The Fierce Horsemen Revelation 9:17

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He wrote about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third and fourth, fifth angel” blew their trumpets and havoc came upon the earth. John continued to share how the sixth angel sounded, and “a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates, and the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” In chapter nine and verse seventeen of Revelation John shared about “them that sat on... the horses” where we read:

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

The verse reads, “And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone:” John began with the words, “and thus” which means “and in this manner and so” “I saw” or “John perceived, noticed, discovered and declared” “the horses” which refers to “the two hundred million horses” “in the vision” or “within the appearance, sight and act of seeing”, “and them” which refers to “and the horsemen” “that sat” or “who were seated, occupied and were fixed” “on them” which refers to “the horses”, “having” or “holding, owning and possessing” “breastplates” which means “corsets consisting of two parts and protecting the body on both sides from the neck to the middle” “of fire” or “flaming and fiery shine”, “and of jacinth” which means “hyacinth or a red color bordering on black”, “and brimstone” or “sulfur-like material”. John saw how the “two hundred million” horsemen within this vast army had “fiery breastplates” which were “dark red colored” and made of “sulfur-like material”.

The verse continues, “and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.” John added the words, “and the heads” which means “the forepart and front” “of the horses” or “pertaining to the two hundred million horses” “were as the heads” which means “were like unto and as the foreparts and fronts” “of lions” or “of the king of the beasts lions”; “and out of their mouths” which refers to “and proceeding and away from the opening in their face used for language” “issued” which means “went forth and departed” “fire” or “fiery blaze like unto lightning” “and smoke” which refers to “smoke as from a burning” “and brimstone” or “sulfur-like material”. John saw how the “horses” themselves were “lion-like” and poured forth “fire, smoke and brimstone”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how “threatening” these “horsemen” and their “horses” appeared. We remember they are governed by the “angel from the bottomless pit”, and they are to cause “devastation and destruction” upon one third of the earth's men. Though these are a daunting group of horses, and their horsemen are clad with foreboding attire, God desires to save people through a relationship with His Son Jesus from these fierce militants. By yielding one's life to Jesus, God has promised “everlasting life” and an escape from these daunting foes. May all who read these words know and understand the willingness of God to “save” them.

Next time John describes, “by these three was the third part of men killed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.