what are the 12 signs of the apocalypse what are the 12 signs of the apocalypse

1. Resulting in the collapse of the whole planet. As prophecy continues to unfold, we encounter several cultural signs of what is to comeincluding radical Islam, persecution, spiritual warfare, and more. I can no longer intercede for men. What is the Battle of Armageddon? Scholars such as Campegius Vitringa,[11] Alexander Keith, and Christopher Wordsworth did not limit the timeframe to the 4th century. Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (James 4:1). 13:16, Judges 20:40)[15] As Ernest Renan (19th century) noted about the silence, it indicates that the first act of the mystery has ended, and another is about to begin. 6:7-8, which say: 7. The earth was corrupt before God, and it was filled with violence. In Thielman Kerver's 1507 printing, over seventy images relating to the Signs of the Apocalypse appear within the margins of its Hours of the Trinity and the Office of the Dead. Because what these 4 do will provoke other 3 signs, that will result in the unstoppable Apocalypse. Although there are some historians who link the 7th seal to historic events, it is hard to take them seriously. [17], The Antichrist will unleash World War III, and crush any who claim to be Christians. Both Hugo Grotius and Volkmar linked the opening of the 6th seal to Jerusalem, and almost the same years. The fifth sign of the apocalypse is largely symbolic in nature as it refers to martyrs of the Christian faith who cry out to God for judgement on those who have slain them. [15], This judgment encompasses Christians who will be martyred for their faith in Christ during the Great Tribulation by not bowing down to the Antichrist and by not submitting to the global economic system that forces all people on the earth to receive the mark of the beast. You can find the description of the opening of the 6th seal in Rev. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. An "abyss" eventually holds Satan. It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? The plague of Pepe the Frog memes is another bad omen. Their own worlds were certainly coming to an end. The final one occurs at the time of the battle of Armageddon. This, accordingly, is the era when the signs of the times shall be shown forth, and they are in fact everywhere to be seen. While natural catastrophes seem more frequent and intense in recent years, one could argue that the news is simply more immediate. 2022 5 Jul. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. But there is another, less familiar interpretation by Alexander Keith. [10] This rider who "went forth conquering" was Rome's march toward Jerusalem in the year 67, to suppress The Great Jewish Revolt. The apocalypse is a very beloved theme for numerous movies, books and art pieces. Which resulted in famine due to the heavy taxation of the citizens. The sixth seal will be the literal cosmic disturbances caused by nuclear war or a global earthquake that causes volcanic debris to pollute the atmosphere, which turns the moon blood red and the sun dark. 6:9-11, which sounds like this: 9. The prayers are those of the Christians martyred by Rome. The Second Horseman of The Apocalypse will bring war and death. This is the end of the age when Christ returns, bringing cosmic upheaval on those who oppose God, the ones who persecuted His Church. Another interpretation is that the 4th seal, just like the 2nd and 3rd, havent been opened yet. 4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The first seal, being the first horseman on a white horse. A true prophet from God helps believers to mature in Christ. Christ-centered believers will recognize false teachers, and those deceivers will multiply as Christs return nears. He can be recognized due to his Great Sword. Is Jesus Christ one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse? Yet, some individuals will understand that they are sinners who have rejected God and that Gods judgment is deserved. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. The period involved is from 4000 B. C. to 3000 B. C. "It extends from after the fall of Adam, which according to the Ussher chronology was 4004 B.C., to shortly after the translation of Enoch and his city in 3017 B.C. James asked, What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Both the trumpet and bowl judgments will be unleashed on the wicked during the second half of the tribulation, each judgment intensifying to the next. Is Scripture taught, and if so, is it uncorrupted? The Rusens article describes various small-town prayer meetings whose impact led to the spread of Christian belief throughout entire regions, the example of which has sometimes inspired people around the world to take notice and pursue Christ. What is the seventh sign in the book of Revelation? The Augsburg Book of Miraculous Signs reveals a 16th Century society gripped by anxieties that we can relate to in the 21st Century, writes Rebecca Laurence. The general subject of the first six seals is the decline and fall, after a previous prosperous era, of the Empire of Pagan Rome. Authenticity Revelation 12:3 (NASB). 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Stephen, Paul, and many Christians of their day were persecuted, so as their lives were concerned, that was the End Times. The number Twelve in the Apocalypse: Jesus' 12 disciples; New set of 12 Apostles with the New Church via the New Testament to Represent this 6th Age; Woman crowned with twelve stars; Holy City has twelve foundations, and twelve gates; . For example, important documents were sent written on a papyrus scroll sealed with several wax seals. The original word in Greek apokalypsis means an unveiling, a revelation. During the Jewish-Roman wars. The sea turns to blood. And again, when the people of Israel had escaped bondage in Egypt, God provided them with manna from heaven for 40 years, lest they starve to death in the wilderness. The second sign is a dragon inRevelation 12:3, Thenanother sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great reddragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads wereseven diadems. The seven trumpets represent the seven judgments that God had in store for the Roman Empire. Those tricked to follow the false prophecy are trapped in a cycle of suffering. The first six bowls occur in Revelation 15:1-19:21. [15] Both Ernest Renan and Volkmar, modern rationalist preterists, marked the year 64 as a significant year for Christian martyrdom. Revelation 9:20-21 (NASB), Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. What about you? Revelation 16:1, 1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. Find out more about herhere. Camping points to traditional signs: the creation of the State of Israel and the spread of "gay pride." But if we think about it, the signs of the End of Days were all around us. During this period, Wordsworth indicated Ten persecutions: First, Nero; Second, Domitian; Third, Trajan; Fourth, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Fifth, Septimius Severus, Sixth, Maximinus; Seventh, Decius; Eighth, Valerian; Ninth, Aurelian; Tenth, Diocletian. And the . And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. The unrighteous are damned and the righteous enjoy the presence of God. 2020 has been an "apocalyptically charged time" and that can be a good thing if it means that "we're having our eyes opened," Keller said. Every Christian should know about the signs of the end times. Climate change, dwindling resources and food shortages aren't the only signs of an impending apocalypse, as these dozen bizarre actual signs clearly illustrate. This began Romes Golden age where the spread of the Gospel and Christianity flourished. 2 And I saw and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. God provides considerable details for each of these first four signs in numerous prophecies throughout the Bible. And so he did in 2348 B.C. Of these wars, the revelations recite: "And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. Now hold on there, pet-lovers and PETA, no one's . Finally, it should be noted that some brilliant minds from modern history have already foreshadowed the coming financial apocalypse of 2023. 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled. While the Church of Scotland minister, Alexander Keith applied the Second Seal directly to the spread of Mohammedanism, starting in the year 622. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. [5], The preterist usually views that John was given an accurate vision of a course of events that would occur over the next several centuries to fulfill the prophetic seals. But in general, most evangelicals believe in the broad idea that as evil ascends, the end times draw closer. 2 min read. In the beginning years of this seal, the famine in Ur of the Chaldees was so severe that Abraham's brother, Haran, starved to death, while Abraham was commanded by God to take his family to Canaan. Is God being glorified, or is the speaker or some group being exalted? In contrast to the kindly miracles of Jesus' ministry, the signs and wonders described in the Revelation of John are a regular house of horrors. The twelve signs that must come to pass before the end are given as follows: 1) Many will come in the name of Christ and deceive many (Matt.24,5; Mark 13,6; Luke 21,8) 2) There will be wars and rumours of wars between nations and kingdoms (Matt.24, 6-7; Mark 13,7-8; Luke,21,9-10). 14 And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The 7th sign is the preparation of the angels in The Kingdom of Heaven for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It describes the cry of the Christian martyrs who have been killed by the four horsemen. The third sign is a male child in Revelation 12:5-6. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. The four riders represent conquest, the violence of warfare, famine, and widespread death. 11. The first associates the period with 70. And he will have a scale. The Sixth Sign. According to Jacques-Bnigne Bossuet (c. 1704), this was Divine vengeance that first fell upon the Jews[9] for having the Messiah crucified,[15] then subsequently upon the persecuting Roman Empire. Each of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse represent different aspects of the cleansing of the earth, by Russian painter Viktor Vasnetsov. When a mysterious planet crosses the sun, global catastrophes are unleashed. This interlude focuses on the spread of the gospel during the Tribulation and the death of Tribulation saints. "Terrible things will come. How Is Harry Potter a Literary Christ Figure? And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth. Which results in wars, famine, death and suffering. "Know the Signs! Biblically, the word refers to a revelation, so one sees how two ideas coalesce: the End Times will be eye-opening for both believers and unbelievers. For example, Volkmar associates it with the pestilence of 66, which killed millions of Jews. Zodiac: Signs of the Apocalypse. Sadly, most of the believers will die during the tribulation as martyrs. There's also some . For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:6-7). Therefore, millions will starve to death, meanwhile the wealthy will enjoy their luxurious lifestyles. For those who are nonreligious or nonbelievers, the apocalypse is seen as the end of the world, the day of doom, or a disaster. An apocalypse is always something God does in our lives to produce good and beautiful results, bringing glory to his name and ultimate good to his people. Personal repentance invites the Lord to reveal himself in individuals, yet also reveals his glory to a watching world. The fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord, which was upon his people. At least according to the late Dr. F. Kenton Beshore, former president of the World Bible Society. These first four seals are religious deception, warfare, famine and pestilence. Science has projected these earthquakes, which will happen and also the spread of new . While missionaries planted seeds of faith, there is a homegrown facet to revival. Spirituality 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Puritan Joseph Mede (1627) associated the opening of the First Seal to year 73, during the reign of Vespasian, just after The Great Jewish Revolt. In the first act, five nations emerge Israel, Europe, Russia, Babylon, and America. The second sign is also called the second horsemen. The armies of the world will be defeated (Revelation 19:17-19), the antichrist and false prophet will be defeated (Revelation 19:20-21) and Satan and the demons will be put into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). False Prophets. Revelation 16:9-11 (NASB). If you haven't, go and do it today. When . Here are just five of them. m2v-m7v) Photos and translations by author, 2018 . The bow is an emblem of war, and the crown is the emblem of a conqueror. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13. Is Buddhism Polytheistic Or Monotheistic? There's nothing that a pandemic disease loves more than city life, with lots of life forms squashed into close quarters with each other, hopefully without much sanitation. [6:18] The opening of the fifth Seal releases the cries of martyrs for the "Word/Wrath of God". All Rights Reserved. The first two woes describeprogressivelyworse demonic activity; the thirdwoe, which is repeated three times,is about the battle of Armageddon. [10], This rider signifies twenty years of fighting, famine and disease that plagued the reigns of Emperors Decius, Gallus, Aemilianus, Valerian, and Gallienus (248268). Hogan. This wrath will not hurt Christians, because they will all be gone already, due to the war against The Christian Church. 38 and Dan. The first woe occurs in Revelation 8:13. But lets see a few examples. As Christians, this revelation points to the eventual second coming of Christ and the establishment of his kingdom on the earth. Pandemic. Drawing from decades of study, Dr. Jeremiah explains every key sign of the approaching apocalypse and what it means for you, including international, cultural, heavenly, tribulation, and end signs. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The first horseman, a conqueror with a bow and crown, rides a white horse, which scholars sometimes interpret to symbolize Christ or the Antichrist; the second horseman is given a great sword and rides a red horse, symbolizing war and bloodshed; the third carries a balance scale, rides a black horse, and symbolizes famine; and the fourth horseman rides a pale horse and is identified as Death. . Other historians interpret the second seal as different wars. This thing always preoccupied the human brain. The returned Christ opening the "7 Seals" has its consequences. The birth into mortality of God's only Son. The ensuing judgments vindicate Christian martyrs throughout the centuries. The Seven Seals of God from the Bible's Book of Revelation are the seven symbolic seals (Greek: , sphragida) that secure the book or scroll that John of Patmos saw in an apocalyptic vision. Why Does Judgment Begin in the House of God? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled. He allies with the Arab world in an effort to conquer the entire world. 6:5-6. Later he even had to leave Canaan in search of food. Apocalypse, from the verb apokalypto, to reveal, is the name given to the last book in the Bible. Then with Constantine's rise to power, Christianity became legalized (313) and the church was thereby vindicated. With Joel Gretsch, Aaron Douglas, Reilly Dolman, Emily Holmes. Johann Jakob Wettstein (18th century) went on to say that the silence conceded to the entreaties of King Agrippa I. Because the Christians and believers in Jesus Christ will suffer the most. The responsible being Emperor Titus. On the topic of signs of the apocalypse, there was one event that, had it happened any other month, would be a shoe-in for a sign of the end times. These taxes were often paid in wheat and barley. Does Buddhism Believe In Heaven? The four horsemen of the apocalypse are four biblical figures who appear in the Book of Revelation. "Apocalypse" is the word often assigned to the End of the World, a description of total Armageddon. What is revival? For those who reject Christ before they die, death ushers in a personal and devastating unveiling as they meet God and are turned away from heaven. The third scene occurs in Revelation 14:1-20. [15], As famine follows the sword, so the pangs of hunger gnawed in the bellies of the Lord's people during the third seal. Colin Smith explained that there is no such thing as a pure church this side of heaven. The third sign is the 3rd Horseman of The Apocalypse. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. As such, the word apocalypse is associated with the end of the world, when God's ultimate purpose will be revealed. He has a bow in his hands and a crown on his head. Candice Luceyis a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. There have been several disaster movies that rely on "signs and wonders" as a plot device, but few as hokey as ZODIAC: SIGNS OF THE APOCALYPSE. This is a highly horrifying passage from The Bible. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Resulting in the end of the world. Apocalyptic iconography is commonly found accompanying the prayer cycles of the Office of the Dead in late medieval Books of . And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things. According to Rev. The Apocalypse often seems close. A lot of people avoid reading this part of scripture due to a lack of understanding the imagery such as horses with heads like . And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. 11. The emergence of apocalyptic thinking today is a "deep, ancient warning" that something about the way power flows in society needs to change. Jesus gave us signs that would proceed the great apostasy and persecution of Christians, and those things are happening in an unprecedented way (Mat 24, Rev 6-7). 3) The Dramatic Increase in Travel and Knowledge. Bad local governance. As you can see, the second horsemen will ride a red horse. What does Jesus mean here by nations and kingdoms? But the most common identity of the first horsemen is the whole Roman Empire as an entity. (--Authorized King James Version), The silence is the preparation for the judgment about to fall upon Jerusalem in the year 70. "[18] The white horse is an emblem of victory. During this time, the wickedness and abominations of Noah's day were so great, that God found all men, save eight, worthy of death by drowning. Then there was the Babylonian empire from 605 to 538 B. C.; the Medo-Persian empire from 538 to 333 B. C. (Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 332); and in 60 B. C., Julius Caesar formed the first Triumvirate, with Imperial Rome rising to dominate the kingdoms of the world. This was the tenth period of the persecution of Christianity and the most severe, because of being on a worldwide scale. Elliott, the first seal, as revealed to John by the angel, was to signify what was to happen soon after John seeing the visions in Patmos. In the Olivet Prophecy, Jesus added that earthquakes in various places will accompany these signs (Matthew 24:5-7). Each judgment is progressively worse and culminates in the battle of Armageddon, the defeat of the worlds armies. Each of the horsemen represents a different facet of the apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death. People will still be allowed to form churches and worship however they want, as long as they do not cause trouble. A Great Earthquake. The seven last plagues in Revelation are: First plague: The contents of the first bowl will cause painful sores upon those "who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image" ( Revelation 16:2 ). The first sign of the apocalypse heralds the coming of what is agreed by most Christian scholars as an Antichrist whose purpose is to lead the world astray. "The world is walking in ruins. The book of Revelation is outlined with a sequence of four sets of symbols: seven seals, seven trumpets, seven signs and seven bowls. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom. Revelation 11:14 (NASB). Which will result in the death of one-fourth of the entire population of the earth. Debate abounds regarding the symbolism of the book of Revelation. Another interpretation describes the 5th seal as the suffering of Christians. Warfare is taking place somewhere in the world every day. Which can also be interpreted as the result of a nuclear war. How will Christians know which wars are precursors to the Final Battle? Hugo Grotius (17th century) viewed the sixth seal as it relates to the events during the Siege of Jerusalem by Titus in year 70. [15], In the historicist views of Nicholas de Lyra (14th century), Robert Fleming (17th century), Charles Daubuz (c. 1720), Thomas Scott (18th century), and Cuninghame, they agreed that the First Seal opened there upon the death of Christ. This was a period of financial oppression imposed on Roman citizenry, created by heavy taxation from the emperors. It will be a disaster, much worse than a war. His ministry among men; and the atoning sacrifice which he wrought by the shedding of his own blood. The martyrs that died until the opening of the 5th seal will have to suffer more and wait for the other Christians to die and suffer. [citation needed]. Fire, smoke, and sulfur kill people. You can find the description of the opening of the 6 th seal in Rev. As Ice sees it, the Holy Spirit dwells in each Christian believer and acts as a . And it mentions 7 important Signs Of The Apocalypse. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. This scene includes a strong angel which is a giant angel (Revelation 10:1-11). A wave of new believers is added to the body of Christ, drawn to the irresistible beauty of Christ, and together they yearn to make his name famous. A true prophet models what he preaches. Those details are additional signs . 10 Comments 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Lets see which are those 7 seals. Massive natural disasters have rocked the world in every generation. The opening of the first four Seals releases the Four Horsemen, each with his own specific mission. This movement starts with a group of Christians committing to meet regularly and asking God to forgive their sins individually, together, as a church body, and then interceding for their communities to do the same. The United Kingdom's Royal Mint is releasing a series of 29 new 50-pence pieces, each featuring a different Olympic sport, including a soccer coin that on one side . There's monkeypox, avian flu, the pig disease, on and on they go. Johann Jakob Wettstein links the event to Jerusalems waiting for judgment in the years 70. You have remained in right site to begin getting this info. 4. 1. What are the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 signs and 7 bowls of Revelation? 11. Because it is filled with mystery, uncertainty and horror. The seven bowls and the third woe conclude the description of the Tribulation period in the book of Revelation(Revelation 6:1-19:19). [15] The Puritan Joseph Mede (1627) captured this timeframe from years 98 to 275. Bossuet viewed the great Catastrophe of the Apocalypse as the conquest of Pagan Rome by Alaric I. Of his struggle to gain sufficient food to keep alive, Abraham said:[18], "Now I, Abraham, built an altar in the land of Jershon, and made an offering unto the Lord, and prayed that the famine might be turned away from my fathers house, that they might not perish." 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Me OWW! Revelation 6:56, Authorized King James Version), Hugo Grotius (17th century) and Johann Jakob Wettstein (18th century) viewed this rider as corresponding to the famine that occurred during the reign of Claudius,[9] the Roman Emperor from years 41 to 54. Those who believe that the second seal breaks with the 3rd WW, also sustain that the 3rd seal will be opened during WW3. Jesus used the Greek word ethnos to refer to a nation, or to a race of people, or even the heathen world, Gentiles., The word translated as kingdom could mean kingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, especially of God, both in the world, and in the hearts of men.. After all, many people believed Jesus was coming when the Second World War was declared. While the artifact discovered in the dig falls into the wrong hands of a government agency that kills to hide the secret, a divorced university professor, his estranged son and two scientists race against time and carnage to decipher the symbols on the artifact as a prediction of the coming of Nibiru, a mythical ninth planet believed to bring . [15], Spells death for one-fourth of the earth's inhabitants. [15] Joseph Mede (1627) indicated that the Third Seal had opened from the rule of Septimius Severus (193) to Alexander Severus (235). The chart below illustrates the sequence of these events in the book of Revelation. The Four Horsemen Of the Apocalypse photos byShane Braithwaite. "When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, 'Come and see.'. [14], The idealist view does not take the book of Revelation literally. It was a really bloody and dark event in human history. "The end times." "The apocalypse." "The day of judgment." These terms are both fascinating and frightening - but what do they really mean? The remaining seals describe the general punishments that will occur during the last part of the tribulation. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, Says the LORD."[24]. Signs Of The Apocalypse The Judgment Day, The End of The World, The Apocalypse, anyway you call it, it means the same thing. An example of the first would be . "[19], Precious little is known about Enoch and his city, but a few verses later, it stated that "the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them" and later Zion was "taken up to heaven". In the Bible, John the Apostle wrote in Revelation 6: "They (the Four Horsemen) were given authority over a quarter of the Earth . [15], This fourth rider symbolizes death that results from war and famine when men turn against men. Both interpretations being very similar.