PT.#1 THE SEVEN HORSEMEN 

Today we look at three contents to seek to understand the SEVEN HORSMEN OUT OF REVELATION. We seek wisdom from the Bible dictionary definitions and commentaries from Matthew Henry and Dr. J. Vernon McGee on this theme.

Link to Pt.#2 @ https://pastororal.blogspot.com/2023/10/pt2-seven-horsemen-fifth-seal-martyrs.html

Audio to this blog @ https://youtu.be/NjKouE74j_s

Bible dictionary definitions:

• The white horse symbolizes the victorious progress of the gospel in the early church, as well as the triumph of Christ at his second coming. The rider represents Christ or his messengers, who are armed with the bow of the word of God and crowned with the crown of righteousness12
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• The red horse symbolizes the bloody persecutions that the church suffered under the Roman emperors, as well as the wars and conflicts that will afflict the world before the end. The rider represents the enemies of Christ and his people, who are given a great sword to take away peace from the earth12

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• The black horse symbolizes the famine and scarcity that often follow war, as well as the spiritual darkness and ignorance that pervade the world. The rider represents the oppressors and false teachers, who hold a pair of scales to measure out food at exorbitant prices, while sparing the luxuries of the rich12
• The pale horse symbolizes death in all its forms, whether by war, famine, pestilence, or violence. The rider’s name is Death, and he is followed by Hades, the realm of the dead. They are given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, hunger, disease, and wild beasts12
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Matthew Henry’s commentary:

• The opening of the first seal reveals a white horse and its rider, who goes forth conquering and to conquer. This signifies the purity and success of the gospel in the first century, when Christ sent his apostles to preach to all nations, and promised to be with them always. The bow denotes the power and efficacy of the word of God; the crown denotes the reward and glory of faithful ministers3
• The opening of the second seal reveals a red horse and its rider, who takes peace from the earth and causes people to kill one another. This signifies the desolating judgments of war and persecution that followed the pure age of early Christianity, when divisions and corruptions crept into the church, and emperors and tyrants raged against it. The great sword denotes the instruments and agents of destruction3
• The opening of the third seal reveals a black horse and its rider, who holds a pair of scales in his hand. This signifies the famine and scarcity that resulted from war and oppression, as well as the darkness and ignorance that spread over the Christian world. The scales denote the careful measurement of food and its high cost; the voice from among the living creatures denotes God’s providence and justice in these calamities; the command not to harm the oil and wine denotes God’s preservation of some means of comfort and joy for his people in times of distress3
• The opening of the fourth seal reveals a pale horse and its rider, whose name is Death, and who is followed by Hades. This signifies death in all its forms, which cut off multitudes of people in various ways, especially in times of war, famine, pestilence, and persecution. Death is personified as a king of terrors; Hades is personified as his attendant or executioner; they are allowed to destroy a fourth part of mankind; this may denote either a certain proportion or an indefinite number; either way, it implies a great mortality and a wide extent of divine wrath3

Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s commentary:

• The first seal introduces us to a rider on a white horse. He is not Christ, but a counterfeit Christ, who is none other than Antichrist. He comes as a man of peace, promising to solve all the problems of mankind. He has a bow without arrows, indicating that he conquers by diplomacy rather than by force. He wears a victor’s crown (stephanos), not a royal crown (diadema), showing that he wins his authority by popular acclaim rather than by hereditary right. He represents Satan’s attempt to imitate Christ’s first coming as a suffering Savior4
• The second seal brings forth a rider on a red horse. He takes peace from the earth by stirring up wars and revolutions. He has a great sword, indicating that he has great power to kill and destroy. He represents Satan’s opposition to Christ’s second coming as Prince of Peace. He also shows how Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel after three and a half years and unleash a great tribulation on earth (Daniel 9:27)4
• The third seal presents us with a rider on a black horse. He holds a pair of scales in his hand, signifying a scarcity of food and a high cost of living. A voice announces the prices of wheat and barley, which are very expensive, while oil and wine are spared, which are luxuries for the rich. This indicates a great social and economic imbalance, where the poor suffer and the rich enjoy. This is the result of war and oppression, as well as God’s judgment on a godless and materialistic world4
• The fourth seal reveals a rider on a pale horse. His name is Death, and Hades follows him. They have power to kill a fourth of the earth by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. This is a frightful scene of mass death and destruction, unparalleled in human history. It shows the awful consequences of sin and rebellion against God, as well as God’s righteous wrath against a Christ-rejecting world. It also prepares the way for the coming of Christ as the Resurrection and the Life4

Conclusion:

The seven horses of Revelation are prophetic symbols of the events that will take place during the tribulation period, when God will pour out his judgments on a wicked and unbelieving world, and when Satan will make his final attempt to thwart God’s plan of redemption. 

The seven horses reveal the following truths to the 21st century Christian:

• The need to discern between the true Christ and the false Christ, who will deceive many with his lies and miracles.
• The need to be prepared for persecution and suffering for Christ’s sake, knowing that he will reward his faithful servants.
• The need to trust in God’s provision and protection in times of scarcity and distress, and not to love the world or its riches.
• The need to look forward to Christ’s return in glory and power, when he will destroy all his enemies and establish his kingdom of righteousness and peace.

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