I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. He [The Lamb] went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. _{Revelation 5:1,7}

Unrolling the Scroll - The Four Horsemen:

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. _{Revelation 6:1,2}

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. _{Revelation 6:3,4}

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages, and six pounds of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” _{Revelation 6:5,6}

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. _{Revelation 6:7,8}

I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven. _{Revelation 4:1-2}

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. _{Revelation 4:6-8}

I include the four living creatures in this discussion because they are instrumental in revealing the four horsemen to John.

1. Covered with eyes. Vigilant, watchful: The Lord is in his holy temple... He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. _{Psalm 11:4}
2. A lion. Courage, strength: Mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing _{Proverbs 30:30}
3. An ox. Powerful servant: From the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. _{Job 39:9, Proverbs 14:4}
4. A human face. Noble being: God created man in his own image. _{Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 1:18, Psalms 8:4-6}
5. An eagle in flight. Powerful, swift: Those who hope in the Lord... will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.
   _{Isaiah 40:31}
6. Each having six wings. Angelic beings I saw the Lord... seated on a throne. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings. _{Isaiah 6:2}
7. Each living creature in turn calls out to John literally saying, "Come here and have a look at this." They seem to possess some kind of audio-visual function. When the third seal is opened John not only saw the black horse and its rider, but heard a voice coming from among the four living creatures.

1. The colors of the horses and the items the riders hold have symbolic importance.
2. White = Purity & righteousness. _{Psalm 51:7}
3. Red = Sinful nature of man. _{Isaiah 1:18}
4. Black = Distress, catastrophe & death. _{Joel 2:2, Zephaniah 1:15}
5. Pale = Frightful alarm, the color of death. _{Daniel 5:6, Daniel 10:8, Nahum 2:10}
6. Bow = Weapon of war, fires a projectile.
7. Sword = Weapon of war, a slashing / stabbing weapon.
8. Scales = Devices for measuring weights.

The four horsemen in one word can be identified as: 1) Conquest, 2) War, 3) Famine, and 4) Death. The general scenario presented here is that events on earth during this time go from bad to worse.

The meaning of the white horse is a conundrum. The color white suggests one thing as stated above but the rider holds a weapon of war. This suggests that the entity presented here is a deceiver; a wolf in sheeps clothing. The conquest achieved is not by way of war but the conquest of the human mind. This may refer to it being the false prophet introduced in more detail in the 13th chapter of Revelation. _{Revelation 13:11,12}

War has been around as long as humanity has been. Therefore the red horse and its rider suggests a conflict far worse, perhaps on a global scale and the use of horrific new weapons. This may be what is indicated by the large sword given to the rider.

The black horse and its rider represents the natural consequence of war which is famine. The scales and the prices of commodities suggests a scarcity of food items. Many who survive the war become the victims of deprivation.

The image of the one who rides the pale horse with Hades [the grave] in his wake depicts the total collapse of civilization as a result of the three preceding horsemen. The world as we know is near its end and the second advent is near. _{Revelation 11:16-18}