Understanding Bible Prophecy
Riders Released from the First Four Seals
November 20, 1999
" ... the Lamb broke one of the seven seals ... " (Revelation 6:1 NASB)
The Opening of the First Four Seals: Revelation 6:1-8 (NASB)
Revelation 6:1-8 In this passage Jesus is the Lamb opening the seals in verses 1, 3, 5 and 7. In verse 2 the Antichrist on the White Horse is given authority to conquer the Earth. His false peace is broken by the rider on the Red Horse of verse 4. The resulting war brings about the famine of the Black Horse in verse 6 and the disease of the Ashen Horse of verse 8:
1 THEN I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."
2 I looked, and behold, a White Horse, and he who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, "Come."
4 And another, a Red Horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it
was granted to take peace from the Earth, and that men would slay one another;
and a great sword was given to him.
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying,
"Come." I looked, and behold, a Black Horse; and he who sat on it had a
pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living
creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of
barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, "Come."
8 I looked, and behold, an Ashen Horse; and he who sat on it had the
name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them
over a fourth of the Earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with
pestilence and by the wild beasts of the Earth ...