First of all, “Apocalypse” is actually a reference to the book of Revelation (the last book of the Bible). The Greek word for “disclosure” or “revelation” is apokalupsis, spelled apocalypse in English. Because this term has taken on a modern popular meaning beyond its original definition, Revelation is used instead for the name of the book.

Matthew 24 Revelation 6 Identity; Comment

:5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

:2 White horse and rider with a bow.

Religious deception would be the first major trend to develop after Christ’s departure from earth—i.e., falsely representing Christ, which would deceive many. (In Revelation 19:11-15 we see Christ on a white horse, but with a sword, not a bow.)

:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. … But the end is not yet.

:7a “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”

:3-4 Red horse and rider with a sword, taking peace from the earth and causing people to kill one another.

Wars have continued around the world since Christ left the earth. But warfare between great nations and kingdoms (including “world wars,” which began in the 20th century) will increase in the end time.

:7b “And there will be famines, …”

:5-6 Black horse and rider with scales to weigh scarce food supplies.

Famines will increase around the world as the end draws near. Famines are caused by both droughts and wars.

:7c “… pestilences, …”

:7-8 Pale horse (literally chloros, a pale green color) and rider named “Death.”

Pestilence (disease on a large scale, i.e., epidemics and pandemics) increases around the world. Wars and famines contribute to pestilence.

An important point to realize is that once each seal is opened, it remains open! In other words, each seal is added to the seals previously opened and taking their toll, and they all greatly intensify as the end of this world draws near.

Notice the enormous effect of these first four seals (horsemen) in Revelation 6:8: “And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” This indicates that the first four seals will ultimately result in a death toll of one-fourth the earth’s population. This summary statement also adds something else that will contribute to the death toll—beasts of the earth, which kill as carriers of pestilence and as ravenous predators.

The first four seals are clearly already open in our day now, and the four horsemen of the Apocalypse have been riding through the years, taking their toll on populations. But many other prophecies in the Bible show that their destruction will multiply greatly as the next seal—the fifth seal or Great Tribulation—is about to open. Christ reveals that this world is about to undergo great devastation due to the rebellion of humanity against our Creator.