INTRODUCTION
The four horsemen appear in Revelation chapter six, a prophetic portion of Scripture that tells of the Lamb opening a book sealed with seven seals. When he opens the first seal, the first horseman goes forth; when he opens the second seal, the second horseman goes forth, and so on.
This article looks at the four horsemen, their horses, and their significations.
FIRST HORSEMAN
John says after the Lamb opens the first seal, “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.”
The rider of the white horse has a bow, that is, an archery bow, which the ancients used for warfare and hunting.
Some Scriptures use the word bow metaphorically for strength and power; hence to break anyone’s bow, i.e., to break his strength, to overturn his power (e.g., Job 29:20; Jeremiah 49:35).
The horseman has a crown, which signifies authority and exalted rank. Unlike the bow, which he already possess, the crown was given to him. The horse-rider went forth conquering, denoting that he was successful in his endeavors. He also went forth to conquer, that is to say, he went out to vanquish, to overcome, to subdue, to get the victory.
SECOND HORSEMAN
John says after the opening of the second seal, “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.”
The color of this horse is red, signifying a great slaughter and an outpouring of blood, for the rider is given power to take peace from the earth which moves people to kill each other.
The horseman is given a sword, that is, a weapon used for smiting, threatening, attacking, and laying waste. The Scriptures use the word sword in two manners: first, for a weapon of war used to kill, stab, wound, and dismember another; second, as a general weapon used against another, e.g., the LORD’S sword is pestilence (see, 1 Chronicles 21:12–14), the LORD’S sword consumes (see, Jeremiah 14:12). Thus, the horseman’s sword could be anything used to attack or threaten another.
The red horse, and he that sits upon it, having a sword, signify wars, which Jesus said would come: “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places” (Mark 13:8).
THIRD HORSEMAN
The apostle says after the third seal is opened, “And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 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.”
The rider of the black horse is holding a pair of balances, that is, scales, an instrument used for weighing money and other things (e.g., Jeremiah 32:10; Ezekiel 5:1). Unlike the previous horsemen, this rider is not given anything. He is not given the pair of balances, for he has them when he comes.
A “measure of wheat” is the portion that was allowed for one man for his day’s spending.
The black horse signifies extreme famine, dearth, and want of all things, which Jesus spoke of: “there shall be famines.” (Matthew 24:7)
FOURTH HORSEMAN
John says when the Lamb opens the fourth seal, “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.”
The fourth horse is pale, signifying sickness, plagues, pestilence, and death of people and animals.
Unlike the previous horsemen, the name of this rider is given, which is Death. Also unlike the previous horsemen, this one is accompanied by another, whose proper name is Hell. Like the first two horsemen, but unlike the third, something is given to this horse-rider, and given to Hell too, namely power over the fourth part of the earth, and this power is to kill people in diverse ways.
Death is upon a pale horse, signifying sickness and loss of life, which make people look pale. And Hell follows, signifying that the grave is awaiting those who die without Christ Jesus, the grave is waiting to devour many unrighteous souls.
The unleashing of Hell, the black horse, and its rider Death brings all sorts of calamities, violence, wars, outflowing of blood, hunger, and plagues.
ALL FOUR
The horsemen are men of authority, and at the same time warriors too, with the possible exception of the third one. Horses are living animals and were used anciently for carrying kings, emperors, and commanders; they were also used for riding into battle. Herein we see that the horsemen are those with authority, and the horses signify places or seats of power wherein the riders dwell.
Neither the four horsemen nor their horses are said to associate with one another, suggesting that they devastate mankind independently. They go their own way to bring destruction and hardships on the earth, meaning no place shall remain untouched by at least one of them.
The horses and their riders get subsequently worse. The first horse is white, the signification of which is unclear; the second is red, signifying bloodshed; the third is black, signifying famine; the fourth is pale, signifying sickness.
The first horseman is given a crown, and he goes forth conquering, and to conquer; the second is given power to take peace from the earth, and because of him people kill each other; the third brings famine; the fourth horseman is given power over a fourth part of the earth to kill people in various ways.
WHO ARE THEY?
People have for centuries speculated who the four horse-riders are.
Many ancient Christians thought that the first horseman is Jesus. For example, the earliest known commentary on the book of Revelation, written by 3rd-century bishop Victorinus, says this: “The first seal being opened, he says that he saw a white horse, and a crowned horseman having a bow. For this was at first done by himself. For after the Lord ascended into Heaven and opened all things, he sent the holy Spirit, whose words the preachers sent forth as arrows reaching to the human heart, that they might overcome unbelief. And the crown on the head is promised to the preachers by the holy Spirit.”
Similarly, most people in the 16th and 17th centuries supposed that the first horseman is Jesus, partially because both the Lord and the first horseman ride upon white horses (compare, Revelation 6:2; 19:11). Regarding Revelation chapter six, the Puritans wrote in the marginal notes of their 1560 Geneva Bible, “The white horse signifieth innocence, victory, and felicity which should come by the preaching of the Gospel”; “He that rideth on the white horse is Christ”.
Given that the opening of the second, third, and fourth seals bring destruction, it makes no sense that the first seal would be any different. Furthermore, the first horseman of Revelation chapter six carries a bow, whereas the Lord’s weapon is a sword (see, Revelation 19:11). The first horseman is not Jesus but a wicked power.
Given that the Scriptures do not say who they are, the identities of the four horsemen are sealed until the appointed time.
SURVIVAL
In Ezekiel chapter 14, the LORD gives four hypothetical scenarios wherein he sends famine, noisome beasts, a sword, and pestilence into a land to cut off man from it. The LORD then says, “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness”.
Even though they sound similar, the four hypothetical scenarios and the four horsemen are not the same. Nevertheless, Ezekiel shows that righteous saints can survive the judgments that God pours out upon a wicked place. How so? The LORD, “they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness”.
References and credit:
Victorinus. Commentary on Revelation. Third Century.
Erasmus. “A Paraphrase or Commentary Upon the Revelation of S. John.” The Second Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus Upon the New Testament, 1536.
Geneva Bible. 1560. Annotation for “white horse” in Revelation 6:2.
Geneva Bible. 1560. Annotation for “sat on him” in Revelation 6:2.
“Conquer, v.a.” A Dictionary of the English Language, by Samuel Johnson. 1755.
“Pale, adj.” A Dictionary of the English Language, by Samuel Johnson. 1755.