Revelation 6:3-4 — Seal #2: Second Apocalyptic Horseman (Red Horse) with Great Sword to Remove Peace

Rev. 6:3   When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.”  4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Prayer and Bible Expo

Who breaks the second seal? (6:3)

“He” (6:3) – the Lamb.

Who speaks when the second seal is opened? What does it say? (6:3)

§  The second living creature (6:3).

§  “Come” (6:3).

What goes out? What authority is given to the rider? What is given to him? (6:4)

§  “And another, a red horse, went out . . .” (6:4).

§   “. . . and to him who sat on it,  it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another . . .” (6:4).

§   “. . . and a great sword was given to him” (6:4).

(Context) Identify similar imagery in Old Testament apocalyptic texts.

§    Zech. 1:7   On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:  8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him.  9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.”  10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”  11 So they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet.”

Zech. 1:12   Then the angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?”  13 The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.  14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.  15 “But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”  16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’  17 “Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”

·        Cf. Zech. 6:1   Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains.  2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses,  3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses.  4 Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”  5 The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth,  6 with one of which the black horses are going forth to the north country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country.  7 “When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth.” And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.  8 Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”

In Matthew 10:34-36, what does Jesus say that He came to bring on earth: peace or a sword?

§  Matt. 10:34-36 (Jesus)  “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.”

What impresses you about the second seal? 

The second seal involves removal of peace, resulting in loss of human life. Early in the Tribulation, God will remove peace so that humanity turns on itself. The purpose of the second Apocalyptic horseman’s removal of peace on earth is so that men would slay one another. Peace comes from God and peace can be removed by God.

When peace from God is removed, the fallen nature of man prevails. Without divine restraint, humans become manslayers. Humanity will self-destruct in the absence of divine restraint and intervention by God. Peace is determined by the will of God to restrain violence and evil in humanity. At the end of the age, God will remove peace to set loose the natural inclinations of fallen humanity. The second seal involves murder.

Their deeds reveal their patronage and lineage. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Abba, Father,

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when Your breath blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

There is none righteous not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for You; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of You before their eyes.

All have sinned and fall short of Your glory, being justified as a gift by Your grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom You displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate Your righteousness, because in Your forbearance, You passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration of Your righteousness at the present time, so that You would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Father, before the end of this present age and the opening of the second seal, may You keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind because they trust in You. Having heard Jesus’ word, and believed You who sent Him, we have eternal life, and will not come into judgment, having passed out of death into life. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May assurance abound to the redeemed, while conviction pierce the hearts of sinners whose peace is a fabrication, manufactured by wood and straw, and sure to flee away at Your command. Glory and thanks to You, the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus, for Your gift of grace, peace, love, and eternal life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.