The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - (1st Four Seals).

In chapter one we saw the vision of the glorified Son of man, which led to the letters to the seven churches.  In chapters four and five we see the vision of the throne room which leads to the opening of the seals by the Lamb of God.  The righteous judgment of God has now begun.  Notice that the seals are being opened, but the scroll is not opened until all seven seals are removed.  This will not take place until chapter eight.  The judgments found here are preliminary judgments that are in operation throughout history before the end.

The seals are opened in a pattern (the first four followed by the last three) that is used for the trumpets and the bowls as well in later chapters. The first four seals give the reader a vision of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” a rather well known title for this section.  These are not necessarily a sequential occurrence but rather a glimpse of historical events especially as the related to the Roman Empire.  Zechariah’s vision of horses and chariots seems to serve as the source of this imagery (see Zech. 1:8-17; 6:1-8).  John adds more significance to the colors he chooses for his horses though.  Each horse color relates also to the rider’s character and symbolizes “conquest (white), bloodshed (red), scarcity (black) (Ezek. 4:16,17), and death (pale).” (Mounce, p. 140).  John uses these images to show the disasters that are brought upon the earth.  This should not be surprising since apocalyptic literature is filled with disasters, persecution, pestilence, war, etc.  This picture has suddenly become dark compared to the previous two chapters of glory. 

The events that are shown in this vision of the four horsemen repeat what has already been told to us in the synoptic gospels (see Luke 21:9ff; Mark 13:7ff; and Matt. 24:6ff). We have read and the original audience has heard the treat of wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, famines, earthquakes, etc.  We are reminded here that all these are part of the judgment of God on the earth.  This is not the swift hand of God’s judgment as though He has taken specific action against a particular thing.  This is more the cause and effect type of judgment where one can expect certain fruit for sin or evil.  As we consider Rome and its greed for power and possessions, we can understand that these sins will yield war, pestilence, more evil and even death. Yet, Jesus said that these are just the beginning of the birth pangs; the worst is yet to come and the end is yet to come (Mark 13:7-8).  

1-8 – The following are the main points of this section:

. God is in control of this whole process

. power is given by God in each event to accomplish something

. the destruction is self-inflicted and yet limited by God’s plan

. the church will be preserved through all tribulation – there will be casualties

Only what God allows will be able to take place – even Death is subject to Him.

v. 8 – Here Death and Hades are given significant power to kill ¼ of the population of the earth in various ways mentioned (sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts).  Ezek. 14:21 – same four judgments of death and stated as judgments from God.

These first four seals reveal the condition of the Empire as John sees it in his current time frame.  This powerful nation, bent on conquest, is suffering the effects of these “cause and effect” elements.  This scene repeats in history.

Review of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

- The scroll of human history is about to be opened by Jesus!

- The scroll - written on both sides (completely filled) - What would you have expected to happen when it was opened?  What does happen?

- Sealed with 7 seals - can't open until the all seven are removed - perfectly sealed.

- The first 4 seals are judgments against the earth - what it became.

- A little surprising - great events?  They are!

- Nothing new here - common events in apocalyptic literature.

- CHURCH - new element - we will see how things revolve around it.  -  God is in control  -  reigning King - carrying out His plan.

- Look at these judgments (4 Horsemen) - against all the earth - believers included - natural course of events - - God allows it.  WHY?  What happens when things go bad?

- Cause and effect - self-defeating character of sin!  --  God just has to let it happen - certainty of ruin!

- In the wake of conquest comes: war, famine, pestilence, and death.

- CHRIST (the LAMB) opens the seals of judgment. --  His death and resurrection - not only salvation by judgment of sin.

- BELIEVER - What type of death, matters to God - WHY?

- Angel say - COME - and the horseman comes - not John.

1 - WHITE HORSE - conquest/Power - victory - bow? not a Roman warrior - maybe an outsider - Later on - Christ on a White Horse.

2 - RED HORSE - WAR - takes peace from the earth - civil war - slay/butcher/slaughter

3 - BLACK HORSE - famine/scarcity - (Ez. 4:9-10) - famine by not starvation!

4 - PALE HORSE - "chloros" - chlorine look - DEATH - "power was given"  --  Zech. 6:1-3 - colored horses & chariots.