day in Great Babylon; but this I may say, the city is not only built up, but filled also with images of all God’s truths and ordinances; yea, real vessels of the sanctuary may be there; true gold carried away with captive Israelites. On her outside is the likeness of a heavenly church, the likeness of priesthood and ministry, the likeness of the ordinances, duties, and ways of holiness. On her inside is the likeness of good knowledge, the likeness of repentance and conversion, the likeness of faith, the likeness of zeal for God, the likeness of love to God and His saints, the likeness of the Lamb’s meekness and innocency, the likeness of justification, the likeness of sanctification, the likeness of mortification, the likeness of peace, joy, rest, and satisfaction; for as a fallen world is full of shadows of truth, so is the fallen Church rich in forms, which to the opened eye witness of a life which should be there; but the substance, the truth, the virtue of all these is wanting to her, and she herself is found persecuting that very thing, where it is found in truth, the image of which she cries up so boastfully. This is the woman that hath bewitched the whole earth, even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, by imitating the works of God’s elect. And of what truth shall we not find the likeness in Great Babel? She has priesthood, and altars, and fine linen, and the cross, and incense, and chrism, and rule, and discipline. She has the form of every truth, to meet and seduce those who ask for the reality. Do we “look for a city which hath foundations?” Then Babel will forestall it, and be a city too. As the Father of Lights will have His city, so has the prince of darkness his, to tempt souls to rest short of the city of the mystery of life, in the city of the mystery of deceit and imitation.

What incredible spiritual insights were given by our Lord to this great Christian writer of the 19th century! Yet he was never given to understand that man, being dust, had nowhere to “fall, but was instead, “shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin… given an evil experience to humble him…[and] marred while yet in the Potter’s hand” (Psa 51:5, Ecc 1:13 CLV, Jer 18:4).

Mr. Jukes continues:

“Such are the failures on resurrection ground. Regeneration, so far from ending all man’s wickedness, discovers in man new forms of evil. So in the Revelation which was manifested to the beloved John, he saw that red horses, and earthquakes, and blood, and hail, and fire, and beasts, and Great Babylon, were all part of the “Revelation of Jesus Christ“ (Rev 1:1; Rev 6:4; Rev 6:12; Rev 8:7; Rev 13:1; Rev 7:4-5), — a necessary result of such a seed falling into such a soil.” (Emphasis mine)

Even Mr. Jukes leaves out “the great day of His wrath …”, but just as every book of scripture builds upon that which was written before it, “line upon line and precept upon precept” (Isa 28:9-13), so, too, do we come to see more clearly the revelation of Jesus Christ from the insights into the scriptures of our brothers and sisters in Christ before us. The scriptures never change, but our understanding of the scriptures is, Lord willing, always growing. Mr. Jukes’ understanding was far superior to that of the orthodox church of the 19th century to the degree to which he saw the inward application of the scriptures. However, just as it was not granted Mr. Andrew Jukes to see through the false doctrine of the fall of man, and neither did he ever realize that “He is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly”, so also today, many who claim they believe in and understand the spiritual application of God’s word, do not believe that this sixth seal, which includes “the great day of His wrath”, is to be understood in a spiritual, inward or personal way, in the lives of God’s elect.

Upon Whom does “the wrath of God abide?”

There are many millions of Christians today, who will affirm with their lips that they believe that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4), and they will agree that the first four seals must indeed be kept by God’s elect. They might even go as far as to agree that parts of this sixth seal are to be experienced in the hearts and minds of God’s “very elect”, but they cannot see God’s elect being subjected to His wrath upon the ungodliness and unrighteousness of their own lives.  In other words, all verses such as these two verses are, in effect, being denied, and in denying these verses Christ is being denied:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Who among us was born a believer? We are all born as unbelievers, and when we deny that “all things, things present and things to come” are ours, we are denying Christ and His words. Like the apostle Peter, we have all denied Christ at our own appointed time and in our own appointed way. Nevertheless, just as the yet unconverted apostle Peter took Christ by the shoulders and declared “This shall not be unto thee”, so also today the “carnal… babes in Christ” are telling those in their charge that this sixth seal has nothing in it which has any application in their own lives. These “things to come” are all supposedly for some other ungodly sinner. These particular “things to come” supposedly have nothing at all to do with the revelation of Jesus Christ within them, if they claim being one of God’s elect. Such a doctrine is a very smooth and comforting deception. It is called ‘the rapture theory’, and it comes in many forms including a form which is called “a place of safety.” The “place of safety” doctrine is nothing less than the same false ‘secret rapture’ doctrine. It’s just under a different name. In the final analysis, both doctrines still deny that we are to “keep the things written therein” (Rev 1:3).

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

“All things are ours, things present, and things to come”

“All… things to come are ours.” Surely Paul had just momentarily forgotten about this verse of scripture. Or could it be that this secret rapture false doctrine, as is always the case, stems from the twisting of Paul’s words to the saints in Thessalonica?

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

To what does the apostle tell us we are appointed? That is right, as opposed to God’s wrath, we are “appointed… to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” Who is not appointed to wrath but to salvation? Is that a promise which applies only to God’s elect, or is that not a promise which is given to all mankind? What say the scriptures?

While there are literally hundreds of verses of scripture which affirm that all of mankind is “not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation…” I will list just three at this juncture:

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

If 1 Thessalonians 5:9 means that God’s wrath is part of the “things to come” which we do not keep, do not live by, do not observe, or endure, then what are we to make of these verses which plainly state otherwise?

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The apostle Paul tells us that we have all been the children of disobedience at our appointed time, and as such we were all the children of wrath, “even as others.” The holy spirit felt it necessary to have the apostle to repeat, and to emphasize this Truth:

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Where again, did God’s wrath abide when we were walking as children of disobedience?

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

There it is. Three times we are told that we have all been the children of disobedience and the children of God’s wrath, and at that time God’s wrath was abiding on us and we “shall not see life.” Saying we “shall not see life” is like we “are not appointed to wrath.” It is a statement that is to be understood only within “the sum of Thy Word.” The salvation of all is actually the whole point of 1 Thessalonians 5:9… “but unto salvation [of all mankind]”

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

The apostle Paul could just as easily have said, “For we are not appointed unto death, but unto salvation…’ How is it possible that the Lord has ordained that we are not appointed to wrath, and how is it that if we live and believe we will never see death? Do we “never see death” by being raptured or taken to a place of safety, or will we be saved from both by going through both?

We are saved from any trial by going through that trial

Here is the scriptural answer, which cannot be received by any who preach or teach any form of a rapture or any form of somehow escaping “all things,” and excluding these “things to come… [these] words which have proceeded out of the mouth of God” concerning God’s wrath upon our own ungodliness and unrighteousnesses. Listen to what Christ told the sister of Lazarus, the man Christ raised from the dead, just shortly before His own death and resurrection. How can these words be true?

Joh 11:23  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Joh 11:24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

“Not appointed to wrath but to salvation… [yet] The wrath of God abideth on him… Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die… [yet] He that loses his life shall find it.” Those verses all seem to be Biblical contradictions to the natural man and to Biblical detractors. So we can also add this to that list of apparent contradictions.

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Why do “all men… receive” this mark? Here is the Concordant Literal Translation of Revelation 3:18.

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.”

The number of the beast is the number of mankind. It is the number of “all men” (Rev 3:16) which all accords very well with what the scriptures have actually always taught all along. Adam was created on the very same day that all beasts were created, and it is that sixth day which marks what mankind is:

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Now let’s go back and re-examine Revelation 14:9-10:

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Who are we told “receive his mark?” This is not a matter for guessing. This is life or death information:

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

So let’s ask the simple question, What does 1 Thessalonians 5:9 mean in the light of all of these verses which reveal more of “the sum of God’s word” concerning who of us have been “children of [God’s] wrath?  Does this scripture deny that we all at one time walked as children of disobedience?

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

The scriptures obviously teach that we are all “by nature the children of wrath even as others” and that as such His “wrath abides on us” until we repent and change our ways, and be conformed to the image of His dear Son.

Now this verse of scripture becomes crystal clear:

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

So it is really is “all men” who receive His mark.

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

God’s wrath really is poured out upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

We really do “keep the things that are written therein… every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God… things present and things to come all are ours.”

Summary

What does all of this tell us about the mind of the spirit? What it tells us is that when Christ talks about not being appointed to wrath, He is thinking just as He is thinking when He tells us that he that believes shall never die. Remember, He spoke those words to Martha, Lazarus’ sister, just before Christ, the greatest believer of all believers, died on the cross. What we have seen in this study is that the way God saves Noah, and us as Noah, from the flood is by taking us through the flood. He saved Israel from drowning in the Red Sea by taking them down into the Red Sea.  He saved Daniel out of the lion’s den by putting him in the lion’s den. He saved Daniel’s three friends out of the fiery furnace by putting them through the fiery furnace. He saves our lives only after we lose them, and we are saved from death by going “through death.”

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

In other words, there is absolutely not one scriptural example in any form of Christ keeping us back or saving us from having to live out and endure trials or in any way avoid the truth of this verse of scripture:

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Next week, Lord willing, we will start at verse 12 and cover more of this incredible sixth seal part of the wrath of God on all ungodliness and unrighteousness in us.

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;
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.
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.
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;
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: