The fabled four horsemen

chapter 6:1-8

"I looked and there was a white horse and there was a white horse! It s rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he cameout conquering and to conquer."

In Genesis, God takes his great bow in the sky and places it where it is no longer aimed at earth but is aimed at heaven. So, the first rider who rides a white horse, is symbolic of Christ crowned and he brings the bow back to earth to conquer. This is a symbol of hope for a folk who are persecuted. Let me be honest. I as a Christian in America am not persecuted. That crap that some folk spew out would fertilize death valley. In the first century, Barbara Walters, CNN, and other news outlets did not do specials on Mary or Heaven. Christians are not killed for their beliefs and trying to keep all religions with equal voice is the mood in America. So as Christian, I need to walk this fine line of caring for others who have no voice, Jews, Sikhs, and Muslims. Why? Because I read in this letter what it is like to be persecuted and persecution is not a Christian ethic. However, I must confess that Jesus is Lord and that Jesus' coming into this world is more special than anything that has happened. How do I do it? Not very well some days, but that is where i work from. I work from that point of view, because I keep my feet in the tradition of the church and that gives me empathy.

Second horse
"And out came andother horse, bright red, its rider was permitted to take peace from teh earth, sot hat people would slaughter one antoher; and he was given a great sword."

Man, I read this and if I was one of those folks like LaHaye and Jenkins...I would believe that this is a sign. However, Revelation is not a roadmap for the end of time. It is a message of hope and for folks who see war all around. This is a reminder that God is in the midst of it. When you have no power over stopping war having the faith that God is in the midst of it can give one hope.

Third horse vs. 5-6
I looked and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of hte four living creatures saying. "A quart of wheat for a day's pay and three quarts of wheat of barley for a days pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!"

This is an image of famine. Famine always follows war. A time of war there is usually less. My generation has not suffered much from war. WHen the elder Bush went to war in Iraq. He called Venezuela to keep the oil coming. This time around, we suffer a bit. However, I go to the store and I get Oranges from SOuth Africa, Tomatoes from Mexico, Shrimp from Vietnam, and every good I want from China. In London during WWII, Hyde Park was converted into farm fields to feed folk. I was in Haiti in January of 2004 before Aristide was sent ousted in a Coup. As an American we ate 3 times a day and we learned a couple of days into the trip that the Haitians ate once or twice. We had lettuce and lettuce was a luxury. Perhaps the closest we have been to famine is the evacuation of Katrina and Rita folks. People who moved with nothing. Those folks when they read about the third horse, they might get it.

Fourth Horse
I looked and saw there was a pale green horse! Its rider was name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they wer given authoirty over a fourth of hte earth, to kill iwth sword, famine and pestilence, and by teh wild animals of the earth.

John shares that the last rider DEATH is bringing sword, famine, and pestilence.
Sword-Blood-Red-second horse
Famine-Disease-Black-third horse
Pestilence-Death-Green-Fourth Horse

Death is the enemy of people and people fight death. John is saying that even death as powerful as it is does not come first. The one who conquers death is the first rider with a crown who is the true King, Christ. In fact there will be a battle against death in the final chapters.

Read Revelation like a symphony. There are many lines going on. Perhaps read it like a Seinfeld episode...Kramer, Elaine, Jerry and George all have stories happening and they intersect with each other. However they are different. Or it is like the movie TRAFFIC, drug dealers, Mexican Federales, DEA guys, and Drug Czars are in the same story together intersecting with one another.

Christ is coming folks...and he will come in unexpected ways...most likely the way he did in the powerful force of a manger. Only astrologers and guys on the late night shift caught it. Everybody else was so self absorbed that they missed Stars in the sky and heaven opening up.


joy,
Guido