First and Second Horsemen

 Revelation 6:1-4

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”  And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.  When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”   And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

Jesus begins to break the seals on the scroll from God’s hand.  There are seven seals, each allowing for a portion of the scroll to be revealed and paint a more complete picture of God’s plan for the end.  Jesus, with full authority and knowledge, sets upon the task of unveiling the plan for wrath that is set to come upon the earth in those days.  With sadness and anguish, these things must take place to eliminate the evil in the world, and those who have denied God will feel the fullness of God’s wrath, not to His joy, but to His pain and requirement for Holiness in His presence.  His desire is that none shall perish (2 Peter 3:9), but by their own hearts’ decision, they have refused His love and grace.

Here we begin the introduction to the four horsemen of the apocalypse.  The first horseman is upon  “the White Horse”.  He carries a bow and is given a crown.  This gives him authority over the earth in the end days as a conqueror, an overcomer.  The bow is significant because, in battle, the archers are sent out first to soften the opposing forces by shooting arrows from a long distance before the artillery advances upon a weakened force.  We cannot draw a conclusion as to this horseman’s identity, but we can see that it is not Jesus, as many might think, because of the “white horse”.  Jesus already had authority in heaven and on earth.  In John’s vision, the entrance of this horseman and white horse is in addition to “the Lamb” opening the seals, so we know that Jesus is not the rider in this context.

The second seal was broken by the Lamb, which then released the second horseman upon a “Red Horse”.  One of the four creatures near God’s throne called forth this horse and John’s vision is brought to life within God’s throne room.  The horseman is given authority to “take peace from the earth” and cause man to slay man.  This authority is given from the Lamb, who was given all authority on heaven and earth.  He is also known as “the prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and ironically puts the plan into motion to remove this peace.

God had once before released wrath upon the earth in Genesis 6, with the flood, because of the corrupt and evil ways of mankind at that time.  Here again we begin to see His plan to once again wipe out the evil in this world.  In Jesus’ own words from Luke 17:26, “As in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man”, He prescribed the coming wrath in the end times.  We now see the 2nd horseman on the Red Horse given the authority to carry out these plans.  

We are called to be ready at any moment.  Are you?  Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?  Have you accepted Him as your Savior and Lord?  You can look at the news on any given day and see the evil, wickedness, debauchery, and corruption from God’s righteousness and holiness.  We are nearing the end days, and I’m not just saying that.  The proof is all around you, for we are living as unrighteously and wickedly as those of Noah’s day.  My ask of you today is to repent, turn from your sin, and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  We will discover in the coming days, much worse wrath that will be poured out upon the earth.  Trusting in Jesus is the only path through these times.