Continue with The Pale Horse And Its Rider

John's vision mentions wild beasts as a fourth cause of untimely death. Indeed, the four things featured by the opening of the fourth seal - warfare, famine, disease and wild beasts -were in ancient times viewed as predominant causes of untimely death. So they would foreshadow all causes of untimely death today. It is just as Jehovah warned Israel: "So, too, it will be when there will be my four injurious acts of judgment - sword and famine and injurious wild best and pestilence - that I shall actually send upon Jerusalem in order to cut of from it earthling man and domestic animal." - Ezekiel 14:21.

Death by wild beasts has seldom made headlines in modern times, though in tropical countries wild animals have steadily claimed victims throughout the 20th century. In the future, they may claim even more if lands become desolated because of warfare or people become too emaciated by famine to fight off hungry animals. Additionally, there are many humans today who, like unreasoning animals display beastly dispositions quite contrary to those described at Isaiah 11:6-9. These people are largely responsible for the global expansion of sex-related crimes, murder, terrorism and bombings in the modern world. (Compare Ezekiel 21:31; Romans 1:28-31; 2 Peter 2:12.) The fourth horseman reaps their victims too. Indeed, the main point of this prophetic scene appears to be that the rider of the pale horse harvests untimely death of mankind in many ways.

The information revealed by the opening of the first four seal reassures us because it teaches us not to despair at the warfare, hunger, disease and other causes of untimely death that are so rampant today; neither should we lose hope because human leaders have failed to solve current problems. If world conditions make it evident that the riders of the red, black and pale horses are abroad, do not forget that the Rider of the white horse was first to begin his ride. Jesus has become King, and he has already conquered to the extent of casting Satan out of the heavens. his further conquests have included his gathering out the remaining ones of the sons of spiritual Israel and the international great crowd, numbering into the millions, for survival the great tribulation. (Revelation 7:4, 9, 14) His ride must continue until he completes his conquest.

The opening of each of the first four seals has been followed by the summons "Come!" Each time, a horse and its rider came charging forth. Starting with the fifth seal, we no longer hear such a summons. But those horsemen are still riding, and they will continue at the gallop throughout the conclusion of the system of things. (Compare Matthew 28;20) what other momentous events does Jesus reveal as he opens the remaining three seals? Some of the happenings are invisible to human eyes. Others though visible, are yet future. Nevertheless, their fulfillment is certain. Let us see what they are.

Next time: The Framework Of The Book Of Revelation