Four riders on different horses

Revelation 6:1–8
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Chapter 6 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Revelation. By this time the Christians have been raptured (I Thessalonians. 5:13-18). It describes the first six seal judgments and introduces the seventh seal. The day of the Lord and the time of God’s judgments on earth before Christ visually returns is the subject of this chapter. It is interesting to note that there is a striking similarity between the events found here in Revelation and Christ’s sermon (Olivet Discourse) on the end times (Matthew 24).

            Event                          Christ’s Sermon                    Revelation

      War                             Matt. 24:6-7                            Rev. 6:3-4

      Famine                        Matt. 24:7                               Rev. 6:5-6

      Death                          Matt. 24:7-9                            Rev. 6:7-8

             Martyrdom                  Matt. 24:9-10, 16:22               Rev. 6:9-11

             Upheaval in Nature     Matt. 24:29                             Rev. 6:12-14

             Divine Judgment         Matt. 24:32-25:26                   Rev. 6:15-17

Six of the seven seals that were broken are recorded in this chapter. As each seal is broken a new terror falls upon the earth. The first four seals speak of riders on different horses.

      1.   First Seal        - Rider of a white horse wearing a crown (vv. 1-2).

      2.   Second Seal    - Rider of a red horse empowered as a world ruler (vv.3-4).

      3.   Third Seal      - Rider of a black horse holds the symbol of famine (vv. 5-6).

      4.   Fourth Seal    - Rider of a pale horse speaks of death. (vv. 7-8).

Application

This chapter should put to rest the false teaching that a God of love could never judge a wicked world. I’m thankful that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that I will escape this wrath to come.