Revelation 6

1. Who is the rider of the white horse? (1-2)
2. What does the red horse represent? (3-4)
3. What does the black horse represent? (5-6)
4. What does the pale horse represent? (7-8)
5. Who are those who had been slain? (9-11)
6. What do these disasters represent (12-17)

Futurist- Prophecy yet to be fulfilled
1. The rider may be the Antichrist, one who accepts what Jesus rejected (Luke 4:6). He will be a powerful leader in future government. (Some see Christ as the rider)
2. This represents war during the 7 year tribulation (probably war against Israel by Russia + her Middle Eastern allies. The great sword may be a nuclear bomb).
3. This represents famine resulting from the wars during the tribulation period.
4. A fourth of all humanity living at that time will be killed (See Matt. 24:21).
5. They are those who will be martyred during the tribulation
6. Actual cosmic events (or results of nuclear war) symbolize the final judgment

Historicist- Prophecy fulfilled throughout the church age
1. Refers to Roman imperialism from A.D. 96-180. This was the golden age of the Roman Empire. (Others see the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem shown here)
2. Refers to Roman imperialism from A.D. 180-284. This was a period of civil war in the Roman Empire. (Others see the end of peace in Jerusalem here)
3. Refers to heavy taxation/famine during 3rd+4th centuries (others see this as food shortage in Jerusalem prior to its destruction).
4. Refers to the afflicted Roman Empire of A.D. 248-296. (Or Jerusalem)
5. Martyrs killed under Diocletian’s rule (Or the early church killed by Jew).
6. Political revolution associated with Constantine’s conversion OR the division of the empire in 395 leading to its fall in 476 (or the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70)

Preterist- Prophecy fulfilled in distant past
1. This begins a progression of events leading up to A.D. 70. Rome advances toward Jerusalem (Others see Christ coming in judgment through the Roman army).
2. Civil war among the Jews prior to A.D. 70 (see Luke 19:42-44, Zech. 11:10-14)
3. Refers to the terrible food shortages during the Roman siege of Jerusalem.
4. Describes the conditions in Jerusalem prior to fall (see Ezekiel 14:12-23)
5. God’s people; those killed by Jewish leadership (Matt. 23:35-36)
6. The end of the Jewish state and the fall of its leaders using apocalyptic language.

Spiritualist- Prophecy fulfilled repeatedly throughout history
1. The rider is Christ, spreading the Gospel through His people. (Others see this as God’s judgment via human government)
2. This horse is physical persecution that follows those who follow Christ in spreading the Gospel (See Matt. 10:34).
3. This horse is fiscal persecution which follows those who follow Christ
4. A summary of persecution OR the state of the fallen world in general
5. Christian martyrs of all ages (or specifically those slain by Domitian)
6. Represents the climax of all persecution, this time by God against mankind