The Lamb, Christ, broke open the first seal and with that came the first of four riders on horseback. One of the four living beings called loudly, “Come!” probably beckoning the rider on the horse. A white horse with a rider holding a bow had a crown placed on his head and he rode out to win many battles.
This is the only rider who didn’t bring catastrophe (the others initiated warfare, famine, and death); this rider went out to gain the victory. There is much debate over who or what this horseman represents. Some have suggested that this rider symbolizes the proclamation of the Good News of Christ. They see the white horse as being “good” and therefore the rider on a good mission. Others believe that the rider on the white horse is Christ himself, for Christ later appears on a white horse.
The fact that this white horse and its rider precede three other horsemen who wreak havoc on the earth, however, suggests that the white horseman must represent the lust for conquest. Specifically, the anti-christ's lust to conquest mankind. The result is warfare, famine, and death. This false rule, this destroyer deceives mankind into thinking he comes to bring peace, but it is a false peace.
At the breaking of the second seal, a rider on a red horse appeared. He was given a mighty sword and was sent out to remove peace from the earth. The picture here is of warfare. Throughout history, conquest has led to warfare and civil war. The rider on the white horse went out to “win many battles,” and in his wake came warfare. The color of this horse, red, symbolizes great bloodshed upon the earth.
Christ broke the third seal and a black horse arrived. This rider was holding a pair of scales for weighing food. The words of the four living beings regarding the amount of food for a day’s pay pictures wartime inflation. First-century readers would have interpreted this amount as twelve to fifteen times what they were used to paying. What a person would earn in a day would buy only enough food to feed that person, no one else, not even his or her family. This then would lead to widespread famine, another devastating result of warfare.
Following on the heels of the red horse of warfare, therefore, comes a black horse, which represents the sorrow and desolation of warfare that leaves people without money or food. The Lamb broke the fourth seal, and the fourth living being called a rider on a pale green horse. The rider’s name was Death. Following close behind was the Grave. The drive for conquest by the anti-christ (white horse), had led to warfare and bloodshed (red horse), which had brought famine and pestilence (black horse), resulting in death and the grave (pale green horse). The color indicates the color of a corpse. The four riders were given power over one-fourth of the earth to kill people with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
Death by wild beasts would be expected when millions of people have died through war, famine, and plague. The number of one-fourth of the earth, working from present-day numbers, would mean over a billion people would die in this first wave of judgment were it to happen today. Nothing that cataclysmic has occurred in all of history.
After the four horses have ridden off, the Lamb broke the fifth seal. It reveals an altar in heaven, under which are the souls of all who had been martyred for faithfully proclaiming the word of God. They had been killed for standing up for Christ and for his word. The altar represents the altar of sacrifice in the Temple, where animals would be sacrificed to atone for sins. Instead of the animals’ blood at the base of the altar, John saw the souls of martyrs who had died for preaching the gospel.
These martyrs were told that still more would lose their lives for believing in Christ. In the face of warfare, famine, persecution, and death, Christians need to stand firmly for what they believe. Only those who endure to the end will be rewarded by God (14:12; Mark 13:13).
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THESE EVENTS?? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NIV) says, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” So what should my attitude be when it comes to the Second Coming of Christ?
BE READY AND BE ALERT. What’s the opposite of ready and alert? Unprepared and asleep. Let me ask you what describes the condition of your life and heart right now? If Jesus came back today, would you be ready? Have you stepped across the line and received Him as your savior and Lord? Have you committed your life to Him? If you have, then you are ready. For those of you who haven’t made that decision, your are unprepared for what the Bible says is going to to happen.
For those of you, which is most of you, are you alert? Are you tuned in spiritually? Are you dialed into God’s will for your life. Are you living out the purpose He has for your life? OR, have you fallen asleep spiritually speaking? Have you wandered off the path – gone your own way?
Will you say to God this morning - I am yours today, tomorrow and the day after, I am Yours. Draw close to the Lord today. Father, draw folks to COV this morning. May the music and message bring a smile to your face. May you do a work in each of our hearts. Don't let us leave COV this morning the same people who came.
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