Revelation 6:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.

NIV: and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

NASB: and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

CSB: the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind;

NLT: Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

This verse focuses on another sign Jesus predicted in his Olivet Discourse. John tells us "the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale." Jesus said, "The stars will fall from heaven" (Matthew 24:29). This prediction likely points to meteorite showers. This spectacular phenomenon could be visualized as a fig tree in a wind storm, as it drops its winter fruit. Isaiah 34:4 predicts this stellar event. Isaiah wrote: "All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree." This connection is one reason this particular passage in Revelation seems more likely to be an actual description, rather than a symbolic one. Even taken symbolically, there seems to be an emphasis on some physical image, or event, which inspires these words.

The phrase "winter fruit" refers to unripe figs, or winter figs, which grow under the leaves of the fig tree and hang on until winter. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He was hungry and looked for some fruit on a fig tree, but He found none. He found only leaves, but no fruit under the leaves (Matthew 21:16–19). The barren tree resembled the religious leaders of Israel: they looked spiritually healthy from a distance, but not on close examination. They produced no spiritual fruit.

Revelation 6:12–17 continues the episode of Jesus' opening of the seven seals of God's judgment. The first four opened seals brought devastation at the hands of four horsemen. The fifth opened seal revealed a company of martyrs under the altar in heaven. This sixth opened seal launches horrific terrestrial and celestial disturbances that cause earth's mighty men to hide among the rocks of the mountains. These men call upon rocks to fall on them, hiding from the face of God and from the wrath of the Lamb. They know the day of the wrath of God and the Lamb has arrived.

This chapter typifies the dramatic, heavily symbolic description of end-times events for which Revelation is famous. John sees a series of visions corresponding to Jesus opening the first six seals of the scroll He received in chapter 5. The first four seals unleash four horsemen, respectively symbolizing a world leader, war, famine, and death. The fifth seal reveals the prayers of martyrs pleading with God to avenge their deaths. The sixth seal unleashes massive natural disasters. In response, the people of the world cower in fear, admitting that they are suffering under the wrath of God.

The largest section of Revelation extends from chapter 4 to the end and describes events ''that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19). Chapter 5 focused on a scroll containing God's judgment on sin and a search for someone to open it. Only Jesus is worthy to open it. When Jesus took the scroll from God, He received praise from every creature in heaven and on earth. Now, in chapter 6 our attention focuses on the events that transpire when Jesus opens six of the seven seals, one at a time. This process will continue through chapter 8.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''