The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
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...
Commenting on Revelation 6:9-17
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together,.... The manner of writing formerly was on rolls of parchment; hence the word volume is used for a book, which, when rolled up, the writing within could not be seen, not a syllable nor letter of it.
Verse 14. The departing of the heavens: And the heaven departed as a scroll. That is, as a book or volume--βιβλιον--rolled up. The heavens are here described as spread out, and their passing away is represented by the idea that they might be rolled up, and thus disappear. See Barnes "Isa 34:4". This too is a symbol, and we are not to suppose that it will literally occur.