Rev 6:1-8 The first four seals
Rev 6:1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."
Rev 6:2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that {men} would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Rev 6:5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard {something} like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
Rev 6:7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
OK. Let's break this down.
When the first seal is broken we see the white horse. The rider has a bow, and is given a crown. A lot of emphasis seems to be given to the fact that the rider has a bow, but there is no mention of arrows. There are some people who think that this means the rider is "all show and no real power". However, the rider does go out conquering and to conquer.
Common thought is that this is the antichrist, but the rider is not named as such. Who (or what) is the rider going out to conquer? I am beginning to believe that this horse (and rider) is NOT the antichrist. But what is it, then?
Could it be a conquering spirit sent out against the church? Perhaps a spirit using unbiblical ecumenicalism?
With the breaking of the second seal, the red horse is released. This rider has a great sword, and it is granted to him to take peace from the earth and that men would slay one another.
This is war. Who, though, is the rider? Could it be a "spirit" of war? Perhaps similar to the spirit that controlled the region of Persia mentioned in Daniel 10:13? This rider "takes peace" from the earth so that man will slay one another. Perhaps this spirit of war puts it in mens hearts to commit war.
When the third seal is broken, the black horse is released. This rider has a pair of scales and "{something} like a voice in the center of the four living creatures" says "a quart of wheat for a denarius" and "3 quarts of barley for a denarius". Note that it is not the rider who says this, but something from the center of the four living creatures.
Common consensus is that this means famine. Perhaps, though, it means economic collapse. A denarius was typically a days wages. The scripture is NOT saying that there will be NO food, but it is saying that the food will be expensive. An economic collapse could mean famine (as food production would be impacted, and the ability to purchase food would be affected), but that would have to be inferred from this scripture.
With the fourth seal, John sees the pale horse. Its riders name is Death. This is the only rider that is specifically named. Following him is Hades. This is the only rider that is accompanied by another entity. Hades is also a personification of a place. Authority is given to them over 1/4 of the earth, and authority is given o them to kill with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.
As to the "1/4 of the earth" - does that mean 1/4 of the people? Or 1/4 of the land of the earth? The greek might indicate that it means the physical land of the earth. If this is authority over a physical portion of the earth, does that indicate a contiguous portion (ie: one large land mass?), or seperate areas throughout the globe?
Rev 6:2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that {men} would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Rev 6:5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard {something} like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
Rev 6:7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come."
Rev 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
OK. Let's break this down.
When the first seal is broken we see the white horse. The rider has a bow, and is given a crown. A lot of emphasis seems to be given to the fact that the rider has a bow, but there is no mention of arrows. There are some people who think that this means the rider is "all show and no real power". However, the rider does go out conquering and to conquer.
Common thought is that this is the antichrist, but the rider is not named as such. Who (or what) is the rider going out to conquer? I am beginning to believe that this horse (and rider) is NOT the antichrist. But what is it, then?
Could it be a conquering spirit sent out against the church? Perhaps a spirit using unbiblical ecumenicalism?
With the breaking of the second seal, the red horse is released. This rider has a great sword, and it is granted to him to take peace from the earth and that men would slay one another.
This is war. Who, though, is the rider? Could it be a "spirit" of war? Perhaps similar to the spirit that controlled the region of Persia mentioned in Daniel 10:13? This rider "takes peace" from the earth so that man will slay one another. Perhaps this spirit of war puts it in mens hearts to commit war.
When the third seal is broken, the black horse is released. This rider has a pair of scales and "{something} like a voice in the center of the four living creatures" says "a quart of wheat for a denarius" and "3 quarts of barley for a denarius". Note that it is not the rider who says this, but something from the center of the four living creatures.
Common consensus is that this means famine. Perhaps, though, it means economic collapse. A denarius was typically a days wages. The scripture is NOT saying that there will be NO food, but it is saying that the food will be expensive. An economic collapse could mean famine (as food production would be impacted, and the ability to purchase food would be affected), but that would have to be inferred from this scripture.
With the fourth seal, John sees the pale horse. Its riders name is Death. This is the only rider that is specifically named. Following him is Hades. This is the only rider that is accompanied by another entity. Hades is also a personification of a place. Authority is given to them over 1/4 of the earth, and authority is given o them to kill with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.
As to the "1/4 of the earth" - does that mean 1/4 of the people? Or 1/4 of the land of the earth? The greek might indicate that it means the physical land of the earth. If this is authority over a physical portion of the earth, does that indicate a contiguous portion (ie: one large land mass?), or seperate areas throughout the globe?
posted by MarkD at 11:52 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home