5. The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled-- 6:14. The word heaven here refers to the seats of government, the powers of dominion. The persecuting powers would depart, fold up, as a scroll, and roll back. Using the same figure in describing the fall of Babylon, Isaiah said “ the host of heaven shall be dissolved and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.” (Isaiah 34:4) The disintegration of the enemies of the church was also foretold in the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah by the use of the same figures as John employed in the imagery of Revelation; and it is again comparable to the Lord’ s pronouncement concerning the events after the fall of Jerusalem, that with a great sound of a trumpet, he would send his messengers to “ gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” --(Matthew 24:31) -a description of expansion of the gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem and the downfall of Judaism. And in verse 34 the Lord said with the emphasis of Verily I say unto you that “ this generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled.” Here is the blanket proof that these events belonged to that time, that they pertained to the church and the nations of the persecution period and not to a distant future of far and remote centuries. 6. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places--6:14. This is another symbolic expression to designate the divine visitations on the persecuting powers. Figuratively the mountains denoted places of authority in a kingdom (Amos 4:1) , and the powerful concentration of enemies (Isaiah 41:15). The island denotes the inhabitants of the sea, from over the sea, or any land bordering the sea; and the prophets referred to the Gentile peoples as the “ isles of the Gentiles” and “ isles of the sea.” In the imagery of this sixth seal mountains and islands --both Jewish and Gentile persecuting authorities, Palestinian and Romans--would be overthrown, moved out of their places, their power dissipated. Pronouncing judgment on Tyrus for oppressing Jerusalem, Ezekiel said the isles would “ shake” and “ tremble” at her fall and “ all the isles of the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.” (Ezekiel 26:15-18) So of these Jewish and Gentile authorities “ after the tribulation of those days.” Jesus said “ the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” (Matthew 24:29)