White, red, black, and ashen – the colors of the four horses of destruction in Revelation 6. This scene is also known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Chapter six of the book of Revelation is an overview of the Tribulation which will happen for seven years before the Millennium. In the book of Revelation, chapters 6 to 19 describe the events of the Tribulation.
The Tribulation concludes with the return of Christ for His thousand-year reign (Millennium) on earth as described in chapter 20 of Revelation.
Many questions to be asked and answered, which is why you will get up each morning for the next year looking for the next installment on the book of Revelation. I’m writing 30 Interruptions on Revelation, and this is number eight.
Not every morning will be on Revelation, just 22 more in the next 365 days.
I know you can’t wait. You will set your alarm clock for 6:01 a.m. since a fresh Interruption drops at 6 a.m.
Can you sense the anticipation? Your thoughts every morning will be: “Wow, I wonder if Pastor Grant will have another installment on the book of Revelation this morning? Will the rapture be today? Will I win a million dollars in the lottery today?”
Too many questions, so let’s focus on white, red, black, and ashen. These horses are not cuddly “My Little Pony” types but more like the headless horseman apparition from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
During the Tribulation there will be four types of disaster: false peace, war, famine, and death.
False peace:
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. 6:2-3 ESV
Holding a bow with no arrows, this rider is the Anti-Christ who will conquer with words of peace.
War:
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. 6:4-5 ESV
The “false peace” quickly leads to many wars.
Famine:
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!” 6:5-6
Along with wars come pestilence and instability with famine following.
Death:
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. 6:8
False peace, war, famine, and death, and a fourth of the earth’s population will perish.
Considering this destruction, remember that the church was raptured just before the Tribulation and the coming of the Anti-Christ. With the church gone, and its protective covering of prayer and blessing removed…
Satan is unleashed!
The total revealing of Satan’s plans would not be possible with a church on earth. Jesus described the church that, “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” But with the church raptured, the evil one will not be hindered for seven years.
False peace, war, famine, and death. As Jesus says:
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. Matthew 24:21-22
What we do now? Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and go to disciple the nations until He returns.
Interruptions will feature the book of Revelation in 2021. Read #280, #281, #295, #307, #316, #333, #343 and #364 at www.grantedwardsauthor.com for previous blogs on Revelation.