“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” (Revelation 6:4).
TEXT — Revelation 6:1-4
In 2011, the Arab world was shaken by a series of uprisings now known as the Arab Spring. What began as small-scale protests quickly escalated into the collapse of governments that had ruled for decades. Leaders who once appeared untouchable were overthrown, nations were thrown into turmoil, and entire regions descended into prolonged conflict. Countries like Libya, Syria, and Yemen, once seen as pillars of stability in their regions, became battlegrounds of war, suffering,and destruction.
Our text presents a vision of events that will unfold before the ultimate return of Christ . These events will happen after the rapture of saints, leaving the Antichrist in charge for a period of seven years. The second half of this period will be difficult and dangerous as judgment falls upon the earth. The opening of the seals represents the unleashing of divine judgment and the unravelling of human civilisation as we know it. The first seal reveals a rider on a white horse, carrying a bow and wearing a crown. What is clear is that this rider signifies a force that goes forth “conquering, and to conquer”. He symbolises human ambition, expansion, and the pursuit of global influence.
However, the second seal is soon broken, and a new ride remerges, this time on a red horse. This rider is given power “to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” The pattern is unmistakable: conquest is often followed by war.
What begins as the rise of power quickly degenerates into strife, rebellion, and bloodshed. Many people pursue success, wealth, and influence with relentless ambition. Like the first rider, they set out to conquer their fields, to dominate their industries, to rise to the top. But suddenly, all the carnal achievements collapse like a pack of cards. The white horse may look appealing, but the red horse is always waiting.
Christians must not be deceived by worldly success at the cost of spiritual development. We must recognise that true peace is found in Christ alone. Our calling is not to chase after the fleeting crowns of conquest but to stand firm in the eternal kingdom of God.
Thought for the day
Deception is the currency with which the devil transacts with the world.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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