Revelation 6:12-17 meaning

Revelation 6:12-17 shows the outcome of the breaking of the sixth seal. The scroll that was revealed in Revelation 5 is now being opened by breaking the seals in order. The Lamb, the only one in all of heaven, and earth, and under the earth, who was found worthy to break the seals has now broken five of the seven seals, revealing the contents of each portion of the scroll. Now the sixth story is revealed. 

Now, the Lamb broke the sixth seal. The text does not specify that it was the Lamb that broke the sixth seal. But we can infer from the previous five seals that it is still the Lamb who is breaking them, since He was the only one found worthy to break them, because He was slain for the sins of the world and given all authority over heaven and earth. 

This time, when He broke the sixth seal, a great physical catastrophe happened: 

there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (v. 12-14). 

These events were prophesied by Joel in the Old Testament: 

“The sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
(Joel 2:31) 

Also, in Acts, Peter is recorded quoting Joel’s prophecy in a sermon. This sermon is on the day of Pentecost, when those who are filled with the Spirit are accused of being drunk because they are speaking other languages. But Peter points to Joel’s prophecy, saying: 

“’And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind…
The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.’”
(Acts 2:17, 20)

Peter is pointing out that the prophecy is being fulfilled at that time, in that God’s Spirit has been poured out. But although that part of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled, the rest was not; more is to come. God’s Spirit is poured out at the beginning of the age of the church, what Paul calls the “fullness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25). It would appear that it will be at the end of the age of the church, prior to Jesus returning and inaugurating a physical kingdom, when Joel’s other prophecies will transpire:

• when Joel predicts the “sun will be turned into darkness” upon the earth (black as sackcloth made of hair) and
• when Joel says the moon will be like “blood” (the whole moon became like blood) 

Joel states that these things will occur in “the great and awesome day of the Lord.” The “day of the Lord” can refer to any time that God acts and brings judgement. But there is only one day of the Lord that is “great and awesome” or “great and glorious,” and that is the day being spoken of in Revelation, when God brings all things into judgment, as a prelude to His restoration of all things. 

Jesus also foretold of this day, and repeated the same signs: 

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.”
(Mark 13:24-25)

Jesus speaks of “that tribulation” as being a time of great trouble that occurs after a time “…when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be…” (Mark 13:14). We know this refers to the prophecy of Daniel from Daniel 9:27, because in Matthew’s version of this episode, he mentions that Jesus refers to this abomination as being “spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (Matthew 24:15). 

Daniel 9:27 speaks of a seven year “covenant,” and that this “abomination” transpires in the middle of the seventieth “week” (a seven-year period) that apparently mirrors the term of the covenant. We can therefore discern that the time of great tribulation will be three and a half years. This corresponds with several verses in Revelation that refer to a similar period of time (Revelation 11:3, 12:6). 

That the moon became like blood likely refers to a contrast in color. Rather than black (like the sun) the moon will be red. Further, the stars of the sky fell to earth. This is also as Jesus predicted, that “the stars will be falling from heaven.” That Jesus spoke of the event as ongoing (“will be falling”) is consistent with Revelation’s description, that the stars are falling to earth continuously. 

The picture painted is as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The picture of a wind storm blowing unripe figs onto the ground infers that there is a continuous stream of stars falling. 

We are not told how this happens. But Jesus indicated that when He returned, there would be no mistaking what was transpiring (Matthew 24:27). Just after Jesus predicts these astronomical phenomena, He prophesies of His return:

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.”
(Matthew 24:30)

There is apparently also a “sign of the Son of Man” (Jesus) that will appear in the sky. Although we are not informed what this will all be like, it seems unquestionable that the people who see the signs will not be able to mistake what they are seeing. That the tribes of the earth “mourn” might describe the same attitude we will see in verse 16, when the leaders of the earth cry out to the rocks and mountains and say Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 

God has now made Himself known to everyone: the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man (v 15). There is no one left off of that list. God’s wrath brings justice with it because there has to be justice before there is restoration. And the ultimate goal of Revelation is the restoration of all things. 

These cataclysms and cosmic disturbances are of the nature that they cannot be ignored. An earthquake imposes upon all whom it touches; it cannot be disregarded. If the sun turns black and stars fall, that too will be seen by all. If the stars falling means asteroids falling to earth, that could account for much of the massive cosmic disturbance. It could cause massive changes in weather patterns, among other things, that would add to the turmoil being initiated by the beast.

The main point of this seems to be that God is manifesting to all of humanity that He is bringing judgment upon the earth. 

And what do these kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and everyone do because of this revelation? 

“[They] hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (vs. 15-17). 

Just like Adam and Eve hid from God in light of their sin (Genesis 3:8), so too do the men of the earth hide. Likewise, all the people here hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains (v. 15). And they told the rocks and mountains to fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (v. 16). 

They recognize the power of God and their sinfulness: that they are deserving of God’s wrath and will not be able to stand against it. 

It appears that they no longer deny God—they know it is Him. They recognize the Lamb. But it seems that they are either unwilling or unable to ask Jesus for mercy. Their misery is so intense that they hope for the rocks as well as the mountains to fall on them. It is interesting to note the paradoxical description of the Lamb as executing an irresistible wrath. We do not normally picture a lamb as having the power to execute justice. But this is because the Lamb of God has now been seated upon the throne of heaven. Jesus reigns over all. 

Jesus, the Lamb, was given this authority as the God-Man because of His faithful obedience even to death on a cross. He was sacrificed as God’s ultimate Passover Lamb for the sins of the entire world (Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 9:12). Jesus overcame rejection, loss, and death to be a faithful witness (Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2:5-9, Hebrews 2:9). As a result, He was elevated to reign over all (Revelation 3:21). 

It can be uncomfortable to consider God’s wrath. We tend to be more comfortable reflecting upon His attributes of grace and mercy. Thankfully, God is full of grace and mercy. However, the grace He offers must be received to be effected, and His mercy has a limit. He sent His Son to die for the sins of the world, because of His infinite love (Colossians 2:15, John 3:16). But His redemption must be received through faith. 

When we believe, justice is served because our sins are paid for by Jesus’s death. God is patient and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). However, there must come a time when the window for mercy closes and justice is executed. As we saw earlier, the martyrs in heaven are lobbying God to accelerate the time of His justice (Revelation 6:10). 

God is fully just and fully loving; faith in Jesus’s death satisfies both completely and simultaneously. However, God does not impose redemption upon humans; they are allowed to choose rebellion instead. If humans refuse the satisfaction of justice God offers through faith in Jesus, then justice comes another way. 

As we saw earlier in this chapter, God designed us to desire justice; humans hate unfairness. In fact, we are prone to execute our own justice upon others. God actually commands His people to extend His mercy to others, and leave justice to Him, as we read in Romans, which quotes Deuteronomy 32:35:

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord”
(Romans 12:19). 

When Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 32, he imports a context where God prophesies that the nation of Israel will disobey Him after they enter the Promised Land. God further declares that He will repay their evil for evil. However, His wrath is for the purpose of restoration, to bring them back to Himself. God asserts His intent to restore His people in the next verse after declaring He will execute justice on Israel’s rebellion:

“For the LORD will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants”
(Deuteronomy 32:36a).

The purpose of God’s wrath in Revelation is also restoration—God desires to cleanse the earth of violence and exploitation. But the people do not want to receive the restoration, they just want to hide from His judgement.