The Pale Horse
—Revelation 6:7-8
Times of Tribulation (Revelation 6-11) >Seven Seals >4th seal >The Pale Horse
We now look at the fourth horse and its rider among “the four horses of the apocalypse”. This is the pale horse with a most macabre rider.
- The Lamb Opens the fourth seal. The fourth living creature calls to John, “Come!”. John sees the fourth horseman on a pale horse leading Hades with which to capture the dead.
1 Fourth Creature Speaks
The fourth creature was like an eagle (Revelation 4:7). This symbolizes that Jesus is a divine being, "the Son of God" (1John 5:20). He arose from the dead, and ascended on high, exalted to the right hand of God where he lives forever (Acts 2:31-33, Ephesians 4:10).
2 Fourth Rider —on Pale Horse
The rider leading Hades (the realm of the dead) represents death. Every human being is subject to death. People die of disease, famine, war, accident, natural disaster, and if not something of that sort, then old age.
Death, like other tribulations common to man, will continue for the entire gospel age until Jesus comes.
3 Christians and Death
The following scripture chain will show how Christians should consider the problem of death and look forward in hope of resurrection and ascension into heaven...
Acts 2:24, John 5:28, 1Corinthians 15:51-55, 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, Philippians 3:20-21, Daniel 12:13, Revelation 20:14, Psalm 23:4.
What those verses say...
Jesus Christ saw death, but God raised him up. His death was a victory, not a defeat. He proved that death had no power over him. Jesus promised that he would call all the dead from where they rest.
For the followers of Christ, this will be a resurrection to everlasting life. The trumpet shall sound, the Lord shall descend, the dead shall be raised, and those still alive shall be changed. This will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Erstwhile mortals shall be clothed in immortality and caught up to meet Christ in the air —to be with him for ever more.
The followers of Christ are citizens of heaven. Though lowly earthlings subject to death, they are promised that Christ will transform their lowly bodies so that they conform to his glorious body. Christ has the power to do this, for he is able to subdue all things to himself.
The promise the angel made to Daniel is also true for us. We journey as pilgrims to the end of life. We rest. Then we arise to our inheritance at the end of time.
The rider on the pale horse is Death His companion is Hades. Their power is temporary. One day Christ will, as it were, cast death and hades into the lake of fire.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..."