Is Death in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse the personification of death, or a horsemen who brings death?

Question

Might be a confusing question, but I couldn't figure this out. But in the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, there is a horsemen named Death. I was trying to figure out if it was literally the personification of death bringing death, or simply a Horsemen that brought the plague of death onto the world.

Can anyone tell me more about this?

Answer 1

To me a prophetic horseman represents a fulfillment of an unstoppable event. Death comes because something else happens. It's not a guy on a literal horse, IMHO. It's particular things. The thing people miss a lot is the order of the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl Judgments. They don't happen in a string like they are presented, they happen in relation with one another.



So without going into a lot of details, the other Judgments are progressing as the Seal Judgments are progressing. So some of those judgments give a clue to what is taking place in the others.



Otherwise, we end Revelation 6, with people being able to see heaven, and God on the throne, and some reference to the Lamb means they can see him too, and then we have to imagine all that, with people hiding in the rocks, while waiting for the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments to occur. I think that is why a person trying to figure this stuff out, needs to make sure that they account for seven years, and mark time, as some events, whether particular Judgments or not, indicate the beginning of the period, and the middle of the period, and the end of the period. All the Judgments have to take place within that 7 year period, in some relation to the others. I started a three column chart, I am trying to locate it to see what I came up with concerning the horseman of Death. Let's see if I can find it.



EDIT: I looked around and see that I've misplaced it. It looks like I have to start over with that project. Sorry about that.

Answer 2

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in Revelation chapter 6, verses 1-8. The four horsemen are symbolic descriptions of different events which will take place in the end times. The first horseman of the Apocalypse is mentioned in Revelation 6:2: “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” This first horseman likely refers to the Antichrist, who will be given authority and will conquer all who oppose him. The antichrist is the false imitator of the true Christ, who will also return on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-16).



The second horseman of the Apocalypse appears in Revelation 6:4, “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.” The second horseman refers to terrible warfare that will break out in the end times. The third horseman is described in Revelation 6:5-6, “...and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” The third horseman of the Apocalypse refers to a great famine that will take place, likely as a result of the wars from the second horseman.



The fourth horseman is mentioned in Revelation 6:8, “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” The fourth horseman of the Apocalypse is symbolic of death and devastation. It seems to be a combination of the previous horsemen. The fourth horseman of the Apocalypse will bring further warfare and terrible famines along with awful plagues and diseases. What is most amazing, or perhaps terrifying, is that the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are just “precursors” of even worse judgments that come later in the tribulation (Revelation chapters 8–9 and 16).

Answer 3

Revelation 1V18ff:"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for ever more, Amen; and have the keys of HELL and of DEATH."



If you pay close attention, to what Jesus is saying here--he says "of Death"



Revelation 20:12, 14:The "dead" are the unbelieving dead of all the ages - the "rest of the dead" mentioned in verse 5



They are "judged" from two sets of books.



The "books" contain the record of every unsaved person's life.



Each unsaved person is judged according to his "works".



Every human being is guilty and deserving of "death".



The "book of life" contains the name of every person who has received eternal LIFE through FAITH ALONE (John 20:31)



"Death and hell (Hades) are the temporary holding places of unsaved men's bodies and souls, respectively (Luke 16:19-31).



The "Second Death" is eternal punishment in the "lake of fire," experienced only by the unsaved.



Once the final judgment occurs, there is no further need for either Death or Hell (Hades) ETERNAL SEPARATION is now made between those who have LIFE and those who have "death" Dan.12:3; John 5:29).



The Scriptures never refer to death as the MERE CESSATION of LIFE, but instead as the UNNATURAL SEPARATION of something from that to which it belongs.



Therefore, a body without the SPIRIT suffers Physical death (Gen. 35:18).



The expression "second death" defines the separation of man from God,



Human consciousness is conveyed in the biblical description of Second death, suggesting that the beast and the False Prophet will both remain alive for a 1000 years after being cast into the lake of fire (Rev.19:20; 20:10)



When a person is saved, he has passed from death to life, and an be assured he will never come into condemnation (John 5:24)



The right perspective of death is this: Jesus Christ and God has ALL POWER over death and life.



God can allow life on earth for any individual or angelic being--as long as He sees fit--and should not be seen as physical cessation of life.



The Angel of Death-or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just doing the bidding of God--which is delivering death sentences and making sure God's commands are carried out--they are just messengers nothing more.





Revelation 20V14:"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. That is the second death."

Answer 4

Four Horsemen ? Revelation doesn't teach that at all ! Four Horses yes and of a TRUTH ONLY ONE RIDER ! This picture of history is panoramic !!! Yet think of it like this ! One certain organization with several missions ! Fret and worry not soon I will teach these matters in plain English !!! America is also depicted in Revelation we are the second beast taught of in Revelation 13 !!!! Wont be long because we haven't got long left !!!

JESUS BLESS YOU

david stotler

Answer 5

I get the impression that the Horsemen of the Apocalypse were intended to personify Death, War, Famine, and Conquest, rather than to represent individual human beings that brought those things. But it's all speculation. None of us have access to the author(s) of Revelation to ask him about what he meant anymore.

Answer 6

You're talking about what the King James bible describes as the "pale" horse. "Pale" is actually a bad translation of the original Greek word "chloros", which means green. Green is the universally identifiable color of Islam.



“And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with death.” (Revelation 6:8)







According to a 2013 report in muslimpopulation.com, Islam has 2.04 billion adherents, 23% of the world population, projected to be 2.8 billion by 2014. According to a 2013 report in The Economist magazine, over 70% of Muslims support Sharia law and 90% support execution of apostates.



The green horse is marked by death. Islam is associated around the world with the nearly 3,000 deaths in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, and the over 22,594 deadly terror attacks around the world since that time, according to thereligionofpeace.com. It is the culture of death. Yet, Islam claims to be the “religion of peace.”







Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as well as his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have clearly declared that if Iran develops a nuclear bomb, they will use it to wipe Israel off the map. In addition to wiping Israel off the map, Iran is the world’s biggest sponsor of terror. Iran finances and supplies munitions to terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Muslim leaders teach their followers that the most glorious path to paradise is martyrdom – death by killing others while performing the act of suicide. These are the times that bring out the best in some, and the worst in others.

Answer 7

Rev 6:7-8



Death is followed out of the fourth seal by Hades (not Hell xtian - John does not mention Hell) so it's a pretty sure fire bet that the metaphor meant shuffling off this mortal coil.

==



Seems that David hasn't even looked at a bible, let alone read it.

Answer 8

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.

4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

Answer 9

Yes, One brings death.

Answer 10

It is a metaphor. That's all. The idea of a skeleton with a black cloak, a scythe (which is usually wrongly drawn) on a horse is just a comedy figure.