Revelation 6:7-8 7And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and the one sitting upon it had the name of Death on him, and Hades followed after 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.
The opening of the fourth seal by the Lamb reaches a tragic climax. After the conquest, war, and starvation comes the fourth rider announced by the fourth living creature. The rider is called Death. Death is the result of the first three seals. The pale color of the horse represents the color of a corpse. Devastation comes after the economic destruction of war and the resulting scarcity of food. As a result, many people will be left hungry and starving. One fourth of the earth will die as a result of fighting, starvation, and disease. 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 when people want to be alive.
It would not take long for the world’s food distribution networks to be interrupted, resulting in the starvation of many. War brings starvation followed by diseases. Wild animals clean up the mess. In this kind of situation, humans become another animal fit for prey and preying upon one another.
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, and 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.