THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Rev.5:1-5

     “The seven seals” passage of Revelation 5 & 6 is unique among the prophecies of Scripture. They contain a message that is essential for us to understand in our generation, for it not only pertains to modern history, but also to ancient history. We want to zero in on the first four seals. They address the four horsemen of the apocalypse: one of the most popular religious themes to be publicized in both church and secular society. But it is imperative that we see the correlation of how the Old Testament Scriptures interpret the symbolism of the passage, for over half the verses of revelation are drawn from Old Testament authors. And from this foundation we will see how simple and precious the lesson is for us to understand, and be educated through the Grace of Christ to see their application in our lives today.

     The first question must be answered: Why could not the book containing “the seven seals” be opened until Jesus' victory over sin and the grave? First and foremost is the great plan of GOD’S salvation from sin and death. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” to pay the ransom for His kidnapped children, whose perpetrator, Satan would never have released any of his kidnapped victims (Isa.14:17).

     Without Christ’s victory over sin and the grave there would have been no salvation, no history of GOD’S great deliverance, and no hope for those who put their trust in Him for a future world without heartache, toil and death. This world would have been lost: relinquished to the devil’s imprisonment forever.

     It was because of this mortal danger for mankind that the angel, in a mournful tone of voice, asked the question, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Upon hearing the tenor of the angel’s voice John began weeping profusely. But immediately, John was told how Jesus Christ did come and was victorious in every battle against Satan! Jesus had the full knowledge that Satan was behind every scheme against Him, with every temptation, and every affliction in the lives of those Jesus came to save. It was His experience and testimony that led the Apostle Paul to declare: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph.6:12.

     Right at the outset of sin, when Adam and Eve transgressed the Ten Commandments there was to be no future for man on the Earth: no history to be written: no heritage to record,—no book containing “the seven seals.” The cancer of sin is always terminal. But at the very moment our premier parents fell under sin’s dominion the Gospel of Jesus Christ was inaugurated. The One Who spoke the stars, angels and man into existence stood in the gap and man was saved from his fate of destruction. The Creator Himself intervened with the only way His children could be restored to GOD’S intended purpose for the human family that they might share eternal life with GOD and live with Him in perpetual tranquility and joy. The “Everlasting Father” would become as one with His children, taking to His divine nature our sinful nature, and conquer sin in the flesh: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Rom.8:3.

     Therefore, in the B.C. era of history, every faithful man and woman, beginning with Adam and Eve looked forward to the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. And in the A.D. era of history the faithful to the Gospel call have believed in the fulfilled promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, whose victory has justified every man to receive pardon from sin, if they so choose. From the very beginning of the promise of Christ to save His children a new book was added to the library-record of Earth: “the book of life” (Rev.3:5). In this book is contained every faithful soul who has ever lived.

     With this Gospel foundation in place, let us now examine the character of each of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. In the order of their appearance we see a progression of steps: a sequence of events that has been constantly repeated throughout Earth’s history, even extending all the way back to the fall of our Premier parents. And because of the broad scope of this oft repeated pattern the four horsemen of the apocalypse address the entire history of GOD’S intervention to save His children, and not just the closing events as they are often misapplied in today's popular theology.

     Every nation that has ever existed has had to deal with this progression of events. Simply put, the four horsemen identify how at every event where GOD intervenes to save His children, Satan is always there to oppose GOD’S salvation through the violence of carnal minded men, with the aftermath that always follows.

Here is the sequence:

1) The “white horse” whose rider wears a crown and has a bow in his hand is none other than the LORD Jesus Christ.

     The color white in Scripture always represents purity, holiness, and perfection and is never associated with evil. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." Rev.20:11. When the prophet Daniel was taken to heaven he saw this lesson first hand: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan.7:9,10. So, for today's dominant church teaching that the white horse and its rider represents wickedness not only denies one of the most basic tenets of Scripture, but robs Christ of His glory. "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isa.28:10.

     The horse has always been the greatest animal associated with man’s conquests. Said the LORD to Job: “Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.” Job 39:19-25.

     The crown always represents one who rules. And in the context here it represents victory over sin, as Paul rejoiced in this knowledge: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” II Tim.4:8. And Jesus Christ, being the supreme Victor and Overcomer (Rev.3:21), it is only natural that He should be crowned “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev.19:16.

     And lastly, the bow being the weapon of choice for the LORD to carry in His hand is illustrative of the distance that arrows reach in the battle being waged for the souls of men. Wrote the prophet Zechariah: "And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning." Zech.9:14. It is as when Jacob prophesied of his son, Joseph: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” Gen.49:22-26.

     In conclusion: The white horse and its Rider represents the Gospel message. Beginning with Adam and Eve, the work of salvation has moved forward. In every great movement of men Christ has attended their work that GOD'S salvation may have a voice.

2) The “horse that was red” whose rider takes peace from the Earth with “a great sword” represents none other than Satan himself. In this constant warfare between Christ and Satan we see again and again the devil’s use of violence to halt the Gospel message and quench the life from those whose devotion to GOD and His righteousness gained them the approbation of GOD and the surety of their salvation. Jesus addressed this age-old response to the Gospel call: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matt.24:9. The vast number of martyrs for Jesus Christ can only be measured in heaven. Only in the millennial judgment in heaven will each case be reviewed and judged by the Word of GOD (Jn.12:48; Rom.2:13).

     The “great sword” displays his personal assault through his pawns among men. He is the quintessential assailant. From the time when “righteous Abel” was murdered by his older brother Cain, hatred, violence and murder became the accepted practice of the heathen, who historically have always stood defiant against GOD. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom.8:7. This rebellion exists simply because of the “deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” II Thess.2:10.

     Then when GOD raised up Israel as His “peculiar treasure” (Ps.135:4), they became slaves in Egypt for 400 years. And even when GOD delivered the Hebrews from Pharaoh, all of the surrounding nations determined to blot them from the face of the Earth, when they should’ve all united in joy and celebration that GOD would deliver an unjustly oppressed people with such amazing displays of power.

     And then, “when the fullness of the time was come” and our “Creator” stepped down from His Throne in Heaven to become “the Christ of God” the demoniacs who ruled the land of Judea fiendishly worked to secure His destruction, from His early childhood to the time of His crucifixion.

     Then, when the Apostles were sent forth with the Gospel and “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), Satan’s agents among men, hounded them, persecuted them—martyred them.

     And when the pagan infested church of Rome came to power, their acceptance of the use of violence, tyranny and murder became Satan’s right arm to thwart “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom.1:16. And their wickedness reached its summit leading up to and during the Reformation when Roman Catholic armies were sent to slaughter in cold blood all who refused subservience to the great Antichrist of Bible prophecy, the pope of Rome whose number, 666 corresponds to his official Latin title: Vicarius felii Dei. In the Bible languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin his title numerically adds up to 666.

     And lastly, when the angel of Revelation 18 comes to the forefront of Earth’s final scenes and the last message of Christ’s character of unshakable love is displayed by those faithful to His calling, the leading apostate religion of Earth calling itself “Christian” will legislate laws to exterminate “they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev.14:12). This prophecy has been available for the church’s edification for 1,900 years, but “the hypocrites” (that Jesus identified all of their character traits) will rise up against this last call to the Gospel and the warning to repent of their flagrant, unapologetic sins against GOD. In fact they will decree death to those who dare to expose their allegiance with “the prince of this world” as it is written, “And he [the church leadership of America] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [through demanding the legislation of laws enforcing the worship of GOD by removing the 1st Amendment to the Constitution], that the image of the beast should both speak [with unrestrained authority], and cause [by enacting civil laws of religious tyranny] that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed [where civil penalties increase, leading to the death sentence.

     When the U.S. decrees death for the Commandment-keeping Christians, they have, in the eyes of heaven, pronounced the same sentence on themselves (Gal.6:7). What they intend against commandment keeping Christians will come back on their own heads (Eze.11:21). A swift destruction awaits the population of earth (Lu.18:7,8).] And he [Protestant America] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand [through their actions of obeying the law of religious apostasy (Ps.94:20,21)], or in their foreheads [by accepting this law through the intellect of the mind (Jer.3:3; Eze.3:8)]: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name [through governmental confiscation of all legal holdings, forbidding any ability to provide life-support for family and friends (Eze.34:1-16)]. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Rev.13:15-18.

     The steps leading to this final display of religious tyranny are in motion today. Men like Pat Robertson and others who are presently viewed with sarcasm and disdain by an atheistic society will soon be handed the throne of human government. This is why GOD “commandeth all men every where to repent” “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Acts 17:30; Jn.10:10.

3) Following the red horse came “lo, a black horse.” The color of black indicates famine: a barren, desolate landscape. The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations: "Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine." Lam.5:10. History teaches that wherever conquering armies went, they took all the available food for themselves and left but little for the common man to survive. Hence the voice from heaven saying, “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.6:6. After the invading army moved on, the struggle for food became a matter of life and death.

     History also shows the strategy of invading armies against fortified cities. They would besiege a city, cutting off all outside provision, and starve the city’s population into submission. Of this military campaign Jerusalem fell. Twice the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by this method of starvation. First in the dawn of the 6th century B.C. when the armies of Babylon surrounded Jerusalem: the time when Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. And second, when Titus of Rome besieged Jerusalem in 70 A.D., following the Jews rejection of Jesus Christ and the message of salvation.

     The LORD gave prophecy of this dire outcome for His people, warning them of the consequences of serving Satan and believing the counsel of his false prophets: “And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.” Lev.26:27-31.

     As is so often the case, those who rule and have authority over others bear the brunt of responsibility for the loss of their nation. Said the LORD through His prophet Amos: “And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.” Amos 2:11-16.

4) Lastly, while still rapt in vision, John “looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto 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.

     When the violent spirit of aggression is unleashed and man’s base passions are stirred to action, untold evils always result. Desperation takes hold and decisions are made whose lack of moral integrity shows the true mettle of man’s sinful character. The ways in which man has contributed to his own physical and emotional suffering is tremendous! Holy angels shudder at what men have done to their fellow man via the prodding of demons. But this abhorrent character must be displayed and play out that all intelligent life can see the brutality of sin in its unvarnished character, when the mask of piety and virtue are removed.

     In closing: As the final display of these horsemen comes to prominence in our modern society a great contrast will be seen between those who wouldn’t force the will of anyone to follow Jesus Christ vs. those whose lust for power have used every means necessary to invoke their version of religious law while masquerading as servants of GOD and of Christ.

     As Paul was constantly assailed, leading up to his facing the axe to be beheaded, he held his integrity to a single objective, an objective worthy of our admiration: “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Phil.1:20.