19 The Seals of Wrath

The next three seals expose the world to great and desolating judgments with which God punishes those who either refuse or abuse the everlasting gospel. This represent God’s terrible judgments, by which he avenges the quarrel of His covenant upon those who refused or made light of it. Moreover, it seems likely that this is not just judgment that is being poured out. Rather, God is allowing the full condition of human depravity to come to its maximum strength. Each horse represents an aspect of depravity, and each one leads into the other. In the second horse the lust for conquest turns to civil war, as human depravity turns upon itself and becomes self-destructive.

The second horse takes peace from the earth. This is indicative of a greater amount of unrest than the world has ever seen before. The constant competitive, prideful relationships among the ambitions of men, and nations have reached their climax here. This speaks of internal strife, class wars, civil wars, the breaking of all established order on the earth. There will be no peace at all in any part of the earth. All peace efforts of the past will be over as the peace completely is taken from the earth. This is much worse than a war. It is total anarchy. Worse is that it will happen when the Antichrist has spoken of and promised peace and safety.

In these four different horses and horsemen, we see four different forms of the coming of the judgmental power of God which He will finally bring upon all the inhabitants of the earth. It is now that He will be breaking up wickedness, and providing His punishment.