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.
John is asked by the “living creature” that has a face of flying eagle to “come and see.” He then tells us that he sees a horse galloping from the throne of God. Which direction is this horse moving?
We can see from this diagram that the 4th horse or the “pale horse” is galloping North from the throne of God. John then tells us that “death”, the rider, and his companion “hell,” are given authority over ¼ of the earth to harm its inhabitants. This description of this horse and its rider is startling. The horse is called “pale.” A pale horse does not look strong and full of energy, but it has a sickly pale color that suggests weakness or illness. The names of “death” for the rider and “hell” for its companion remind us of our ultimate fate on this earth. Then we are told that rider called “death” is given power and authority to kill. One fourth of the earth will die by famine, war, pestilence, and cruel world powers. What a gloomy, dark, and foreboding picture of the future of mankind. Is this our ultimate fate? Or is God giving the world a warning?
Let’s begin this discussion of this horse and rider by stating some simple facts that we have learned while studying this vision of John in Revelation 6. We are looking at four horses and riders that are sent from the throne of God to the four corners of the earth. We discovered that the riders on the white horse, the red horse, and the black horse each had the special message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most important, we realized that the visions of John do not describe the many benefits of the good news, but how the world responds to the good news. Now we must ask, how will the world respond to the gospel message of the rider on the “pale” horse with “death” and “hell” and destruction?
Is the Pale Horse pale or green?
Let’s begin with the color of the horse. We are told in the KJV that the color of the horse is “pale.” The Greek word for “pale” in this verse is chloros G5515. The Strong’s definition of chloros G5515 is “…khlo-ros’; from the same as G5514; greenish; i.e. verdant, dun-colored:–green, pale. 5514. Chloe, khlo’-ay; fem. of appar. a prim. word; “green”; Chloe, a Chr. female:–Chloe.”
This Greek word chloros G5515 is found in the following verses of the NT.
Mark 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green [chloros G5515] grass.
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale [chloros G5515] 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 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green [chloros G5515] grass was burnt up.
Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green [chloros G5515] thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
The search results above show you the complete listings for the Greek word, chloros G5515, in the NT. After reading this list, we realize that in the book of Revelation you have 3 of the 4 uses of the word chloros G5515. And in two of the three uses in Revelation, the KJV translates the word chloros as GREEN and not PALE.
The next question is simple. Is this horse, one of the four horses sent from the throne of God, “pale” or “green”? The use of the word “pale” gives me the visual clue that this horse is sickly and weak. Calling this horse “green” gives me the visual clue that this horse is healthy and strong. Since the horses are sent from the throne of God with a special message, and this gospel message could not and will not appear sickly and weak, we have enough evidence to state that this horse should be described as having the color green. The green color is a strong symbolic reference to faith. It is a characteristic of God. It is the strength of the Christian. It is the hope of mankind.
So why would John tell us that the name of the rider is “death”? Let’s study this fascinating subject.
The Rider Called “Death”
The Greek word for “death” is thanatos G2288. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words tells us that “Death [thanatos G2288]…is always, in Scripture, viewed as the penal consequence of sin.” Vine tells us that death is called the consequence of sin. So what is “death” and what is “sin?” How does the bible describe these two words?
Sin is not mentioned in Revelation, but John defined it in his epistle.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
In these few words John tells us several important principles of sin. Sin is the transgression of the Law of God. Then John tell us that if you commit sin, you are part of the family of the devil. OK, now we know what sin is.
What other principles were mentioned in those verses? If you have been born again, you belong to the family of God. You have been given His character. Then John tells us that the Son of God was manifest, that the works of the devil would be destroyed.
Sin is transgression of the law of God. If we have broken the law, and if we find ourselves in sin, what is it that we need to know? Paul tells us that “the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:33).”
In this last verse, Paul tells us that he knows the end result of sin. If you sin, you will be paid with death. OK. What is death? To understand death we have to talk about life. We know what life is. We have life because of our ability to think and feel and taste. We wake and sleep. We solve problems and make mistakes. We have learned that in the end of this lifetime on earth there is death. We have been told about it. We have seen it. And we have been affected by it. We know that death is the final result of the aging process, or of sickness, or by a weapon. Death is when the heart stops and the body begins its process of returning to the dust of the earth. It is a fact of life.
What can we learn from Solomon about death?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun…10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
He tells us that we who are alive know that we will die someday. We know that our body will be placed in a grave. Then he tells us about death. Solomon tells us that the dead are dead. They know nothing. They have no feelings. They have no influence on those that are alive. They are dead and buried. We know that “death” and the “grave” are real for those of us who are alive. So what is the relationship between death and sin? Paul tells us about “death” and “sin.”
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death [thanatos G2288] by sin; and so death [thanatos G2288] passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
In this text Paul is stating another fact of life. Because of the sin of Adam, we will die and be buried on this earth. Sin causes death. Sin will cause our death. This fact of life is stated again in Romans 6:23, but in this verse we learn that there is a solution for this problem of death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death [thanatos G2288]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So, what is the good news that this rider on the green horse is carrying? The gospel of Jesus Christ invites you to live forever, if you will believe that Jesus Christ can save you amply, fully and entirely. The promise of God states that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus tells us this same fact. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. So, if the invitation of the gospel is “life”, then why is this rider called “death?”
Why does the world call white black?
We need to be reminded of several principles.
Though he bore the title of Prince of Peace, Christ said of himself, “Think not that I am come to send a peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.” By these words he did not mean that his coming was to produce discord and contention among his followers. He desired to show the effect his teaching would have on different minds. One portion of the human family would receive him; the other portion would take sides with Satan, and would oppose Christ and all his followers…{RH, January 16, 1900 par. 3}
What is the effect of the gospel on our minds? “One portion of the human family would receive him; the other portion would take sides with Satan, and would oppose Christ and all his followers…” One side will receive it and one will oppose it. Is opposition all they will do?
…It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another. But the world at large are under the control of Satan, Christ’s bitterest foe. The gospel presents to them principles of life which are wholly at variance with their habits and desires, and they rise in rebellion against it. They hate the purity which reveals and condemns their sins, and they persecute and destroy those who would urge upon them its just and holy claims…{GC 46.3}
Not only will one side oppose it, they will rise up in rebellion against it. They will hate it. They will persecute and destroy those who proclaim the law of God. What else will they do? What was Jesus called by the leaders of Israel?
…Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. … He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor. He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub… {DA 111.3}
The Prince of Peace is called an enemy and destroyer. The Light Giver is called the transgressor. The Destroyer of evil is called the devil. What is white is called black. How can truth be turned upside down? It cannot be done, but those that oppose the truth can lie. These statements about the Son of God are lies of the Devil.
The gospel of the rider on the Green horse
How do the enemies of Christ look at the gospel of life? The message of the gospel of life by the 4th rider is called “Death” and the “Grave.” What is life has been called death by the followers of Satan. This rider is not called “Death” and his companion, “Grave” by the children of light. These names come from those that have chosen to turn from God. Why do they do this? “They hate the purity which reveals and condemns their sins, and they persecute and destroy those who would urge upon them its just and holy claims…{GC 46.3}” The same people that called Jesus an enemy, a transgressor, and a devil, call the gospel of Jesus Christ the gospel of Death. Are the children of evil correct? Can the gospel of Jesus be called “death” and the “grave?” Let us look at this gospel message and try to find out why they call it the message of death.
