A Great Earthquake
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake;” (Rev 6:12a KJV)
The events of the sixth seal have been spiritualized and symbolized throughout the years, but there is nothing in the text that implies or requires the events to be symbolic. They seem to be descriptive of actual events. If these are actual events, then the sixth seal will be physically devastating to the Earth.
The great earthquake is most likely an actual earthquake; one that is so powerful that it is called ‘great’. This could be the most powerful earthquake since the flood of Noah. Most of the seven Churches had experienced devastating earthquakes and would have understood what John meant by ‘great earthquake’.
Great – 3173 μέγας megas {meg’-as}
Meaning: 1) great 1a) of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons) 1a1) in particular, of space and its dimensions, as respects 1a1a) mass and weight: great 1a1b) compass and extent: large, spacious 1a1c) measure and height: long 1a1d) stature and age: great, old 1b) of number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant 1c) of age: the elder 1d) used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong 2) predicated of rank, as belonging to 2a) persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power 2b) things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance 2c) a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent 3) splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately 4) great things 4a) of God’s preeminent blessings 4b) of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God
The Sun and the Moon
“and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;” (Rev 6:12b KJV)
The sun seen as black as sackcloth of hair shows that the light of the sun will be blocked. This could be from the smoke in the atmosphere from the earthquake.
The moon as blood refers to color, not substance. The moon will look a deep, bloody red because that’s all that can be seen through the smoke that blocks the sun.
This follows what was foretold by many Old Testament prophets, including Joel.
“30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.”
(Joe 2:30-31 KJV)