Scripture References
John's vision of four horsemen - Revelation 6:1-8
Zechariah's vision of four horsemen - Zechariah 6:1-8
Revelation 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Explanation:
What do these horses represent?
The prophecy given to John in Revelation 6, was also given to Zechariah, as found in Zechariah 6. In Zechariah, God reveals to us that these horses and their riders symbolize spirits which go forth into the earth. The color of each of these horses is highly significant as we shall soon see.
The red horse
There is an international spirit in the earth today known as the "red" power. Nations who embrace Communism or Socialism are known as red nations. Communist Soviets were commonly called "Reds," while China is also known as "Red China."
The black horse
The rider on the black horse in Revelation 6:5 had a pair of balances in his hand. Balances are a symbol of trade or commerce. What international spirit in the world embodies the message of commerce? Capitalism, of course! In political and news circles, democracy and capitalism are sometimes referred to as the "black power."
The white horse
White is used as a symbol of peace. The predominant message of the Roman Catholic Church is the message of peace. Furthermore, Catholic policy dictates that the pope dress in white. His helicopter, popemobile, and jet airplane are all white. If he had a horse, what color do you suppose it would be?
The pale horse
The Bible plainly states that the name of the one who sat on the pale horse was "Death", and "Hell" followed with him.