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Symbols of Judgment
Taken as a whole, the Four Horsemen are dreadful judgments upon mankind for sin. As we will see, they descend upon humanity at the direct command of Christ the Judge, and He gives them free rein to do their worst upon the earth's inhabitants?to kill up to a quarter of the planet's population (Revelation 6:8). In today's terms, that comes to about a billion-and-a-half people!
Since Romans 6:23 clearly declares that "the wages of sin is death," the incessant commission of sins upon the earth makes its inhabitants ripe for judgment (for more examples of this metaphor, see Jeremiah 6:9; Amos 8:1-3; Joel 3:12-13; Revelation 14:17-20). Because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23), God is certainly justified in sending His judgments at anytime, against anyone, and to any degree of severity. Paul writes in the previous chapter:
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds"; . . . to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness?indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil. . . . (Romans 2:5-6, 8-9)
The apostle asks, "Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? . . . Their condemnation is just" (Romans 3:5-6, 8). As Psalm 96:13 prophesies, "For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth" (see Psalm 9:8; 98:9; Acts 17:31). Though the Four Horsemen cause terrible devastation and loss of life, their deeds are, in effect, humanity's just deserts (Revelation 16:5-7). Had men not cut themselves off from God through sin, these measures would not have been necessary.
Yet, underlying God's severe and just punishments are His goodness and mercy. Those hewn down by the Four Horsemen will have an opportunity for salvation in the resurrection from the dead (Revelation 20:12-13; see Isaiah 65:20-25), a time far more congenial to accepting and embracing God's way of life than is available in this world. Perhaps the lessons learned in this life of sorrows will prove beneficial to them in the world to come.
Taken as a whole, the Four Horsemen are dreadful judgments upon mankind for sin. As we will see, they descend upon humanity at the direct command of Christ the Judge, and He gives them free rein to do their worst upon the earth's inhabitants?to kill up to a quarter of the planet's population (Revelation 6:8). In today's terms, that comes to about a billion-and-a-half people!
Since Romans 6:23 clearly declares that "the wages of sin is death," the incessant commission of sins upon the earth makes its inhabitants ripe for judgment (for more examples of this metaphor, see Jeremiah 6:9; Amos 8:1-3; Joel 3:12-13; Revelation 14:17-20). Because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23), God is certainly justified in sending His judgments at anytime, against anyone, and to any degree of severity. Paul writes in the previous chapter:
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds"; . . . to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness?indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil. . . . (Romans 2:5-6, 8-9)
The apostle asks, "Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? . . . Their condemnation is just" (Romans 3:5-6, 8). As Psalm 96:13 prophesies, "For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth" (see Psalm 9:8; 98:9; Acts 17:31). Though the Four Horsemen cause terrible devastation and loss of life, their deeds are, in effect, humanity's just deserts (Revelation 16:5-7). Had men not cut themselves off from God through sin, these measures would not have been necessary.
Yet, underlying God's severe and just punishments are His goodness and mercy. Those hewn down by the Four Horsemen will have an opportunity for salvation in the resurrection from the dead (Revelation 20:12-13; see Isaiah 65:20-25), a time far more congenial to accepting and embracing God's way of life than is available in this world. Perhaps the lessons learned in this life of sorrows will prove beneficial to them in the world to come.
