The Four Horseman

(the first four seals of Revelation) 

    While the Apostle John was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, God revealed to Him through a series of visions, things that would come to pass in the future. Part of  those visions was four Horses and their riders.

Because horses represent swiftness and strength,( Jer.4:13, Hab.1:8, Psalms 33:17 and 147:10) these four horses once released will come onto the world scene, quickly and powerfully. Horses in scripture can also represent spirits,(Zech.6:1-5). Here they may represent the spiritual forces behind the Antichrist, war, death and various plagues.

As the Lamb of God, Jesus, opens the first seal of the scroll that no other was worthy to open, the first horse and rider are released,

   "And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beast saying, Come and see.

And I saw, and behold a White horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Rev. 6:1,2                                                                                                                                                             tT                                           The first horseman is riding a white horse. White usually represents Triumphr, Holiness and Purity in scripture. Because this Horseman represents the Antichrist, the white horse probably means he will ride in with only the appearance of Holiness and uprightness, and peace. Some Bible teachers believe that because he rides a white horse like the rider in chapter 19, this rider represents Jesus. Beside the color of the horse, there is no comparison.

The first rider is not identified. The rider in chapter 19 is solidly identified as Jesus, ("And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God....And he hath on his venture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (v.13,16) The first rider carries a bow for a weapon; The "Word of God" rider has a sharp sword coming out of his mouth. This sword is the spoken (Rhema) word of God. "for the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit...."(Heb 4:12)"....and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."(Eph. 6:17). The first rider wears the crown of a conquer. This crown in the greek is "stefan-os" meaning, "the victors crown, the symbol of triumph in games or contest, a token of public honor for distinguished service or military prowess.It was worn as a garland of oak, ivy, parsley, myrtle, or olive, or an imitation of these in gold." The rider on the white horse in chapter 19 wears many crowns. The greek word for these crowns is "diadem", meaning "the crown of a King or Imperial dignity".

In conclusion, the opening of the first seal releases the Anti-christ, a man that shall come in peaceably, with great public honor. Possibly someone with a military background. Once he is securely in a position of power, he will go forth conquering, and to conquer.

The Second Horseman 

     "And when he had opened the second seal. I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." (Rev. 6:3,4)

   The second Horseman rides a red horse. Red is the color of blood and here represents bloodshed. The greek word used here is "Purrhos", meaning fire colored or fiery red. This same word is used to describe the color of the Dragon (Satan) in chapter 12. The rider was given "a great sword". "machaira" pronounced, "mahk`-ahee-rah", meaning "a short sword or dagger" as opposed to the "rhomphia" sword in verse 8, "a weapon of large size." The sword is the symbol of war.

The opening of the second seal is the beginning of  "wars and rumors of wars".

 The Third Horseman

     "And when he had opened the third seal,I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beast say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou  hurt not the oil and the wine" (Rev. 6:5,6)

   The Third Horseman rides a "Bad" horse. The greek "melos" is translated "black" here. It is derived from a root male, meaning,"to be dirty", hence the latin "bad".

   The rider holds a pair of balances for measuring grain. A voice announces,"a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny". A penny is the denarius; A roman coin. A measure is a "choinix"; "A dry measure of rather less than a quart, as much as would support a person of moderate appetite for a day." Usally eight choinixes could be bought for a denarius.

The opening of the Third seal, releases the Third Horseman which will bring about great famine;Thus the high prices of grains and food. The famines are the result of the many wars brought on by the first and second seals.What would usally buy eight days of grain will now only buy one days worth. 

The fourth Horseman 

   "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 them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Rev. 6:8)

The Fourth Horseman represents pestilence and death. He rides a "sick" horse. The pale color is "cloros" in the greek, meaning,"pale green". Sicknesses and death come becuse of the wars and famines of the other horses.

Power was given unto them,(the four Horseman) over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with War, and with Hunger, and with Death, and with the beast of the earth.

The four horses and riders will be released in the first half of the 70th week of Daniel; What is commonly called the seven year tribulation period. Many Bible scholars believe,"the fourth part of the earth" means one quarter of the earths population, but I believe it means one quarter of the earths land area; The middle east countries.

We are already beginning to see samplings of these types of pestilences and disease all over the world today; And they are on the increase.All one has to do is watch the evening news. New viruses like S.A.R.S. and West Niles disease are turning up every few months. The "Bird flu" and a related virus has been found recently in Japan and America. These are all viruses that come from "beast of the earth". There has lately been an increase of attacks on Humans by wild beast like Sharks, Bears, and Alligators.There is no doubt that wars and terrorism are also increasing. We are today living in the last hours of the last days. The Four Horseman are soon ready to ride. 

 


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