Open the Seals
The Second Seal
“When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword”
(Revelation 6:3-4).
From the time of Cain’s first murder to now, there has been violence upon the earth. Daily, one can turn on the news or view various social media outlets to see and hear reports of violence everywhere in the world. We have had world wars, global threats, and more. One may often hear government leaders around the globe discuss peace treaties between fighting nations, but the Word of God lets us know that there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace returns. The Nobel Peace Prize, valued at $1,035,000 USD, has been awarded to four U.S. presidents, yet peace remains elusive on earth. Leaders raise false hopes regarding their abilities to bring an end to the hatred on earth, but there will not be a permanent end to fighting because men’s hearts are wicked and deceitful. The Bible says: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord sees all, and he is the only one who can bring an end to all the violence, hatred, and debauchery that takes place on the earth.
The Apostle John was shown the rider of the second horse, which was red, and took peace from the earth, carrying a mighty sword. Red often symbolizes the blood of Jesus, but the red color of this horse represents sin and death. The Bible says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The rider of this horse was allowed to take away peace from the earth. Can we say that we have peace on earth right now? No! All one has to do is step outside, where there is death all around. People are killing one another without even a blink of an eye. The Bible says: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). There is definitely a lack of love in this world. While many may not display the type of ungodliness in physical murder, there is an increasing level of evil that is taking place in society and even in the church. Terrorists blow themselves up and others for the sake of a demonic cause. Governments kill the innocent, plan assassinations, start wars, and lie to their citizens to overthrow one another to obtain control over land, resources, and power. Ordinary citizens have no respect for authority and murder peace officers who are only doing their jobs to maintain peace. Civil servants who are sworn to uphold the law end up breaking it themselves by becoming the very criminals they are obligated to arrest. Churches that have been called to be a hospital for the spiritually sick are full of sin-ridden doctors and nurses (leaders) who are supposed to protect, defend, and care for the patients (souls). The line between the church and the world has become quite blurred by those who wish to be both in the world and the church. As a result, people are spiritually dying, physically dying, mentally dying, and doing so without Christ, who is the only One who can bring peace. Yes, there is a lack of peace on the earth, and it will only get worse until Jesus returns. The Bible says: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
The disturbance of peace is not only in the form of killing the physical body. It is often manifested verbally as well by way of the tongue. The Bible says, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Many people have fallen victim to assassination through the mouth, which has caused peace to cease in the home, school, job, and church. The only difference with this type of death is that the person to whom the sword (tongue) has been used bleeds internally, whereas the other killing is physical. Either way, peace ceases to exist in both cases, and the inability to have verbal peace has often led to an insecurity of physical peace, resulting in death.
Loved ones turn against each other, and even those in the Body of Christ cannot seem to display peace due to selfish ambitions, anger, pride, and jealousy. Many view this horse as a symbol of those in the world who are unsaved falling to its sword. Yet, there is also a lack of peace and tranquility within the church among many of its members. The Bible says: “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death” (Mark 13:12). How many good church attendees have fallen out with each other over a mere parking space? Yes, that’s right, a simple parking space.
The rider of this red horse was given a great sword. According to historians, the sword has its origins during the Bronze Age, around 1600 B.C., which was an extension of a dagger. Swords were later made from iron, upon its invention, thus allowing swords to become sharper, longer, and more practical. However, the Bible tells us about angels having swords, which predates the records and dates established by historians. The Bible tells of the Cherubim being stationed outside the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were kicked out, where the Cherubim had a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24). Then there was the angel who had a drawn sword and was ready to kill Balaam when he was on his way to see King Balak (Numbers 22:21-39). Finally, there’s the story of King David, who had ordered a census, without God’s approval, thus bringing a curse upon the land where an angel carried out God’s judgment with his sword. The Bible says: “David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown” (1 Chronicles 21:16). The sword was a symbol and instrument for rendering judgment, justice, wrath, and retribution. The red horse’s rider would use the sword for punishment, death, and chaos. The world refused to know God’s peace, so they would be allowed to know His wrath.
HOMEWORK: Next week, we will be reading over and discussing the elements of the black horse and its rider (Revelation 6:5-6). Therefore, your assignment is to find an article or recent event that coincides with the black horse and its rider. Your discussion is to be brief, and no longer than a 3-minute presentation, so that everyone will have a chance to participate. Thank you, and have a blessed week.
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