Last, but not least, the ‘Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse’ brings destruction on an epic scale to a planet that is already reeling from the rides of the first three horsemen.[1] In fact, this pale-horse rider will bring utter devastation to, as John the Revelator put it, a fourth part of the earth:
Revelation 6:8
“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.” [2] (emphasis mine)
While it is true that this rider kills by the sword, and by hunger, and by death, and with the beasts of the earth, there is another very important purpose of this horseman. His ride will force the narrative back to Babylon in the Middle East. Here we will expound on both the devastation and the ultimate purpose of the pale-horse rider.
The Pale Horse
As previously noted, the color of each rider’s horse holds a great deal of significance. In this case, the color is pale green. Robert L. Thomas has this to say about the color of this horse:
“The word to describe the fourth horse’s color, chlōros (“pale green”), is the color of grass and other vegetation in Mark 6:39 and Rev. 8:7; 9:4, but in the present connection, designates the yellowish green of decay, the pallor of death. It is a pale ashen color that images a face bleached because of terror. It recalls a corpse in the advanced state of corruption.” [3]
Think about this statement; one can only imagine the terror that will overcome those who have missed the rapture and failed to repent up to this point in the Tribulation when they see the fourth rider and his companion approaching. Indeed, sheer horror will be the lot of the wicked as the fourth horseman, whose name is literally Death, rides his pale-green horse through their midst, along with his companion, the new abode of the slain, Hell. These two will slay those who occupy the fourth part of the earth they are given power over. Indeed, these two will kill ruthlessly. However, their ride must not be conflated with the first three riders even though their means are similar.
Sword – Hunger – Death – Beasts
The sword wielded by the second horseman represents war, and his special power is to remove peace from the earth, causing neighbor to kill neighbor.[4] The sword used by the fourth horseman and Hell is representative of the brutal nature by which this dastardly duo slays those in their path.
By the time Death and Hell make their appearance, the famine of the third rider will have already caused great depletion of the food stores of the earth.[5] However, the hunger that accompanies Death and Hell is hunger that causes death. Therefore, this indicates starvation to the point of expiring. Thus, one of the results of this ride will be the utter destruction of any remaining life-sustaining food.
The third listed manner of demise, ‘death,’ depicted in the fourth seal judgment, is better understood as pestilence or disease. Death from sickness makes perfect sense, as fatal diseases are already on the rise on this side of the rapture. It is not hard to imagine how pestilence and disease will flourish, especially with the rampant death associated with the rides of horsemen four, resulting in the presence of decaying bodies everywhere. One could even imagine many corpses going unburied for lack of laborers.
Finally, people will not be the only ones starving to death. As indicated in Revelation 6:8, the wild beasts will even begin to hunt and consume humans as their typical food sources are also depleted. Desperate beasts will resort to desperate measures. However, we must remember that Death and Hell are given the power to kill by these means. Therefore, these methods cannot be relegated to mere happenstance.
No, this ride will be conducted by supernatural beings directed by God Almighty, and they will not fail because He cannot fail. Death and Hell will, in fact, kill by sword, famine, plague, and wild animals. However, it is important to note that the fourth seal is the only one limited in scope. Indeed, the first three seals are worldwide (Rev 6:1-6), while the fourth is limited to one-fourth part of the Earth (Rev 6:8).
Over the Fourth Part of the Earth
As time passes, the reality of what this portion of Revelation 6:8 actually says becomes increasingly clearer to me. For as long as I can remember, people have conflated the fourth part of the earth with one-fourth of the population. Therefore, by their estimation, one-fourth of the population will be killed by the ride of Death and Hell. This would compute to roughly two billion people based on Earth’s current population. However, I will propose a different idea here based on the simplest reading of the text at hand. I will restate the passage for ease of study:
Revelation 6:8
“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.”
Notice, the statement is, ‘over the fourth part of the earth.’ Not ‘over one-fourth of the earth’s population.’ This means this judgment is geographical. We will soon see why this idea is extremely plausible. In order to avoid reinventing the wheel, I am going to include an excerpt from an article I wrote last year about this topic. If you have not read this article in its entirety, it may behoove you to take a moment to do so before proceeding.
***Excerpt from: “Back to Babylon.” [6]
Forcing the Focus Back to Babylon
Just as God, shortly after the flood, scattered the people to the far ends of the earth to keep them from doing things they ought not, He will force them back to the Middle East where all things began. Shortly after the rapture of the church, marking the end of the age of grace, God will restart the prophetic clock spoken of by the prophet Daniel concerning the seventy weeks of Israel. Sixty-nine weeks passed until the ‘cutting off’ of the Messiah, Jesus. The last two thousand years have been the marvelous mystery of a period of grace extended to all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for all who believe, and He was raised by the Father, and He will return soon to take His bride to the place He has prepared in His Father’s house (John 14:1-3).
Once Jesus concludes the age of grace and the prophetic clock restarts with one seven-year week remaining, the narrative will shift back to Israel, and God will use the forces of evil, which are currently coalescing in the Babylon region, to cause Israel to turn back to Him.
How will the return to Babylon happen? How will the city of Babylon become one that is so influential that the kings of the earth mourn her demise at the end of the tribulation period? (Rev 18:9). How is this possible when the United States is the reigning superpower with great influence in all areas of life? What is the simple explanation?
Most do not want to hear what comes next. The only thing that can explain the absence of the United States in Bible prophecy is the United States will indeed be absent from the world stage. This is not to say the United States will be completely destroyed. However, this once great nation will no longer be a superpower. The rise of world governance is one of the greatest indicators that the nationalistic United States will fall.
What if the information so many have sought for so long has been in plain sight all along? What if the United States is part of the earth that will become irrelevant in the closing moments of world history? Is it possible that the United States and other so-called Christian nations are suddenly made insignificant, seemingly overnight? Perhaps these nations are greatly impacted by two separate but closely related events; the rapture and the subsequent destruction of a fourth part of the earth brought forth by the seal judgments in the early days of the Tribulation. This study is not rapture centric; therefore, this biblical definition should provide enough clarity to continue the dialogue about the return of Babylon:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:16-17).
One-Fourth of the Earth
When looking at the earth from the four-mile perspective or when looking at the earth from above, it becomes clear that one-quarter of the earth stands apart from the supercontinent that contains the Middle East. In fact, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia make up statistically one-fourth of the earth’s surface:
World Land Mass – 57,510,000 square miles – divided by 4 = 14,377,500
Canada – 3,855,101
U.S.A – 3,618,783
Mexico – 758,449
Brazil – 3,287,955
Australia – 2,969,906
Total – 14,490,194 – That is incredibly close to ¼ of the earth’s surface (14,377,500). Especially when adding in the remaining inhabitable islands of the earth.
What if the United States is in Bible prophecy? What if all of the countries listed above are greatly diminished by the rapture, then further abated by the chaos which will undoubtedly ensue?
Perhaps these once great nations will be so affected by the sudden removal of the good among them that they begin to succumb to the riders of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first being one who will conquer; the second removing peace from the world, causing those left on earth to kill one another; the third causing great famine; all culminating with the fourth horseman who, with Death as a rider, is followed by Hell, and they have authority to destroy one-quarter of the earth? John provided more detail:
“And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 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” (Rev 6:7-8).
Notice this passage does not say one-fourth of the population. Instead, it says, “the fourth part of the earth.” Ironically, the destruction of this part of the earth would have the effect of forcing the focus of world events back to the Middle East and for those who love this world, back to Babylon, the new seat of government, commerce, and religion.
With these things in mind, it is clear to see how the narrative would shift from Western-centric to Middle Eastern-centric. If ‘Death’ visits the aforementioned countries in the magnitude mentioned, they would become inconsequential to the last days narrative. One could even envision the complete annihilation of all inhabitants of these countries. This, however, would not affect the scenarios depicted in the book of Revelation in the least, as none of these countries are mentioned. In fact, this actually clears up many questions posed by theologians about the players involved or, perhaps better said, not involved in the last moments of history.
***End of excerpt
Food for thought… February 16, 2023, marked the official opening of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, a facility that currently houses a mosque, church, and synagogue. This makes the idea that the narrative will shift back to the Middle East all the more plausible. After all, they could have built this facility anywhere.
Urgent Emergency
If I am right about this, the nations where Christ was most heavily represented will soon be set upon by unthinkable tragedy. First, they will lose all of those who had wisdom in the rapture.[7] Next, the four horsemen will thunder out of heaven and plunge their once-enlightened lands into utter chaos and death. You may be asking why God, after sending such great destruction upon the world by way of the first three riders, would utterly destroy the fourth part during the ride of the last rider. The simplest answer could be that those left in these nations are exceedingly wicked because of their continued rejection of the truth heralded by the bride of Christ before her departure.
If the last statement is correct, an ‘urgent emergency’ is upon us, and Scripture encourages us to minister while there is still light to do so (John 9:4a). We can all sense the fact that we, the light of the world (Matt 5:14), will soon be removed from the earth, plunging those left here into the darkest night when no one can work (John 9:4b). Once this darkness falls, salvation will become very difficult for those who are not in the region near Israel. Why, you say? Think about it…
The Two Witnesses are located in Jerusalem. The 144,000 evangelists that minister during the Tribulation are Jewish, and this implies that they will minister in the Middle East, as well. Most importantly, we know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Therefore, the converse must be true also; faith does not come when there is no hearing of the Word of God.
This means that those who are to be saved in the aforementioned fourth part region may have only heard the gospel before the rapture. Making it very possible that those who do realize what has taken place at the rapture will quickly repent and become part of the Tribulation saints who are slain in the early moments of the Day of the Lord. This makes our mission all the more important on this side of our long-awaited departure. Therefore, we must be the salt and light until our very last breath (Matt 5:13-16), and apologize like never before. [8]
Because these (post-rapture) Tribulation saints are located in the fourth part to be destroyed, they are also living amongst the most wicked people on earth; so wicked are these that they will slay any who do not agree with their reprobate mindset.[9] Keep in mind that the first horseman will come bearing the rainbow flag,[10] which is the ultimate symbol of the reprobates as it stands for pride.[11] His ride will establish complete rebellion against God while at the same time demanding that all who will not submit to him must perish (Rev 13).[12] The second rider will remove any semblance of peace on earth, and people will begin to kill one another. Since believers are not permitted to kill others, the Tribulation saints will likely be the ones killed during this period.
Perhaps, this is how those who repent in the early days of the Tribulation meet their demise. With this in mind, it is plausible, as seen in the opening of the fifth seal, that these are the very souls seen under the altar asking when God will avenge them (Rev 6:9-10). Though all of this seems so dark and dire, think about this for a second… those seen under the altar are amongst those saved during the Tribulation. Therefore, their physical death is ultimately inconsequential as they will spend eternity in the presence of the Most High, a fate far greater than what awaits Satan and all of those faithful to him, an eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15).
By the way, take a close look at this passage and, in particular, those who will accompany Satan during an eternity of torment that goes on day and night forever and ever. The list includes the beast, the false prophet, death, hell, and all whose names are not found written in the book of life. Knowing this should make anyone less likely to follow any one of these rebellious ones.
The Good News
The good news is God is still trying to get men to repent far into the Tribulation. Indeed, He is even using these calamities to cause men to ‘cry uncle,’ if you will. This is because He would have none lost. His desire is that all would turn to Him and accept the great sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, each of these events is designed to judge the wicked and call those who will hear to repentance which leads to salvation. The following passage makes this clear:
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (emphasis mine)
Jesus did His part perfectly; He died for you and me. In fact, He died if it had only been you or me.[13] Believing is our part. We must simply believe that Jesus paid the full price for our redemption, and He is, therefore, the only one we should follow. John 3:16 proves that this is what God desires for man, that we believe in His Son, Jesus.
Conclusion
You can almost hear the thunder of the four horsemen as you imagine what their rides will look like. Fortunately, those who have chosen to live for Christ now will not see these minions of mayhem, at least not from Earth anyway. For we will be in Heaven with the bridegroom, safe and sound during the most horrific time ever to come upon the earth.
However, those who are left here will suffer unimaginably, and if I am correct, the fourth part listed above will be hit hardest in the beginning stages of the judgments of God. Indeed, these areas could be severely diminished if not totally destroyed by the fourth seal judgment.
Therefore, do not place your trust in your country or those who lead it. Your country will not become great again through a lasts days revival.[14] Instead, pray for your leaders while placing your trust completely in God. Likewise, trust not those who would have you believe that the faithful must go through the Tribulation in order to become the glorious church that Jesus will come back to govern. No, Jesus will soon remove the faithful and only return after the earth is completely reshaped for the millennial reign that will commence when we return with Jesus at the end of the seven-year Tribulation.
Assuredly, we are in the last moments of our time on Earth, and our energies must be expended on watching, warning, and winning souls.[15] Most importantly, we must do all of these things while looking up and praying that we are found worthy to escape (Luke 21:28):
Ezekiel 33:1-6
“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [16] (emphasis mine)
Luke 21:28
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
Luke 21:36
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (emphasis mine)
Website: In His Commission
[1] For ease of sharing, this link is to a page dedicated to the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”
[2] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”
[3] Robert L. Thomas, Revelation Exegetical Commentary – 2 volume set, Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary (Chicago, Ill: Moody, 1995): 711.
[4] For greater understanding, see the article, “Second Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
[5] For greater understanding, see the article, “Third Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
[6] Excerpt from the article, “Back to Babylon.”
[7] For greater understanding, see the article, “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.”
[8] For greater understanding, see the article, “We Must Apologize.”
[9] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Rise of the Reprobates.”
[10] For greater understanding, see the article, “First Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
[11] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Coming False Flag of Pride.”
[12] For greater understanding, see the article, “Rising Rebellion.”
[13] For encouragement, listen to this song, “All Because of Me.”
[14] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Great Awakening – The Grand Deception.”
[15] For greater understanding, see the article, “Watch – Warn – Win Souls.”
[16] For more information, visit, “Watchman’s Wall.”