Introduction
God has revealed through the Old and New Testament prophets what will surely take place in the future. The prophecy of the 'four horses' of the Apocalypse is well known but may not be well understood. Prior to Revelation being written the Old Testament prophet Zechariah in vision was given a glimpse also of similar coloured horses but was provided with different details about where on earth these horses and their riders would impact the earth.
John the Revelator in comparison provides more detail about the order and activities of the horses and riders and their mission. Differences definitely exist between the accounts of each prophet, for example Zechariah sees the horses in chariots and John doesn't. The order the horses are mentioned in Zechariah is different to the very specific sequential seal opening taking place in Revelation 6. Despite the differences we as readers must look for details that complement each account.
Please view the analysis below:
Zechariah 6
1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. note
4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. note
6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Revelation 6
1 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.
2 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.
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.
5 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.
6 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. note
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 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. note
Zechariah Revelation
First Horse - Red First Horse - White
Second Horse - Black Second Horse - Red
Third Horse - White Third Horse - Black
Fourth Horse - Grisled and Bay Fourth Horse - Pale
Zechariah Actions
Black Horses go forth into the north country
White Horses the white go forth after them
Grisled and Bay Horses toward the South country
Red Horses walk to and fro through the earth:
*Additional info : Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Revelation Actions
Black Horse - 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. (North country)
White Horse - he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (North Country)
Pale Horse - 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. ( South Country)
Red Horse - 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. (Throughout the Earth)
Timing and Actions - Revelation
Direction/ Earth Focus - Zechariah
By comparing and analysing each prophetic account we find in addition to the detail and specific timing provided to John that Zechariah was told in which direction/area of the earth each horse would impact on. In each Seal study this will be also noted.
In our studies of the Seals we will definitely draw on this comparison
to interpret what each seal is about .
God has revealed through the Old and New Testament prophets what will surely take place in the future. The prophecy of the 'four horses' of the Apocalypse is well known but may not be well understood. Prior to Revelation being written the Old Testament prophet Zechariah in vision was given a glimpse also of similar coloured horses but was provided with different details about where on earth these horses and their riders would impact the earth.
John the Revelator in comparison provides more detail about the order and activities of the horses and riders and their mission. Differences definitely exist between the accounts of each prophet, for example Zechariah sees the horses in chariots and John doesn't. The order the horses are mentioned in Zechariah is different to the very specific sequential seal opening taking place in Revelation 6. Despite the differences we as readers must look for details that complement each account.
Please view the analysis below:
Zechariah 6
1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. note
4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. note
6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Revelation 6
1 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.
2 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.
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.
5 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.
6 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. note
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 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. note
Zechariah Revelation
First Horse - Red First Horse - White
Second Horse - Black Second Horse - Red
Third Horse - White Third Horse - Black
Fourth Horse - Grisled and Bay Fourth Horse - Pale
Zechariah Actions
Black Horses go forth into the north country
White Horses the white go forth after them
Grisled and Bay Horses toward the South country
Red Horses walk to and fro through the earth:
*Additional info : Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Revelation Actions
Black Horse - 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. (North country)
White Horse - he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (North Country)
Pale Horse - 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. ( South Country)
Red Horse - 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. (Throughout the Earth)
Timing and Actions - Revelation
Direction/ Earth Focus - Zechariah
By comparing and analysing each prophetic account we find in addition to the detail and specific timing provided to John that Zechariah was told in which direction/area of the earth each horse would impact on. In each Seal study this will be also noted.
In our studies of the Seals we will definitely draw on this comparison
to interpret what each seal is about .
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