The four horseman are the four Gentile empires. Babylon, Medo\Persia, Greece and Rome. The same prophecy is repeated with more familiar illustrations in Revelation 13. This is from an article on a webpage I am re writing so it is not up yet. I start with Revelation 13 first and then go back to the four horseman.
The Book of Revelation's last seventeen chapters of prophecy are expansions on prophecy already given, ( and mostly already interpreted,) in the Old and New Testaments. Specifically, of those seventeen chapters; about a chapters worth covers the end of the Old Testament age and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Then 13 chapters cover the age of the four gentile empires and their end. The last three chapters cover the age that was to follow which is this age, the age of promise. The age when all the earthly promises of God made to all the generations of saints that went before that remained unfulfilled in their lifetimes. Would, in nations that meet the conditions and through great warfare, begin to be fulfilled.
These chapters 6-19 of Revelation contain two, or perhaps it could be looked at as three different prophecies about the same time period. Two, (or three) prophecies about the same events that use different illustrations to describe those past, present and future events. Whether the Apostle received all this in one setting isn't known and is irrelevant. It is hard to understate the fact that if one is not already completely familiar with the Bible prophecy already given before Revelation, especially the scriptures that interpret that Bible prophecy. The Book of Revelation will be incomprehensible. Therefore it is perfectly understandable that most will not definitively see how these verses are talking about the deliverance of the believers from the war in Judea at the end of the Old Covenant age.
Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty-two months. 11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.......
This is a prophecy that uses the same animal illustrations that the book of Daniel uses to prophesy about the Babylonian, Medo\Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. If you remove claimants to the throne of Roman Empire and only count those who won the contest for the emperorship in civil wars. The seven heads are the first seven emperors, The ten horns are the next ten. The forty two months or 1260 days are 1260 years from the beginning of the reign of the eleventh of the ten emperors in Daniel Chapter seven; Septimius Severus. The prophecy of an animal that looks like a lamb with two horns illustrates the Roman Empire that claimed Christianity divided into eastern and western branchs.
Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and observed, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers playing on their harps: 3 And they sang in that manner a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not tainted with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb where ever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
After chapter thirteen's past, present and future prophecy about the four empires. Chapter fourteen's first reference is to the Jewish believers in Judea. This is followed by a prophecy of a great harvest of souls in the Roman empire and the great persecution they suffered at the hands of the Romans. The persecution is noted because they are in heaven, as martyrs.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and language, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters......13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and saw a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.....15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, oh King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for only you are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest.
The seven angels with seven plagues that follow in chapter 15 just like all of this prophecy are an exact repeat of the same prophecy in Revelation 6-11. There illustrated as seven trumpets. These judgments are pronounced against the city of Rome for the murder of the saints noted in the previous paragraphs.
Revelation 6, instead of beginning with a familiar illustrations of the four gentile empires this vision illustrates them as four horseman instead. That is why this page was started with chapter 13. The use of four horseman throws people off the trail even though the prophecy is repeated starting in chapter 13 using illustrations that are already interpreted in the book of Daniel as the four gentile empires.
Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, what sounded like 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 on it to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to 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 saw 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 you don't hurt not the oil and the wine. 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.
Then after that prophecy of the four empires and just like Chapters 13-15. The saints who are in Judea are prophesied about. This time with a little more detail. Verse 9-11 are words to the Old Testament believers and prophets that perished at the hands of the wicked over many centuries. That their sense of justice needs to be patient because it was necessary for the New Testament believers and apostles to face the same persecution and murder at the hands of the wicked who run Judea.
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. This is just as Jesus had said to the leaders of Israel the day he gave his prophecy this article is about:
Matthew 23: 29. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, 30. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31. Wherefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32. Finish then what your ancestors started. 33. You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? 34. Therefore, look, I will send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them you shall beat in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35. That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36. Truly I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that murder the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38. Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Now after the the prophecy of the persecution and murder of the New Testament saints is fulfilled. The judgment prophesied comes to the city that rejected Gods call. Who's leaders murdered the saints so that they could rule over God's inheritance.
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, look, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
There were a couple of things to notice in those verses above. First, the use of some of the exact same illustrations all three accounts of Jesus's prophecy use starting in Matthew 24:29, Mark, 13:24 and Luke 21:25 use. This is a great insight in understanding Revelations timeline that employs very difficult to understand illustrative language to describe literal events that were coming. Jesus and many others say exactly when his prophecy would come to pass. This gives you a great clue as to the timing of these events in Revelation. The next thing to notice is for the Bible "literalists." If the heavens rolled up in like a scroll and every mountain and island moved out of its place. All life on earth would be immediately be extinguished. So get real. These are illustrations being used to prophesy about literal events that came to pass with a vengeance. Lastly, the division between chapter 6 and 7 is not sequential in time but two separate visions of the same time. "I saw this then after I saw this I saw that." Not: "This happened then that happened afterward's."
On to the next paragraph and just like Revelation 14:6-15:4. A great harvest of souls and great tribulation they suffered at the hands of the Romans follows the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and families, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and where did they come from? 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
This is then followed by seven judgments on the city of Rome illustrated in this vision as seven trumpets starting in chapter 8. Those seven judgments match the same seven judgments illustrated as seven plagues starting in chapter 15. Keep in mind the subject matter of this was to show the deliverance of the saints in Judea. Not from murder or persecution but from the judgments that came upon Judea because of the murder of the prophets, apostles and saints. That the Apostle John's visions in Revelation convey the same scenario and timeline about the destruction of Jerusalem and the deliverance of the saints as Matthew, Mark and Luke do in their record of Jesus's prophecy about the end of the first covenant age. In Johns account here though, he illustrates them as 144,000.
