Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 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.
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 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.
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!”
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 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.
Comment: You will remember that the scroll (letter, document, set of instructions) which God on His majestic throne passed to the Lion/Lamb (Jesus) had seven seals. Today we read as Jesus opened the first four of the seven seals. The whole ‘document covers, as we will see later, the time when God is dealing finally with the results of Adam and Eve’s and our rebellion against His right to rule. So much of the document lists punishment/destruction of the power of and the enemies of God!
So today we see four magnificent horses.They are symbolically coloured and the colours are explained. White – presumably for the coldness of death, injury and fear associated with war. The rider carries a bow (no doubt representing all the weapons of war), was given a crown, and he conquered. Red – immediately our (my) thought turns to blood, and he removes peace from the equation of relationships! His sword makes us realize that the lack of peace is going to combine well with the war of the rider of the white horse. Black – and we told that this rider carried a set of scales and we are told that the cost of the daily necessities will be exorbitant and unaffordable! Pale – deathly pale – The sickly colour of death after the blood ceases to flow. Death has a helper, Hades, the place of the dead reminding us that there is yet judgement to come!
What will the remaining seals release?
Prayer: Help me to live in the light of Your steadfast Love but also in Awe of Your Coming Judgement!
As I read it! 