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THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

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Sir,

The seven seals are seven symbolic events which the people of God faced from the time of the ascension of Jesus. They cover the same period as the seven churches (Rev 2 and 3). With the first four seals widely known as the ‘Four horsemen of the apocalypse’.

In Bible prophecy the horse is an animal associated with war (Revelation 19:11, 19). As a result, the four horsemen represent the churches as they go forth to battle their enemies.


The colours of the horses indicate a change from purity to apostasy. The first horseman is mentioned in verse 2: “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest,” (Rev 6:2). In scripture the coloUr white always denotes purity and righteousness (Rev 7:14; Isa 1:18.).


This pure white early church went out ‘conquering and to conquer’. During this time the gospel spread like wild fire. The second horseman appears in verse 4; “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.

To him was given a large sword,” (Rev 6:4). Red is the colour of sin (Isaiah 1:18), the dragon (Revelation 12:3) and bloodshed (2 Kings 3:22-23). The red horse represents the Roman Government’s bloody persecution of the people of God during the second, third and early part of the 4th centuries AD. After the death of the apostles the church became filled with sin. An internal war was mounted against the doctrines and standards of the church.


Power was given to the rider to take peace from the earth. The third horseman is described in verses 5-6; “...and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine,’” (Rev 6:5, 6). Black is the opposite of white, indicating that it is the opposite of purity and righteousness. Black is the color of darkness and error. During this time the church entered a period of great moral and doctrinal error, substituting pagan beliefs and practices for the truths of God’s Word, and merchandising the gospel.


The fourth horseman is mentioned in verse 8; “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.
They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth,” (Rev 6:8). This pale horse is the colour of death.


The church that should have been pointing the way to eternal life was instead spreading death. The holy scriptures were forbidden. Pure Bible truth was replaced with heresy. Millions of God’s people were destroyed by the sword, wild beasts and other cruel methods of torture.


Dear reader, in the prophecy of the seven seals the church of God is revealed as being in deadly conflict with the powers of darkness, and while error and apostasy appear to be in the ascendancy, one fact still stands out: Our God is still in control.

Bopoto Gwinyai
(7663 8191)

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