2021/11/15

13. The Four Riders (1)

When the Lamb opened the seven seals, the author heard four living creatures, one after another, say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"¹ From the descriptions of the horses and riders that follow, we can see that each of these four commands corresponds to the last commands of the risen Jesus in the four Gospels. The first description, "And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2), corresponds to the passage of Matthew, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). The "bow" represents the guarantee that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" and that "I am with you always, to the close of the age." The "crown" is the sign of victory. The reason why "he went out conquering and to conquer" was to follow the command, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." The second description, "And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword" (Revelation 6:4), corresponds to the passage of Mark, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:15-18). The power to "take peace from the earth" will be exerted when "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." And the "great sword" signifies the power to "cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." (continued)

Reference 1. Revelation 6:1-7

Maria K. M.