Behold,The Fiery-Colored Horse!

Toward the end of Jesus' ministry on earth, his disciples asked him privately: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" In reply, he foretold calamities that would be "a beginning of pangs of distress," said Jesus "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages,and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs." (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8; Luke 21:10, 11) The things that John sees when the remaining seals of the scroll are opened provide a remarkable parallel to that prophecy. Watch now as the glorified Jesus opens the second seal!

"And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say: "Come!' " (Revelation 6:3) It is the second cherub, with the appearance of a bull, that issues the command. Power is the quality here symbolized, but power used righteously. In contrast, though, John is now to see a hideous, death dealing display of power.

How, then, is this second summons to "Come!" answered? In this way: "And another came forth, a fiery-colored horse; and to the one seated upon it there was granted to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter one another; and a great sword was given him." (Revelation 6:4) A grim vision indeed! And there is no doubt as to what it pictures: war! Not the righteous, victorious warfare of Jehovah's conquering King but cruel, man-made, international warfare with needless bloodshed and pain. How appropriate that this rider is mounted on a fire-red horse! Certainly, John would want no part with this horseman and his headlong ride, for it had been prophesied concerning God's people: "Neither will they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4) Though still "in the world," John and, by extension, the John class and the great crowd today are "no part of this bloodstained system. Our weapons are spiritual and "powerful by God" for actively proclaiming the truth, apart from carnal warfare. -John 17:11,14; 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4.

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