Chapter Sixteen - Four Horsemen at the Gallop!

Conclusion of 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 beast and pestilence-that I shall actually send upon Jerusalem in order to cutoff 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 in 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  sense 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 seals 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 through  the great tribulation.  (Revelation 7:4,9, 14)  His ride must continue until he completes his conquest.  

The opening 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: Chapter Seventeen - 'Slaughtered Souls' Rewarded

From the book of Revelation