The Fourth Seal and the Horseman on the Pale Horse

[not an echo]

In the last few days, I've started threads having to do with the opening of the first three seals and the going forth of the first three horsemen.  For the one who may have not seen those threads, according to the opening verses of The Revelation, it is quite evident that John was shown things that were "at hand" to begin to take place from his perspective of time (Rev. 1:1-3).  The Revelation is his record of what he saw, and he was told to send this, with specific messages, to the seven churches that were in Asia (Rev. 1:10-11), which he did (Rev. 2-3).  Just before he was shown what would be taking place, he was called up "in the spirit" to Heaven and allowed to behold God on His throne (Rev. 4).  John then tells of a book he saw in God's right hand, which was sealed with seven seals, and of an event that takes place in Heaven in which the Lamb (Jesus Christ) alone is found worthy to have charge of it (Rev. 5).  The beginning of what was about to start taking place related to the opening of the seals of that Seven Sealed Book, a book that could rightly be entitled THE DAY OF THE LORD.  The seals of this book pertain to the post-apostolic era of the Church and things that were/are slated to take place before the Day of the Lord will begin (Rev. 6-7).  In other words, the seals of this book represent what will be taking place leading up to what is contained within the book.

In harmony with Scripture, and repeatedly testified to in the annals of history, Christ opened the first four seals late in the first century, granting to Satan the certain liberties that he (Satan) has been given to continue the plying of his craft into and during the Christian era (also known as the Church Age).  As it has always been, Satan would have absolutely no liberties otherwise.  As revealed in The Revelation, these liberties are exercised by his henchmen, the four horsemen of the first four seals.  Moreover, these horsemen have been riding down through the corridors of the Christian era even unto our day, doing just what they have been insatiably bent on doing.  To the discerning eye, a survey of history since the first century will reveal that they have left quite a trail.  Their activity is responsible for the things Jesus warned of in the opening of His Olivet Discourse (e.g., Matt. 24:4-11).  From a worldwide and historical perspective, these things of which Jesus warned have characterized every century of the Christian era.  With this thread, I would like to continue further and look a little closer at the opening of the 4th Seal and its horseman.  Consider, from Revelation 6:

  7   And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

  8   And I looked, and behold a pale horse:  and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

And, what was the fourth category of things that Jesus warned His disciples of when He spoke to them on the Mount of Olives?  Consider from Matthew 24:

  9   Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:  and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.

 10   And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

It is clear that what Jesus here says concerns the persecution and martyrdom His followers were going to face.  He had just warned about "wars and rumours of wars," and this warning parallels with 2nd Seal and the activity of the rider on the red horse.  But, what He said about wars has to do with people killing one another.  What He is now talking about is a little different.  Martyrdom is about people killing others, and more particularly, over their faith.  Paralleling this, the 4th Seal is about the killing or martyrdom of Christians.  What John here recorded concerning the various means employed for killing would do for a brief summary of what Old Testament Saints faced for their faith (see Heb. 11:32-38).  And, such has been the experience of many in our New Testament days.  James, the first apostle martyred, was killed by a sword (Acts 12:2).  We know that Christians have been fed to wild beasts and starved in dungeons.  The rider on this pale horse has not been too particular about the matter he has utilized to kill off the children of God.

But, what does it mean to kill "with death" (Rev. 6:8)?  The Greek word from which death is translated means this, and nothing more---DEATH.  This rider named Death has not only been granted the power to kill with sword and hunger and beasts of the earth, he has also been granted the power to kill with death.  What does this mean?  It simply means to make someone die.  When God granted Satan his opportunity with Job, He put a limit on his liberty with these words:  "Behold, he is in thine hand;  but save his life" (Job 2:6).  Satan was allowed to go as far with Job as he wanted to go, only he could not cause him to die.   However, he could have if God had let him.  Among the ways listed that the rider on the pale horse can kill Christians, he has also been granted the power or liberty to simply cause some to die.  How many Christians, especially those who seem to be in the prime of their service for Christ, have experienced what is commonly referred to as an "untimely death"?  I submit that this is often linked to the activity of the horseman of the 4th Seal.

Having spoke of the efforts of Christ's Bride being rode roughshod over (relating to the first three horsemen), how long have those who make up His Bride been themselves rode roughshod  over by something, and for so many, even to the point of martyrdom?  Based on the evidence of Scripture, it is this rider on the pale horse of the 4th Seal that has been the sinister influence Satan has employed to push for the persecution and martyrdom of Christians since the days of the apostles.  It can be truthfully said that the "gates of hell" (Matt. 16:18) have long followed with this rider called Death, both bent on doing as much damage as they can to the cause of Christianity, even to the point of mercilessly killing Christians.  Whatever one may believe about the seals, millions of Christians have been subjected to suffering and death, but the Church has yet to be prevailed against (Matt. 16:18).  Amen!

Now realize this:  A big reason the gates of Hell have not prevailed against the Church is because God has put some limits on things.  One of these limits will be the focus of my next post in this thread, and it should not be too difficult to understand.

Following are threads that I have concerning the other seals:

The First Seal and the Horseman on the White Horse (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/250674-the-first-seal-and-the-horseman-on-the-white-horse/).

The Second Seal and the Horseman on the Red Horse (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/250725-the-second-seal-and-the-horseman-on-the-red-horse/).

The Third Seal and the Horseman on the Black Horse (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/250748-the-third-seal-and-the-horseman-on-the-black-horse/).

The Fifth Seal and the Cry of the Martyrs (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/250955-the-fifth-seal-and-the-cry-of-the-martyrs/).

These threads concern A Totally Different Pre-Daniel's 70th Week Rapture Interpretation that I have.  Following is a link to my master thread, where more information and a running list of other threads is given concerning this interpretation: (https://www.worthychristianforums.com/topic/253935-a-totally-different-pre-daniels-70th-week-rapture-interpretation/).

Edited February 2, 2023 by not an echo
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[not an echo]

Perhaps the biggest difficulty some may have in accepting the possibility that the first four seals are already open is a misinterpretation of the words, "and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth" (Rev. 6:8).  If this is interpreted to mean that one-fourth of the population is to die (the common interpretation), this would lack any historical evidence of fulfillment so far.  This would mean that this is something yet to occur in the future.  However, this passage does not state that one-fourth of the population is to die, but rather, that power is given to Death and Hell over one-fourth "of the earth."  This passage is speaking geographically!  This would mean that power is given to the rider on the pale horse (and Hell) to martyr Christians, but only over one-fourth of the earth in a geographical sense.  In other words, Satan's liberty in this respect would extend only this far, no farther.  Christians in the mix of the rest of the world would be off-limits to this most extreme degree of hostility.

This understanding changes the whole dynamic of what the 4th Seal has been interpreted by so many to mean and removes the mistaken snag that it may already be open.  Whereas we know history will not support that one-fourth of the world's population has ever been killed during the era of the Church, we cannot make such a statement if what is here being revealed is Satan's power to kill Christians over a limited portion of the earth.  To the contrary, we know very well that many have put their lives on the line, sacrificing themselves on the altar of Christian service, by going to some of the places they have gone.  We know there are lots of places (arguably totaling one-fourth of the earth!) where, if a missionary should go, he or she may very well not return.  It was that way in the first century, it has been that way since the first century, and it is that way today.  Again, this has been the result of the activity of the rider on the pale horse (and Hell).

As should be very plain, the 4th Seal is not a "seal judgment" or "a judgment of God upon the ungodly."  Neither is the first three seals, and neither is the next one, which simply substantiates that the 4th Seal is indeed about the martyrdom of Christians. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by not an echo