The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

[B-A-C]

In Revelation, there are series of tribulation (and possibly pre-tribulation) judgements. The seven seals, the seven trumpets, the three woes, the seven plagues, and the seven bowls.
All of this starts with the first seal. The first four seals, release four horsemen. Most scholars 'think' these are likely symbolic horsemen that represent various stages of things to come.

Rev 6:1; Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."
Rev 6:2; I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Rev 6:3; When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:4; And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Rev 6:5; When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Rev 6:6; And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
Rev 6:7; When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:8; I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The first horse, the white horse... his rider goes out conquering. This could be 'cold war'. You would be amazed out how many wars happen without a single shot being fired.
This could be political, economical, perhaps even territorial... but it doesn't sound like all out war just yet.

The second horse, the red horse his rider takes peace from the earth. Now men start slaying one another. It seems at this point all out wars begin.

The third horse, the black horses rider causes food to be become expensive. A quart of wheat, or less than a gallon of barley will cost a weeks wages. The 'oil' and the wine are not to be damaged.
What is the significance of this? This is all speculation, I admit... but perhaps petrol (gasoline) and oil will flow. Perhaps alcohol will continue to flow.

The fourth horse, the ashen horse.. his rider is named 'Death', and Hades was following after him. I can't even speculate what it means by Hades following him.
But it says here that famine, pestilence and the sword (war?) will kill a fourth of all mankind. It also mentions wild beasts, it is hard for me to imagine that wild beasts will kill
such a large portion of mankind, but yet the Bible says this will be.

A can't prove any of what I just said, it is pretty much speculation... but I am interested in what others think these things might be?
The famine, pestilence, and wild beasts I'm fairly sure about... probably the expensive food I think... the rest... I don't know. But I'm welcome to any suggestions or ideas.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Greeting brother

The four horses mentioned here, are/must be, referring to those in the following passages

Zechariah 6:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze.
2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses,
3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses--strong steeds.
4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 And the angel answered and said to me, "These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country."

These same colour horses are the four spirits of heaven.

I did read somewhere that the chariots in these verses represent the four points of the compass.

 

[Brother-Paul]

The interesting thing about Revelation and what John saw and was told to write down is that everything is firmly in God's grip, He is in total control.

Revelation 5:1-6 (NKJV)
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain,

Only Jesus was able to open the scroll, He was the only one, worth and able, but also the one who was to start the ball rolling, the ball of God's wrath on sinners in the world. But these wraths we are referring to in post #1 are just the start, the coming together of the horsemen for battle.

War, Famine and Pestilences are the forerunners of what is to come and we do not need to look far to see any of these.

The WHITE horse many believe is Christ...

Revelation 19:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

But is it? Would Christ be one of the four horsemen? Would he go our with a bow and a crown? I don't think so but welcome thoughts brother, surely a leader that goes out to war with a bow is a warrior, a leader that goes out with a bow and a crown has to be a victorious warrior. This horse went out to conquer, to be victorious, could I add, hell bent on conquest.

The words that stand out above those mentioned above, I think, are that this person was given a crown, he didn't rightfully have a crown as our Lord does, he was given a crown, both we and this horseman only have what God gave us...

Revelation 6:2 (NKJV)
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.


The FIERY RED horse

This, the second horseman was given power to take peace from the earth.

Revelation 6:4 (NKJV)
4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

This one was given a great sword, again we see he was given, a great sword. Although he was given it he didn't use it.

He takes peace away and others proceed to do all the damage. The word slay or kill translated from [sphazō] is not the usual one meaning ‘slaughter’ or ‘butcher’


The BLACK horse

The black horse I think refers to famine, what a strange thing the horseman is carrying, scales, I appreciate they are symbols, the scales I think refer to the weighing out of food, rationing, distributing portions of food which one would expect in famines.

Again we have a reference to the OT scriptures...

Ezekiel 4:9-10 (NKJV)
9 "Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it.
10 And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it.

Revelation 6:6 (NKJV)
6 And I heard 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 the wine."

Famine, control or rationing of food, food which has to be purchased.

The oil and the wine is strange when linked with the famine here, could it be there will be abundance of oil and wine coupled with scarcity of bread. Someone once suggested it could be, because the roots of the olive and the vine go deeper than those of grain crops so that they would not be so easily damaged in a difficult year. One thing that stand out, other than famine and scarcity of bread type food, luxuries will not be available.


The PALE or DAPPLED horse

Revelation 6:8 (NKJV)
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him.
And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Pale horse. Greek chlōros (which we get our word ‘chlorine’) means ‘yellowish green’ , a strange colour for a horse. Could it refer to the colour of a corpse?

The first 3 horses had... a bow, a sword, scales, this one has no sign? Death does not need a sign, death and hades do not need signs, death is death, the colour of death is unmistakable.

I now this is coming off topic but feel led to add what I read yesterday, Iran's cyberattack aimed to increase levels of chlorine in Israel's water

i24NEWS

www.i24news.tv

Again we read, power was given. God is supreme, the church is reminded that even Death and Hades only have the power that he gives them. But the power this time is immense. A quarter of the earth’s population is slain in the ways mentioned.

These four horses, horsemen, are one part, the initial part, I feel they are all linked, they are all to be considered together.

The above are just a few notes I have, I look forward to the replies from others on here.

 

[Bill]

I guess to me , when i read this in Rev. Different thoughts come to my mind .

1) where are the horsemen coming from , and where are the going to.

2) as we know with all scripture , each item has its importance . Why would such details be necessary, if they were not . The bow , with the first horseman . And how it states that he went out conquering and to conquer . Interestingly , scripture never says " what " he conquers .

( if i may say ) i think many jump to conclusions on this , thinking anti- Christ . Knowing how Revelations likes to spin , i dont think so.

 

[Hekuran]

The interesting thing about Revelation and what John saw and was told to write down is that everything is firmly in God's grip, He is in total control.

Revelation 5:1-6 (NKJV)
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain,

Only Jesus was able to open the scroll, He was the only one, worth and able, but also the one who was to start the ball rolling, the ball of God's wrath on sinners in the world. But these wraths we are referring to in post #1 are just the start, the coming together of the horsemen for battle.

War, Famine and Pestilences are the forerunners of what is to come and we do not need to look far to see any of these.

The WHITE horse many believe is Christ...

Revelation 19:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

But is it? Would Christ be one of the four horsemen? Would he go our with a bow and a crown? I don't think so but welcome thoughts brother, surely a leader that goes out to war with a bow is a warrior, a leader that goes out with a bow and a crown has to be a victorious warrior. This horse went out to conquer, to be victorious, could I add, hell bent on conquest.

The words that stand out above those mentioned above, I think, are that this person was given a crown, he didn't rightfully have a crown as our Lord does, he was given a crown, both we and this horseman only have what God gave us...

Revelation 6:2 (NKJV)
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.


The FIERY RED horse

This, the second horseman was given power to take peace from the earth.

Revelation 6:4 (NKJV)
4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

This one was given a great sword, again we see he was given, a great sword. Although he was given it he didn't use it.

He takes peace away and others proceed to do all the damage. The word slay or kill translated from [sphazō] is not the usual one meaning ‘slaughter’ or ‘butcher’


The BLACK horse

The black horse I think refers to famine, what a strange thing the horseman is carrying, scales, I appreciate they are symbols, the scales I think refer to the weighing out of food, rationing, distributing portions of food which one would expect in famines.

Again we have a reference to the OT scriptures...

Ezekiel 4:9-10 (NKJV)
9 "Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it.
10 And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it.

Revelation 6:6 (NKJV)
6 And I heard 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 the wine."

Famine, control or rationing of food, food which has to be purchased.

The oil and the wine is strange when linked with the famine here, could it be there will be abundance of oil and wine coupled with scarcity of bread. Someone once suggested it could be, because the roots of the olive and the vine go deeper than those of grain crops so that they would not be so easily damaged in a difficult year. One thing that stand out, other than famine and scarcity of bread type food, luxuries will not be available.


The PALE or DAPPLED horse

Revelation 6:8 (NKJV)
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him.
And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Pale horse. Greek chlōros (which we get our word ‘chlorine’) means ‘yellowish green’ , a strange colour for a horse. Could it refer to the colour of a corpse?

The first 3 horses had... a bow, a sword, scales, this one has no sign? Death does not need a sign, death and hades do not need signs, death is death, the colour of death is unmistakable.

I now this is coming off topic but feel led to add what I read yesterday, Iran's cyberattack aimed to increase levels of chlorine in Israel's water

i24NEWS

www.i24news.tv

Again we read, power was given. God is supreme, the church is reminded that even Death and Hades only have the power that he gives them. But the power this time is immense. A quarter of the earth’s population is slain in the ways mentioned.

These four horses, horsemen, are one part, the initial part, I feel they are all linked, they are all to be considered together.

The above are just a few notes I have, I look forward to the replies from others on here.

Good observations. Thinking into the situation of the first readers, they would not have received the idea of conquest, famine, death, war and natural disaster as a revelation - that's pretty much what 1st century life was like, not to mention monstrous empires. The revelation is that -- far from all this being a world out of control -- it's all in the hand of Jesus.

At the end, the people of the earth recognise it's God's judgement, but rather than repent flee to the mountains in fear.

It describes our own troubled times as well as 2,000 years ago. Still the vast majority refuse to repent; still everything remains in God's hands.