The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Most Christians who are “Futurists” regarding Daniel’s 70th Week (7-year Tribulation) place the opening act of the book of Revelation at the beginning of that 7-year period. This is the opening of the first four seals in Revelation 6, releasing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This allegedly takes place immediately after the “rapture.” This timing is not based on any requirements of the text, but due to the pressure of Dispensationalism and its pre-tribulation rapture which require a clean dichotomy between the “Church Age” and the “Tribulation.” In this system, Daniel’s 70th Week cannot overlap the “Church Age” otherwise the entire reasoning behind the dispensational scheme collapses.
The readers of this blog are well aware that dispensationalism and its pre-tribulation rapture are imposed upon Scripture and not derived from Scripture, and flatly contradicted by Scripture (Matt. 24:29-31, 2 Thess. 1:4-10; 2 Thess. 2:1-4). Therefore, there is no compelling reason of which I am aware to conclude that the 4 Horsemen are confined within this period. The only plausible reason for placing the 4 Horsemen within the 70th Week is the apparent parallel between Revelation 6 and Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matt. 24. The “beginning of birth pains” statement and “Great Travail” statements fit nicely with the two 3.5-year periods which are defined as the 1,260-day testimony of the Two Witnesses and the forty-two-month reign of Antichrist. In my opinion we ought to be open to the possibility that the opening of the seals releasing the Four Horsemen could possibly occur before the testimony of the Two Witnesses rather than concurrent with it.
The events which must precede the destruction of Mystery Babylon, the “Abomination of Desolation,” and the reign of Antichrist are as follows:
1. The rise of the 10 Kings of Europe (Dan. 2,7 & Rev. 17), of which the war between Russia and Ukraine appears to be a catalyst.
2. The Four Horsemen (Rev. 6)
3. The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (Rev. 11)
4. The testimony of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11)
The exact chronological order of these is not entirely clear, except that the Four Horsemen must occur in their numbered sequence. Anyone doubting that we are on the very brink of the fulfillment of these things should consider the fact that the catalysts for the fulfillment of these things all seem to be occurring simultaneously as the global players are being set into place for the final showdown.
In the LGV footnotes on Revelation 6, I noted that the colors of the 4 horses were intended to parallel Zechariah’s prophecy which was fulfilled in his day. These referred to the nations surrounding Israel which were opposing the rebuilding of the Temple authorized by Cyrus (Dan. 9:25; Ezra 1-6). In Zechariah, the colors of the horses were identified with the four compass directions where each set patrolled in relation to Israel. These represented God’s intervention on behalf of Israel within the Gentile nations immediately to the west, east, north, & south of Israel as He was about to rebuke them and thus encourage Israel through Haggai and Zechariah to complete the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. (See also Ezek. 14:21). In Revelation, the first 4 seals (four horsemen) are meant to recall these colored horses in Zech. 1:8-17 & 6:1-8 corresponding to the “four winds” (4 compass points – cf. Jer. 49:36; Zech. 6:5; Dan. 7:2; Rev. 7:1). While Zechariah’s prophecy used the colored horses to indicate the four compass points in close proximity to Israel, in Revelation the directions more likely refer to more distant players since Revelation describes a much larger geographical area than the events surrounding the rebuilding of the Temple in Zechariah’s day as recorded in Ezra.
The First Horseman – A Conqueror: In Zech. 6:6, the white horses patrolled the west. Some translations render the Hebrew as “after them” but this term can also be rendered “towards the west,” referring to the setting of the sun (as in the NIV, RSV, NRSV, NLT, CEV, NAB). In the end-times, this possibly refers to Europe or even America. The rider on the white horse carrying a bow seems to be a rising prominent world figure who becomes victorious over his enemies and is viewed by Israel as a hero. He receives a victor’s “wreath” (στέφανος – stephanos) rather than a crown (διάδημα – diadem which was worn by royalty).
The Second Horseman – Massive War: In Zech. 6:2 no specific direction was given for the red horses. Yet, since all four are identified as “the four winds of heaven” (Zech. 6:5), and the other three are linked to the west, north, and south, it follows that the red horses patrolled the east. In the end times, this may refer to Iran or even China (cf. Rev. 16:12)?
The Third Horseman – Famine: In Zech. 6:6, the black horses patrol the north. In the end-times this likely refers to Russia. The third seal seems to suggest famine that will strike the poor particularly hard. The oil and wine being spared probably implies that the rich are not affected, (cf. Matt. 24:7).
The Fourth Horseman – War, Famine, Wild-Beasts: In Zech. 6:6, spotted (dappled) horses patrolled the south. Yet here the fourth horse is pale green (χλωρός) a term that usually refers to the color of vegetation (Rev. 8:7; Rev 9:4). The color is not an exact match to Zechariah. Yet it still represents the fourth compass point – South. This may refer to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states. Keep in mind also that in Daniel 12, the “king of the south” referred to Egypt.
One important question remains if this interpretation of the colors of the horses is correct. Do these Gentile nations bring these plagues upon Israel? Or, are the Four Horsemen describing God’s interventions within each of those geographical regions? In my opinion, it is the latter, God’s judgement on those nations.
Please keep in mind that I am only offering a possible scenario which may or may not be correct. However, given the current world situation and the timing of the convergence of these things, we would be wise to keep this probability in mind as we watch how the current escalating events unfold.
5 thoughts on “The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse”
Hi Tim,
Your idea about the White Horse rider being from the west, Europe and/or the US, is very interesting. But Europe is also north of Israel, as is Turkey. Many Jews fled to those areas after the Assyrian and Babylonian conquest of Israel. The ‘covenant with the many’ – the acceptance of peace with Israel by its enemies, the permitting the building of a temple is clearly a trap. Jews from all over the world, especially the US and Europe will want to come back and reside in Israel. It could amount to millions and they will bring their wealth to begin the ‘temple tax’ of old, to support the construction and maintenance of the temple and sacrifices. After 3.5 years the abomination is set-up, the AC declares he is god, and attacks and makes desolate the Jewish nation. Those on the rooftops are told by Jesus not to gather supplies or belongings but to immediately run to the mountains. The antichrist will come from the North with his armies and make the temple holy place his headquarters. The building of the temple is clearly an enticement to bait the Jews into returning to Israel. Antisemitism is on the rise throughout the world and so is communism. Institutions like Harvard use DEI as a means to discriminate against any race they choose.
Ken,
Even today both Europe and America are called “the West,” and “western civilization.” This is not so much about longitude and latitude, conceptually how those in Israel view the rest of the world.
The 7-year “covenant” of Daniel 9:27 is not a “peace treaty” between Israel and her neighbors (as taught by dispensationalists). Dan. 9:27 does not say that a covenant will be MADE with the many, but that “the covenant will be strengthened.” It is a preexisting “Covenant.” The LXX has: “And one week shall [δυναμώσει – STRENGTHEN] the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week MY sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.” (Dan. 9:27 LXX Brenton)
This is not an entirely new “covenant” or a “peace treaty.” It is the Old “Mosaic Covenant” being “strengthened” for seven years. This allows the Temple to be rebuilt and completed (Rev. 11:1-2) due to the prophesying of the two witnesses. In Deut. 30, God promised Israel that regardless of how He scatters them, in order for Him to restore them as a nation they must first return in repentance to the Mosaic Covenant (Deut. 30:1-10), and this requires a Temple, a priesthood, and a prophet to anoint a new High Priest. This is also why Malachi ends with the prophecy of the coming of Elijah just before the “Day of the Lord.” The OT closes with these words: “4 Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:4-6 NKJ)
Thanks for the reply and guidance.
Tim
The Temple is rebuilt during the prophecying of the two witnesses which will begin at the beginning of the Tribulation? Asking for confirmation or correction. Some in my circle believe The Temple is rebuilt before the Tribulation begins, causing much debate given these escalating times.
Thanks
Nicole
Nicole,
All I can say for sure is that the Temple will exist in Jerusalem during the 1260-day prophesying of the two witnesses (Rev. 11). Whether construction will occur before that time, during it, or both, I see no way of knowing for sure, yet. The parallel to the rebuilding of the 2nd Temple is our main clue.
It is obvious that the two witnesses in the end times are intentionally placed as parallel to the two prophets Haggai and Zechariah who prophesied during the rebuilding of the 2nd Temple (Ezra 5:1; 6:14-15). This is shown by Rev. 11:3-4 which indicates that the two witnesses are “the two olive trees,” which in Zech 4:1-14 refer to Haggai and Zechariah. Exactly how much of the history in Ezra will exactly parallel the end-times is uncertain. But I am definitely keeping an eye on current events to see just how it might unfold. You might want to carefully read Ezra 1-6, Haggai, Zechariah, along with Rev. 11, as you wait, watch, and pray (Luke 21:36).
After the decree of Cyrus ordering the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple, the very first thing that was rebuilt was the altar of sacrifice, even before the foundation for the Temple was laid. This was done so that the “daily sacrifice” could commence again (Ezra 3). Haggai and Zechariah prophesied after the foundation was laid, encouraging the people to finish the project. So if the parallel holds consistently, it would seem that the beginning of construction would occur BEFORE the Tribulation, but that the two prophets will continue to encourage the people to finish the construction. However, the Temple will have to be largely finished by the end of their 1260-day prophesying because Antichrist will take away the “daily sacrifice” and place the “abomination of desolation” (Dan. 12:11) in “the Temple of God” (2 Thess. 2:1-4) at the time the two prophets are killed (Rev. 11:7-13).
The rider on the white horse could be a counterpart to Cyrus the Great who ended the Babylonian exile by making the decree to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1). Such a person would certainly be seen by the Jews as a great hero, equal to Cyrus the Great. I am watching to see if the “Abraham Accords” which president Trump has been pursuing might eventually set the climate for making this a possibility in the near future.
Grace & Peace, Tim