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Revelation 6:4

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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.

Revelation 6:4 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 6:4

Theological / Devotional

Red. The symbolism of the second horseman well portrays conditions under which the church found itself from about A.D. 100–313 (cf. on ch. 2:10). The violent persecutions it suffered at the hands of the Roman Caesars are well characterized by a horseman who carries a “great sword” and has power “to take peace from the earth.” If white represents purity of faith (see on ch. 6:2), then red may be regarded as a corruption of faith through the introduction of various heresies (see Vols. IV, p. 835; VI, pp. 43–46, 51–58, 64–67).

According to another view the color of this horse is suggestive of blood. As the first horseman may be taken as symbolizing the glory of military conquest (see on v. 2), so the second may be regarded as portraying other aspects of warfare—loss of peace and abundance of slaughter. Such would be the inevitable result of the conquest portrayed by the first horseman, if he is understood to symbolize the conquest and dominion of Rome.

Seventh-day Adventists have generally held the first view.

Sword. Gr. machaira, a large knife or short sword used for fighting. Compare the use of the word in Matt. 10:34; John 18:10; etc.

By SdaBc