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Who exactly are these “Four Horsemen” mentioned in the Book of Revelation? What do they have to do with the end times? Here is a biblical look of what these Four Horsemen might mean.
The Apocalypse
The word apocalypse means a prophetic warning or disclosure or a revelation (a revealing) of a coming event of great importance. The Greek word for apocalypse is “apocálypsis” and means an “uncovering.” It is like lifting a curtain or a veil so that something that was previously unknown or unseen is now seen and has been revealed for all to see. The word is closely related to the Book of Revelation or the “Apocalypsis.” The Book of Revelation is not a revelation from the Apostle John. He only wrote it but it is actually “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John” (Rev 1:1). This is the book that contains the so-called Four Horsemen.
The Four Horsemen and Jesus’ Revelation
There is a striking similarity to the Book of Revelation’s Four Horsemen and Jesus’ Olivet Prophecy. Since both are from Jesus we should not be surprised. What is surprising is the prophecy that Jesus gives of the end times in Matthew24 and 25 and in Revelation chapter six are amazingly similar. The disciples had just asked Jesus two questions; when will the temple be destroyed (Matt 24:1-2) and “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age” (Matt 24:4c)? Read the startling parallels in Jesus’ answer in Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 and the fact that the seals that are opened match those of the horsemen…
The White Horseman of the Apocalypse
Matthew 24:4-6 “And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”
Revelation 6:1-2 “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”
Here Jesus warns the disciples, and by extension He warns believers today to not be led astray by false Christ’s or false teachers of the gospel. Jesus will come again to judge the world and He will be on a white horse (Rev 19:11-16) but the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is obviously not Jesus because the judgment of the world did not come with this horsemen. One is going to lead astray many, not a few, and he will appear to be “Christ” or as a representative of Christ (perhaps the beast?) and this rider will be a ruler (with a crown) and will conquer, perhaps in the name of peace and/or religion. The bow represents military power, the crown represents a ruler and he is able to conquer or rule.
The Red Horseman of the Apocalypse
Matthew 24:6-7a “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”
Revelation 6:3-4 “When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”
This red horse in Revelation is one that brings war and the color red seems to be symbolic of the blood that is shed during war. Has there ever been a time on the earth were there have been more wars and rumors of wars than today? This red horse “was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another” and this rider or ruler “was given a great sword” or military weapons and might to spill blood. Jesus said in Matthew that there will be wars and rumors of wars “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” and these wars will produce “famines.”
The Black Horse of the Apocalypse
Matthew 24:7b-8 “there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
Revelation 6:5-6 “When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
During this dreadful time there will be earthquakes all over the world. But Jesus says that these are “but the beginning of the birth pains” meaning that as a mother’s contractions get closer and closer together as the birth of her child nears, so too will these wars, earthquakes and famines which occur. The result of the wars and the catastrophic effect of earthquakes could easily spike the price of food and why famine becomes widespread and why a “quart of wheat [goes] for a denarius” which is what the price of one day’s labor was at the time John wrote this. Imagine working all day for only a quart of wheat! The oil and wine being spared seems to indicate that only the very rich will not be affected because they are the frequent consumers of the oil (which was very expensive then and may denote the richer foods of today) and the rich then (perhaps like today) are the only ones who could afford such fine wines. The rich are not yet touched by the famine and hyperinflation that the earthquakes and the wars have caused.
The Pale Horse of the Apocalypse
Matthew 24:8-10 “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.”
Revelation 6:7-8 “When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”
Tribulation and persecution follow this like Nero blamed the Christians for the fire that destroyed much of Rome so too might the world blame Christians for the collapse of the economy and the widespread famine which produce death. The color of a corpse has been described as pale and this “pale horse” seems to represent death for “its rider’s name was Death, and Hades (the grave) followed him.” This given authority produced death “over a fourth of the earth” and the power to “kill with sword (from wars) and with famine (from the earthquakes and hyperinflation of food prices).” This fourth seal is followed by the martyrdom of many saints (Rev 6:9-10). Today, more Christians are dying by persecution worldwide than at any time in our history.
Conclusion
Anyone that is saved has no fear because they are secure in the hands of Jesus Christ and in the Father’s hands and no one or nothing can ever snatch them out if their hands (John 10:28-29). If you are not saved, you will not be spared from the terrible times to come. For those who are without Christ, they need “not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). The fear or deep reverence or respect of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7; 9:10; Psalm 111:10). Today, if you will hear His voice and humble yourself before the mighty hand of God, you can be saved because “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thess 5:9-10).
Another Reading on Patheos to Check Out: What Did Jesus Really Look Like: A Look at the Bible Facts
Article by Jack Wellman
Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon
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