When the second seal is opened, the call is heard again, “Come and see.” (Revelation 6:3)
The first seal reveals the gospel going forward in power. Now, God calls the attention of the entire universe to what happens when the gospel is rejected.
“Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another. And there was given to him a great sword.” (Revelation 6:4)
The 2nd horse is red. Red is the color of blood. It reminds us first of Christ’s sacrifice, but here it also points to the blood of believers who are killed because they remain faithful to Him.
It is important to notice what the text says. Christ is not the one doing the killing. The passage says that people kill one another. Christ gives peace within the heart, but outwardly, when truth is rejected, peace is often taken from the earth.
Jesus Himself warned that this would happen:
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)
Jesus is not promoting violence. Rather, He is describing the reality that truth exposes hearts. When truth confronts pride, power, and sin, resistance often becomes hostile. Division follows, and persecution is the result.
This second seal represents the era when persecution was widespread, and faithfulness came at a great cost. Many believers were imprisoned, tortured, and killed simply because they would not deny Christ.
Historically, the second seal corresponds to the second and third centuries—the period of intense Roman persecution of Christians. Peace was taken from the earth, not because Christ withdrew His presence, but because the world rejected the gospel and responded with violence toward those who held to it.
The second seal reminds us that following Christ does not always lead to outward peace, but it always calls for faithfulness. Even when the world turns hostile, Christ remains in control, and His people are never outside His care.
The second seal also reminds us that following Christ has always carried a cost. When truth is rejected, peace is often taken from the earth, and those who remain faithful may face resistance, loss, or misunderstanding. Yet this seal is not a call to fear—it is a call to faithfulness. Christ never promised that the world would welcome the gospel, but He did promise that He would remain in control and walk with His people through every trial. The question for each of us is not whether opposition will come, but whether we will hold fast when it does.
In a world that increasingly resists truth, Christ invites us to trust Him deeply, to stand firmly, and to remain faithful—knowing that even in times of persecution, His presence is sure and His victory is certain.
Dwayne Toppenberg is a retired pastor who has dedicated over 10,000 hours to the study of the book of Revelation. He currently serves as an elder at the Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Michigan.