The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
A Bible study of Revelation chapter 6,
the scroll with seven seals.
This Bible study will step on some toes; however, it is not my intention to offend. As Paul said:
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
The truth is that at the end of time God is going to bring all nations against Israel.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle. - Zechariah 14:2a
If this is true, most of the human race is on the wrong side or fighting against God. Therefore, we must make a conscious effort if we hope to escape the fate of these nations.
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations. - Zechariah 14:3a
I hope this study helps us to be on guard.
Table of Contents
End Notes:
  Overview
God wrote the Book of Revelation to be understood. He makes this clear in the first and last chapters:
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear [with understanding]  the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
- Revelation 1:3
AND
And he saith unto me, Seal not [do not keep them secret] the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. - Revelation 22:10
Therefore this book should not be a mystery to the followers of Christ. However, both the prophet Daniel and the apostle Paul imply that the wicked will not understand it.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. - Daniel 12:10
AND
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
The premise of this study is that, with a little prayerful study, we can identify who the four  horsemen. They represent four worldly philosophies or religions controlled by the state. In John’s time the prophesies were not yet fulfilled; today three of the four horsemen have already become history.
Each horseman:
Demands allegiance to his religion from his subordinates.
Has attempted to occupy Jerusalem.
Is anti-Semitic, persecuting the Jewish people.
Persecutes the true followers of Jesus Christ.
Despises the Word of God, and therefore has tried to ban reading the Bible.
Has the goal of becoming the world religion and the absolute power over all governments.
I will try to prove each of these points by going to the book of Revelation and looking at each of the four horseman individually. By doing so, we will try to learn learn the identity and belief system of each horseman from his color and other atributes.
  The First Seal: A White Horse
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. - Revelation 6:1-2
The Horseman’s Symbols:
A crown
He went forth conquering and to conquer
In the fourth century, the emperor, Constantine, instituted the marriage between Christianity and the state in what is now known as the Roman Catholic Church. While Constantine may have meant well, every pagan in high places started to profess Christianity in order to flatter him and future Cezars. This first church of the Roman Empire was not just a church; after Rome's fall, she had her own kingdom, the Papal States, as well as rule over the other kingdoms of Europe. As state churches, the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church, are all children of this marriage between church and state.
The state church created the divine right of kings. This meant that to speak against even an oppressive king was to speak against God. The king was also supposed to submit to the church. This almost always worked; one big exception was when King Henry VIII wanted to get a divorce, and the pope, as Father of Kings, forbade it. This caused England split off from the Church of Rome in the early fifteen hundreds. Even so King Henry VIII continued to hold to the state church system. At about the same time, Martin Luther also separated from Roman Catholic Church; he started the state church system named after himself. One difference between between the Christianity that Jesus taught and the state church is that the state church uses the sword of the civil government to make her converts or punish those who contest her authority, while Jesus taught us that His kingdom is not of this world. Another difference is that the state church claims authority above the Word of God. Even Martin Luther, who is famous for saying, ''Scripture only'', decided which Books in the Bible, or portions there of, would be scripture, rejecting The Epistle of James entirely.
The white horse in the Book of Revelation is the state church; a church that is authorized and controlled by political leaders, not by Jesus Christ. Members of a state church cease to be martyred for their testimony of Jesus. As history has shown, the state church has killed ''heretics'' herself.
Let's look at the White Horseman's symbols
A White Horse:
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. ¬ Revelation 3:4
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¬ Revelation 19:14
If you look at the color white in the book of Revelation, it is used in relation to Jesus or to the purity of His saints. Therefore, this horseman uses white, in the attempt to align himself with Jesus Christ.
  A bow:
The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines the word bow as ''A bow (apparently as the simplest fabric)''. If James Strong's definition is accurate, this bow may not refer to a weapon, but, rather, to a man of the cloth, a metaphor that today refers to the priesthood or clergy of the church.
 A crown:
Since the white horse has a crown, the state church must have one too. The Pope has a triple crown called a Triregno. According to one Roman Catholic website , the Papal Tiara is formed by three crowns, symbolizing the triple lordship  of the Pope: Father of Kings, Governor of the World and Vicar of Christ.
He went forth conquering and to conquer:
As already mentioned, the founder of the state church system was the emperor Constantine. He was inspired by a vision of a cross of light above the sun with an inscription that said, By this, conquer. In obedience to this vision, Constantine put the cross as an icon on his shields, then went forth and conquered Rome. At that time, he was crowned king of the European part of the Roman Empire. Constantine literally went forth conquering and to conquer. A historical look will show that, from that time, the Roman Catholic Church continued to conquer kingdoms in a campaign that lasted until the seventeenth century.
In conclusion:
The State Church uses every icon of the white horseman:
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. - Revelation 6:2
The white horseman's goal is still the whole world, and as the Eternal City, she is patient.
 
The Second Seal: A Red Horse
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. - Revelation 6:3-4
The Horseman’s Symbols:
He takes peace from earth
They kill one another
A great sword
Today there are two world 'isms' that are associated with the color red: communism and socialism. And these are the only world powers that are associated red. This is the red horseman. While the former Soviet Union claimed to be communist, the initials U.S.S.R. stood for United Soviet Socialist Republic. The ideologies of communism (left wing) and socialism (right wing) are theoretically on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but in reality there is very little difference between these two philosophies, as far as the red horseman is concerned.
Both:
Are founded in Darwinism
Venerate the teachings of Karl Marx
Did the Red Horseman come forth in the early nineteenth century with the guillotine during the French revolution? Did he make his first appearance carrying the Communist Manifesto? Perhaps Plato sowed the first seeds of socialism. It is hard to say. In any case, socialism, with it's occult religion, made its play for power in the Revolution of October 1917 when the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia.
Most people believe that the state religion of socialism is atheism (In fact, I proposed that in my first draft of this study). I am since convinced that atheism is only a cover for Satanism. If the Red Horseman had been openly Satanic, socialism would have met with much more resistance from professing Christians. A look at the Communist Manifesto shows that it was written to contradict the commandment's of God.The true religion of the Red Horseman is the occult or Satanism, and there is sufficient evidence that its most noteworthy leaders (Marx, Stalin, and Hitler, as well as many others) not only dabbled in the occult, but were, in fact, Satanists7 .
Socialism is a cult of personality; if socialism were truly atheistic, then its leaders would be portrayed as mere mortals. Yet throughout the socialist world we find personality cults. This is where, through propaganda, the leader of a country is proclaimed their messiah. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mussolini, Hirohito, Ho Chi Minh, Kim Il-Sung, and Kim Jong-Il are examples of this phenomenon.North Koreans were taught that the flowers bloomed more beautifully in Kim Jong-Il's presence and at his death there were many miracles in nature. While propaganda proclaims that flowers will bloom, the reality is that Satan, through socialism, destroys the lives of those who follow him. Here are only a few examples:
Marx saw the suicide of two of his daughters and a son in law, while three other children died of malnutrition.
Lenin died about seven years after the revolution, and suffered bad health after wounds in two different assassination attempts. Later his wife was murdered by Stalin.
Stalin saw his father murdered. His wife committed suicide, one son spent years in gulag, and a daughter defected to the United States. Though she made a profession of Christianity, she continued to suffer from alcoholism and depression.
Trotsky (second only to Lenin in October Revolution), was later murdered by Stalin.
Hitler's lover tried to commit suicide twice: in 1932 by shooting herself, and in 1935 using sleeping pills.
Socialism is far more than just economics.
Let's look at the Red Horseman's symbols
A red horse:
The red horseman is Satanic, though often disguised as an atheist. He is communism or socialism, because communism or socialism are associated with red, his icon is red.
He takes peace from the earth:
The cold war (1950s -1980s) began after the red horseman’s ride to power. During this time, the communists did indeed take peace from the earth. As a child in the 1960s, I remember fearing the communists, and with good cause. The death toll at the hands of the different communist and socialist leaders is staggering.
They kill one another:
From the French revolution onward, the communists and socialists have murdered countless millions of their own people. The communists have exported their bloody revolutions over much of the world. The purging of the middle and upper class is common, when the government of a country topples.
It's interesting to note that, in contrast to the white horseman, the red horseman never went forth conquering. Specifically, no country has ever been overthrown by any other communist country. The communists always overthrow their own countries, from within. The two exceptions to this rule were Germany's failed attempt to conquer during World War II, and the countries given to the former Soviet Union at the end of WWII by the United States and Great Britain.
A great sword:
The fear of communism led to history's largest arms race and stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. Many people speculate that there are still enough weapons to kill all of humanity several times over. The former Soviet Union, though an economic disaster, still has a formidable army. Though we are not afraid of Communist China now, they may wake us up soon.
In conclusion:
Communism and socialism use every icon of the red horseman:
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. - Revelation 6:4
The red horseman's goal is to conquer the whole world, and he is trying to be patient.
  The Third Seal: A Black Horse
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
- Revelation 6:5-6
A measure of wheat for a penny,
three measures of barley for a penny;
and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine
While Islam was founded over 1,300 years ago, it now, in the twenty first century, believes it will dominate the earth. Like the two horsemen before it, this one makes converts by force. Islam can justify this by believing that only Islam serves the one true God.
Let's look at the Black Horseman's symbols
A black horse:
The symbol of Islam is a crescent moon, which implies nighttime or blackness. Muslims traditionally dress is black The black flag (above) is carried during an Islamic Jihad, or holy war.
A pair of balances:
It is interesting to note that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, began life as a merchant trader. At the age of twelve, he accompanied his uncle, Abu Talib, with a merchant caravan into Syria.
Today, Islam’s biggest weapon is not a sword or weapon of mass destruction, it is oil. It is the threat of an oil embargo that has paralyzed the western world in its ability to deal with Muslim terrorism. Western leaders are afraid that if we upset the Muslims, they will stop selling us their oil.
A measure of wheat for a penny,
and three measures of barley for a penny,
and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine:
In John's day, the penny, or 'dēnarion', was a day’s wage4 . A common interpretation of this symbol is extreme poverty (a day's wages for a loaf of bread) coexisting with extreme wealth (wine and oil). Islam has extreme wealth from producing and exporting oil, and their sheiks are opulently wealthy. At the same time, Islamic countries are some of the poorest nations in the third world. Often this poverty and wealth exist only miles apart from each other. The west may not appreciate the wealth of the Islamic countries; however, if they would use their wealth for good rather than spending it fighting Israel, the Middle East could become the second Garden of Eden.
In conclusion:
Islam uses every icon of the black horseman:
And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.  - Revelation 6:5b-6
The black horseman's goal is the whole world, and after waiting for over thirteen hundred years, he may be running out of patience.
 
The Fourth Seal: A Pale Horse 2
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
- Revelation 6:7-8
His name … was Death, and Hell followed with him
Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth
To kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and
with the beasts of the earth
Let's look at the Pale Horseman's symbols
A pale horse:
This is the last horseman, so this will be the last ideology to strive for world power. The word for pale is translated 'green' (like the color of grass) in every other passage of Scripture. The followers of this horseman will rally around a green flag. Using contemporary thinking, green might be associated with worshiping the earth. While many expect the last world's last religion to be that of the New Age Movement, currently the icon for that is a rainbow.
His name … was Death, and Hell followed with him:
There are two riders mentioned by name. Both Daniel and the book of Revelation3 mention two world leaders who will arise at the end of the age.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever
- Revelation 20:10
Unlike the other horses, the religion of these horsemen will be openly Satanic; you see this in both the riders’ names and in other portions of scripture.
And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
- Revelation 13:4
The first rider’s name is Death, so perhaps he will be the first beast in Revelation chapter 13, who will deceive the world into believing that he has received a deadly wound.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. - Revelation 13:3
Or perhaps this is just a reference to the pale (green) horseman’s preoccupation with death.
It is interesting to note that many environmentalists believe that the world is over populated. There is a New Age or environmental monument in central Georgia, called the Georgia Guide Stones . The first commandment on the Guide Stones is to “Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature”. To do this would require the murder of over six  billion people. The third commandment on the Guide Stones calls for a one-world language. Finally, it will require a one-world government to implement the fifth and sixth commandments, which involve world laws.
The second rider on the pale horse is named Hell. Is this the second beast in Revelation 13?
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. - Revelation 13:11
Will this rider be he who will make the whole world receive a mark and worship an image?
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. - Revelation 13:16-17
Is his name Hell because the people who do worship the image of the beast will suffer eternal torment?
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. - Revelation 14:9-11
As the other horsemen before them, these last two riders will compel obedience to their belief system.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. - Revelation 13:15
Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth:
Many Bible students speculate that the antichrist will come out of a revived Roman empire. This seems possible in light of Daniel chapters 2 & 7 and Revelation 13. In addition, Daniel chapter 8 implies that there will be a second beast, or goat. This one comes out of a divided Greek empire and may be the second beast mentioned in Revelation 13:11. If the fourth horseman's kingdom occupies the territories of the Roman empire and the Grecian empire under Alexander the Great, that may encompass a fourth of the world's population. Of course, there is a question: when these two, Death and Hell, have power over one quarter of the earth, does this mean that they will kill one quarter of the earth's population, or that the realm of their kingdom will be limited to one quarter of the earth?
To kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth:
Exactly how this horseman will kill with his beasts is yet to be seen, but the Bible does give us other pictures of wild animals punishing mankind.
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
- Jeremiah 5:6
AND
And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
- Jeremiah 15:3
AND
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. - Isaiah 13:12
Perhaps people will go along with Death's extermination policy, believing that they are doing good by reducing the earth’s population. In the 20 century there was an epidemic of people being mass murdered at the hands of their own government. The former USSR, Germany, and China have all killed their own people by the millions. It seems obvious that those who oppose the pale (green) horseman's wishes will be the first ones who will be considered unfit to live.
Some of the symbols of the pale (green) horse may seem difficult to comprehend literally. However, looking at the first three horsemen should make it easier to see that God is telling us exactly what is going to happen in the near future.
In conclusion:
The last world power will use every icon of the pale horseman:
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 
- Revelation 6:8
The goal of the pale (green) horsemen (Death and Hell) will be the whole world.
Two final notes:  
In chapter eight of his book, the prophet Daniel 5 wrote that in the last days a king understanding dark sentences will stand up. Daniel also implied that the king will come up out of what was once Alexander the Great's empire6 . Daniel referred to two kingdoms , calling them the north and the south. We can see two kingdoms, which were a part of Alexander's empire, and are north and south in relation to Israel.
I believe the north and south kingdoms that Daniel referred to are modern day Egypt (Ptolemaic) and Syria (Seleucid). Today Egypt and Syria may be more united than most westerners think.
The flag of the former United Arab Republic (left) has the colors of all four horsemen. The two green stars represent Egypt and Syria (remember that the last horse was green and had two riders). The United Arab Republic was a single sovereign country from 1958 to 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Even after the succession, however, Syria and Egypt remained united; in 1967 they fought together in Six-Day War against Israel. Looking at the map, it does not take a genius to figure out what the main goal of a United Arab Republic would be. I do not know if the United Arab Republic will come back to life after Syria false to the radical Muslims, but it is interesting to speculate on.
And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. - Isaiah 19:4
Recently there have been many protests throughout the Middle East, from the US friendly Egypt, to one of our staunchest enemies, Iran. If a charismatic leader would arise (this is only speculation), would not the whole Middle East embrace him at this time?
There are already extremists groups in the Middle East like the Hamas who are trying to grab this power. The names of the pale green horsemen are Death and Hell. Not only does the Hamas wave a green flag, it appears to be obsessed with death and hell (terrorism). A quote from the TIMESONLINE.co.uk reads:
''Fighting intensified on the northern outskirts of Gaza City yesterday as a Hamas leader warned that the Islamists would kill Jewish children anywhere in the world in revenge for Israel’s devastating assault.''
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast. - Revelation 13:13-14a
If a prophet arose from the Hamas, performing miracles, would the world embrace him?
The Fifth Seal: The Souls That Were Slain  
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. - Revelation 6:9-11
According to Revelation, after the four horses have gone forth into the world, the souls under the alter begin to cry, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” These are the souls of God’s people, the faithful ones whom the horsemen have murdered during the last two millennia.
In the introduction I mentioned that each of the horsemen:
Demands allegiance to his religion from his subordinates.
Persecutes the true followers of Jesus Christ.
Despises the Word of God, and therefore has tried to ban reading the Bible.
Has attempted to occupy Jerusalem.
Is anti-Semitic, persecuting the Jewish people.
Has the goal of becoming the world religion and the absolute power over all governments.
Let's look at each accusation individually.
The White Horse:
1. The state church has demanded absolute obedience. During the dark ages, the inquisition routinely tortured heretics to bring them to repentance.
2. Often those being tortured or burned at the stake11 were real Christians who chose to obey Jesus over church leadership.
3. For examples of the state church's opinion of the Bible, look at the life of John Wycliffe and William Tyndale.
4. The state church tried to occupy Jerusalem for her faithful during the crusades. Could Jerusalem, even now, be turned into an international city overseen by the vatican? There are some who would like to see this.
5. For the last two millennium, the state church has been one of the Jew's greatest enemies.
6. Finally, Roman Catholics believe that the Pope is the Father of Kings, Governor of the World and Vicar of Christ.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Today there are still many countries where the church is married to the civil government. These countries also have an underground church where Christians are still suffering martyrdom because they worship God according to their conscience.
The Red Horse:
1. Socialism demands such allegiance that it is normal for children to spy on their parents.
2. The religion of this horseman is satanism, though he often masquerades as an  atheist. As such, he hates the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Like the other horsemen this one is both persecutor of Christians8 and anti-Semitic. His followers point their fingers at the evils of the white horseman, but they are blind to their own behavior.
3. The Bible is banned in Communists countries, with few exceptions.
4. The USSR supported the UN resolution to create Israel because she expected Israel to become a satellite state. Later, when this didn't happen, she became supportive of Israel's enemies, supplying them with their weapons for war. The prophet Ezekiel records, what many Bible scholars believe will be, a future Russia invasion of Israel.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: [Using Genesis chapter 10, many scholars identify this as Russia.]
[...]
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. - Ezekiel 38:3, 8
 
5. Since many Jews are socialist or Marxist, it may seem strange that countries controlled by the red horse are themselves very anti-Semitic12 . Understanding that Satan destroys his followers is the only way it makes sense.
6. If you doubt that the goal of socialism or Marxism is the whole earth, you only need to read their own literature.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. - Zechariah 2:8
The Black Horse:
1. Like the first two horsemen, Islam has a history of making converts by force, and Islamic countries demand absolute obedience to Sharia, the sacred law of Islam.
2 & 5. Also like the first two horsemen, Islam persecutes Christians and Jews. Even today, Some Islamic leaders believe that the United States is the Great White Satan and Israel is the Little White Satan10 . The cause of most terrorist acts today are Muslims who believe that they will get a special place in their version of heaven if they die a martyr. To them, to be a martyr is to die while killing as many Christians or Jews as possible.
3. Muslims believe that both the Old and New Testaments are corrupted, and the Bible is forbidden in many Islamic countries today.
4 & 6. Since 9/11/2001 Islam has been on the front pages. You don't need me to prove that the Muslims want both Jerusalem and the whole world. And with the support of the UN they may have good reason to be optimistic.
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. - Joel 3:2
The Pale (Green) Horse:
1. There is still one final power to come on the world scene. He will demand allegiance to his religion.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. - Revelation 13:15
2. Since the true followers of Jesus Christ will not worship his image, they will be persecuted.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. - Daniel 11:33
3. The Bible speaks of a future antichrist, he will not only despise the Word of God, he will wage war on God Himself.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. - Daniel 7:25
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. - Daniel 8:11-12
4. He will attempt to occupy Jerusalem.
[The apostle Paul said the Antichrist] opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. - 2 Thessalonians 2:4
5. He will persecute the Jewish people. This will culminate in the Battle of Armageddon (Read the book of Joel).
6. He has the goal of becoming the world religion and the absolute power over all governments.
And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
- Revelation 13:4
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. - Revelation 13:8-9
Conclusion (The Sixth Seal)  
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? - Revelation 6:12-17
In chapter five of Revelation, John wrote, in reference to the mystery of the four horsemen:
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. - Revelation 5:2-5
Jesus has not only opened this scroll, He has also revealed its mystery to us. We are able to read and understand, not because we are worthy, but because Jesus is worthy; He remained faithful in the face of great tribulation. He has a right to prepare His saints to stand up to the horsemen.
Jesus said:
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. - Luke 21:33-36
While I have spoken very strongly against these four philosophies, I am not speaking against the people who are controlled by them. As children of Adam, we cannot help it if are born under the control of one these ideologies, but we can choose how we will respond to them. History shows that countless individuals have been tortured or slain because they have stood up to the state church, socialism, and Islam.
When we see all the suffering in the world, you may wonder, where is the God of Abraham? The prophecies contained in the four horsemen demonstrate beyond any doubt that God is in complete control. That God told us the future should give us the strength to persevere. Soon it will come to the end, though before then, we will have to face the fourth horse and his two riders, Death and Hell. When their day comes, what will you do?
Behold, [Jesus] cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
- Revelation 1:7