Revelation A to Z - Part F - The end begins.
How the birth pains start

As in school we have learned simple things first and gradually were progressing to more difficult, so it is with spiritual things, particularly with understanding God’s end time plans and purposes. For your own benefit, it is imperative that all “From A to Z - Revelation Made Plain” topics or posts would be read and studied in their chronological order, starting with “Part A” and progressing in alphabetical order. This way, your understanding of Revelation prophecies will progress from simple to more complex. Every week new part will be posted till complete understanding of Revelation is obtained.
This presentation is not affiliated with any church denomination or any Ministries.



Throughout the history the four horsemen of the Apocalypse almost always portrayed harbingers of doom, connected with violence, deprivation, disease and death. Yet proper identification of them remains mysterious till this day. When it comes to understanding seals, what they portray and what they represent, even today, different churches have different interpretation of them. To gain correct understanding of the seven seals and consequently proper understanding of the whole book of Revelation, again we must obey the other command the Lord has given to us in this last book, and eat the open scroll in the angel’s hand.
Rev 10:8-11: Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
If you are truly looking for Jesus’ coming and are anxious (eager) for His reign on this earth to start, the sweetness of this scroll will be apparent to you immediately. The bitterness we’ll experience in a few years, when we will go through the events described in it.
By reading and studying carefully the remaining chapters of this book and by comparing them with the Scriptures, you are invited to gain knowledge and understanding of the open scroll in the angel’s hand, so that in the proper time even you may be ready to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.

Part F:
Rev.6:1-8: "I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.
They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."

1) First four seals are introduced to us by four living creatures.

First seal by the first living creature
Second seal by the second living creature
Third seal by the third living creature
Fourth seal by the fourth living creature

2) Four riders on four colored horses are presented to us in these four seals.

First rider on a white horse
Second rider on a red horse
Third rider on a black horse
Fourth rider on a pale horse

If the Bible could explain to us what precisely the four living creatures are and what is their function, and also what the four colored horses symbolize, then we may figure out what precisely these four riders represent. Then we may have a true Bible answer on what the first four seals stand for.

I) Who are the four living creatures and what is their function?
In the previous “Part E” these four living creatures were explained in detail. Because they play important role in the first four seals their explanation is given here again - just to refresh our memory what the Bible explains concerning them
In Rev. Ch. 4, the Ancient of Days and the 24 elders preside in the heavenly court proceedings. Beside them, John sees someone else.
Rev.4:6-8: "In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings."

Similar description of these living creatures is shown in the book of Ezekiel.
Eze.1:5-6: "...and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings.
Eze.1:8: "Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man."
Eze.1:10: "Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox, each also had the face of an eagle."
Eze.10:12: "Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels."
Eze.10:15: "Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar river."

Description of these creatures as John saw them slightly differs, however the reason why, may be easily understood.

1) If the creatures stood around the throne as John describes it, and each had the same face turned toward the throne (whichever face of the four it may be), then to John it appeared as if each living creature had a different face. He could not see well their other sides without them turning around.
2) John describes six wings, while Ezekiel describes four and hands under them. My opinion is, that Ezekiel, since he describes them in much more details, had better opportunity to see them, and for a longer period of time, while John, dazzled by the solemnity and awe of the judgement scene in the heavenly court, describes them only quickly. However, both speak about the same living creatures, which Bible calls "cherubim".

What is the function of the cherubim?

a) In Gen.3:24, it were the cherubim who were placed on the east side of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life.
In Eze.10:2, the man in the linen was ordered to take the coals of fire (signifying judgements by fire) from among the cherubim.
c) In Rev.15:7, it is again one of the living creatures (one of the cherubim), who gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with God's wrath.
d) In these first four seals we are meeting these four living creatures (four cherubim) in a similar role again.

Beside the fact that God is enthroned between the cherubim, (Ps.80:1 and Ps.99:1), from above verses we can see that cherubim or living creatures function also as executioners of God's judgments. Not necessarily directly executed by them, but they are responsible for God's judgments to be carried out.

The four living creatures are four angels called cherubim.
They are stationed around God’s throne and function as executors of God’s judgments.

II) What the four colored horses represent?
In Zechariah, in the 6th chapter are portrayed the same horses, only this time instead of carrying the riders, they are pulling chariots!
Zech.6:1-5: "I looked up again - and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains - mountains of bronze! The first chariot had red horses, the second black, the third white, and the fourth dappled - all of them powerful. I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my Lord?" The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world."
We can see that the color of these horses here presented, matches almost precisely with the horses in the first four seals. In Zechariah those are red, black, white and dappled, and in Revelation they are white, red, black and pale. Some may object that their order is different. That is correct. Emphasis in Zechariah is placed on three objectives: who comes first and who follows after, who they are and finally the direction they are going. Book of Revelation places emphasis only on their activity.
Notice verse 4: I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my Lord?" The angel answered me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.
In the footnote we have a comment that the word "spirits" in some manuscripts properly translated means also "winds".
The Bible is giving us two answers:

1) These are the four spirits of heaven
2) These are the four winds of heaven

Shortly we will find out that both are correct and belong to each other, but for now we'll start with the meaning:

Re:2) These are the four winds of heaven
Here we have the answer directly from the Bible on who these four colored horses really are. If in the book of Zechariah they represent four winds, then these same colored horses in Rev. ch.6 must represent the same thing! The Bible is consistent! Let's find out first the Biblical meaning of these four winds. Bible portrays two things under them:

A) Four winds represent directions (east, west, north and south)
Eze.37:9: .... "Come from the four winds...";
Dan.8:8: ..... "four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.";
Dan.11:4: ... " his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.";
Mat.24:31: .. "and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

Four winds represent some kind of forces.
Dan.7:2: ...... "there before me were four winds of heaven churning up the great sea." ;
Rev.7:1: ....... "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree"
While Daniel calls them “four winds of heaven,” in Revelation they are called “four winds of the earth.” Both prophets are talking about the same four winds.

These four winds, which symbolize four forces, are the four colored horses portrayed in the book of Zechariah and Revelation.


RE:1) These are the four spirits of heaven
Whom does the Bible identify under the name "spirit"?
Heb.1:14: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
The word "spirits" means angels.
Then the sentence will read: "These are the four angels of heaven."
Can we find out which four angels they are? Yes, Zechariah is telling us that:
Zech.6:5: These are the four (angels) spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world."
Who is standing right in the presence of the Lord?
Rev.4:6: ... "in the center around the throne, were four living creatures..."
In the immediate presence of the Lord are standing four powerful angels (four living creatures) called cherubim. We learned about them on the beginning. If we put all this information together, another beautiful piece of end-time puzzle fits in its rightful place.

The four living creatures who are introducing to us the first four seals, are the four powerful angels (cherubim) who are controlling and restraining these four mighty winds portrayed under these first four seals.

That certainly explains why in Zech.6:5, both expressions of the word "spirits" and "winds" are used. The prophet saw four angels (spirits) controlling the four winds. This explains also, why they are coming out from the presence of the Lord. It also explains why these four living creatures invite John in Rev.ch.6 to behold the four horsemen. Since the four horses and their riders symbolize four winds, each living creature responsible for his particular wind or force, which he has under his control, calls John to come and see it. Notice, that it is always a different living creature who is calling John to see them.

Finally we can look closely on each of these four riders and figure out exactly, what kind of wind each represent.

1st wind - Rider on a white horse
Bible portrays in this seal someone bent on conquest. He will be a conqueror on this earth and will wear a crown (will obtain title of a ruler or will become a ruler). On the surface, the first seal is quite similar to the rider on the white horse, portrayed in Rev.19:11-16, where it speaks about Jesus coming with His armies to conclude the events on the very end. The four winds on the other hand, will be released on the beginning.
To many, the rider on the white horse, when he will appear on the earth, will seem like Christ, however, it will be only a very good illusion. With the help of many religious bodies (not necessarily only Christian) and governments, he will be conquering the world and will demand recognition. In the narrow sense, the first seal portrays Antichrist. From the broader perspective, the first seal is showing us one of the four winds - one of the four forces, in this case, false spiritual and religious force. These will be actively involved in the end time events.

2nd wind - Rider on a red horse
To this rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. When someone takes peace away from the earth, what are we then left with? This can mean only one thing. A war must start raging all over the world - not just in a few countries, but rather a conflict on a world-wide scale. Mentioning of the large sword confirms it. These words in the second seal are very clear. There can be no mistake. In the narrow sense it portrays a great war. From the broader view, the rider on a red horse cannot symbolize anything else, but the political and military forces.

3rd wind - Rider on a black horse
We can observe that under the black horse or under the third wind, severe economic hardship and shortages of food are portrayed. It predicts a shortage of basic necessities of life. While wealth and plenty is still left to a few, most will suffer hunger and privation. The black horse or third wind portrays great famine, but in a broader sense it most certainly represents economic forces. These will play an important role in the time of trouble.

4th wind - Rider on a pale horse
This wind spreads around death. By the process of elimination we can get a good idea what this pale horse rider (4th wind) symbolize.
Rev.6:8: ..."They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."
The rider on a white horse does the conquering and the one on red horse the slaying. Therefore, these two have to be connected with the killing by the sword. The black horse rider has to be associated with famine. What we have left are plagues and the wild beasts of the earth. Could then the rider on the pale horse be responsible for them? Plagues refer to all kinds of diseases, and wild beasts of earth point to the nature which will be turning against men. The pale horse then has to symbolize disease and forces of nature killing people.

We can conclude:
The four horsemen of the Apocalypse (first four seals), Bible tells us in Zech. 6:1-5, are four winds. These four winds are four different forces which are being held in check by the four angels, until God's servants are sealed (Rev.7:3) and then the order is issued to release them. They will be released by the river Euphrates. (Rev.9:14-15) When they are released, these four winds will cause partial destruction of the earth as confirmed in Rev.7:1-3, and first four Trumpets. (Rev. 8:7-12)

1st seal - white horse - 1st wind: - Religious forces bring deceptions
2nd seal - red horse - 2nd wind: - Political and military forces bring wars
3rd seal - black horse - 3rd wind: - Economic forces bring famines
4th seal - pale horse - 4th wind: - Disease and forces of nature bring plagues & death

By releasing the four winds (first four seals) the beginning of birth pains starts. These four winds have not been released yet. By observing what is going on in the world today, their release is imminent.

Before we close this study about the four winds, Zechariah is giving us important information regarding them:

1. He wrote in what order they will become active on the earth:
Zech.6:2: The first chariot had red horses, the second black, the third white, and the fourth dappled - all of them powerful.
First are coming out the red horses (wars), second are coming out the black ones (famines), third - the white horses (false religious forces) and fourth are coming out the pale horses (plagues). Here we are given the sequence how the end will start:
First, nations start warring against each other. As a consequence of wars, famines start raging in different parts of the world. During this time of deprivation, false Christianity will push itself to become dominant religious and spiritual influence. Because of the wars, destruction, deprivation and lack of medicine, plagues and diseases will become prevalent on the earth. In other words, all four winds will be released and start destroying the inhabitants of the earth.

2. He wrote also in which direction their activity will concentrate:
Zech.6:6: The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south."
That would leave for the red horses to go east. These directions must be viewed from the position of Israel. War will start east from Israel. Famine will begin mainly in northern countries. False religious movement will originate in the west and plagues will be in the southern countries. All four of these winds will eventually spread throughout the world.

One more information here shown, is of great importance to us:
Zec.6:1: I looked up again--and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains--mountains of bronze!
Bronze, or in some translations “brass” is in the Bible symbolism associated with judgment (bronze snake, bronze altar). Therefore, these four winds are coming out from between two mountains of judgment! Between the partial judgement on the beginning (the false battle of Armageddon) and the full judgement on the end (the real battle of Armageddon). Here, the Bible is giving us clear indication that two major destructions will transpire in the time of the end.
These winds will be active from the beginning of the first - partial judgment all way to the end of the second one. In conclusion:



Your friend in Jesus

HH

Your friend in Jesus

HH


Gideon said,


Very very very good!!!!