* There are Not Four Horsemen in the Apocalypse *

Although there is a 5th seal there is not a 5th horseman. Why is that? Did you also notice there are only four seraphim? Could it be that the four horses together include four types of people to be judged? There are four groups of people mentioned in Revelation 22:11 that corresponds to the four horses which represent groups of people.

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 

Let’s compare these 4 groups with the 4 horses:

Is this a setting of judgment? Let’s observe what the passage says:

1. The lamb is opening the seals in chapter 5
2. The riders carry judgment items with them:
   1. Christ (the judge) carries a pair of balances
   2. Satan (the destroyer) carries a sword
3. “Come and see” – suggests to examine the evidence

Peter gave us a clue about an order of judgment. So it makes sense to see some kind of chronological order.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

There is also noted a first resurrection in Revelation 20:5 This resurrection happens just before the thousand year reign. When Jesus arrives at his second coming he has his rewards with him for the faithful. 

Revelation 22:12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

Although it may seem there are 4 different riders on the horses it cannot be proven biblically. There are 4 horses but it does not say there are 4 different riders. The groups of people represented by these horses can be divided in to two groups. The lost and saved. More evidence also shows that the red and pale horses are given permission or power to do something. They were restrained before but now are released to proceed. 

Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth. 

Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was death, and Hell followed him. And power was given unto them …to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 

God has always been a protector and wants to keep his children protected. When people reach a certain point of rejection to God he lets them go on the path and the god they have chosen. Unfortunately, they receive from the choices they have made or will make since this is a prophetic vision. We can see this in the book of Romans chapter 1 when they did not give glory to God they went down a path of destruction they chose. 

*The Fifth Seal*

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 

The fifth seal is now opened. We know a soul is a human life. These were people who were killed for being a testimony for Jesus. There is no sacrifice in heaven but these were slain on earth. The Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5 that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

These people who were slain are asking when will God avenge their death. Their response followed.

Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

If you recall in the letters to the churches, Jesus gives a reward when one overcomes to the death. One of the rewards is to be dressed in white symbolizing their righteousness and purity. We can come to the conclusion they died for being a witness to Jesus. We can understand that “rest” refers to take ease. These people who were killed must wait for a little season – a short time before other fellow servants of the Lord and brothers are killed as they were.

*The Sixth Seal*

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And he looked when he had opened the sixth seal there was a great earthquake. There is quite a bit of symbolism used in this scripture. The sun is referring to the Lord God because he is a bright light and goodness.

Revelation 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And he looked when he had opened the sixth seal there was a great earthquake. There is quite a bit of symbolism used in this scripture. The sun is referring to the Lord God because he is a bright light and goodness.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11 KJV

The sun became black means there was no longer warmth and everything became dark with grief. Hebrew men wore sackcloth when they were giving an outward sign of grief. The color black is also a way to convey grief. When there is no light the darkness will manifest. The moon represents the church and when it turns to blood symbolically this means it is being persecuted and killed. 

Although there are a number of events that have happened in the world already we must always remember that the bible is prophetic and timeless. It will have events that For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Jeremiah 8:21 KJV

• The prophet Jeremiah was lamenting for Israel. In this scripture he said he is black and this meant he was filled with grief.

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Revelation 6:13 KJV

Figs on a fig tree fall because they are ripe or when a strong wind shakes the fruit off before it is time. The stars are symbolic for angels. Before the time of harvest has come, the angels of heaven have come to earth to obey what the Lord has released. He has released judgment.

* Heaven Opens *

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Revelation 6:14 KJV

This is a symbolic description of what he is seeing. Everything is moving out of the way and out of their normal places to make way for what is about to happen. 

Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 

This scripture is making reference that every person no matter what rank you are will hide from the Lord of Lords, Jesus. 

Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitters on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 

They want the mountains and the rocks to fall on them so they can hide from the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lord Jesus. It seems they would prefer death than to meet face to face with him. 

Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? 

This is the day when the Lord Jesus manifests his judgment of anger upon those who oppose him and the question is posed: Who will be able to stand? This concludes the study of Revelation Chapter 6 but we hope this has given you a little more insight and understanding of God’s Word for chapter 6.

This chapter is broken down different than the other chapters that show the visions. In the first four seals the Lord has shown there are four groups of people. The saved which have varying degrees of their faithfulness (righteous and holy) and the lost with their varying degrees (unjust and filthy). The fifth seal is about heaven and the people whose death’s will be avenged. In the sixth seal there is grief on earth. Another reference to the grief that is happening on earth is referred to as a “woe”. This sixth seal is related to the first woe. It shows the church begins to be persecuted and on verse 14 heaven opens up. There are a total of three woes.

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