Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - Conclusion of The Pale Horse and Its Rider

Conclusion of The Pale Horse and Its Rider

John's vision mentioned 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 beasts  and pestilence-that I shall actually send upon Jerusalem in order to cut off 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 four seals reassures us because it teaches us not to despair at the warfare, hunger, disease, and other causes of untimely death that ware so rampant today; neither should we lose hope because  human leaders  have failed (miserably) to solve current problems.  if world conditions make it evident that the raiders 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 the 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 through the great tribulation.  (Revelation 7:4, 9, 14)  His ride must continue until he completes his conquest.

The opening of each of the 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 remain three seals?  Some of the happenings are invisible to the human eyes.  Others though visible, are yet future.  Nevertheless, their fulfillment is certain. Let us see what they are.

Next time: Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - The Framework of the Book of Revelation

From the Book of Revelation