GETTING THE MESSAGE/Our hope is in Christ
Revelation 6:1-8 is a well-known passage due to the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” as they are often called. You may have seen pictures of these horsemen in art or cartoons, usually to depict impending doom. Revelation six is much like the Lord Jesus’ teaching in the gospels about tribulation his people must face for following him, including false teaching, persecutions, and hardships in the world (Matthew 24).
The first horseman is riding a white horse, and he goes out “conquering and to conquer.” This represents Satan’s response to the gospel being preached throughout the world. The devil represents himself as “angel of light”, but he attacks Christians with false apostles and false teaching in order to diminish Christ and destroy the truth.
The church in Ephesus was commended by the Lord for testing those who claimed to be apostles and finding them to be false (Revelation 2). Paul was worried that the Corinthian Christians were being deceived by the devil and falling away from the truth. (2nd Corinthians 11).
Some people do not believe in a personal devil. They equate it to superstition like goblins and ghouls. But the Bible teaches that there is an evil influence in our world and that the devil is a being who is the ultimate hypocrite, pretending to be good, while being wholly evil. Peter warns Christians to be watchful, for Satan prowls around seeking whom he might devour.
Satan deceives by promoting pride in men or by accusing them and weighing them down with guilt. The gospel is the remedy to both devices of the devil. Sinful man is only righteous before God through faith in the finished work of Christ, taking away any grounds for boasting, and Christ’s work is sufficient for the worst of sinners, taking away any grounds for accusing those who believe in Christ. We need the solid ground of Christ crucified for us to ward off attacks by the devil.
The second horseman is on a red horse, and he is permitted “to take peace from the earth, so that people would slay one another.” These words recall the Lord’s words in Matthew 10 that he had not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword. He meant that men would be divided over him. If all men are opposed to God, then all who come to Christ will be opposed for their faith.
The word “slay” is used by John in other instances of putting Christ to death (Rev. 5), and in Cain slaying Abel (1st John 3). The red horse reminds Christians that there is a cost to following Christ, and for some it will be becoming martyrs. That is why we see that those who “were slain” are gathered around the throne of God later in Revelation 6:9.
Not all Christians are persecuted for their faith, but this is a reminder that suffering for Christ is part of the sovereign plan of our Lord who suffered at the hands of men. It is our blessedness in this world to honor Christ whether in life or death. As Christians, our lives are not our own, but we belong body and soul to Christ. The red horse has come to many Christians, yet they overcame this world by faith in Christ.
The third horseman is on a black horse, and he has a pair of scales in his hand. Scales in that time meant famine or economic hardship. The hardship described here is not famine, but impoverishing. The church in Smyrna was poor because they were being persecuted for their faith.
Christians throughout history have often suffered in various ways, including economic deprivation for their faith. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica commending their steadfast faith despite persecutions and afflictions that they were suffering from. Paul said these things have come “that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God.” Peter says something similar in his first epistle. Suffering for Christ confirms that our faith is genuine.
The fourth horseman is on a pale horse, symbolizing death and hades. This reminds Christians of the shortness of our lives. Multitudes go to the grave every day in this world by various causes. God brought us into this world when he thought it was good, and he knows the number of our days. The pale horse teaches us to be wise with our souls, to make sure of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ holds the keys of death and hades. We are in sure hands. Our days will pass away in this world, but not our hope, which is in Christ forever.