The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - What Is the Significance of the Four Horse in the Apocalypse?

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

What is the significance of the four horse in the Apocalypse?

Revelation 6

Erin McLaughlin

TH 100- Biblical Theology, Section G

Professor Sullivan

5 December 2015

Symbolism is the use of symbols to supply notions with a symbolic impact or to characterize something nonconcrete by an existing object. Throughout the New Testament, readers notice that the Book of Revelation bursts with symbols. Investigating deep into these symbols unmasks the conceptual and indefinable subjects depicted by the colors of the four horsemen of the apocalypse in Revelation. The colors of these horses are not just added to be an adjective, they horse color takes on specific symbolic meanings. As each horse^[1] is discharged it creates cataclysms on the earth. Revelation brings forth the symbolic meanings of the horses through the colors, and the items they carry.

        The symbolic color that enters first for the horseman is white^[2]. Common readers may believe that the color white reflects an angel, but not in the case of Revelations in the New Testament. “He rides a white horse… the color white is eschatological^[3] and signifies that the satanic powers are perverted limitations of God and Christ” (105 J. Massyngberde Forde). With white being depicted as a demonic color, this rider can be denoted as an antichrist. In the passage of 6 Revelations, the rider rode in with a bow as a weapon which is a symbol for an enemy. The rider of the white horse that signifies satanic powers rides in with a crown. A crown signifies the followers of the satanic powers, and is a victory of the evil spirit. God “draws attention to the fact that crowns are placed on the followers of satanic powers” (105 J. Massyngberde Forde). The significance of the white horse represents an evil spirit due to the color which is related to evil spirits, and the crowns are only placed on the followers of the evil spirits or the Anti-Christ.^[4]

After the second seal is broken, the second horseman is introduced by riding in on a red horse. At this time the color red denotes bloodshed^[5]. “This horseman is given a great sword and power to take peace from the earth.” (106 J. Massyngberde Forde). The great sword can give great indication to the readers that this horseman is in for war and this rider and his horse will usher in a deadly war. The two symbols the color red, and a great noticeably implies that this horseman is a symbol of blood that derives from war. Before the horse enters the scene, one can defer from the reading that the color. The red horse denotes that war will happen as the color refers to the blood that will be everywhere after the war, which is represented by the sword.