Verse 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
Thunder sounds very much like a drum roll. Attention is given when this sound is heard. Thunder is powerful and sends most people hurrying for shelter. Notice that the thunder is metaphor for what the Apostle John heard as he says, “I heard, as it were the noise . . .”. He did not say he heard thunder, but he described the sound that he heard according to what he could relate to in the physical world. The contents of the scroll as these seals are opened are amazing and represent things that have happened and that are still happening today.
Verse 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Most organized evangelical establishment “The Antichrist” that C. I. Scofield popularized in his end time scenario partially because this rider has a bow and is conquering. They see this as the end time attack upon the Church. Unfortunately, a quick search of the word, “antichrist”, shows that it only appears five times in Scripture and never does it refer to a single individual. 1 John 2:18 and 22, 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 7 are the references so look it up for yourself. So what does the white horse and rider represent?
White always metaphorically represents purity, holiness, and righteousness. Remember that this horse and the ones following began riding after the LORD Jesus Christ was seen in the Apostle John’s visions victorious in Heaven. This horse and rider represents the Gospel and the Holy Ghost/Spirit going forth into all the world to bring salvation and to form the Church. This is exactly what the disciples of Jesus were instructed to do as He left the Earth, and they did go into all the world and preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem and spreading to Samaria, and so forth. It is not “The Antichrist” who, if he existed or was to exist in the future, would not be termed white or righteous.
Horses are powerful animals and they represent powers or forces going forth into the sea of humanity to make an impact. But since Bible proves Bible, if you, the reader, do not think this horse and rider are representative of Jesus who is the Word, read what Revelation 19:11-16 says.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
In verse 19 of Revelation chapter 19 it states, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” Psalms 7:10-13 states, “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instrument of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” So God is described as having a sword, a bow and arrows, and a rod of iron which are all instruments of death.
Verses 3-4 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Red is the color of sin. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 Red is also the color of blood. The majority of the world hates the Gospel and those who preach it. The majority of people want to remain in their sins and do not want to be reminded that they are violating God’s laws and His Word. This horse represents the trouble that always follows the preaching of the Gospel, much of it leading to religious wars and bloodshed. The servants of the LORD Jesus Christ have been and continue to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel.
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:16-22
Verses 5-6 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Black represents darkness as opposed to light. Balances represent the things relating to buying and selling. Years ago, shop owners had scales or balances upon which they weighed items for sale so that a price could be assigned. Today, most things are prepackaged and already weighed and priced. This horse represents control of the economy of the world and of the system of money. “He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.” Hosea 12:7 The old barter system that could not be controlled or taxed was seized, resulting in a continual rise of the wealth of the rich and a downfall of the wealth of the poor. Most people in most countries have been taxed out of their rightful earnings, making them slaves to a banking and governmental system run by greed and fraud. The definition of a slave is someone who works very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation. Today, the middle class is basically nonexistent and the majority of the world’s wealth is in the hands of a few powerful families or dynasties. In the days of the Apostle John, wheat was a rich man’s grain and barley was a poor man’s grain. This part of the verse is indicative of price fixing and control of the food supply. Commodities that were valuable in New Testament days and that remain valuable today are alcohol products (wine in first century life) and oil products (olive oil, etc. as opposed to petroleum in first century life). These products are protected from governmental legislation and interference in most countries. Most people are born into this corrupt system and are not aware of any other kind of world, but with the advent of the quantum financial system, the push for electronic banking and a cashless society, things may change for the worse soon. Time will tell.
Verses 7-8 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The Greek word translated as “pale” is “chloros” from which we get the word “chlorine” and it means yellowish pale or green. This horse is a sickly greenish yellow color and it represents death. Notice that Hell follows death. In the physical realm, this horse demonstrates that, as a result of the wars and bloodshed, the religious strife, and the control by governmental systems of the economy and food supply, people die and, if not believers in Jesus, they go to Hell. But there is also a spiritual meaning. This horse represents false religion and a system of false Christianity. Just look at all the religious systems that have risen up since the days of the Apostles and look at how watered down the Gospel has become through false bible versions and false bible preaching and teaching. When faith is placed in a false religious system, there is spiritual Death that leads to eternity in Hell. The translators of the KJB capitalized Death for a reason, and this writer believes it was to indicate spiritual death more than physical death. You decide. Regardless, it is difficult to find a “Christian” church that actually preaches the whole council of God and which uses a bible version that is not corrupted. As a result, there has been a falling away of the Church as prophesied and the sin and corruption on Earth has intensified significantly as a result of this falling away.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
These horses metaphorically started riding after the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant and the Church, and they are riding today. The Gospel is still going forth and meeting resistance, the beasts/beast systems which are metaphor for earthly governments are still controlling and hurting their citizens, and false religions and false Christianity abounds. These horses will not stop riding until Jesus returns and time is no more.
One interesting thing to notice in the above verses is the four beasts who invite the Apostle John to “come and see”. These beasts, as already established in the previous chapters, represent the four Gospel books of the New Testament. Each book presents Jesus from a specific perspective. The Gospel of Matthew represents Jesus as the Lion. A lion is king. The first seal represents Jesus or the King and His Gospel going forth to conquer. The Gospel of Mark represents Jesus as a servant to mankind and the second seal represents the servants of Jesus Christ being persecuted and killed for the sake of the Gospel. The Gospel of Luke represents Jesus as a man. The third seal represents the sinfulness of mankind and the systems mankind has put in place. The Gospel of John represents Jesus as Almighty God. The forth seal represents Jesus as the judge who consigns unrepentant mankind to Hell as a result of their spiritual death.
Verses 9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Scofield doctrine would have the reader believe that these souls under the altar the Apostle John is seeing in his vision are those that are slain during the so called 7 year tribulation period. But these are the souls of all of God’s people down through time. It is likely that the soul of righteous Abel killed by his brother Cain is among this group. The question being asked is the same question true Christian believers have been asking for centuries. The answer is that the persecution of God’s people has to play out until God determines that time will be no more.
Verses 12-14 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Earthquakes and changes in the Heavens are metaphor or symbolic of great upheaval, and in this case, this writer believes that the verses are referring to social upheaval. The timing indicates that no one is looking for it. Everything becomes confusing and upside down from how things used to be. A look at the changes in society over the last 40 years or so supports this. The family is all but destroyed, family planning has resulted in the death of the unborn and a disregard for the sanctity of life, after centuries of understanding that marriage is between a man and a woman the social norms have changed, children are growing up with two mommies or two daddies, young people have been taught to question their sexuality and to identify with whatever pleases them at the time, thieves go unpunished, murder is rampant in many places throughout the world, neighbors are encouraged and even rewarded for snitching on other neighbors, children are taught to distrust and defy their parents’ authority, police are overwhelmed with the volume of crime, people can no longer communicate face to face but rely on technology and texting, people are becoming more and more isolated from each other as on line shopping has removed the need to drive to the grocery store or the mall, and on and on.
Verses 15-16 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
These verses are metaphor for wicked mankind trying to continue in their sins and avoid the judgement of God. With the revelation of the extensive tunnel networks running under the nations of the world and of the sex slave industry and rampant pedophelia, these verses take on a real meaning in today’s world.
Verse 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6)
The one by one opening of these seal judgements seems to be very relevant today. This writer believes that all mankind is living in the time of the sixth seal and that the second and final return of the LORD Jesus Christ is very near. Think about it.