The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The book of Revelation is full of symbolism. I believe the Bible is literally true, yet many times we find that what is clearly meant as symbolism simply must be taken as such. Nevertheless, that which underlies the symbol is real fact, and it is no different here.

The use of symbolism is not difficult to excuse. After all, what did John Zebedee know of modern things? He never saw a car, or a tank, or a missile. Symbols make it possible for him to talk to us. We need to understand these symbols, and put things together in light of modern events. This takes a lot of study, but even more common sense.

Additionally, my study of Revelation has led me to believe that the facts underlying most of the sequential symbols (four living creatures, four horsemen, etc.) are meant to complement each other. That is, the first living creature is somehow complemented by the first horseman. There appear to be such connections all through this section of Revelation.

What follows is a study I did on the Four Living Creatures of Revelation 4.

The Four Living Creatures Of Revelation

There are Four Living Creatures spoken of in the book of Revelation, beginning with Rev_4:6-8. These Creatures are related to the Twenty-Four Elders who sit on twenty four thrones, as the Creatures give glory and honor and thanks to God signaling the Elders to fall down before God and agree in worship.

1. The first Creature is like a lion. 
2. The second Creature is like a calf.
3. The third Creature is like a man.
4. The fourth Creature is like a flying eagle.

   All four Creatures have three pairs (that is, six) wings, each.
   Each of the four Creatures is full of eyes, all around and within.
   These Creatures never sleep.
   They continually give glory, honor and thanks to God.
   They declare that:
        God is Holy; 
        God is Lord;
        God is Almighty;
        God is He Who was,
             Who is, and
             Who is to come. 
   The Elders agree with that, and add that:
        God is Worthy to receive Glory;
             to receive Honor;
             to receive Power;
        God created all things;
        By God's will they existed;
             and by God's will they were created.

   Now in Chapter 5, the Book written on the front and back and sealed with seven Seals is handed over to the Lamb of God. At this transfer of authority and power (the document pictures a Will), the Four Living Creatures and the Twenty-Four Elders fall down before the Lamb and worship Him.

   The first four Seals that introduce the Four Horsemen relate back to the Four Living Creatures, also.

• The first Seal is broken, and the first Creature (the Lion) calls out "Come." This command is to the first Horseman, on the White horse, who has a bow, and to whom a crown is given, who goes out conquering and with the purpose to conquer.
• When the second Seal is broken, the second Creature (like a Calf) says "Come." This command is to the second Horsemen, on a Red horse. This Horseman is granted the power to take peace from the Earth, that men would slay one another, and a great sword is given to him.
• When the third Seal is broken, the third Living Creature (the Man), says "Come." This command is to the third Horseman, on a Black horse. He has a pair of scales in his hand. The economy is global, with authority to set prices and to control valuable commodities (particularly those prescribed for Temple rituals) given to a global body.
• Finally, the fourth Seal is broken, at which the fourth Creature (the Flying Eagle) says, "Come." This command is to the fourth Horseman, on a Pale (or ashen) horse. This rider is named Death, and he is followed by Hell. Authority was given to both of these (Death and Hell) to slay a fourth part of the Earth, with:
  • Sword;
  • Famine;
  • Pestilence;
  • Wild Beasts.

  With the breaking of the last three Seals, justice is completed on the Earth. The fifth Seal completes the Martyrs of God and the Lamb, who are killed for their testimony of Jesus the Messiah, and of and his Love.

  The sixth Seal brings judgment upon the remaining people of the Earth, from kings and great men, the powerful and rich, to every slave and free man, with earthquakes, the darkening of the sun and moon, and stars that fall to Earth like unripe figs cast to the ground in a high wind. The sky is rolled up like a scroll and every mountain and island is moved out of its place. The people of the Earth desire to hide, even to the point of burying themselves in caves and holes in the ground, from the judgment of God and the Lamb.

  The seventh Seal is not broken until Chapter 8, at which point there is silence in Heaven for about half an hour. Seven is the number of completion, as God created the Cosmos in six days and rested on the Seventh Day, so with the seventh Seal, Heaven rests.

  This Seal marks the beginning of the seven Trumpet Judgments. Notice that the first four Trumpets also seem to relate to the Four Living Creatures, but more indirectly.

• The first Trumpet brings judgment on the Earth, burning up a third of it and of the trees, and all the green grass. The lion is thought of as the king of the jungle, and the desertification of the forested parts of Earth is certainly represented here.
• The second Trumpet brings judgment on the sea, turning a third of the sea into blood, killing a third of all life in the sea and destroying a third of the ships. The sea is a symbol in Scripture that commonly refers to the false religions of the world. These false religions may easily be symbolized by the calf, also.
• The third Trumpet brings a star named Wormwood on the rivers and springs of water, making the waters bitter enough to kill many people. In Russian, Wormwood is "Chernobyl." This Trumpet is clearly related to man (the third Living Creature), and man's destruction of our natural resources.
• The fourth Trumpet brings judgment on the sun, moon and stars, reducing their light by a third, both day and night. At the fourth Trumpet, Rev_8:13 speaks of an eagle flying in mid-heaven, pronouncing woes on the earth because of the remaining Trumpets that will sound.

  There are three Trumpet judgments that remain. These bring judgment on:

  • Those who do not have the Seal of God. They are tormented with stinging locusts.
  • A third of mankind. These are killed by the army of the kings of the East (Rev 16:12); that is, 200,000,000 men. Their way across the Euphrates having been prepared by the four angels bound there since long ago.
  • The authority of the Antichrist and all nations, which lose their thrones and dominions, as God and His Messiah begin to rule the whole earth.

  Now, there is another break until chapter 15; seven angels with the 7 last plagues that finish God's wrath upon the earth. The Bowls (or vials) that contain these last plagues is given to them by one of the Four Living Creatures.

• The First Bowl judgment (Rev_16:2) is loathsome and malignant sores that break out on all those who have the mark of the beast and who worship his image. The false "lion" (the Antichrist) of the Tribulation brings judgment upon his followers, and all those who fear him rather than God.
• The second angel pours out the Second Bowl in judgment upon the sea. The sea represents false religion, just as the calf does. The sea becomes as blood, implying the deadness of false religion.
• The Third bowl, as well, makes the rivers and springs of water turn to blood. The spirit (or Angel) of the waters declares that this judgment is because men have slain the prophets and saints that God has sent, so that this punishment is condign.
• The Fourth Bowl judgment brings the heat of the sun to scorch men, fiercely.

The Four Horsemen

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse appear in chapter 6 of Revelation. These horsemen are not to be taken as literal men on horseback, but as images that summarize actual events in a time future to the writer. There are a number of symbols used in these images.

1. A White horse. White stands for righteousness. The white horse was not appropriate for open battle, but identified the general. This horseman probably symbolizes a righteous wartime leader, responding to evil with the last resort; war.
   The crown is given to him. This winner's laurel wreath (στέφανος in Greek; as opposed to διάδημα, the kings crown) is awarded because of his ability to overcome. He already possesses the bow, but the successful use of it earns him the wreath.
   He goes forth conquering and with the purpose of conquering. This isn't necessarily evil. There is a Just War doctrine in Christian thought that is as old as Augustine. The response of most of the West (with the U.S. in the lead) to terrorism and its threat is a just war.
2. A Red horse. Red stands for blood. In connection with Christ, it is a good symbol (although the shedding of his blood was done by evil men, it was intended by God to accomplish the most amazingly good thing in the history of creation). Otherwise, it almost universally symbolizes bloodshed and war. That is the case here, as the rider is given the power to take peace from the earth, that men would slay one another. This doesn't really sound so much like organized warfare (implying a certain restraint) as it does terrorism and random, covert attacks.
3. A Black horse. Black implies darkness; the absence of light. The carnal world is dark. This horseman holds a scale; prices of staples are high, while luxuries are deemed protected. Priorities are turned upside-down. There is no sense in it, but the commodities that people need to survive cost all that they have, while less important items are more highly valued; out of reach to most. The world's economy is badly damaged by unwise values.
4. A Pale (Ashen) or Green horse. Pale or Green is the color of death. Death and Hades (the grave) follow after this horseman. Many will die from the four plagues that this horseman brings: sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. These evils clearly go together, as we see in several parts of the world even today.

To summarize:

These four horsemen obviously speak of a singular time in history when there will be massive war, killing, starvation and disease. Beside death on a massive scale, world-wide economic collapse will mark the beginning of tribulation.

As these events increase in intensity and spread around the globe, we watch for another event that Jesus spoke of.

The rapture of the church.

What that means, and how it will transpire, are subjects for another study. Suffice it to say here that the argument could be made that we are already in the period of time when these four horsemen are on the scene, and the next period of time may see some incredibly horrific events.

The next, Fifth Seal speaks of the martyrs of God, whose numbers are to be completed in "a short while."

We may not have much time left.

The prophecies contained in Revelation (as enlightened by Daniel and others)appear to be unfolding before our very eyes. Certainly there has been war and rumor of war since Jesus gave his prophecies as recorded in Matthew 24, just as he said they would. That generation saw some of the most horrible things over the following years. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and Israel was ejected from their entire country in 125 AD.

Current events, though, appear to indicate an increased intensity. Wars went global ninety years ago, and the world has become more interconnected than ever before, with the invention of the computer and the Internet. Thus a more thorough mix of cultures has brought a greater shock to various human societies, particularly the less sophisticated Muslim world. Terrorism feeds on this shock effect, drawing impressionable young people into the dark world of self-immolation for the purpose of indiscriminate mass murder.

A proper reading of Revelation seems to be imperative at this juncture. Notwithstanding the fact that we are to always be prepared for his coming again, we do want to be able to warn others who may be on the fence that current world events are clear indicators that time is in short supply.

We don't have much time.