As Jesus starts to open each seal a series of events unfolds. The events are in logical, chronological, ordinal order. The events do not occur out of sequence, they occur in succession and are a progression into harder and harder times for those on the earth. Where are the saints as the seals are being opened? The formerly dead saints have put on incorruption and the saints from the earth have put on immortality, and they are in heaven watching the seals being opened. Those left on the earth are people who rejected Jesus or never made him Lord by confessing Him before others. It is the day of vengeance and the time of repayment for the evil done upon the earth, the creation, the saints, and to Jesus. The Creator is taking back His creation. We see a parallel here with the horsemen of Revelation 6 and the four winds from Zechariah, as well as a parallel during the time of David. Once we see these connections we will recognize that there is nothing new under the sun.
We have looked at the numbers a few times in the past so we could logically see what we are talking about regarding the harpazo. Research suggests that one third of the world population is Christian, with a number around 2.3 billion. Now this number is not spread out evenly over the entire planet. We know that the middle east has almost no professing Christians, less than 1%, while places like Central and South America and Subsaharan Africa have about 90% professing Christians. North America, Russia, and Australia come in around 75%. Now imagine if two and a half billion people were taken off the earth at one time. Life on earth would be wholly chaotic. While researchers claim Islam is the fastest growing religion (only because it is a forced religion), it will grow much faster once the redeemed are gone. What we see with the first four seals being opened is the earth adjusting to so many people being gone with war, famine, and plague as part of the adjustment.
We have riders on horses that go out into the earth as each seal is opened. What we want to compare is what these riders on horses are doing on the earth now. These horsemen are not showing up for the first time when the seals are opened. They are on the earth today, keeping peace. And while we don’t think of the world being at peace, comparatively speaking we are at peace. At the end of the seventy years of captivity, Zacharias sees four riders and horses. He later defines them more clearly for us. Let’s explore.
Zechariah 1:7 http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Zacharias/index.htm
On the twenty-fourth day in the eleventh month, this is the month Sabat, in the second year of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, saying,
8 I saw by night, and behold a man mounted on a red horse, and he stood between the shady mountains; and behind him were red horses, and grey, and piebald, and white. 9 And I said, What are these, my lord? And the angel spoke with me said to me, I will shew thee what these things are.
The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, the man/angel who was riding the red horse who stands between the mountains is going to speak. He says they are sent by the Lord to go around the earth.
Zechariah 1:10 And the man that stood between the mountains answered, and said to me, These are they whom the Lord has sent forth to go round the earth. 11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood between the mountains, and said, We have gone round all the earth, and, behold, all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest.
The other riders then speak to the rider on the red horse, the angel of the Lord, and report that the earth is inhabited and at rest. The riders look like men but are angels of the Lord. There are four of them, three are sent out into the earth and they report back to the rider of the red horse. Then the angel of the Lord speaks.
Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord Almighty, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, which thou has disregarded these seventy years? 13 And the Lord Almighty answered the angel that spoke with me good words and consolatory sayings.
The angel of the Lord is going to tell us what the Lord Almighty said. It is interesting that the angels lament our situation on the earth. It seems they are compassionate and advocate for humans.
Zechariah 1:14 And the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry out and say, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Sion with great jealousy. 15 And I am very angry with the heathen that combine to attack her: forasmuch as I indeed was a little angry, but they combined to attack her for evil. 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; and my house shall be rebuilt in her, saith the Lord Almighty, and a measuring line shall yet be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 And the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry yet, and say, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; Yet shall cities be spread abroad through prosperity; and the Lord shall yet have mercy upon Sion, and shall choose Jerusalem.
We know that Cyrus of Assyria conquered Babylon, released the captives, and allowed the temple to be rebuilt. The end to the captivity was near. Again Zechariah sees these four riders on horses. This time we have some further clues as to what these riders do.
Zechariah 6:1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, four chariots coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were brazen mountains. 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 piebald and ash-coloured horses. 4 And I answered and said to the angel that talked with me, What are these, my Lord?
This time there are chariots, instead of a single horse, these are the four winds of heaven. They are not just wind, they are angels who will stand before the Lord.
Zechariah 6:5 And the angel that talked with me answered and said, These are the four winds of heaven, and they are going forth to stand before the Lord of all the earth.
Daniel saw the four winds upon the sea.
Daniel 7:2 (KJV)
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Jesus told us that at the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns with his saints, he will send angels to gather the elect from the four winds.
Matthew 24:31 (KJV)
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
And we know that at the time the angels will seal the 144,000, the four winds will keep the wind from blowing on the earth.
Revelation 7:1 (KJV)
1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
We might just have thought of the four winds as four cardinal points of direction, but instead the angel speaking with Zechariah says the four riders with four different colored horses are the four winds of heaven. We see they stand before the Lord, they strive upon the sea, they guard portions of the earth and the angels will gather the elect from them, and they will keep the wind from blowing on the earth. There are many more usages in the Bible of what they do, but we want to be clear that the four horsemen are the four winds which are four angels. The black and white horses go out to the north, the piebald horse went south, and the ash horse compassed the earth.
Zechariah 6:6 As for the chariot in which were the black horses, they went out to the land of the north; and the white went out after them; and the piebald went out to the land of the south. 7 And the ash-coloured went out, and looked to go and compass the earth: and he said, Go, and compass the earth. And they compassed the earth.
8 And he cried out and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these go out to the land of the north, and they have quieted mine anger in the land of the north.
Why are these horsemen going north and south? This would be the vision of Assyria, specifically Cyrus the Lord’s chosen, taking over Babylon. Assyria quieted the Lord’s anger by capturing Babylon and then releasing the captives to return to Jerusalem.
There are specifically four angels which are called the four winds of heaven and they ride horses and chariots. Notice the colors of the horses change, which simply means different horses at different times. Yet as scripture says, the Lord has many chariots. Now as we look at Revelation we understand who the beings are that are riding horses.
Revelation 6:1-8 (KJV)
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
This angel has a bow and crown. This is the only usage of this word bow in the New Testament. The idea that this is a bow and arrow may not be correct, it could be a cloth bow. This word is translated three different ways in Hebrew, as the covenant bow of Genesis 9, and as a bowman, as well as a weapon, yet the definition attributes it to fabric, and birthing. It seems to be a specific fabric that denotes something being brought forth, or something being birthed, like a new dispensation.
Revelation 6:2 G2532 And G1492 I saw, G2532 and G2400 behold, G2462 [2horse G3022 1a white]. G2532 And G3588 the one G2521 sitting G1909 upon G1473 it G2192 having G5115 a bow; G2532 and G1325 was given G1473 to him G4735 a crown, G2532 and G1831 he went forth G3528 overcoming, G2532 and G2443 that G3528 he should overcome.
5115LSJ Gloss:τόξον a bow
Dodson:τόξον a bow.
Thayer:
1) a bow
τόξον
toxon tox'-on From the base of G5088; a bow (apparently as the simplest fabric) KJV Usage: bow.
5088 LSJ Gloss:τίκτω to bring into the world
Dodson:τίκτωI bear, bring forth, produce I bear, bring forth, produce, beget, yield.
Thayer:
1) to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed)
1a) of a woman giving birth
1b) of the earth bringing forth its fruits
1c) metaph. to bear, bring forth
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
τίκτω
tiktō tik'-to A strengthened from of a primary word τέκω tekō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literal or figurative KJV Usage: bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail.
4735LSJ Gloss:στέφανος that which surrounds
Dodson:στέφανος a crown, garland a crown, garland, honor, glory.
Thayer:
1) a crown
1a) a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank
1a1) the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games
1b) metaph. the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God and Christ: the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteousness
1c) that which is an ornament and honour to one
For Synonyms see entry G5833
στέφανος
stephanos stef'-an-os From an apparently primary “stepho” (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, G1238), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: crown.
3528LSJ Gloss:νικάω to conquer, prevail, vanquish
Dodson:νικάω I conquer, overcome I conquer, am victorious, overcome, prevail, subdue.
Thayer:
1) to conquer
1a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious
1a1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes
1a2) of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions
1a3) when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one's cause
νικάω
nikaō nik-ah'-o From G3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.
This angel goes out and subdues the world, he is wearing a badge of royalty and a crown. This means the bow may not be a bow such as a weapon, but a bow like a sash. He has an exalted rank and he is victorious. Since this angel is one of the four winds who can actually hold back the wind, he is probably not shooting arrows at people to subdue them. There is no mention of arrows as with other usages of the word bow, therefore it is possible that this bow is simply a fabric bow as the definition suggests, denoting the coming King, Jesus. The past horsemen were going into the world to keep the peace, but now this rider is announcing Jesus.
Revelation 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 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 6:3 G2532 And G3753 when G455 he opened G3588 the G1208 second G4973 seal, G191 I heard G3588 the G1208 second G2226 living creature G3004 saying, G2064 Come G2532 and G991 see!
4 G2532 And G1831 went forth G243 another G2462 horse, G4450 fiery; G2532 and G3588 to the one G2521 sitting G1909 upon G1473 it G1325 was given G1473 to him G2983 to take G3588 the G1515 peace G1537 from G3588 the G1093 earth, G2443 that G240 [2one another G4969 1they shall slay]; G2532 and G1325 [3was given G1473 4to him G3162 2sword G3173 1a great].
1515LSJ Gloss:εἰρήνη peace, time of peace
Dodson:εἰρήνη peace, peace of mind peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.
Thayer:
1) a state of national tranquillity
1a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war
2) peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
3) security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
4) of the Messiah's peace
4a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)
5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
6) the blessed state of devout and upright men after death
εἰρήνη
eirēnē i-rah'-nay Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity KJV Usage: one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
4969LSJ Gloss:σφάζω to slay, slaughter
Dodson:σφάζωI slay I slay, kill by violence, slaughter, wound mortally.
Thayer:
1) to slay, slaughter, butcher
2) to put to death by violence
3) mortally wounded
σφάζω
sphazō sfad'-zo A primary verb; to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (generally) to slaughter, or (specifically) to maim (violently)
KJV Usage: kill, slay, wound.
3162 LSJ Gloss:μάχαιρα a large knife
Dodson:μάχαιρα a sword.
Thayer:
1) a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh
2) a small sword, as distinguished from a large sword
2a) curved sword, for a cutting stroke
2b) a straight sword, for thrusting
μάχαιρα
machaira makh'-ahee-rah Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of G3163; a knife, that is, dirk; figuratively war, judicial punishment KJV Usage: sword.
3163 LSJ Gloss:μάχη battle, fight, combat
Dodson:μάχη strife, contention, quarrel (earlier: a battle, conflict, hence) in the sphere of words, etc: strife, contention, quarrel.
Thayer:
1) a fight or combat
1a) of those in arms, a battle
1b) of persons at variance, disputants etc., strife, contention
1c) a quarrel
μάχη
machē makh'-ay From G3164; a battle, that is, (figuratively) controversy KJV Usage: fighting, strive, striving.
This angel takes peace from off of the earth. As un-peaceful as we think life is now, it will be far more un-peaceful during this time. Pay close attention here, people will slaughter one another. This angel has a sword, but the angel is not slaughtering men, men are slaughtering men. This sword is a sword of judgement, or judicial punishment. This sword brings battles, not between angels and humans, but between humans alone. Remember that earlier we looked at some numbers. Many researchers believe Islam is the fastest growing religion and will overtake Christianity. Well it certainly will after the harpazo. Who is left on the earth? This slaughtering will occur at the time of the second seal. Think about this, muslims will be a majority on the earth. This will be a time that they will use to their advantage. Peace is off the earth at that point, so in comparison to what will happen at the time of the second seal, we really do have relative peace now.
Revelation 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Revelation 6:5 G2532 And G3753 when G455 he opened G3588 the G4973 [2seal G3588 G5154 1third], G191 I heard G3588 the G5154 third G2226 living creature G3004 saying, G2064 Come G2532 and G991 see! G2532 And G1492 I saw, G2532 and G2400 behold, G2462 [2horse G3189 1a black]; G2532 and G3588 the one G2521 sitting G1909 upon G1473 it G2192 having G2218 a yoke balance scale G1722 in G3588 G5495 his hand. G1473
6 G2532 And G191 I heard G5456 a voice G1722 in G3319 the midst G3588 of the G5064 four G2226 living creatures G3004 saying, G5518 A choenix G4621 of grain G1220 for a denarius, G2532 and G5140 three G5518 choenices G2915 of barley G1220 for a denarius; G2532 and G3588 the G1637 olive oil G2532 and G3588 the G3631 wine G3361 do not G91 wrong.
2218 Dodson:ζυγός a yoke, heavy burden, pair of scales a yoke; hence met: (a Jewish idea) of a heavy burden, comparable to the heavy yokes resting on the bullocks' necks; a balance, pair of scales.
Thayer:
1) a yoke
1a) a yoke that is put on draught cattle
1b) metaph., used of any burden or bondage
1b1) as that of slavery
1b2) of troublesome laws imposed on one, esp. of the Mosaic law, hence the name is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable 'yoke'; yet even Christ's commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept
2) a balance, pair of scales
ζυγός
zugos dzoo-gos' From the root of ζεύγνυμι zeugnumi (to join, especially by a “yoke”); a coupling, that is, (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales) KJV Usage: pair of balances, yoke.
5518 LSJ Gloss:χοῖνιξ a choenix, a dry
Dodson:χοῖνιξ a Greek dry measure a Greek dry measure, equivalent to 1.92 pints.
Thayer:
1) a choenix, a dry measure, containing four cotylae or two setarii (less than our quart, one litre) (or as much as would support a man of moderate appetite for a day)
χοῖνιξ
choinix khoy'-nix Of uncertain derivation; a chaenix or certain dry measure KJV Usage: measure.
91LSJ Gloss:ἀδικέω to do wrong
Dodson:ἀδικέω I act unjustly towards I act unjustly towards, injure, harm.
Thayer:
1) absolutely
1a) to act unjustly or wickedly, to sin,
1b) to be a criminal, to have violated the laws in some way
1c) to do wrong
1d) to do hurt
2) transitively
2a) to do some wrong or sin in some respect
2b) to wrong some one, act wickedly towards him
2c) to hurt, damage, harm
ἀδικέω
adikeō ad-ee-keh'-o From G94; to be unjust, that is, (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) KJV Usage: hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong.
The third seal opens and there is a food crisis. Consider that it may be as many as two and a half billion people taken off the earth. Who is doing the farming? Who is harvesting the crops? Who is driving the trucks? Who is running the grocery store? To bring this into a more visual perspective, think about your neighborhood; three out of four homes empty. If 75% of North America is harpazo’d that does not leave many people in North America. Now truly those numbers may be high, but if seventy-five percent of the population in North America or Russia or Australia confesses Jesus as Lord, that will be an automatic food crisis. If 90% of the people in Central and South America and Subsaharan Africa are harpazo’d, whoever moves into those countries will have to bring enough people to produce food. Those who dominate during this time will be an organized group of people left on the earth.
Revelation 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
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.
Revelation 6:7 G2532 And G3753 when G455 he opened G3588 the G5067 fourth G4973 seal, G191 I heard G5456 the voice G3588 of the G5067 fourth G2226 living creature G3004 saying, G2064 Come G2532 and G991 see!
8 G2532 And G1492 I saw, G2532 and G2400 behold, G2462 [2horse G5515 1a pale], G2532 and G3588 the one G2521 sitting G1883 upon G1473 it, G3686 his name was G1473 G2288 death, G2532 and G3588 G86 Hades G190 followed G3326 after G1473 him. G2532 And G1325 was given G1473 to him G1849 authority G1909 upon G3588 the G5067 fourth G3588 of the G1093 earth G615 to kill G1722 by G4501 broadsword, G2532 and G1722 by G3042 hunger, G2532 and G1722 by G2288 plague, G2532 and G5259 by G3588 the G2342 wild beasts G3588 of the G1093 earth.
2288 LSJ Gloss:θάνατος death
Dodson:θάνατος death death, physical or spiritual.
Thayer:
1) the death of the body
1a) that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended
1b) with the implied idea of future misery in hell
1b1) the power of death
1c) since the nether world, the abode of the dead, was conceived as being very dark, it is equivalent to the region of thickest darkness i.e. figuratively, a region enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and sin
2) metaph., the loss of that life which alone is worthy of the name,
2a) the misery of the soul arising from sin, which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell
3) the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell
4) in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell
θάνατος
thanatos than'-at-os From G2348; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: X deadly, (be . . .) death.
86Dodson:Ἇ Hades Hades, the unseen world.
Thayer:
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hellIn Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, Lu. 16:23, Rev. 20:13,14; a very uncomfortable place. TDNT.
ᾅδης
hadēs hah'-dace From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls KJV Usage: grave, hell.
The first thing we see with seal number four being opened is that Death and Hades are riding horses going out into the earth with authority to start collecting people for the place of death and the place of hades. This rider is not one of the four winds, or of the angels who will gather the elect at the end of the age, these are angels known by where they work. The angel of death and the angel of hell work in conjunction to bring dead souls into hades. Who now has the keys to death and hell? Jesus. If we remember death and hell could not hold or keep Jesus. He took back the keys which was his plan so that he could release the captives, bringing them from Abraham’s bay to Paradise. Now these two riders have authority.
We may not realize this because it has been two thousand years since Jesus died, but before Jesus took back those keys, death and hell had authority (given by the satan), to collect people off the earth. They could not take the righteous, but they judged sin and could collect a lot of people at once. We see this very thing with David when the satan rose up against Israel to destroy it. We will look at that shortly. But here, we see these angels with authority going out to do something they have done before.
1849LSJ Gloss:ἐξουσία power
Dodson:ἐξουσία power, authority, weight
(a) power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, (b) in a quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power, and hence of an earthly power.
Thayer:
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission
2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privi
ἐξουσία
exousia ex-oo-see'-ah From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence KJV Usage: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
615 LSJ Gloss:ἀποκτείνω to kill, slay
Dodson:ἀποκτείνω I put to death, kill I put to death, kill; fig: I abolish.
Thayer:
1) to kill in any way whatever
1a) to destroy, to allow to perish
2) metaph. to extinguish, abolish
2a) to inflict mortal death
2b) to deprive of spiritual life and procure eternal misery in hell
ἀποκτείνω
apokteinō ap-ok-ti'-no From G575 and κτείνω kteinō (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively to destroy KJV Usage: put to death, kill, slay.
4501LSJ Gloss:ῥομφαία a large sword, scymitar
Dodson:ῤομφαία a sword, piercing grief a sword, scimitar; fig: war, piercing grief.
Thayer:
1) a large sword
2) properly a long Thracian javelin, also a kind of long sword wont to be worn on the right shoulder
ῥομφαία
rhomphaia hrom-fah'-yah Probably of foreign origin; a sabre, that is, a long and broad cutlass (any weapon of the kind, literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: sword.
3042LSJ Gloss:λιμός hunger, famine
Dodson:λιμός a famine, hunger.
Thayer:
1) scarcity of harvest, famine
λιμός
limos lee-mos' Probably from G3007 (through the idea of destitution); a scarcity of food KJV Usage: dearth, famine, hunger.
2342LSJ Gloss:θηρίον a wild animal, beast
Dodson:θηρίον a wild beast, animal properly: a wild beast, hence: any animal; met: a brute.
Thayer:
1) an animal
2) a wild animal, wild beast, beast
3) metaph. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious
For Synonyms see entry G5846
θηρίον
thērion thay-ree'-on Diminutive from the same as G2339; a dangerous animal KJV Usage: (venomous, wild) beast.
The tools of death and hades are to kill humans by the sword, kill by famine, kill by plague, and kill by wild animals. Notice that death and plague are the same word; this implies a broad death affecting many at once. Death and Hades have the jurisdiction to collect many people and this is the way that they will do it. Why is this? This is the day of vengeance. The wrath of the Lamb. This is the time that many people who are not already in hades will be bought to hades. If Death and Hades were under the dominion of the satan this would have been going on for the last two thousand years. But they are not under the dominion of the satan, now they are under the rulership of Jesus. It may be that the satan’s rulers of death and hell are not the same as Jesus’ rulers over death and hell. This is one reason we have relative health and tranquility on the earth. Yes there are wars, there are health issues, but they are not widespread. They are magnified in the media, but this is small compared to this time of the fourth seal being opened.
We can learn something here from David. The satan still accuses us before the throne of God day and night, and when we intentionally do things we are told not to do, then there may be consequences that the satan is allowed to inflict on us. Israel lost over seventy thousand people due to David’s sin.
I Chronicles 21:11 G2532 And G2064 Gad came G* G4314 to G* David, G2532 and G2036 said G1473 to him, G3779 Thus G3004 says G2962 the lord, G1586 Choose G4572 for yourself!
12 G2228 Either G5140 three G2094 years G3042 of famine; G2228 or G5140 three G3376 months G5343 fleeing G1473 G1537 from G4383 the face G3588 G2190 of your enemies, G1473 G2532 with G3162 the sword G2190 of your enemies G1473 G2614 pursuing G1473 you; G2228 or G5140 three G2250 days G4501 of the broadsword G2962 of the lord, G2532 and G2288 plague G1722 in G3588 the G1093 land, G2532 and G32 the angel G2962 of the lord G1842 utterly destroying G1722 among G3956 all G2817 the inheritance G* of Israel. G2532 And G3568 now, G1492 behold, G5100 what G611 [2should I answer G3588 3to the one G649 4sending G1473 5me G3056 1word]?
David gets three choices; three years of famine, three months of fleeing and being pursued by their enemies and their swords, or three days of the broadsword of the Lord bringing plague with the angel of the Lord destroying Israel’s inheritance. Three is an interesting number here. Three choices, three years, three months, or three days; each punishment varying in time and intensity. Draw it out or get it over with quick. But David wanted to take on the punishment for himself.
We want to pay attention to the words here. Many times we read these words and titles without ever thinking about them. David wanted a fourth option, he wanted to be punished; he and his family line. But that wasn’t one of the choices he was given. So the Lord/Yahweh/Kurios chose a plague. Then God/Elohim/Theos sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. In this case, we should recognize that the words used are god/elohim/theos, as we are not talking about Yahweh, we are talking about the god of this world who accuses us before the throne day and night. Elohim is simply a title, not a name like Yahweh. It was the satan who came to attack Israel by tricking David into counting the people. Remember that capitalizations or non-capitalizations, or smaller font with all capitalizations, are the additions of modern translators, the original Greek is not written that way.
We see this same type of back and forth between an elohim and Yahweh in the account of Jonah. We just have to read in detail and apply logic. If we go back to verse 1 in 1 Chronicles, we see the satan who wants to attack Israel and he uses David as a tool. It was the satan’s plan to harm Israel, but Yahweh has to uphold justice. So Yahweh chose plague or option number three, three days of the broadsword of the Lord bringing a plague.
I Chronicles 21:14 G2532 And G1325 the lord Lord appointed G2962 G2288 plague G1722 in G* Israel. G2532 And G4098 there fell G1537 of G* Israel G1440 seventy G5505 thousand G435 men.
15 G2532 And G649 God god sent G3588 G2316 G32 an angel G1519 into G* Jerusalem G3588 G1842 to utterly destroy G1473 it. G2532 And G5613 as G1311 he was utterly destroying, G1492 the Lord beheld G2962 G2532 and G3338 repented G1909 concerning G3588 the G2549 evil. G2532 And G2036 he said G3588 to the G32 angel, G3588 to the G1311 one utterly destroying, G2427 Let it be enough G1473 to you, G447 spare G3588 G5495 your hand! G1473 G2532 And G3588 the G32 angel G2962 of the lord Lord G2476 stood G1722 at G3588 the G257 threshing-floor G* of Ornan G3588 the G* Jebusite.
We have the same afflictions here in this instance with the exception of the wild beasts. The choice of three years of famine, three months of war, or three days of plague are similar to what we see the angel of death and the angel of hades bringing to earth. Yahweh brought the plague and the sword of the Lord and the elohim sent a destroyer. The god of this world had every right to do what he did.
The Lord/Yahweh/Kurios appoints a plague. It kills 70,000 people. Then the god/elohim/theos of this world sends an angel to destroy it. Two different things going on here. One plague and one destroyer. Then the Lord/Yahweh/Kurios repented, changed, or cared over the evil or depravity, and Yahweh tells the angel destroyer to stop. Yahweh sent a plague, but the satan had the right to attack Israel because of David’s sin. So the satan sends a destroyer angel. Yahweh then stops the destroyer. This means that there were more than 70,000 killed. David sees the angel of the Lord with his broadsword unsheathed, stretched out over Jerusalem and David mourns. David wanted the punishment for sinning, but David’s lineage was to bring the Messiah. Gad the prophet comes back to David with a message from the angel of the Lord and David buys Ornan’s threshing floor, establishes an altar, and then Yahweh tells the angel to put away his sword. This is where David brings the tabernacle of Moses and establishes the place for the temple Solomon would later build.
What we see happening with the four seals being opened is a progression of severity in wrath. The first angel is dressed in a crown and a bow/sash, which seems to indicate, at least to the spiritual realm of principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness, the age or dispensation has changed from grace to tribulation.
The second angel of the second seal takes peace off the earth and humans start to kill humans. Taking peace off the earth is like rallying the ministering spirits to announce they are not allowed to intercede in the affairs of men. When men start killing each other it brings a new level of sin into the earth that must be judged and reconciled. This speaks of war between the remaining nations. Is this where we see the Psalm 83 war take place? Where Israel increases her borders? We don’t know. But some nation is going to rise up as a leader and take authority over the other people left on the earth. It makes sense that the dominator and intimidator will be from an Islamic country as that is where the greater populations of earth reside.
The third angel of the third seal is weighing and balancing food. The punishment for sin is famine. Although the oil and wine are not affected. Oil symbolized the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is used in the seven branched lamp stand. Remember that the temple will be rebuilt and oil will be needed. The wine symbolizes being trodden or crushed and represents communion. Many people will realize what has happened, that there is a new dispensation on the earth, and as we will see next week, people will die for their new found faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah. Famine is inevitable in time of war as no one is working the land. Because we have centralized food in order to be efficient, and because today we buy and sell between many other countries, the bread baskets of the world will be overrun by those profiteering.
The fourth seal allows two angels to sweep the earth, Death, and Hades. They come to collect humans because of the amount of sin on the earth has continued to rise. There will be continued war, famine, plague, and wild animal attacks. This tells us that there will not be a safe place on the earth. Even if one were to hide deep in the woods and jungles, wild animals would rise up and kill. These animals who sang when Jesus took the scroll, will now become an enemy to mankind, Revelation 5:13.
While Death and Hades gather the sinners, there will still be those who recognize their time in the administration of the tribulation and they will confess Jesus as Lord. These people will have no place in hades. They may lose their lives on the earth, but they will gain eternal life when they do. The saints are already in heaven and watching these events. The only reason we who are saved are told of these events beforehand is for the benefit of getting others saved before the harpazo. We are not given this information to gloat or to become giddy with excitement to see retribution on evil people. We are given this information as a warning as to what is ahead. Remember how Jesus found the works of the Sardis church imperfect, they were not confessing Jesus as Lord and Messiah, Revelation 3:1-ff. If we confess Him before men he will confess us before the Father, Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8. This is our commission, to spread this word far and wide. To give people of our day and time the opportunity to choose life or to choose death.
