Devine Scripture

Revelation 6:14

What does Revelation 6:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 6:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 6:14 means

Heaven departs like a rolled-up scroll, and every mountain and island shifts from its place. The imagery communicates exposure—nothing covers or conceals any longer—and instability—what felt permanent is moved. Creation’s canopy is drawn back, as though the stage is being cleared for the Judge’s appearance. The mountains and islands, symbols of strength and refuge, prove unreliable. The verse insists that on the day of God’s wrath, there is nowhere to hide and nothing to cling to. The entire creation participates in testifying that the Creator’s judgment has arrived and will not be resisted.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the heaven was taken away like the roll of a book when it is rolled up; and all the mountains and islands were moved out of their places.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and heaven departed as a scroll rolled up, and every mountain and island--out of their places they were moved;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the heaven departed as a book folded up. And every mountain, and the islands, were moved out of their places.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the heaven was removed as a book rolled up, and every mountain and island were removed out of their places.

Context

This is the climax of the sixth seal’s cosmic signs. Having darkened and shaken the heavens, the vision now strips away their covering and unsettles the earth’s most solid features. The next verses (15–17) pivot from what happens to creation to how humanity responds. The scene’s purpose is to set the stage for universal accountability: the Judge is near, and the world’s strongholds cannot protect anyone.

v.13and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.

v.14This passage

v.15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 21:1

    And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.

  • Jeremiah 51:25

    Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith Jehovah, which destroyest all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

  • Revelation 16:20

    And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

  • Revelation 20:11

    And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

  • Jeremiah 3:23

    Truly in vain is the help that is looked for from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.

  • Habakkuk 3:6

    He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were as of old.

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