The second seal reveals a red horse symbolizing war. Since the coming of the Lord Jesus, the world has been filled with wars. War after war has marked human history and shaped civilization. The third seal reveals a black horse, representing economic crises and various disasters that reshape the face of the world. Then comes the fourth horse, green in color. This colour symbolizes the power of a major religion that was born in the Middle East and now dominates many regions in Asia. All of this has been foretold in Scripture—events that would influence and shape the course of world history. And all these things happen because God has authorized them.
In the book of Zechariah, horses of different colours also come out of the stables, and after they return, a voice is heard crying out: “Peace, peace, peace.” Before the coming of the Lord Jesus, the world was under the power of the fallen Lucifer. He held control over the world system. But after the cross, that authority shifted into the hands of Jesus. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Elsewhere, it is said that Jesus came to bring peace. But the peace referred to is not social or political peace on earth—it is the peace in the hearts of those who please Him.
Jesus did not come to make the earth a comfortable place, but to shake it, to disrupt the Old world order so that humanity would be ready to enter a new era. The sword referred to in the Greek language (“machairan“) is a large knife used for execution. He came to legitimize all of this—colouring and transforming the world through all its hardships, because He is leading humanity into the new age (Matt. 24:8).
Therefore, the seals opened in the book of Revelation signify that the world will face tremendous difficulties. All of this is allowed and legitimized by Jesus. It is a significant mistake to think that Jesus came to make our lives more comfortable and materially blessed. The truth is, the world will become increasingly corrupt. Jesus came to prepare His people to enter the New Heaven and Earth. So, when we often hear phrases like “God will surely bless and protect,” they are true, but we must understand that God’s primary focus of protection is the salvation of the soul, not economic comfort.
Economy is not the primary concern in Christianity. In times of persecution or in countries where Christianity is rejected, no matter how faithful someone is, they may still be oppressed, impoverished, and treated unjustly. True Christians must grasp this correctly. Don’t be easily misled by phrases like, “Brothers and sisters, we are a victorious people.” When Paul wrote in Romans 8:37, “We are more than conquerors,” he was encouraging the Roman believers who were enduring extreme suffering under Emperor Nero and other persecutors. That verse was not meant generally for Christians living comfortably today, unless they are truly living like the early church in Rome: standing firm in faith, even with their blood and lives.
As stated in Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This declaration was made not in the context of comfort, but while suffering. So, it is inaccurate to casually label all Christians as “a victorious people” without understanding the context of faith and suffering as experienced by the apostles and the early church.
Matthew 24:8 says, “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Therefore, suffering is part of the process leading to the new age that God has promised. We must be ready to suffer, because that is the path into the new era—into eternal glory!