When I was a child my older brothers were subscribers to the satirical comic MAD magazine. One of the many imagines in MAD that I saw as a child was this one to the right. It's the four horsemen of the metropolis. This image borrows from the biblical image in the book of Revelation. The horsemen are named by their corruption of society. They are drugs, graft, pollution and slums.
How does this compare to the biblical version? Look at Revelation 6:1-8.
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!” I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.
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| The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Conquest, War, Famine, Death |
These four horsemen are popularly named: Conquest, War, Famine and Death. The interpretation of these four are varied, especially the first, the rider on the white horse. Some interpret the white horseman as evil, spreading pestilence. Billy Graham taught that the white horseman was the Antichrist, a king whose influence is felt across the globe as the masses do his bidding through actions of greed, lust, apathy, gluttony, rage, envy and vanity. (Yes, that's the seven deadly sins by Thomas Aquinas)
But there is a positive interpretation. Since the second century, some Christians have interpreted the white horseman as Jesus Christ. Christ came to the world first. Then tribulation came through war, famine and death. Jesus as the conqueror is the victor who won the battle against the kingdom of darkness in his death and resurrection. The crown He wears is the victor's crown. The diadem was given to the winner of the Greek games.
These four horsemen come as a way of showing what is to come upon the earth. There are part of seven seals. The first seal, if the latter interpretation is correct, is Christ bringing His kingdom on earth. The next three seals reveal suffering upon the earth through war, famine and disease, pestilence and death. The next three seals continue with the persecuted church, cosmic upheaval, and then the marking of the church with protection.
Rev. Glenn Howell, currently serving Zionsville UMC, once preached that there's no mistake that the first seal is Christ and the last seal is His church. Evil is hemmed in by the redemptive work of Christ and His church. While the world is in the throes of childbirth, we suffer pain. Soon the child is born and great joy follows. The suffering gives way to joy!
The kingdom of God ultimately rests in God's hands. It is He who reigns. It is God who must act to bring an end to war, greed and the resulting famine of resources for the rest of us, sickness and death. The church remains faithful to her task even as we wait in the midst of tribulation.
Some folks these days are wondering if the end is near. They see war on the rise. They watch the Middle East and the growing threat to Israel and the western world. They wonder if the last great battle is soon to come in our lifetime. They are alarmed by reports of horrible diseases like the recent Ebola virus outbreak. They hear of food shortages around the world in underdeveloped countries. The see the signs they think pointing to the end. And they are afraid.
If the book of Revelation has anything relevant to say it is this: "Be faithful and persevere. Salvation is coming." This bizarre book was written for Christians suffering persecution in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. The Roman government had targeted Christians and the church was suffering. The fifth seal reveals this. (Revelation 6:9-11)
The images of wrath, while frightening and horrific, are meant to be relief for the suffering of the innocent and god-fearing. The kingdom of God is here in Jesus Christ and His church. While the world wages war, the church works for peace. While corporations pursue greed, rape and pollute the environment, and use workers up, the church practices generosity and charity, advocates for environmentally friendly choices and stands with workers who suffer unfair wages and unsafe working environments. While hospitals turn away patients for lack of insurance, the church opens free clinics, offers health education, and prayer for the sick. Evil is not going unchecked. Evil is hemmed in between the Christ and His church.
As I continue to think about the kingdom of God, I see how the church has and will continue to be yeast in the dough, light in the darkness and salt to a perishing world. In what ways can your congregation join the work of transforming the world through hope, and health, and the holy nature of God?
Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me. Amen
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