Meet The Pale Horse: Possible Identity of the 4th Seal

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By Steve Snider - Original Link

While most theologians refer to the Seals of Revelation as symbolic events that happen in the very last days, we still have to ask ourselves, in the name of common sense, if these events are more than just vague symbolism. In fact, we are required to study the scriptures for ourselves to determine the validity of our leaders’ teachings! For the scriptures are infallible and inspired or “breathed” by God Himself.

Now, understand that I am challenging, not attacking, other teachings or theories regarding the identities of the Four Horsemen, the Seals of Revelation or any other end-time speculations. To do so would place me in a category of people that I try to avoid: Those who claim to hold the “absolute truth” concerning things that are not written to be “absolute.”

Instead, it appears we are given clues in several books of the Bible about certain events that lead up to the Last Days. We are not given many absolutes concerning certain, specific events relating to the End Times. So to say that “this is absolutely the truth” or “that is unchallengeable fact” is, to put it bluntly, pure fertilizer. I say fertilizer for two reasons: 1) Everyone knows the key ingredient of the substance, and 2) Fertilizer gives birth to growth. This includes the weeds as well as the grass and flowers…

On to the Pale Horse...

Revelation 6:7,8
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Imagine, if you will, an organization or people that populate a quarter of the earth. Then, envision a massive onslaught on the world that includes murder by weapons, disease and famine - carried out by savage and ferocious men.

In this passage, John is describing the opening of the 4^th Seal, in the NAS, the Ashen horse. In the NIV and KJV, the word used for the color of this horse is “Pale.” However, if we look at the Greek word used to describe “pale or ashen,” we find the word Chloros:

Chloros
khlo-ros’
from the same as 5514; greenish, i.e. verdant, dun-colored:--green, pale.

If we go a little further and look up the additional uses of this word scripture, we find these passages (Chloros transliteration in bold):

Mark 6:39 - And He commanded them all to recline by groups on the green grass.

Rev. 8:7 - And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Rev. 9:4 - And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

The only place the word is referred to, in the English language, as “pale” or “ashen” is in Revelation 6, describing the color of the horse in the 4^th Seal. In all of the other passages, the translated words are written as “green.”

REASONABLE ASSUMPTION #1: Isn’t it reasonable to assume, then, that the color of this horse is green?

If so, should it even matter?

Let’s say, for argument sake, the colors of these horses are a clue to their actual identity. Let's also see if it's possible that these Seals have real, tangible identities as opposed to symbolic meanings. To argue this point, we can take a look at the 5^th and 6^th Seals following the Four Horsemen (the 7^th Seal, of course, introduces the 7 Trumpets).

The 5^th Seal describes Christian martyrs petitioning God to judge the world and avenge their blood. Is this a symbolic event or something that is specific in its description? I have to say that this is a specific event.

The 6^th Seal describes a terrible happening on earth - probably the first real violent event of the Last Days. Now, is this a symbolic event or something that is specific in its description? The 6^th Seal is almost too descriptive! It’s almost obvious of a nuclear exchange of some kind: “…The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up…” Using common sense, I also have to determine this to be a specific event, not merely symbolic of certain happenings on the planet.

So, REASONABLE ASSUMPTION #2: If the other Seals are specific events, isn’t it reasonable to assume that the preceding Seals are also specific in nature?

Applying Assumption #1 and Assumption #2, then, we can conclude that:

• The Pale or Ashen Horse is actually Green
• The Pale or Ashen Horse is a specific and tangible entity

Now we can explore the other specific clues pertaining to the Pale Horse and its rider. These are:

• Given authority over a quarter of the earth
• Death and Hades were following with him
• Murder by Sword
• Murder by Famine
• Murder by Pestilence (Disease)
• Murder by the Wild Beasts of the Earth

What exactly would “given authority over a fourth of the earth” mean? This is open for debate. However, I will give one possibility.

AUTHORITY OVER ¼ OF THE EARTH

The most common interpretation of the Pale Horse has the “rider” slaying one-fourth of the earth’s population using the methods above. I’m going to challenge this point of view. After all, the scripture doesn’t say that this rider slays a quarter of the earth; it simply states, specifically, that it’s “given authority over a quarter of the earth.” So, given the nature of this statement, I submit that this simply points to an entity that has control over a quarter of the earth.

DEATH AND HADES

Since the Bible says these “battles” on earth are a mere reflection of spiritual battles in the Heavenly Places, I am not surprised that Death and Hades are the real instigators of this movement. I believe that specific demonic forces are directly driving this “machine.” For we do not battle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12

SWORD, PESTILENCE AND FAMINE

This is a very simple statement. The easiest way to kill is with weapons of every type. This can include guns, rockets, mortars, knives, bombs and - increasingly and horrifyingly – biological weapons such as smallpox, anthrax, mustard gas, various nerve agents… The list goes on and on…

Additionally, famine can be a weapon of murder. By instigating civil wars and conflicts in the most agriculturally-challenged corners of the world and encouraging atrocity in the name patriotism to certain political and religious beliefs, famine can be, and is, used very effectively as a weapon of unbelievable proportions. One could even call it a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Just refer to nations like The Sudan, Somalia , Ethiopia and Angola .

WILD BEASTS OF THE EARTH

Boy, am I going to cook your noodle on this one. Honestly, the first thing that enters my mind concerning this text is Nero. Evidence is convincing that, during Nero’s reign, he fed both criminals and Christians (criminals in his mind) to the lions and other “wild beasts.” For a moment, though, let’s ponder if this could be metaphorical. Stupid? Maybe – but let's look anyway...

Let’s revisit the Greek Lexicon, except this time, we’ll be looking up “wild beasts” instead of “chloros.”

Wild Beasts

Therion
thay-ree'-on
diminutive from the same as 2339; a dangerous animal:--(venomous, wild) beast.

According to the Lexicon, this term is used 37 times in scripture and has three possible meanings, depending on the context in which it's presented. I’m going to focus on the 3^rd definition listed in the Lexicon: metaph. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious

The term “beast” as mentioned above refers to two completely different creatures (man or animal). The good thing is that, except for the “wild beasts” mentioned with the Pale Horse, all the other meanings are very obvious:

• The scripture in Mark is referring to animals
• All three references in Acts refer to animals
• The passage in Hebrews is quoting the Old Testament and also refers to an animal
• In James, as well, the scripture obviously means “animal” or “animals”

However, all other references to “Beast” or “beasts” refer to man or a group of men:

• 29 of the 30 references to the Greek word in Revelation are referring to either the Beast (Antichrist) or a metaphor (or description) of a nation or group of nations (Groups of Men)
• The passage in Titus refers to men
• The only reference to the word in Revelation that can be questioned is the scripture concerning the Pale Horse in Revelation 6 – all others are VERY obvious!

Although it can certainly be argued, it is entirely possible that the “wild beasts of the earth” mentioned in the text of the 4^th Seal are referring to “brutal, bestial, savage, ferocious men.”

To me, this begs a few questions:

• What is more savage than strapping a bomb to your body and entering a supermarket, a bus, a barracks, a plane or any other heavily populated area with the sole intent of killing as many people as possible?
• What is more savage than turning a Boeing 767 into a lethal missile aimed at killing as many people as possible?
• What is more savage than teaching your children that your murderous martyrdom will result in glorious gains in the next life for yourself and financial gains for your family that you leave behind?
• What is more savage than gassing your own countrymen in the name of two separate things: Genocide and Allah?

Do you see the direction we're going? Good!

Let's back it up with cold, hard facts...

Islam – the Pale Horse – the 4^th Seal of Revelation

• Fact - Islam is 25% of the world's population - Right Now Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
• Fact - The color of the Pale Horse is actually Green
• Fact - The color of Islam is Green Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4
• Fact - The name of the Rider is “Death”
• Fact - Modern Islam is the most contemptuous, murderous, dangerous and populous movement the world has ever seen, including the Nazis. For Sources, please refer to the frontpage of any major newspaper or news site throughout the entire planet
• Fact - Submission of Enemies by Murder is not only common practice but a basic fundamental of Wahabism (Radical Islam)
• Fact - Islam has used, and will continue to use, Chemical Weapons to achieve their goals
• Hint - “Wild Beasts of the Earth” can refer to “brutal, savage, bestial, ferocious men”

Given the fact that Islam could very well be the 4th Seal of Revelation, this calls for another Reasonable Assumption:

REASONABLE ASSUMPTION #3
If color is a hint toward the identity of the 4th, or Pale Horse in Revelation 6, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that color plays a role in the identities of the three preceding Seals?

Hmmm...