The message of the fourth seal perfectly corresponds to the
fourth letter, addressed to the church of Thyatira, also found in the book of Revelation . Which historical period covers the events foretold by
the fourth letter and the fourth seal?
The rank of the living creatures corresponds with the rank
of the seals they introduce. So the fourth seal is introduced by the fourth living
creature. Now, the book of Revelation says that «the fourth living creature was like...» «... a man.» «... a flying eagle.» «... a lion.» «... a calf.»
The fourth living creature, who introduces the fourth seal
of the book of Revelation , carries a symbolism that is very
relevant to the prophesied period. Indeed, the Word of God indicates that this living
creature symbolizes the following things (check off all the right answers):
The fourth seal contains the expression «Death and Hades» . We can find a similar expression in the book
of Habakkuk , describing the deadly work of someone who has
the same features as the little horn of the book of Daniel .
Habakkuk gives this character the following name:«The proud man.» «The noble man.» «The rash man.» «The strong man.»
The book of Revelation announces
that severe plagues would strike people during the period of the fourth seal: «Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with
The set of four plagues announced by the fourth seal can be
found in many other places in the Scriptures. We thus understand that God allows this set
of four plagues - always the same four plagues - to strike people in order to punish a
specific sin. What is that sin?
The spiritual famine announced under the third seal went on
under the fourth seal. This scarcity of the Word of God was caused by all the false
doctrines that continued to invade the Church, at the expense of biblical truth. In the
book of Revelation , this tragic situation is also announced
in the letters to the following churches (check off all the right answers):
The third plague announced by the fourth seal is «death» . By making a parallel with the other sets of four plagues
found in the word of God, we notice that the word «death»
can be replaced by the word:«Scabies» .«Pestilence» .«Leprosy» .«Ringworm» .
The last plague announced by the fourth seal is «the beasts of the earth» . Following the Bible's prophetic
symbolism, which teaches that a beast represents a kingdom or a political power, the book
of Jeremiah also lists the same set of four plagues: «I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants and the people, and
such as are left in this city from the
Finally, Jesus Himself, using the same expressions as those
of the fourth seal, says these words of hope: «I am He who lives,
and was
The
Rider on a Pale Horse
