John 14:6

The Sixth Seal
Physical Changes
Revelation 6:12-17

"And I beheld when He had opened the Sixth Seal, and, lo, there was an earthquake: and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood: and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall On Us and Hide Us from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath Of The Lamb: for the great day of His Wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?"

These martyred Souls were comforted and told that they should rest for a little season, about three and one-half years., until their fellow servants and their brethren, Jews, that should be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled, Revelation 20:4-6.

          These are the Saints of the Most High that Daniel foresaw would receive the Kingdom, Daniel 7:27.

The fact that these Souls were under the Altar is proof that they were Martyrs.

         These Martyrs are those who are killed for the Word of God and their testimony after the Church is raptured.

The Fifth Seal
The Souls of Martyrs
Revelation 6:9-11

"And when He had opened the Fifth Seal, I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and True, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

          When the Lamb had opened the Fifth Seal, John saw under the Sacrificial Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony they held.

But as awful as the days of tribulation will be, they will only be the "beginning of sorrows" for everyone who are left, Matthew 24:6-8.

      The worst thing about it will be that the judgments will harden them instead of them repenting and calling on God, they will want the mountains and rocks to hide them from Him, Revelation 6:15-17.

The Sword, hunger, death and the Beasts of the Earth are the means of destruction and judgments in Ezekiel 14:21 are to fall on Jerusalem.

        Those will be awful times to those who must pass through them.

        But the Church will not be  in them because of being raptured before as promised.

The destruction of human life will be so great in the days of the Fourth Seal that Hell will have to "enlarge herself and open her mouth without measure", as told in Isaiah 5:13-16

After devastating war, famine follows.

        The dead are left unburied and pestilence follows.

              The fourth part of the earth that the pestilence sweeps will probably be the part covered by the revived Roman Empire.

The Pale Horse [corpse-like color] shows that it is called Death and that Hades, the Grave follows after Death like a monster to swallow up the victims of Death.

           This refers to some great pestilence that will come on the earth.

The Fourth Seal. . . A Pale Horse
Revelation 6:7-8

"And when He had opened the Fourth Seal, I heard the voice of the Fourth Beast say, Come.
And I looked and behold a Pale Horse: and his name that sat on him was Death and Hell followed with him.
And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with the Beast of the earth."
Revelation 6:7-8

          When the fourth seal was broken, John heard the fourth or Eagle-like Living Creature say Come and a Pale Horse appeared and went forth.

What is meant by not hurting the oil and the wine, could be that the Olive Tree and Grapevine don't bear their fruit until some time after the wheat and barley harvests.

          And they grow without much attention.

         These crops wouldn't be affected by war.

    So the Olive Trees and Grapevines weren't to be ruthlessly destroyed by invaders because they were needed for medicinal reasons.

When all the men are drafted to war and no one is left to sow and harvest the crops, then there will be famine.

           The famine will be so great that it will take a 'denarius' a day's wages to buy 2 pints of wheat, the daily ration of a slave.