Tag Archives: Apocalypse

I am going to attempt to put a new spin on this interpreted story.

First, we must look at the names and affects of each horsemen. Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death all seem as though they perform a specific purpose… but there is one problem. Pestilence, War, and Famine are all cancelled out by Death. They are not needed. They’re end result would be Death, but since Death would handle all of that anyway, they are obsolete in bringing about the end of the world. So, perhaps there is more to them or something wholly different.

Again, we must remember that these Four Horsemen were brought about to end the world. So, let’s take a look at the scripture.

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.

Often called Pestilence, this Horsemen is actually referred to as Conquest more often. However, notice the symbolism of the crown and bow. This horsemen represents the corruption of the kings and the downfall of empires. One could refer to this as war, but not necessarily. The chaos that would ensue from a completely dismantled civilization from within would surely be catastrophic.

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 huge sword.

The order of these Horsemen plays a big part, I feel, in the end of the world according to Revelations. After the governments of the world are toppled by Conquest, War comes and finishes the work set in motion by Conquest.

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!”

Once War has finished his work, the Horsemen people refer to as Famine marches in. but I do not think I agree with the assumption that this horsemen represents famine. While he does mention food in this interpretation, it’s the wording that puzzles me. “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages” could mean food is scarce, but I think more so it represents Control. After War, a demoralized and scattered people would be easy to control. The scales in his hand represent the law of such control, the high prices for food it’s punishment, but saving the oil and wine (used in Christian mass) for people’s redemption.

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.

Finally Death would ride out. Many believe that the sentence “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.” refers to each horsemen being given one quarter of the earth to affect. But what seems more apparent here is that Death itself would be the cause of Death by sword, famine, and plague over one quarter of the population. Since it makes no mention of Death, but only war, famine, and plague, it seems as though this horsemen takes to making the final blow on all outlying lands.

In this way, it would seem that the end of the world as people claim Revelations predicts would actually be a destabilization of civilization, a culling of the population, with certain mainstays of our political and religious ideals being destroyed and reformed. As a whole, the Four Horsemen represent chaos and anarchy, and they are the vessels to make this happen.

On a simpler note, they could each represent one of the four seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter in that order.