Revelation 6:
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 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.
The red horse in Revelation is a horse of war and the great sword is symbolic of the death and destruction that would result from its release. It is interesting to know that Zechariah's vision reveals the red horses in the first chariot :
Zechariah 6:2
In the first H7223 chariot H4818 were red H122 horses H5483; and in the second H8145 chariot H4818 black H7838 horses H5483;
The word red in this instance is :
H122
Original: אדם
Transliteration: 'âdôm
Phonetic: aw-dome'
BDB Definition:
red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils)
Origin: from H119
TWOT entry: 26b
Part(s) of speech: Adjective
Strong's Definition: From H119; rosy: - red, ruddy.
When comparing Zechariah with Revelation there are immediate differences. In John's vision there is one horse, in Zechariah's there are more than one and they are described as connected to chariots whereas in Revelation there is a visible rider. Do these differences mean that these are totally unrelated visions? No, they do not! God through His servants is revealing other information for those reading the prophecies to connect and which will help illuminate the complete meaning and application of both prophecies.
In Zechariah's prophecy he refers to the red horses later in the script but uses another word which the interpreters have translated as bay:
7 And the bay H554 went forth H3318, and sought H1245 to go H3212 that they might walk to and fro H1980 through the earth H776: and he said H559, Get you hence H3212, walk to and fro H1980 through the earth H776. So they walked to and fro H1980 through the earth H776.
H554
Transliteration: 'âmôts
Phonetic: aw-mohts'
BDB Definition:
strong
bay, dappled, piebald (of colour)
Origin: probably from H553
TWOT entry: 117c
Part(s) of speech: Adjective
Strong's Definition: Probably from H553; of a strong color, that is, red (others fleet): - bay.
The ‘Bay’ referred to here can also be interpreted as red. They actually sought or enquired as to whether they might also walk to and fro on the earth. To which they receive an affirmative reply. They are not directed to a specific part of the earth but instead can walk to and fro all the earth.
Red horses that appeared earlier in Zechariah's writings help confirm the scope of their impact and instructions given in Zechariah 6:7:
Zechariah 1:
8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. note
9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
The red horses in the first chapter have walked to and fro throughout the earth and this is exactly the instruction given to the 'bay' horses in Zechariah 6.
4 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.
The white, black and grisled horses have been sent to more specific directions. The red or bay horses however have the whole earth to walk to and fro upon.
In Revelation chapter six, verse six John reveals that this horse is a horse of war. This release of the second seal will impact the whole world and that is exactly what took place in the two world wars that took place in the twentieth century.
The first world war erupted in 1914 :
World War I pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i
This war was like no other and the alliances between countries around the world in addition to the fact that some countries had already come under the imperialistic control of nations like Britain, Germany and the USA destined this war to be the first with implications and impacts for the whole world. It has been given the title of WORLD WAR I deservedly and is what was pictured as taking place when the second seal is opened - peace is taken from the earth and men destroy one another - 16 million lives lost.
Yet this was only the beginning. WORLD WAR II was soon to erupt and create even more mayhem and destruction.
World War II was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii
Some 75 million people died in World War II, including about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians, many of whom died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, and starvation.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/casualties-of-world-war-ii/
The Soviet Union (Russia) had by far the most casualties, both civilian and military. This was largely due to things like the Siege of Stalingrad — entire cities were cut off from food, water, and supplies for years, and starvation was all around. (It was also because Russia was headed by a ruthless dictator at the time, Joseph Stalin.)
Then there was the Holocaust, which claimed 6 million Jewish civilians and some others as well, such as Roma ("gypsies"), people with disabilities, homosexuals, etc.
https://www.upworthy.com/these-staggering-graphics-put-the-wwii-death-toll-in-perspective
Truly the red horse of the second seal and his rider with a great sword has walked to and fro through the earth, taking peace from the earth and the inhabitants of the earth destroyed one another.
There are five more seals to be opened. As Christ examines the lives of his people throughout the history of the world the events taking place in the world are fulfilling the prophecies he inspired - the Revelation of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 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.
The red horse in Revelation is a horse of war and the great sword is symbolic of the death and destruction that would result from its release. It is interesting to know that Zechariah's vision reveals the red horses in the first chariot :
Zechariah 6:2
In the first H7223 chariot H4818 were red H122 horses H5483; and in the second H8145 chariot H4818 black H7838 horses H5483;
The word red in this instance is :
H122
Original: אדם
Transliteration: 'âdôm
Phonetic: aw-dome'
BDB Definition:
red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils)
Origin: from H119
TWOT entry: 26b
Part(s) of speech: Adjective
Strong's Definition: From H119; rosy: - red, ruddy.
When comparing Zechariah with Revelation there are immediate differences. In John's vision there is one horse, in Zechariah's there are more than one and they are described as connected to chariots whereas in Revelation there is a visible rider. Do these differences mean that these are totally unrelated visions? No, they do not! God through His servants is revealing other information for those reading the prophecies to connect and which will help illuminate the complete meaning and application of both prophecies.
In Zechariah's prophecy he refers to the red horses later in the script but uses another word which the interpreters have translated as bay:
7 And the bay H554 went forth H3318, and sought H1245 to go H3212 that they might walk to and fro H1980 through the earth H776: and he said H559, Get you hence H3212, walk to and fro H1980 through the earth H776. So they walked to and fro H1980 through the earth H776.
H554
Transliteration: 'âmôts
Phonetic: aw-mohts'
BDB Definition:
strong
bay, dappled, piebald (of colour)
Origin: probably from H553
TWOT entry: 117c
Part(s) of speech: Adjective
Strong's Definition: Probably from H553; of a strong color, that is, red (others fleet): - bay.
The ‘Bay’ referred to here can also be interpreted as red. They actually sought or enquired as to whether they might also walk to and fro on the earth. To which they receive an affirmative reply. They are not directed to a specific part of the earth but instead can walk to and fro all the earth.
Red horses that appeared earlier in Zechariah's writings help confirm the scope of their impact and instructions given in Zechariah 6:7:
Zechariah 1:
8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. note
9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
The red horses in the first chapter have walked to and fro throughout the earth and this is exactly the instruction given to the 'bay' horses in Zechariah 6.
4 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.
The white, black and grisled horses have been sent to more specific directions. The red or bay horses however have the whole earth to walk to and fro upon.
In Revelation chapter six, verse six John reveals that this horse is a horse of war. This release of the second seal will impact the whole world and that is exactly what took place in the two world wars that took place in the twentieth century.
The first world war erupted in 1914 :
World War I pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i
This war was like no other and the alliances between countries around the world in addition to the fact that some countries had already come under the imperialistic control of nations like Britain, Germany and the USA destined this war to be the first with implications and impacts for the whole world. It has been given the title of WORLD WAR I deservedly and is what was pictured as taking place when the second seal is opened - peace is taken from the earth and men destroy one another - 16 million lives lost.
Yet this was only the beginning. WORLD WAR II was soon to erupt and create even more mayhem and destruction.
World War II was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii
Some 75 million people died in World War II, including about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians, many of whom died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, and starvation.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/casualties-of-world-war-ii/
The Soviet Union (Russia) had by far the most casualties, both civilian and military. This was largely due to things like the Siege of Stalingrad — entire cities were cut off from food, water, and supplies for years, and starvation was all around. (It was also because Russia was headed by a ruthless dictator at the time, Joseph Stalin.)
Then there was the Holocaust, which claimed 6 million Jewish civilians and some others as well, such as Roma ("gypsies"), people with disabilities, homosexuals, etc.
https://www.upworthy.com/these-staggering-graphics-put-the-wwii-death-toll-in-perspective
Truly the red horse of the second seal and his rider with a great sword has walked to and fro through the earth, taking peace from the earth and the inhabitants of the earth destroyed one another.
There are five more seals to be opened. As Christ examines the lives of his people throughout the history of the world the events taking place in the world are fulfilling the prophecies he inspired - the Revelation of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
| the_second_seal.pdf |