The Four Horseman Series

WEEK 15

“The Four Horsemen”

Date: September 25, 2002

Place: Allendale Baptist Church

Text: Revelation 6:1-8

Introduction

We continue our study of the book of Revelation tonight in the 6th chapter.

Hal Lindsey calls the book of Revelation the blue print of history. We have seen in chapters 4-5 the church in now in heaven. The last two weeks we have been given a glimpse of what is happening in heaven. We have seen heaven is going to a place of continual worship.

Revelation 6:1-19:21 details the judgments and events of the time of tribulation, from the beginning with the opening of the first seal through the 7 seal, trumpet and bowl judgments to the return of Jesus to destroy the ungodly.

Early in chapter 1 we were given an outline of the book of Revelation

1. Things which you have seen- John’s vision

2. Things which are- referring to the church age

3. Things which are to come – after the things of the church age.

Some scholars say these four riders are different individuals and some say they are 4 different forces.

Paul gives us an outline of the tribulation in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11

Last part “Who do not receive the truth”

John 3:18; “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Verse 1

“The seals”

 In chapter 5 Christ was the only one found worthy to open the scroll- the title deed to the universe.

 As Jesus opens each seal it unleashes a new demonstration of God’s judgment on the earth in the tribulation period.

Verse 2

“A white horse”

 This animal represents an unparalleled time of world peace.

 A false peace that is short lived.

“ He who sat on it”

 The four horsemen do not represent individuals but forces.

 Some, however, identify these riders as the anti-Christ.

 Although he will be the leading figure, John’s point is that the entire world will follow him, being obsessed with pursuing this false peace.

“ He who sat on it had a bow.”

 The bow is the symbol of war.

 But the absence of arrows shows that this victory is a blood-less one- a peace won by covenant and agreement, not by war.

“And a crown was given to him”

 This refers to the wreath awarded to an athlete not an everlasting crown or a diadem, as we will see Jesus wearing in Chapter 19 when He returns.

Verse 3 & 4

“A red horse”

 The blood-red appearance of this horse speaks of the holocaust of war.

 God will grant this horse and its rider power to create worldwide war.

 As horrible as this judgment will be it will only be the beginning of the pains of the wrath of God yet to come.

Verse 5 & 6

“A black horse”

 The black horse represents famine.

 Worldwide war will bring forth worldwide hunger.

“A quart of wheat for a denarius”

 This is what one person could live on for one day. One denarius is what a person would make in a days pay.

 During the tribulation, what a person will make in one day will buy just enough to get them by for one day.

 Think about this for a moment, all we enjoy to eat, all that we have. A person suffering through the tribulation will barely have enough to live on from day to day.

 Praise God, those who have trusted in Christ, on His precious blood, will be feasting on His riches, on His bountiful meal in heaven.

Verse 7-8

“ A pale horse”

 The pale horse represents death.

 What does a corpse complexion look like? Pale

 God grants the rider of this horse the authority to bring death to 25% of the world’s population.

 During the great tribulation, death will ride unbridled.

 The pale horse represents plague & pestilence that will stalk the earth.

We have seen the riding of the four horseman, & this follows the pattern the Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 24:5-8

“Some will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many.” The White Horse

“And you will hear rumors of war.”

The Red Horse

“See that you are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nations will rise against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms: and there will be famine”

The Black Horse

“And pestilences”

The Pale Horse- “and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

This is the opening of the great tribulation.