Time of Distress (5) - Pale Horse

The Pale Horse represents epidemic disease and death.

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him (Rev 6:7).

The Greek word is “Thanatos”. This word does mean death, but in the Greek version of the Old Testament (Septuagint) it is used more than thirty times to translate the Hebrew word for “pestilence” (deber), so “pestilence” is probably a better translation in this context. This horseman is a symbol of deadly disease spreading over the earth. John saw widespread sickness and disease killing people over all the earth. During 1348-9 over a third of the population of England succumbed to this disease.

This horseman had power to kill people in four ways.

They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill in sword, famine and plague, and by the beasts of the earth (Rev 6:8).

In Revelation, the beasts from the earth represent human political powers. This suggests that the wars, famines and disease will be caused by the actions of human governments.

This horseman was called Pestilence, and Hades follows him. This suggests that those who have rejected the gospel will be more vulnerable to this pestilence. Zechariah saw the pale horse moving south. This suggests that the impact will be worse in the poorer parts of the world.