Rumble
the topic of our upcoming class is the Rapture and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
To be prepared for the class, consider reading Revelation chapters 4-6 and Zechariah 6.
We continue our brief overview of the four horsemen with the third (Black) and fourth (Green) horses this week.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Pt. 2
In Revelation 6 Jesus opens seven seals of judgment to begin the Tribulation period. The first four seals he opens are the four horsemen, and each one carries the wrath of God which is released from heaven to usher judgments on the earth.
The first two horsemen ride on white (Antichrist) and red (War) horses. Let’s see what the final two horses look like and discuss their meaning:
The Black Horse
So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.’ (Rev. 6:5-6)
Black is often connected with famine in the Bible. God will grant this horse the power to destroy the world’s economy and to diminish earth’s food resources. Both of these disasters are the byproducts of war.
A denarius was the standard daily wage for ancient laborers. In the early days of the Tribulation period, food will be in such short supply that people will have to work all day just to get enough food to eat.
The famine will play into Antichrist’s hands. Later in the Tribulation, he will require all the captured peoples, who fall under the control of the Caliphate, to wear the symbol of the Islamic empire (mark of the beast) in order to buy or sell. They will either submit to Allah or starve to death.
The Green Horse
Death rides the green horse and Hades (hell) follows behind. Death doesn’t end life it simply opens the door to heaven or hell. In this case, one quarter of the earth is destined for hell after they die. That’s a stunning statistic. which may refer to the 25% of mankind under the control of Islam.
According to the CIA Fact Book, green is the color of Islam! This incredible prophecy may be telling us that Antichrist will steer the Caliphate to initially go after Muslim nations who refuse to recognize his rule over the Muslim world (25% of earth’s population).
Antichrist and the Caliphate will kill with “the sword, hunger, disease, and wild beasts—the four judgments the Lord said he would send in Ezekiel 14:21.
Death and Hades are mentioned together three times in Revelation, and the first time in Revelation 1:18 tells us that Christ holds the keys to Death and Hades.
Though the companions will wreak havoc during the Tribulation, Jesus holds the ultimate power and will throw them both into the lake of fire at His Second Coming.
