Revelation 6:3-4 meaning

Revelation 6:3-4 describes the coming of the second horseman of the apocalypse.

The scroll that was revealed in Revelation 5 is now being progressively opened by breaking a series of seals. This is done by the Lamb, Jesus, the only one in all of heaven, and earth, and under the earth, who was found worthy to break the seals and open the scroll (Revelation 5:3-5). There are seven seals on the scroll, and each time the Lamb breaks open a seal, the contents of the scroll will be revealed. A story then comes to life, and John watches the scene from the throne room of God. 

Now, the Lamb broke the second seal, and John heard the second living creature saying, “Come” (v. 3). This is another of the four living creatures we were introduced to in Revelation 4:6-8, as attendants to God’s throne. In the previous section, one of the four creatures called forth the first horseman. 

Now the second living creature speaks to the second of the four horsemen and instructs him to come. It appears that each living creature will call forth one of the four horsemen and also give that horseman its heavenly authorization to act upon the earth. 

These horsemen are commonly referred to as the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” and are individually introduced in the first four seals, one horseman with each seal. The word apocalypse comes from the Greek “apokalyptica,” which means “uncovering.” When you uncover something, you reveal what is underneath. 

With the breaking of the second seal, another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him (v. 4). 

The first horse was white and “a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). Each horse is a different color, and each horseman will be given a different item and granted authority to undertake a certain action. In the case of the second seal, the horse that comes forth is red and the horseman is given a great sword along with the authority to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another (v. 4).

As with the first horseman who was given a crown, this further underscores that only God has the ability to give the authority on such matters. Here God is granting authority for someone to take peace from the earth. It seems paradoxical that Jesus, the “Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6), is authorizing peace to be taken from the earth. But we will see that this is a part of God’s judgment upon the earth. Wickedness will be judged and replaced by righteousness. 

The first time God poured out His wrath on the earth in a major way was in the form of the Genesis flood, and it was done to cleanse the earth from violence: 

“Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.’”
(Genesis 6:11-12) 

God destroyed the earth with a flood because it was filled with violence, and God did not make the earth to be full of violence. God’s design was for the earth to be ruled by humans in harmony with God, nature, and one another (Psalm 8, Hebrews 2:5-9). However, God’s design was corrupted by sin and rebellion. Now God’s judgment is once again being unleashed upon the earth. 

The first horseman was granted authority to conquer. This horseman brings war upon the earth, that men would slay one another. This returns the earth to the same basic condition it was in prior to God’s judgement of flooding it with water. In that time, the earth had filled with violence (Genesis 6:11). It was due to this widespread corruption that God judged the earth. This widespread violence appears to be both a judgment from the Lord as well as a prelude to the earth being cleansed of unrighteousness once again. 

We can infer that this mass slaying is related to the conquering activities of the first horseman. The first horseman apparently only cared about one thing: to conquer. Thus, it is consistent that the first horseman’s activities would prepare the way for the second, as people are turned against one another and led to slay one another.