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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Revelation 6:9–17. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
In the remaining part of this chapter we have the opening of the fifth and the sixth seals.
I.The fifth seal.
Here is no mention made of any one who called the apostle to make his observation, probably because the decorum of the vision was to be observed, and each of the four living creatures had discharged its duty of a monitor before, or because the events here opened lay out of the sight, and beyond the time, of the present ministers of the church; or because it does not contain a new prophecy of any future events, but rather opens a spring of support and consolation to those who had been and still were under great tribulation for the sake of Christ and the gospel. Here observe,
1.The sight this apostle saw at the opening of the fifth seal; it was a very affecting sight (Rev 6:9): I saw under the altar the souls of those that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. He saw the souls of the martyrs. Here observe,
(1.)Where he saw them - under the altar; at the foot of the altar of incense, in the most holy place; he saw them in heaven, at the foot of Christ. Hence note,
[1.]Persecutors can only kill the body, and after that there is no more that they can do; their souls live.
[2.]God has provided a good place in the better world for those who are faithful to death and are not allowed a place any longer on earth.
[3.]Holy martyrs are very near to Christ in heaven, they have the highest place there.
[4.]It is not their own death, but the sacrifice of Christ, that gives them a reception into heaven and a reward there; they do not wash their robes in their own blood, but in the blood of the Lamb.
(2.)What was the cause in which they suffered - the word of God and the testimony which they held, for believing the word of God, and attesting or confessing the truth of it; this profession of their faith they held fast without wavering, even though they died for it. A noble cause, the best that any man can lay down his life for - faith in God's word and a confession of that faith.
2.The cry he heard; it was a loud cry, and contained a humble expostulation about the long delay of avenging justice against their enemies: How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth? Rev 6:10. Observe,
(1.)Even the spirits of just men made perfect retain a proper resentment of the wrong they have sustained by their cruel enemies; and though they die in charity, praying, as Christ did, that God would forgive them, yet they are desirous that, for the honour of God, and Christ, and the gospel, and for the terror and conviction of others, God will take a just revenge upon the sin of persecution, even while he pardons and saves the persecutors.
(2.)They commit their cause to him to whom vengeance belongeth, and leave it in his hand; they are not for avenging themselves, but leave all to God.
(3.)There will be joy in heaven at the destruction of the implacable enemies of Christ and Christianity, as well as at the conversion of other sinners. When Babylon falls, it will be said, Rejoice over her, O thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her, Rev 18:20.
3.He observed the kind return that was made to this cry (Rev 6:11), both what was given to them and what was said to them.
(1.)What was given to them - white robes, the robes of victory and of honour; their present happiness was an abundant recompence of their past sufferings.
(2.)What was said to them - that they should be satisfied, and easy in themselves, for it would not be long ere the number of their fellow-sufferers would be fulfilled. This is a language rather suited to the imperfect state of the saints in this world than to the perfection of their state in heaven; there is no impatience, no uneasiness, no need of admonition; but in this world there is great need of patience. Observe,
[1.]There is a number of Christians, known to God, who are appointed as sheep for the slaughter, set apart to be God's witnesses.
[2.]As the measure of the sin of persecutors is filling up, so is the number of the persecuted martyred servants of Christ.
[3.]When this number is fulfilled, God will take a just and glorious revenge upon their cruel persecutors; he will recompense tribulation to those who trouble them, and to those that are troubled full and uninterrupted rest.
II.We have here the sixth seal opened, Rev 6:12.
Some refer this to the great revolutions in the empire at Constantine's time, the downfall of paganism; others, with great probability, to the destruction of Jerusalem, as an emblem of the general judgment, and destruction of the wicked, at the end of the world; and, indeed, the awful characters of this event are so much the same with those signs mentioned by our Saviour as foreboding the destruction of Jerusalem, as hardly to leave any room for doubting but that the same thing is meant in both places, though some think that event was past already. See Mat 24:29, Mat 24:30. Here observe,
1.The tremendous events that were hastening; and here are several occurrences that contribute to make that day and dispensation very dreadful: - (1.) There was a great earthquake. This may be taken in a political sense; the very foundations of the Jewish church and state would be terribly shaken, though they seemed to be as stable as the earth itself. (2.) The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, either naturally, by a total eclipse, or politically, by the fall of the chief rulers and governors of the land. (3.) The moon should become as blood; the inferior officers, or their military men, should be all wallowing in their own blood. (4.) The stars of heaven shall fall to the earth (Rev 6:13), and that as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. The stars may signify all the men of note and influence among them, though in lower spheres of activity; there should be a general desolation. (5.) The heaven should depart as a scroll when it is rolled together. This may signify that their ecclesiastical state should perish and be laid aside for ever. (6.) Every mountain and island shall be moved out of its place. The destruction of the Jewish nation should affect and affright all the nations round about, those who were highest in honour and those who seemed to be best secured; it would be a judgment that should astonish all the world. This leads to,
2.The dread and terror that would seize upon all sorts of men in that great and awful day, Rev 6:15. No authority, nor grandeur, nor riches, nor valour, nor strength, would be able to support men at that time; yea, the very poor slaves, who, one would think, had nothing to fear, because they had nothing to lose, would be all in amazement at that day. Here observe,
(1.)The degree of their terror and astonishment: it should prevail so far as to make them, like distracted desperate men, call to the mountains to fall upon them, and to the hills to cover them; they would be glad to be no more seen; yea, to have no longer any being.
(2.)The cause of their terror, namely, the angry countenance of him that sits on the throne, and the wrath of the Lamb. Observe,
[1.]That which is matter of displeasure to Christ is so to God; they are so entirely one that what pleases or displeases the one pleases or displeases the other.
[2.]Though God be invisible, he can make the inhabitants of this world sensible of his awful frowns.
[3.]Though Christ be a lamb, yet he can be angry, even to wrath, and the wrath of the Lamb is exceedingly dreadful; for if the Redeemer, that appeases the wrath of God, himself be our wrathful enemy, where shall we have a friend to plead for us? Those perish without remedy who perish by the wrath of the Redeemer.
[4.]As men have their day of opportunity, and their seasons of grace, so God has his day of righteous wrath; and, when that day shall come, the most stout-hearted sinners will not be able to stand before him: all these terrors actually fell upon the sinners in Judea and Jerusalem in the day of their destruction, and they will all, in the utmost degree, fall upon impenitent sinners, at the general judgment of the last day.
Historical interpretation
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Besides, the belief that everything was made from nothing will be impressed upon us by that ultimate dispensation of God which will bring back all things to nothing. For "the very heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll; '" nay, it shall come to nothing along with the earth itself, with which it was made in the beginning.
For at that time the trumpet shall sound, and awake those that sleep from the lowest parts of the earth, righteous and sinners alike. And every kindred, and tongue, and nation, and tribe shall be raised in the twinkling of an eye; and they shall stand upon the face of the earth, waiting for the coming of the righteous and terrible Judge, in fear and trembling unutterable. For the river of fire shall come forth in fury like an angry sea, and shall burn up mountains and hills, and shall make the sea vanish, and shall dissolve the atmosphere with its heat like wax. The stars of heaven shall fall, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. The heaven shall be rolled together like a scroll: the whole earth shall be burnt up by reason of the deeds done in it, which men did corruptly, in fornications, in adulteries, and in lies and uncleanness, and in idolatries, and in murders, and in battles. For there shall be the new heaven and the new earth.
"And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is rolled up." For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the Church shall be taken away.
"And every mountain and the islands were moved from their places." Mountains and islands removed from their places intimate that in the last persecution all men departed from their places; that is, that the good will be removed, seeking to avoid the persecution.
Rightly does he suggest that the heaven, that is, the church, withdrew like a scroll rolled out rather than as a scroll rolled up. For whatever is rolled up cannot ever be known by anyone, while that which is rolled out is uncovered ever more. And so when these things have been made manifest, [the church] withdraws and prudently avoids persecution, so that concealed from those outside she might not be seen. But through the unity of the Spirit she is wholly known to herself—that is, to her own to whom it is given to believe. And [the church] is cautious towards those who are not known and toward the stranger, and she hides herself through a spirit of discretion, lest becoming known she be betrayed. Therefore, John wrote, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God.”
The church is also symbolized in the mountains and in the islands, for she is a “city set on a hill” on account of “the mountains round about.” And we read, “also among the islands of the sea [is] the name of the Lord God of Israel” which foretells that impelled by persecution she will be moved from her place. This is to be applied to both parts [of the church], among the good she is cautious and is moved by flight, among the evil she is moved by a perverse will and is turned into something worse, as it is said, “I shall move your candlestick from its place.”
Our Lord asked the disciples concerning the destruction of the temple and the consummation of the world, and as they were able to receive, he foretold of the coming events. To some extent these events have already happened to the Jews who killed Christ during the siege under Vespasian and Titus, as the Jew Josephus recounts it. But at the end, with a superabundance beyond everything, so to speak, these things will come upon the world at the coming of the antichrist. At that time, the great men, whether those who hold office in the church or those who possess worldly power—here figuratively called “mountains”—and the churches of the faithful—metaphorically called “islands”—which are being renewed to God, as Isaiah said, they will flee from their places, changing from place to place on account of the false christ.
That heaven is rolled out as a scroll symbolizes either that the second coming of Christ is unknown … or that even the heavenly powers grieve for those who have fallen from faith as though they experience a certain rolling out through sympathy and grief. However, this image symbolizes also that the substance of heaven does not disappear, but as though by a kind of unrolling changes into something better. As Irenaeus says, “For neither is the substance nor the essence of the creation annihilated—for faithful and true is he who has established it—but ‘the fashion of this world passes away,’ within which the transgression occurred, as the elders say.” … We think that the apostle is using the image of an old custom. For the Hebrews used scrolls rather than codices, which are common among us. To unroll a scroll did not cause anything to disappear but affected the appearance of that written within. So also the opening of the heavenly body shows the revelation of the blessing that lies in wait for the saints.
And every mountain and island was moved from its place. Mentioning various members of the Church according to their roles or strengths, he predicts that none will be exempt from this upheaval, but the movement will differ—good people will avoid by fleeing, while the wicked will be driven by following.
And the sky receded like a scroll being rolled up. Just as a rolled-up scroll contains mysteries within but nothing apparent outside, so will the Church, known only to its own, retreat discreetly to avoid persecution, hidden from outsiders.
And the heaven departed as a book folded up. Just as the reprobates fall from the Church not physically but through their transgressions, so does the same Church, in its elect, depart from among the wicked not by a physical departure but by faith and work. Moreover it is right for the Church to be represented by a book, because it contains in itself the commandments for all heavenly life, not only written on parchments with a pen, but also written on the fleshly tablets of the heart by the Spirit of God. Note also that the book is said to be folded up, for just as no one can see what a folded-up book contains except those for whom it is voluntarily opened, so does the Church of the elect, in time of persecution, shut its innermost parts for strangers and discreetly open them inside for its people. And every mountain, and the islands were moved out of their places. By the mountains we should understand men of very high dignity who surpass others in words and virtues, about whom it is said, I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains. [Ps. 120:1] By the islands we understand people of lesser justice who still waver in tribulations. So the fact that mountains and islands are said to have been moved out of their places is related to the above interpretation in which the Church of the saints departs by faith and work from the company of the wicked; for a familiarity with the wicked it was mixed with was a little like its place.
The sky is described as departed like a scroll being rolled up. Through the sky, the heavenly powers of the angels are mentioned, who themselves were disturbed, unable to bear the insult to their master, both here and there. The sky is said to be torn apart like a scroll being unrolled and shaken.
It is also said that every mountain and island moved from their places. Mountains and islands are called the ranks [τάγματα] of the high-minded spirits, according to what is written about them; "and mountains can be moved within the hearts of the seas." (Ps. 45:3) He also says that islands themselves rise up and are lifted by the vain vanity of their intellect in the unstable and salty distractions of this life. (see Isa. 23:2-6.)
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Summary
Revelation 6:14 vividly portrays a cataclysmic cosmic and terrestrial upheaval, marking a pivotal moment in the unfolding divine judgments. Upon the opening of the sixth seal, the very fabric of the heavens is depicted as vanishing like a rolled-up scroll, while every mountain and island on earth is violently displaced from its foundation. This dramatic imagery signifies the absolute and irreversible nature of God's judgment, demonstrating His supreme power over all creation and signaling the complete dissolution of the present world order in preparation for a new era.
Context
Literary Context
Revelation 6:14 is a climactic moment within the sequence of the seven seals. It immediately follows the terrifying scene where humanity, from kings to slaves, desperately seeks refuge from the wrath of the Lamb and Him who sits on the throne, crying for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them (Revelation 6:15-17). This verse provides the cosmic and geological backdrop to that terror, illustrating how the earth and heavens are being shaken. It precedes a pause in the judgments, introducing the sealing of the 144,000 and the multitude before the seventh seal is opened and the trumpet judgments begin in Revelation 8. The imagery here is a powerful precursor to the final, complete renewal of creation.
Historical & Cultural Context
For John's original audience, living under Roman imperial power and facing potential persecution, the stability of the natural world was a given, and mountains were enduring symbols of permanence and refuge. The idea of the heavens being "rolled together as a scroll" would have resonated with their familiarity with ancient documents, which were typically written on scrolls. Once a scroll had served its purpose, it was rolled up and put away or discarded. This action would have conveyed finality and the end of an era. The widespread earthquakes and volcanic activity common in the Mediterranean region might also have made the imagery of mountains and islands being moved particularly potent and terrifying, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this divine intervention.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation and biblical eschatology. First, it underscores the theme of Cosmic Upheaval and Judgment, demonstrating that no part of the created order, from the heavens above to the earth below, is exempt from God's purifying wrath. Second, it highlights Divine Sovereignty and Power, emphasizing God's absolute control over creation, capable of dismantling and reshaping the cosmos at His will. This imagery serves as a stark reminder that all earthly structures and perceived securities are temporary. Finally, the radical transformation depicted here signifies The End of the Old Order, preparing the way for the establishment of God's eternal kingdom and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells and the former things have passed away.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word, derived from a verb meaning "to coil or wrap," vividly describes the action applied to the "scroll" of the heavens. It implies a deliberate, decisive, and complete action of removal or closure, much like a document that has been read or whose purpose has been fulfilled is neatly rolled up and put away. The use of this specific term emphasizes the finality and intentionality of the heavens' departure.
Derived from a root suggesting "to rise or 'rear'," this term refers to a mountain or hill. In ancient thought, mountains were often considered symbols of stability, permanence, and even divine presence. Their inclusion here, alongside islands, highlights the universality of the terrestrial upheaval. The fact that even these seemingly immovable fixtures are "moved out of their places" underscores the unprecedented and radical nature of the judgment.
This verb means "to stir (transitively), literally or figuratively; to (re-)move." When applied to mountains and islands, it denotes a forceful, active displacement, not a gentle shift. It conveys the idea of a violent, divinely orchestrated shaking that dislodges foundational elements of the earth, leaving no part of the established order untouched or secure.
Verse Breakdown
"And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together"
This clause presents a profound simile, comparing the vanishing of the sky to an ancient scroll being rolled up. The "heaven" (οὐρανός, ouranós) here refers to the visible sky, the expanse above the earth. Its "departure" (ἀποχωρίζω, apochōrízo) signifies a complete separation or removal. The imagery of a scroll being rolled up suggests that the current heavenly order, like a document whose contents have been revealed or whose purpose is fulfilled, is being put away. This striking visual evokes a sense of finality, the conclusion of an age, and the removal of the familiar cosmic canopy. This echoes prophetic language found in Isaiah 34:4.
"and every mountain and island were moved out of their places"
This second clause describes the corresponding terrestrial upheaval. The use of "every" (πᾶς, pâs) emphasizes the comprehensive and universal nature of this displacement. Mountains, traditionally symbols of stability and permanence, and islands, often seen as isolated and unmoving landmasses, are violently "moved" (κινέω, kinéō) or dislodged "out of their places" (ἐκ τῶν τόπων αὐτῶν, ek tōn tópon autōn). This signifies a complete disruption of the earth's topography and its perceived stability, indicating that no physical refuge or secure location will remain untouched by this divine judgment.
Literary Devices
Revelation 6:14 is rich with Imagery that evokes a sense of overwhelming cosmic and terrestrial disruption. The vivid picture of the heaven departing like a rolled-up scroll and mountains and islands being violently displaced creates a powerful mental landscape of chaos and dissolution. The primary literary device employed is Simile, specifically in the phrase "the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together." This comparison helps the reader grasp the abstract concept of the sky's removal by likening it to a familiar, concrete action. Furthermore, the description employs Hyperbole to emphasize the magnitude of the event; while the exact literal interpretation is debated, the language of mountains and islands being moved out of their places is an exaggerated depiction intended to convey the extreme, unprecedented nature of God's judgment. Finally, Symbolism is pervasive, with the heaven, mountains, and islands serving as symbols of the established, stable created order. Their dramatic upheaval symbolizes the complete and irreversible dismantling of the present world system under divine judgment.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Revelation 6:14 powerfully underscores the biblical doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His ultimate authority in judgment. This cosmic and terrestrial upheaval is not random chaos but a divinely orchestrated act, demonstrating that the physical world, despite its apparent stability, is entirely subject to the will of its Creator. It serves as a stark reminder of the temporary nature of all earthly things and the certainty of a coming judgment that will dismantle every human construct and perceived security. This passage challenges humanity to recognize the fragility of the present age and to place their hope not in the fleeting stability of the world, but in the enduring, eternal kingdom of God. The shaking of creation is a prelude to the establishment of a new, unshakable order.
Reflection and Application
Revelation 6:14 calls us to a profound re-evaluation of our priorities and our ultimate hope. The dramatic portrayal of the heavens vanishing and the earth's foundations being shaken serves as a powerful reminder that everything we see and experience in this physical world is temporary and subject to divine dismantling. For believers, this imagery should cultivate a deep sense of awe for God's immense power and sovereignty, fostering a trust that transcends the instability of the present age. It compels us to live with an eternal perspective, not clinging to the transient comforts or securities of this world, but investing our lives in the unshakable realities of God's kingdom. For those who have not yet reconciled with God, it stands as a solemn warning of the inescapable judgment that awaits a rebellious world, urging repentance and seeking refuge in Christ before the "great day of His wrath" fully arrives.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together" mean?
This vivid metaphor describes the visible sky or cosmic order being removed or dissolved, much like an ancient scroll that has been read or whose purpose is fulfilled is rolled up and put away. It signifies the complete and decisive end of the current cosmic arrangement. This imagery is not unique to Revelation; similar prophetic language is found in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 34:4, where the heavens are also described as being "rolled together as a scroll." It conveys finality, the conclusion of an era, and the removal of the familiar order, preparing for something new.
Is the description of mountains and islands moving literal or symbolic?
While Revelation often employs highly symbolic language, the effect described in Revelation 6:14 is undeniably real and catastrophic. Whether the movement of every mountain and island is to be understood as a literal, geological event on a global scale or as a hyper-realistic symbolic depiction of an unprecedented, universal upheaval, the theological truth remains: no part of the earth, no matter how seemingly stable or remote, will be exempt from God's ultimate judgment and transformation. The imagery emphasizes the complete disruption of all perceived earthly stability and the inescapable nature of divine wrath.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Revelation 6:14, with its depiction of cosmic and terrestrial dissolution, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is both the orchestrator of these judgments and the one who brings about the new creation. It is the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who is worthy to open the seals (Revelation 5:5), initiating these very judgments. The "wrath of the Lamb" (Revelation 6:16) is not arbitrary but is the righteous indignation of the one who bore the world's sin and was rejected. This shaking of the heavens and earth, while terrifying, serves a divine purpose: to remove all that is temporary and corrupt, paving the way for Christ's eternal, unshakable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28). He is the one who will return in power and great glory, with the sun and moon darkened and the stars falling from heaven (Matthew 24:29-30), fulfilling these cosmic signs. Ultimately, this destruction is not the end, but the painful birth pangs of a new creation, for Christ is the one who declares, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5), establishing a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells and His redeemed people will live in His presence forever.