Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, chapter 6, verses 1-8. These four horsemen represent conquest, war, famine, and death respectively. They emerge during the apocalyptic period described in Revelation, symbolizing the evils that will occur at the end times before Christ’s return. Let’s explore what the Bible says about each of these horsemen.

The First Horseman – Conquest

The first horseman rides a white horse and carries a bow. Revelation 6:2 (ESV) states: “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” The white horse and crown indicate victorious conquest. This horseman likely represents the rise of false religions and philosophies that will deceive many in the end times (Matthew 24:4-5). The bow represents militaristic conquest.

The Second Horseman – War

The second horseman rides a fiery red horse and carries a huge sword. Revelation 6:4 (ESV) reads: “And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.” The red horse symbolizes bloodshed and war. The sword indicates armed conflict. This horseman depicts the violence and unrest that will break out in the tribulation period before Christ’s return.

The Third Horseman – Famine

The third horseman rides a black horse and carries scales. Revelation 6:5-6 (ESV) states: “When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”” The black horse and scales represent economic disaster and famine. Basic foodstuffs will be weighed out for exorbitant prices, indicating scarcity and rationing.

The Fourth Horseman – Death

The fourth horseman is called “Death.” Revelation 6:8 (ESV) declares: “And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.” This horseman personifies death through pestilence, disease, disasters, and wild beasts. A quarter of the earth’s population will perish. The Fourth Horseman ushers in massive death until Christ’s return.

The Release of the Four Horsemen

In Revelation chapter 6, the Lamb (Christ) opens seven seals of judgment. At the opening of the first four seals, each of the four horsemen are summoned one by one. The release of the horsemen depicts God’s displeasure with the wickedness of the world and His righteous judgment on those who reject Christ. Some key points:

• They are summoned by the Lamb, indicating these judgments are ordained by Christ.
• Their appearance brings tribulation and calamity, but the saints are protected (Revelation 7:1-3).
• Their release signals the onset of God’s wrath in the end times (Revelation 6:16-17).
• They depict man’s efforts to create a utopia without God and the disastrous results.
• God maintains sovereign control over their appearance and purpose (Revelation 6:1-2).

Interpretations of the Four Horsemen

There are several views regarding the symbolic meaning of the four horsemen:

• Historicist – They represent sequential events in history leading up to Christ’s return. For example, the white horse represents false religion leading into the Dark Ages.
• Futurist – They depict conditions preceding Christ’s second coming, including the rise of false messiahs, wars, famines, pestilences and natural disasters.
• Idealist – They symbolize recurring problems during the church age, like war, violence, heresy and disasters.
• Preterist – They specifically refer to 1st century events like the Roman invasion of Israel before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

While interpretations differ, most see the horsemen as both literal and symbolic of end time events. All views agree they signal God’s coming judgment on the earth prior to the glorious return of Christ.

Parallels to Christ

Intriguingly, the four horsemen may parallel Christ’s own teachings about the end times. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 record Jesus prophesying future events preceding His return. An overview of the parallels:

• False messiahs – Matthew 24:4-5; First Horseman as false religion and conquest.
• Wars and rumors of wars – Matthew 24:6; Second Horseman with a sword.
• Famines – Matthew 24:7; Third Horseman bringing famine.
• Pestilences – Luke 21:11; Fourth Horseman named Death.

While the connections between Christ’s teachings and the four horsemen aren’t definitive, they do provide food for thought. The horsemen encapsulate most of the birth pains Jesus predicted would precede His second coming to establish His kingdom.

Putting the Horsemen in Context

The book of Revelation can be difficult to interpret. However, a few tips help put the four horsemen in proper context:

• They do not symbolize specific people or events, but general conditions and trials.
• They demonstrate God’s sovereign control over human affairs.
• Their appearance vindicates the prayers of the martyrs for God’s justice (Revelation 6:9-11).
• Their ride through the earth shows God’s restraint in judgment, providing time for repentance.
• They show how God can use humanity’s evil to serve His purposes.
• They unleash judgments only as Christ opens the seals, reminding us judgment belongs to Him.

Additionally, the sequence of the seals may communicate that conquest and sin (horsemen 1 and 2) inevitably lead to death (horsemen 3 and 4). Most importantly, the horsemen lead up to the return of Christ and the glorious restoration of creation. Even in judgment, God provides grace and hope.

Why Four Horsemen?

Why does God use four horsemen to symbolize tribulation and judgment? Here are some key reasons:

• The number four represents the earth’s universality and humankind’s earthliness.
• Using four horsemen emphasizes the comprehensiveness and completeness of God’s judgment.
• Horsemen reflect conquest, war and famine – all severe means of divine retribution.
• The fourth horseman personifying death and hell depicts judgment reaching its climax.
• The imagery underscores the dread and severity of God’s wrath.

The four horsemen provide a sobering picture of God’s judgment on a world that has rejected Christ. The intensity of the imagery underscores the certainty and completeness of the coming judgments. Importantly, God’s mercy triumphs, allowing time for people to repent before Christ’s return.

Identity of the Riders

Only the fourth horseman is specifically named as “Death.” Regarding the other three riders, Bible scholars speculate on their identities:

• First horseman as Christ Himself, the Antichrist, or a personification of false religion and conquest.
• Second horseman the Antichrist or a personification of war and violence.
• Third horseman called Famine personified.

The riders likely represent personifications of the events God will permit and control during the tribulation period. These interpreters point to passages implying divine judgment is carried out by angels (Revelation 8-9, 15-16), not necessarily by the riders themselves.

Relationship to the Seven Seals

The four horsemen provide a snapshot of the initial four seal judgments upon the earth:

1. First seal (white horse) – False religion and conquest
2. Second seal (red horse) – War and violence
3. Third seal (black horse) – Famine and economic disaster
4. Fourth seal (pale horse) – Death and hell

The unfolding of the seven seals depicts God’s coming judgment at the end of the age when many will reject salvation through Christ. The seven seals contain the seven trumpet judgments and seven bowl judgments – all part of God’s wrath leading up to the return of Christ.

Protection of God’s People

Importantly, God provides protection for believers both from His initial judgments through the four horsemen and His subsequent wrath. Revelation 7:1-3 symbolizes how God will seal and preserve His faithful people before judgment begins. Other passages note God’s mercy in preserving the saints (Revelation 9:4), even as His judgments unfold on an unbelieving world.

Relationship to the Olivet Discourse

As mentioned earlier, the Olivet Discourse contains Jesus’ teaching on end time events leading to His return and kingdom. The signs and events He predicted have strong parallels to the judgments wrought by the four horsemen. Comparing the accounts in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 with Revelation 6 reveals compelling similarities:

• Both depict false teachers and deception (Matthew 24:4-5).
• Wars, violence, revolutions (Matthew 24:6-7).
• Famines and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7).
• Persecution and betrayal (Matthew 24:9-10).
• Death and martyrdom (Matthew 24:9).
• Cosmic signs preceding Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-30).

While the correlations aren’t comprehensive, they do indicate Jesus’ Olivet Discourse and Revelation’s four horsemen describe the same period of tribulation and judgment before the second coming.

Culmination in the Return of Christ

A key point regarding the four horsemen is they set the stage for the return of Jesus Christ to earth. The judgments they unleash transition into the glorious appearing of the King of Kings to defeat evil and establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 19:11-21). So while the horsemen usher in a period of unprecedented trouble on the earth, their appearance directly leads to the joyous restoration of creation at Christ’s return.

The Bible consistently teaches God’s wrath and judgment always give way to His mercy, restoration, and redemption. Even amidst judgment, the four horsemen ultimately serve God’s purpose of preparing the world for the triumphant revelation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!