Keraia
Revelation 6

Revelation 6:4

The Second Seal: War · Revelation 6:3–4
Read Revelation 6

Translations

Modern
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And another horse went out, fiery red; and to the one sitting on it, to him was given to take the peace from the earth, and that they will slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Latin
Et exivit alius equus rufus: et qui sedebat super illum, datum est ei ut sumeret pacem de terra, et ut invicem se interficiant, et datus est ei gladius magnus.

Original

Greek
English
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

Notes

Revelation 6:3–4

The red horse symbolizes bloody violence on earth. The Roman Empire promised peace (the pax Romana), but widespread violence was the grim reality. This rider represents slaughter, including civil unrest and ethnic cleansing.

Revelation 6:1–8

The four horses and their riders (see Zechariah 1:8–11; 6:1–8) represent the world's power structures. Their actions lead mainly to war, violence, economic imbalance, and death. Because of this, it is useless to place our hope in these human systems of power.

Revelation 6:1–16:21

Three sets of seven judgments (the seals, trumpets, and bowls) are central to Revelation. Some believe these judgments happen in a sequence, one after another, totaling twenty-one judgments.

However, it is more likely that the relationship is cyclical, similar to other Jewish apocalyptic writings (compare Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11). Each set of judgments becomes more intense and adds new details about God's judgment on those who rebel against him. In this view, all three cycles end at the same time, with the return of Christ.

Revelation 6:1–8:1

The Lamb breaks the seven seals to reveal the significance of history from God’s point of view.

Theme notes and profiles

Symbolic Numbers Visions

Glossary

Book of Revelation Cherub, Cherubim Horse Numbers and Numerology Red

Topics

Animals: Beasts Symbolical Horse: Symbolical Nuclear War The Horse: Colours of, Mentioned: Red Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Four Horses War: Symbolized by a Red Horse