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Who are the Four Living Creatures?
As a reminder, these are the living creatures described in Revelation 4.
Who are the Horses and Riders?
Theory #1 – Actual people
Some see the white horse and rider as referring to the Antichrist. However, what of the others?
We don’t know.
Theory #2 – Angelic or heavenly creatures sent to deal out God’s judgment.
Theory #3 – Representative of periods of time (perhaps past events) or certain future happenings during the end times.
There is a mention of chariot horses Zechariah 6:2–3:
The first chariot had chestnut horses, the second chariot black horses, the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all strong horses.
We’re not exactly sure who/what the horses are, other than that they represent judgment in some way.
Verse 8 – What Does Hades Mean?
Faithlife Study Bible – This personification, along with the personification of death, is likely meant to evoke the idea that these two evil powers are at work in the world—physical death and the spiritual death that can follow it.
One source said, “Think of Death as taking the body and Hades as receiving the soul.”
Revelation 20:14 addresses the end for these two:
Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Verses 9-11 – Who are these Souls?
Of note, this is the first time that this altar is mentioned in Revelation.
These were clearly those killed for their faith.
Bible Knowledge Commentary – “Spirits without any substance could not wear robes. The fact that they will be given robes supports the concept that when believers die they are given temporary bodies in heaven which are later replaced by resurrection bodies at the time of resurrection.”
The passage says that others will be added to their number, clearly indicating that if these are future events, many more martyrs are still to come.
How Do These Events Correspond with Matthew 24?
Read Matthew 24:3–13:
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Wars = First horse
Nation against nation = Second horse
Famine = Third horse
Earthquake = Fourth horse
Persecution = Fifth seal
The end will come (judgment of God) = Sixth seal
Are These Events Part of the Tribulation?
Perhaps, though we’re not exactly sure of when the tribulation starts.
The tribulation is a time of intense suffering on the earth, often thought to be seven years long.
Chapter 7 will mention the tribulation. These events could lead up to the tribulation or could be part of it.
Daniel 9 speaks of 70 weeks, often considered to be 70 seven-year periods (rather than seven days) for a total of 490 years. Some view the last of these weeks (the seventieth “week”) to be the tribulation.
What does the Bible Say about the Wrath of God?
How would you describe “the wrath of God”?
Psalm 7:11 – “God is a righteous judge and a God who shows his wrath every day.”
Nahum 1:2–3 – “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.”
John 3:36 – “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Romans 1:18 – “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
What does Revelation 6 reveal to us about the wrath of God?
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