The timeline chronology progresses this way:

 

1.    Seals 1 thru 7

2.    Trumpets 1 thru 7

3.    Cups (Bowls) 1 thru 7

4.    Armageddon (Gog 1, the Wedding Feast)

 

In this chapter we are only going to discuss the first five seals. This is because a lot happens at the sixth seal, and we need to spend several chapters on it.

 

When the first four seals open we will see four horses, each of a different color. What is interesting about these horses is that they seem to be the same as the horses in Zechariah. Zechariah 6:5 tells us that these horses are four spirits of heaven, which have gone out from their station before Yahweh.

 

 

The translation of verse 3 is debated, so let us look at it in Hebrew.

 

 

The horses of the fourth chariot are “b’rudim” (בְּרֻדִּים), which is translated in various ways. The King James Version renders this as “grizzled,” but Strong’s Hebrew Concordance renders it as “spotted,” as if by hail (i.e., dappled).

 

 

When we look up the reference at OT:1258, we see that it is also a reference to hail, which makes “spotted” or “dappled” seem accurate.

 

 

The other word that is translated in different ways is “amutzim” (אֲמֻצִּים). Technically the word means simply “strong,” but the King James Version renders this as “bay” (a strong reddish-brown color).

 

 

Scholars do not argue that “amutzim” means strong. Rather, the question is whether this word refers to the horses or not. Literally, סוּסִים בְּרֻדִּים אֲמֻצִּים translates to “horses dappled strong.” We will talk more about this when we talk about the fourth horse of the Revelation, because while the first three horses are the same colors as Zechariah (just presented in a different order) the fourth horse in Revelation is either “pale” (rather than “strong”), or else it is “green.”

 

Verse Five tells us the horses represent “spirits of heaven” that have gone out from their stations before Yahweh. Sometimes people have a difficult time with the idea that all of these spirits have a rightful place before Yahweh, because at least in western thought these spirits are considered to be the antithesis of each other. And yet, since they have gone out from before Yahweh, Yahweh has a place and a use for all of them. As we will see, these spirits are:

 

1. Red: communism and (democratic) socialism.

2. Black: capitalism and free market economics.

3. White: Catholicism, Protestantism and ‘the church.’

4. Dappled/Strong/Pale/Green: associated with Islam (or “submission” to the will of the Spirit).

 

In another place we will show that while the dispersed Ephraimites went every which way, into every nation on earth, the majority of them migrated slowly northward and westward over time, ultimately settling in what later became Protestant northwestern Europe. Therefore, when Yahweh calls “to the north,” this is the direction the lost ten tribes of the house of Ephraim have gone. This is significant in that Zechariah tells us that first the black horses (capitalism) went to the “north country,” and then the white horses (representing the church) followed after, much as missions followed the settlers of the new world. No matter what one might think of “the church,” Yahweh says these spirits (i.e., capitalism and the church) “gave rest to His Spirit in the north country.” While this does not exclude any believer in any country on earth, we might also note that this is the general direction Yahweh calls to, when He decides to bring the Ephraimites home.

 

 

In verse 6, we also see the dappled horses (which represent Islam) go toward the south country. We might note that Islam originally spread southward into the Arabian Peninsula, and then into Africa. It was only later that Islam spread to the east, and up into Europe. (In general, Islam’s spread has been southerly).

 

Verse 7 describes the dappled horses of Islam as “strong steeds,” which walk to and fro throughout the earth (rather than staying in one place). We are not told that these horses gave Yahweh’s Spirit rest, and considering all of the destruction associated with Islam, some might find it difficult to believe that Islam can be a spirit of heaven. To this we can only comment that the Muslims do not receive Yahweh’s blessings because they worship a false elohim (All-h’). Their concept of justice is also incorrect because they do not have His Spirit. However, the Muslims do seem to understand that genuine faith dictates that the faithful observe a certain style of life (even if they have the wrong idea of what that ought to be). Muslims also seem to observe several of the commandments Yahweh spells out with regards to congregational discipline, which sadly are neglected in most Jewish and Christian societies. Most predominantly Muslim nations have the color green in their flag, and green is used as a symbol for Islam.

 

The red horses represent communism, socialism, and perhaps also democracy. In Communist China (and in the former Soviet Union) the color red represents the workers, or the collective. This concept is very much alive in America as well (with the “red, white and blue.”)

 

First Seal: White Horse. In Revelation 19:11, Yeshua rides a white horse. However, the destructive horse here is not Yeshua’s horse. It likely represents the papacy, which seeks world domination through the United Nations (UN) and its United Religions Initiative (URI). If so, this seal is undoubtedly already open.

 

 

Second Seal: Red Horse: In Torah Government we discuss the place of believing communalism in the Levitical priesthood. However, the red horse in Revelation represents secular Marxism/socialism (and the destruction it causes). Most communist/socialist nations have red in their flags (as do many democratic ones as well). Red is a symbol for Marxism, socialism and democracy all around the world. This horse has probably been released.

 

 

Third Seal: Black Horse: In Torah Government we show why the priesthood is forbidden to sell the word of Yahweh, or to operate on capitalist principles. The rest of the tribes, however, need to operate on free market principles, as this provides for the strongest economy. However, the black horse of Revelation is not a healthy type of capitalism. It may represent the “Yahweh-less capitalism” of the Rothschilds, the Bilderbergers, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund, which control Ephraimite governments through central banking. Those who adhere to this kind of capitalism are sometimes described as having “hearts as black as coal.” This seal is open.

 

 

Some commentators also believe the black horse may represent the stock exchanges, which buy, sell and trade without regard for anything but profit.

 

Fourth Seal: Green/Gray/Pale/Dappled Horse: While in Zechariah the horses are described as being “strong” or “dappled” in color, the Greek word here is “chloros.” Chloros has been rendered as “pale” or “grey” in the past, but it refers to the color green (as in chlorophyll). This is most likely a reference to Islam, as green is generally used as a symbol for Islam, and most Islamic nations have green in their flags. Muslims also occupy about one fourth of the earth, and they cause death by the sword and hunger wherever they are. This seal is likely already open, but as we will see, there will be much more Islamic devastation ahead.

 

 

Fifth Seal: The Martyrs Cry Out: At the fifth seal, the martyrs cry out for justice. They are told to wait, as more believers must die before their blood is avenged. Since this event is basically “invisible” from earth, we do not know if the fifth seal is open or not.

 

Next we will talk about the sixth seal (and the tribulation that comes with it). Since so much happens at the sixth seal, we are breaking it out into its own chapter.