Revelation 6:7-8 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
After the conquering, war, and starvation comes the fourth rider announced by the fourth living creature. The rider is called death, which will be result of the first three seals. Devastation comes after the war and scarcity of food possibly through control or rationing. Many people will be left hungry and starving. One fourth of the earth will die. This is a gruesome picture of the descent of humanity into the abyss of sin, self-destruction, and deception. This will not be a time people want to be alive. It would not take long for the world’s food distribution networks to be interrupted, resulting in starvation of many. War brings starvation followed by diseases. Wild animals clean up the mess because humans only become another animal for prey. The picture of the course of history gets darker with the opening of each seal. What should our response be? We can go back to the seven letters to the seven churches and see the calls to repent, turn away from evil and sin, be totally committed to the lordship of Jesus. Likewise, we can turn to chapters 4-5 where all creation responds to the Lamb through worship. Worship will keep us away from sin and prepare us for the final times of this earth. Worship is how we can be ready.
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