What is the meaning of Revelation 6:17? For – This single word connects the cry of earth’s kings and mighty men in the preceding verse (Revelation 6:15-16) with the reason for their terror. – It shows cause and effect: they hide “in caves and among the rocks” for the judgment of God is no longer delayed (cf. Isaiah 2:19; Luke 23:30). – Scripture often places a “for” before divine declarations of judgment, underscoring God’s fairness—He explains why consequences fall (see Romans 2:5-6). the great day – “Great” signals a climactic, history-shaping moment, mirroring “the great and awesome Day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31; Malachi 4:5). – It is “day” in the prophetic sense: a defined, literal period when God intervenes openly. – Jesus foretold this unparalleled season: “There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:21). of Their wrath – “Their” links Father and Son; the Lamb shares the throne, sovereignty, and righteous anger (Revelation 6:16; 5:6-13). – Wrath here is not impulsive rage but the holy response to persistent rebellion (Romans 1:18). – Under the sixth seal the world recognizes divine authorship of these upheavals, fulfilling promises like Nahum 1:2-6 and John 3:36. has come – The phrase signals arrival, not mere anticipation. In the prophetic sequence the seal judgments have begun; the day is already unfolding. – God’s long-suffering patience (2 Peter 3:9) yields to executed justice exactly when predetermined (Acts 17:31). – The certainty of fulfillment echoes Jesus’ words: “The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15), emphasizing God keeps His schedule. and who is able to withstand it? – A rhetorical question expecting the answer “no one” (cf. Psalm 76:7; Nahum 1:6). – Human power, wealth, or status offer zero shelter; only being sealed by God spares a person (Revelation 7:3-4). – The question prepares readers for the gospel solution revealed throughout Scripture: refuge in Christ (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). summary Revelation 6:17 proclaims that the long-prophesied Day of the Lord has arrived. God the Father and the Lamb jointly unleash righteous wrath, compelling every heart to admit that no human strength can endure it. The verse underscores divine justice, the certainty of prophecy, and humanity’s urgent need for the salvation found in Jesus alone. |
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