The four horsemen
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Also known as Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse · The horsemen of the Apocalypse · Four apocalyptic horsemen · Four riders of Revelation · The four horses and their riders · The horsemen of Revelation chapter six · The Horsemen of the Apocalypse · The apocalyptic horsemen
In 1877, the seven seals, including the first white horse, were associated with a future time of trouble and Christ's conquest of the nations. In 1918, The Finished Mystery interpreted the horsemen as successive stages in the history of the nominal Christian church and the Antichrist, identifying the first rider with the Bishop of Rome. This interpretation was repeated in 1924. In 1930, Light replaced it with a modern fulfillment beginning in 1914: the white rider represented the enthroned Jesus Christ, the red horse world warfare involving Satan's organization, the black horse profiteers manipulating food prices, and the pale horse pestilence and death. The interpretation was repeated in 1938. During Knorr's presidency, publications continued associating the horsemen with 1914, while broadening the black horse's meaning from commercial profiteering to famine and food shortages generally. By 1944, Hades was presented as following Death and claiming its victims, and publications in 1958 and 1962 explicitly counted five horsemen, treating Hades as a fifth rider on a separate mount. In 1962, the wild beasts of Revelation 6:8 were also associated with death caused by governments and organizations. Publications in 1969 and 1974 continued explaining the principal horsemen in connection with world conditions since 1914. During Franz's presidency, the main identifications remained stable, but in 1981 the assertion of a separate mount for Hades was qualified: Scripture was said not to specify whether Hades rode another horse. This was reaffirmed in 1986. Publications in 1983, 1988, 1989, and 1991 continued linking the symbolic horses with Christ's kingship, warfare, famine, and death. During the Governing Body period, publications from 1993 through 1999 maintained these identifications without a verified further change.
- Rev. 6:1-8
- Rev. 19:11-16
- Rev. 1:10
- Matt. 24:3-8
- Luke 21:10-11
- Ps. 45:3-5
- Ps. 110:1-2
- Rev. 12:7-12
Key moments
- 1877 Introduced The seven seals, including the first white horse, were placed in the future time of trouble during which Christ would conquer the nations. The first rider's conquest was associated with the righteous warfare described in Revelation 19 rather than with the earlier spread of Christianity.
- 1918–1924 Reversal The horsemen were interpreted as successive stages in the development of the nominal Christian church and the papal Antichrist. The first rider was the Bishop of Rome, while the white horse represented the original pure doctrines of Christianity. The red horse represented corrupted creedal teachings, the black horse subsequent ecclesiastical darkness and spiritual starvation, and the pale horse religious persecution. The four seals were applied to successive periods from apostolic times through the Reformation.
- 1930–1938 Reversal The historical church-development interpretation was replaced by a modern fulfillment beginning in 1914. The white rider was now the glorified Jesus Christ, enthroned as King and conquering his enemies. The red horse depicted World War I and the war-making elements of Satan's organization. The black rider specifically depicted profiteers and commercial manipulation of food supplies and prices, while the pale horse represented pestilence, death, and associated destruction following the war.
- 1944–1974 Broadened The modern fulfillment continued: Christ rode the white horse as the enthroned King, the red horse represented large-scale warfare, the black horse famine and food shortages rather than primarily the commercial profiteers identified in 1930, and the pale horse death through disease and other calamities. Hades was described as following Death to claim its victims. The 1958 and 1962 explanations explicitly spoke of five horsemen on five mounts, counting Hades as a fifth rider. The 1962 explanation also associated the wild beasts of Revelation 6:8 with lethal actions by governments and organizations. Later publications continued to discuss the four principal horsemen as signs associated with 1914.
- 1981–1991 Reversal The earlier assertion that Hades rode a separate fifth horse was no longer presented as certain. In 1981, the publication stated that the biblical record did not specify whether Hades had another mount; in 1986, it explained that the Greek text does not associate a horse with Hades. The four principal identities otherwise remained unchanged: Jesus Christ as conquering King, the military forces and warfare of the world, famine, and Death accompanied by Hades. The black horse was explicitly limited to the period following Christ's enthronement, rather than being applied to all historical famines. Their activity continued to be associated with the period beginning in 1914.
Russell
Charles Taze Russell · 1877–1916
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The seven seals, including the first white horse, were placed in the future time of trouble during which Christ would conquer the nations. The first rider's conquest was associated with the righteous warfare described in Revelation 19 rather than with the earlier spread of Christianity.
1 quote
That the seven seals belong to this time of trouble, the time in which Christ is conquering the nations, and are, therefore, as yet in the future, I think can be clearly proven.
The Three Worlds, 1877
Rutherford
Joseph F. Rutherford · 1917–1942
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The horsemen were interpreted as successive stages in the development of the nominal Christian church and the papal Antichrist. The first rider was the Bishop of Rome, while the white horse represented the original pure doctrines of Christianity. The red horse represented corrupted creedal teachings, the black horse subsequent ecclesiastical darkness and spiritual starvation, and the pale horse religious persecution. The four seals were applied to successive periods from apostolic times through the Reformation.
2 quotes
Apparently, God forsook His Church, having jeopardized all its interests by placing the power in the hands of a self-seeking ecclesiastical system.
The Finished Mystery, 1918 These doctrines, however, got into the control of a class spoken of as the rider of the horse, who is represented as having a bow, a symbol of an instrument for the dissemination of error.
The Golden Age, August 13, 1924 -
The historical church-development interpretation was replaced by a modern fulfillment beginning in 1914. The white rider was now the glorified Jesus Christ, enthroned as King and conquering his enemies. The red horse depicted World War I and the war-making elements of Satan's organization. The black rider specifically depicted profiteers and commercial manipulation of food supplies and prices, while the pale horse represented pestilence, death, and associated destruction following the war.
2 quotes
The first seal discloses the glorified Christ Jesus seated upon a white horse, equipped for war and going forth “conquering, and to conquer”.
Light, Book One, 1930 The first seal discloses the glorified Christ Jesus seated upon a white horse, equipped for war and going forth “conquering, and to conquer”.
The Watchtower, August 1, 1938
Knorr
Nathan H. Knorr · 1942–1977
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The interpretation connecting the horsemen with events beginning in 1914 continued. The red horse was applied to the outbreak of global warfare, including the renewed conflict of World War II.
1 quote
WHEN the "four horsemen" began their ride through the world in 1914, the nations and peoples painfully felt the steel-shod hoofs of the fire-red horse.
Peace—Can It Last?, 1942 -
The modern fulfillment continued: Christ rode the white horse as the enthroned King, the red horse represented large-scale warfare, the black horse famine and food shortages rather than primarily the commercial profiteers identified in 1930, and the pale horse death through disease and other calamities. Hades was described as following Death to claim its victims. The 1958 and 1962 explanations explicitly spoke of five horsemen on five mounts, counting Hades as a fifth rider. The 1962 explanation also associated the wild beasts of Revelation 6:8 with lethal actions by governments and organizations. Later publications continued to discuss the four principal horsemen as signs associated with 1914.
8 quotes
Death by plague or pestilence and by other causes of wholesale destruction of human life will keep on riding through the postwar "new order"; and "Hell" (or the grave) will ride at its heels to claim death's many victims.
The Kingdom Is at Hand, 1944 Hence, since the Bible uses horses as symbols of warfare, the prophecy pictures the recently crowned King as mounted on a horse, whose white color signifies Theocratic warfare for righteousness.
The Prince of Peace, 1946 The black horse of famine was to ride in the wake of the red horse of war, and the facts show that from and after 1914 famine has claimed more lives than war.
Awake!, September 22, 1949 Since 1914 food shortages or famines have affected twice as many people as in the 900 years before. The Bible said this would happen in the “time of the end." Revelation, chapter 6, tells us of five horses and five horsemen. It is important to know what these horsemen mean.
From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 1958 However, the fact that Hades is said to be “closely following” Death clearly indicates that he was on a separate steed though not described. (Compare Revelation 19:11, 14.) So we do have five horsemen riding five mounts in the Apocalyptic vision. What is represented or pictured by these horses? Throughout the Scriptures horses are associated with war and therefore are fitting symbols of war.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1962 The wild beasts in modern times would therefore refer to beastly ways in which life was taken by governments or organizations due to the conditions brought about by World War I.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1962 The ride of the four horsemen who had been disclosed by the breaking of the first four seals of the scroll had begun, and their ride had been made evident by World War I.
Then Is Finished the Mystery of God, 1969 Food shortage often accompanies warfare. Appropriately, therefore, the third rider that John saw is upon a black horse representing famine. So intense would the conditions be that a voice is heard to say: "A quart of wheat for a day's wage, and three quarts of barley for a day's wage; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine."
The Watchtower, June 15, 1974
Franz
Frederick W. Franz · 1977–1992
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The four principal horsemen retained their modern identifications. Christ's conquest began in 1914; the red horse represented continuing global warfare, the black horse famine and food rationing, and the pale horse death, disease, and epidemics.
1 quote
And I heard a voice . . . say: 'A quart of wheat for a denarius; and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine.' (Rev. 6:5, 6) This third horseman symbolizes famine, and with famine there goes food rationing, as in a time of total warfare. Even the very essentials, the wheat and the barley, are on short supply.
The Watchtower, October 1, 1978 -
The earlier assertion that Hades rode a separate fifth horse was no longer presented as certain. In 1981, the publication stated that the biblical record did not specify whether Hades had another mount; in 1986, it explained that the Greek text does not associate a horse with Hades. The four principal identities otherwise remained unchanged: Jesus Christ as conquering King, the military forces and warfare of the world, famine, and Death accompanied by Hades. The black horse was explicitly limited to the period following Christ's enthronement, rather than being applied to all historical famines. Their activity continued to be associated with the period beginning in 1914.
8 quotes
The rider is Death. Closely following comes Hades—whether on another horse or not, the record does not say. But they have a gruesome commission: "Authority was given them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth." [Revelation 6:7, 8] Since that fateful year 1914, the presence of Death and Hades has indeed spread to the four corners of the earth.
Let Your Kingdom Come, 1981 Hence, the galloping black horse and its rider picture the food shortages that afflict the earth when Jesus is appointed King of God's Kingdom.
The Watchtower, April 15, 1983 The rider on the second symbolic horse pictured the military hosts of the world, of which Satan the Devil is "the god"; and the fiery-colored horse matched the fiery fury and nature of that war and of its aftermath, World War II.
The Watchtower, May 15, 1983 In the Greek text the word for "horse" does not appear at Revelation 6:8 in connection with Hades. Hence, most Bible translations do not include the word "horse" with reference to this fifth character. So it is sufficient to note that Hades, the common grave of mankind, was following the previous three horses and riders, gathering up all their victims.
The Watchtower, January 1, 1986 Death rides the pale horse. Premature death is signified. It results from pestilence and other factors.
The Watchtower, January 15, 1986 Who is this victorious horseman? None other than Jesus Christ, installed as King of God's Kingdom and riding to conquer his enemies. (Psalm 45:3-6; 110:2) Jesus' triumphant ride began back in 1914, at the very beginning of the Lord's day. (Psalm 2:6) His very first conquest was the casting of Satan and his demons to the earth.
The Watchtower, October 15, 1988 The year 1987 saw more wars being fought than any previous year in recorded history.1 Further, military preparation and expenditures, now reaching a total of about $1,000,000,000,000 annually, distort the economy of the world.2 Jesus' prophecy of 'nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom' is surely undergoing fulfillment. The red horse of war continues its ferocious ride through the earth.
The Bible—God's Word or Man's?, 1989 As the first seal is opened, Christ appears on a white horse, receives a crown (in 1914), and goes forth conquering.
The Watchtower, May 1, 1991
Governing Body
1992–
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The interpretation established around 1930, with subsequent clarification concerning Hades, continued without an identified replacement. The white rider was Jesus Christ enthroned in 1914, and the remaining three horsemen represented global warfare, famine, and death through disease and other calamities. These conditions were treated as continuing evidence of the last days.
4 quotes
Rather, he spoke of a series of events that, taken as a whole, would constitute a divine warning—a composite sign of the conclusion of the system of things. The first event predicted is described at Matthew 24:7 : “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” In a parallel prophecy at Revelation 6:4 , the Bible predicted that ‘peace would be taken away from the earth.’ This meant war on an unprecedented scale.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1993 In Revelation chapter 6, we read first of Jesus' riding forth on a white horse 'to conquer and to complete his conquest.' (Verse 2) This began with his enthronement as heavenly King in 1914. Other horses and riders follow him, depicting the total warfare, famine, and pestilence that have since plagued our earth. But when will all this turmoil end?
The Watchtower, March 1, 1994 In a series of visions given to the apostle John, God foretold the difficult conditions that many face today. Among them would be a shortage of food. John relates: "I saw, and, look! a black horse; and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand." (Revelation 6:5) This sinister horse and rider picture famine—food would be so scarce it would be rationed out on scales.
The Watchtower, August 1, 1995 Happily, he will conquer the evil effects symbolized by the three other horsemen of the Apocalypse, whose furious ride has brought war, famine, and death to mankind since the pivotal year 1914.
The Watchtower, December 1, 1999 -
Jesus remained the rider of the white horse, beginning his royal ride in 1914. The other riders represented worldwide warfare, famine, and death through plague and other causes. Their destructive ride was expected to end through Christ’s future intervention.
1 quote
The rider pictures Jesus Christ. He began ruling in 1914 and will soon complete his conquest, ending all suffering.
The Watchtower (Public), No. 3, 2017, pp. 4–8, The Four Horsemen—Who Are They?
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