Instead of reading the scroll, it seems each time a seal is opened a part of its message is portrayed. One of the four beasts spoke with a voice like thunder and said "Come." It is doubtful the words "and see" belong here. John is watching and the first rider is bid to come.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rider on the white horse must be Christ. White is used to symbolize purity and holiness, especially in this book. In Revelation 19:11-16, a rider on a white horse is clearly identified as Christ. He was described as a conqueror in 5:5 and is most logically the conqueror here. In fact, the entire... [ Continue Reading ]
At the opening of the second seal, a red horse came forth. Its rider was empowered to take peace from the earth. He carried a short sword, like the one used by Roman soldiers. The word for "kill" is the same as the one translated "slain" in Revelation 5:6; Revelation 6:9, and may therefore indicate... [ Continue Reading ]
The black horse would seem to represent mourning. (Jeremiah 4:28) Food is sold by weight, with enough wheat for one man for one day selling for a day's wages. (Matthew 20:2) He could buy three times as much barley for the same price and thus be able to feed his family, but what of life's other neces... [ Continue Reading ]
The word describing the fourth horse's color is usually translated "green." (Mark 6:39; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 9:4) It would thus describe someone who is sick or dead. Its rider is death and Hades follows to claim the disembodied spirits. Their power was limited, which indicates Christ is still... [ Continue Reading ]
Man is a living soul. (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:44-45) Man also has a spiritual soul which will not die. (Matthew 10:28) McCord indicates the word "destroy" is elsewhere translated "lost." (Matthew 10:6; Luke 15:32; Luke 19:10) Since life is in the blood and the blood of sacrificed animals was... [ Continue Reading ]
The language of this verse is very similar to prophetic descriptions of God's judgment against Babylon and the opening of the doors to the kingdom, which also meant the bringing to a close the Jewish system. (Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 13:10-13; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21) Here is the prophetic language de... [ Continue Reading ]
As a further description of the terrible nature of these events, John sees the stars falling from heaven like winter figs being blown off the trees during a high wind. The heavens being rolled up like a scroll would be familiar language to early Christians. (Isaiah 34:4) Mountains seem so permanent,... [ Continue Reading ]
Every class of wicked men will run to hide from the Lamb on his throne. This includes rulers, nobles, military leaders, rich, slaves, and freemen. Since similar language is used to describe other national calamities, it seems very possible that this is a description of God's judgment against a great... [ Continue Reading ]