Four riders on different horses
January 24, 2023
Commentary
Chapter 6 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Revelation. By this time the Christians have been raptured (I Thessalonians. 5:13-18). It describes the first six seal judgments and introduces the seventh seal. The day of the Lord and the time of God’s judgments on earth before Christ visually returns is the subject of this chapter. It is interesting to note that there is a striking similarity between the events found here in Revelation and Christ’s sermon (Olivet Discourse) on the end times (Matthew 24).
Event Christ’s Sermon Revelation
War Matt. 24:6-7 Rev. 6:3-4
Famine Matt. 24:7 Rev. 6:5-6
Death Matt. 24:7-9 Rev. 6:7-8
Martyrdom Matt. 24:9-10, 16:22 Rev. 6:9-11
Upheaval in Nature Matt. 24:29 Rev. 6:12-14
Divine Judgment Matt. 24:32-25:26 Rev. 6:15-17
Six of the seven seals that were broken are recorded in this chapter. As each seal is broken a new terror falls upon the earth. The first four seals speak of riders on different horses.
1. First Seal – Rider of a white horse wearing a crown (vv. 1-2).
2. Second Seal – Rider of a red horse empowered as a world ruler (vv.3-4).
3. Third Seal – Rider of a black horse holds the symbol of famine (vv. 5-6).
4. Fourth Seal – Rider of a pale horse speaks of death. (vv. 7-8).
Application
This chapter should put to rest the false teaching that a God of love could never judge a wicked world. I’m thankful that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that I will escape this wrath to come.
Revelation 6:1– 8 (NET)
1 I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!” 2 So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer.
3 Then when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 And another horse, fiery red, came out, and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword.
5 Then when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So I looked, and here came a black horse! The one who rode it had a balance scale in his hand. 6 Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
7 Then when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 So I looked and here came a pale green horse! The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.
Illustration: Called before God on Judgement day
More than four out of every five Americans agree that “we all will be called before God on judgment day to answer for our sins,” (Quoted in Signs of the Times, August, 1993,p. 6).C