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

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 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 cut off from it earthling man and domestic animal." - EZEKIEL 14:21.

Death by wild beasts seldom  made headlines, though in tropical countries will animals have steadily claimed victims.  In the future, they may claim even more if lands become desolated because  of warfare or people become to 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 describe at Isaiah 11:6-9.  These people  are largely responsible for 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 are so rampant today; neither should we lose hope because human leaders have failed to solve current problems. (and past ones, too)  If world conditions make it evident that the riders of the red, black, and pale horse  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 conquests.

The opening of the first 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 28:21.) 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: Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - The King Rides Victorious

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