*Horse #1 – The First Seal*

(1) And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.  Revelation 6:1 KJV

The mysterious sealed book of Revelation Chapter five is finally opened in this chapter. The lamb is symbolic for Jesus and as we begin the study of chapter six we read he opened the seal and once the seal is opened there is an invitation to come and see. This chapter in Revelation describes what is often referred to as the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”. Get ready to dive into a detailed description of these things to better understand this vision John has presented. 

(2) And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.  Revelation 6:2 KJV

Who is this rider on a white horse? If you recall in the Old Testament a bow is a sign of God’s covenant between God and man that He would not destroy the earth with a flood. The word used for rainbow was written as “bow”.  

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13)

This word is important because we may mistaken the bow for a weapon, such as the bow and arrow. If we read the scripture found in chapter 19 we can get a more clear image of who the rider is.

Rev 19:11-15 – And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

These scriptures provide a good clue as to who the rider is. A rider can control or direct the horse tThis scripture provides a good clue as to who the rider is. A rider can control or direct the horse to arrive to a certain destination or achieve a purpose. If the rider of this horse is Jesus, who or what does the horse represent? Horses have been used in the Old Testament and we can use the Bible to find similar scriptures to give an understanding of his word. When we look at the book of Zechariah we can find a similar reference to four horses and their colors. 

And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. Zechariah 6:1-6 KJV

We can clearly see a similar comparison with the color of the four horses. It is revealed these are the four spirits of the heavens that go from before the Lord. Another chapter in the book of Zechariah makes a comparison of God’s people called “his flock the house of Judah” and a horse – “his goodly horse in the battle“.

Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Zechariah 10:3 KJV

Symbolically God’s people = is like a goodly horse in battle.

Horses also appear in the book of Joel referencing the Day of the Lord and a battle. 

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. … The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.  Joel 2:1-5 KJV

From reading this, one can view the horses as people in a setting of judgment and last day events. So let’s see if we can identify these 4 groups of people and see if there are scriptures to support this setting.

*Horse #2 – The Second Seal*

(3) And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. Revelation 6:3 KJV

Jesus opened the second seal and the second seraphim says, come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Revelation 6:4 KJV

Another horse went out and the color of this horse is red. The color of the second horse seems to represent the activities of what they are doing. They are taking peace from the earth. There is another power at work here.

Hebrews 2:14 – Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The rider of this second horse represents an influence on people and it is not for good. The horse in this verse can still represent people lead by the rider.

Prophets are known as messengers of God but if they have not been sent by God then they are considered false prophets. In the scriptures below, the “supposed” prophets of God have been speaking from their own hearts. They told the people a false report and say all was still and is at rest but this was not a message from the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:3, 10 – Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! …(10) Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

In these passages we discover the people (prophets) who are supposed to belong to the Lord have been influenced or seduced to give a false report. Who is the one who can seduce someone to lie? This is none other than the father of lies, Satan. 

The color red is also significant. We can see red can be used for the color of judgment. 

Isaiah 63:1-4 – Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

The color red has also been used as a symbol for sin. 

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Red has even been used when describing the devil himself. 

Rev 12:3 – And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

* Identity of the Riders *

This is a good moment to briefly discuss the first two horses and their riders. ———

The first rider we know is Jesus and he is in charge of directing or leading the horse. The white horse represents the people he leads, the faithful followers. 

The rider of the red horse is Satan. He is the one who leads and deceives leaders who lead many others astray. Jesus made distinctions about leaders and the people they were misleading: 

Matthew 15:14 – Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Deceived leaders were also mentioned in the Old Testament. 

Isaiah 9:16 – For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Isaiah 56:10 – His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

These scriptures show there are plenty of times where leaders are deceived and therefore lead others down their same path of destruction. There are other scriptures which fit this description found in Jeremiah 5:31and Ezekiel 14:9.

*Horse #3 – The Third Seal*

Rev 6:5 – And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

The Holy Spirit helps us while we are studying the Word of God. He points out clues and highlights key words. Often times one word in a scripture can trigger a memory for another scripture containing that same word. These are clues that help us understand the spiritual connections and gives us a better understanding of his Word. In the scripture above the rider on the black horse has a pair of balances. The key words here are “a pair of balances”. 

The first image that can come to your mind when you think of balances is “judgment” or something pertaining to laws. Attorneys offices, for example, have or sometimes may use a balance for their logo. 

John 5:22 – For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 

Jesus is the one who judges. Now if the rider of the first horse is Jesus then how can he also be riding on the black horse? Remember this is a vision and visions can be symbolic of a situation or event. In this case the rider is symbolic of a leader over a group of people involved in the judgment. The book of Zechariah speaks of black horses. 

Zechariah 6:6 – The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

The north country can be symbolic for Babylon. Babylon, in turn, has been representative of a “godless city.” So what is happening in this scripture? The black horses which represent a group of people are going into the north, a godless country. What happened to the people of Israel who were disobedient to the voice of the Lord? They were overrun by the Babylonians and taken captive for 70 yrs. (Jer 25:8-11)  If we remember Lot, Abraham’s nephew, he was living in a godless city. He was a righteous man in the middle of a people who did not serve God. But he was saved from the doom of Sodom. (Luke 17:29)

Rev 18:2,4 – And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, … (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Before the destruction of Babylon occurs he calls out to the people who are in this godless city so they do not partake of the plagues the angels are about to release. Based on this scripture it leads us to believe the ones who did not come out are those who are part of its system. They are either leaders who are part of the red horse – some may have also professed Christ, some may have never made a commitment, or have lost their commitment and are classified as part of the last horse.

*Oil and The Wine*

Rev 6:6 – And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

John heard a voice in the middle of the four seraphim say, a measure of wheat for a penny. Let’s just take this part for now. A “measure” is the daily ration for one person and a “penny” is a days wages. Let’s view a scripture that ties this together.

Matthew 20:2 – And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Apparently, you can buy much more barley compared to wheat. But according to the scripture it would be compared to a days wage. This lets us know there will be a time of famine. Unfortunately, when there is famine death follows. 

If we examine the last part of Revelation 6:6 … do not hurt the oil and the wine. It would seem strange to say don’t hurt them, as if they had feelings. We can also view this comment as in “do not destroy them”. But let’s view the scripture with spiritual eyes. What could oil and wine represent? If we look at it “naturally” we will find a scripture relevant to its meaning. 

Joel 2:24 – Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

In the scripture above the oil and wine are referred to as a “harvest”. In the spiritual sense what else would be representative of a harvest in an end time setting? We must remember the Lord uses much imagery to paint a picture for us. Let’s analyze some scriptures that reveal more of what the Lord is showing the Apostle John. 

*Olive Branches*

Romans 11:17 – And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Romans 11:20- Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

These branches of the olive tree are referring to the people of Israel. Oil from the tree can also represent Israel.

Wine is associated with the blood of Jesus. So in the Book of Revelations the wine itself represents those people converted by the blood of Jesus adopted into the family of God. 

• Oil = anointed or Israel
• Wine = Christians or New Testament believers

1 Corinthians 11:25 – After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in rememberance of me. 

Matthew 13:39 – The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

In another chapter in the Book of Revelation much ahead, the Lord mentions “the harvest of the earth is ripe”. The people of God who are on earth are ready to be received. 

Rev 14:15 – And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

*Horse #4 – The Fourth Seal*

Rev 6:7-8 – And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

Jesus opened the fourth seal and the fourth seraphim says, come and see.

(8) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 

John looked and he saw a pale horse and the rider that sat on him was death and hell followed. According to the Word, when a person who has not accepted Jesus dies their destination is hell. Hell naturally follows death. What does “kill with “death” mean? It sounds like a strange thing to say. However, a verse in Ezekiel helps to understand it. 

Ezekiel 14:21 – For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

We can line up the symbols from Ezekiel and Revelation as follows:

*Beasts*

In previous scriptures we discovered the word beast was actually a seraphim. But is this the same word used in these scriptures in Ezekiel? The Hebrew word for “noisome” is translated as “evil” and the word “beast” means life or living being. It is used several times in the Bible with this meaning. In this particular scripture noisome beast is an evil life. The Hebrew word for “beast” at the end of the scripture in Ezekiel is “bhemah”. It is referring to an animal, cattle, or livestock.

Noisome beasts are not animals. Symbolically they represent men who are brutal, bestial, savage, ferocious. In the prophecy of Daniel 7 the beasts represented kingdoms and these kingdoms have a system or a way of doing things. Beasts of the earth runs parallel to the meaning in Revelation 6:8. Those “beasts”, those kingdoms, who have their system or a way of doing things will be dealt with.  

*Death*

To kill with pestilence is a way we can view the meaning of kill with something that causes death. Many people die when faced with pestilence. So the two would also be equivalent. 

If we identified the previous horses as people we can conclude the people the pale horse represents are those who are atheists, and people who have never claimed to be Christians or accepted Jesus as their Savior. One who is not walking with the Lord is considered dead. Jesus himself mentions this in one of the Gospels. 

Matthew 8:22 “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”

In Zechariah’s prophecy the pale horse is also referred to as “grisled”:

Zechariah 6:6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north county; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 

The greatest enemies of Jerusalem came from the north known as Babylon and from the south known as Egypt. 

Joshua 15:4 From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast. 

Egypt has always be known in the Bible as a nation that served many gods. In the Old Testament the actions of Pharaoh boldly denying the existence of God in heaven and declaring himself as the highest God are certainly connected to atheism. He spoke against the authority in heaven when Moses asked to let Israel go.

Exodus 5:2 … Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. 

These scriptures clearly show that Egypt was spiritually known as a godless country. This teaching will continue with the Fifth Seal.