The Four Horsemen In John's Book Of Revelation

The influence of religious symbolism and its importance in our society’s culture is displayed in the biblical reversion by John that is the New Testament. This essay will examine John’s Book of Revelation , analysing the biblical apocalypse story and will write an explanation of the significant symbolism of the Four Horsemen, exploring the company’s background, meaning, and purpose in the Book of Revelation. Through the examination of Revelation and scholarly articles we will be able to gain a better understanding of the uses of the apocalyptic motif, examine the apocalyptic images, and we will be able to understand the apocalyptic influence in our age today. This paper will draw on background research of the Four Horsemen, using the research

The first horseman that appears in Revelation carries a bow, dawns a crown and rides away on a white horse to conquer. This first rider that appears symbolises conquest, the Antichrist, or pestilence depending on interpretation, sent to carry out divine orders to the world along with the three other horsemen; War, Famine, and Death. War is introduced as fiery red colors, given a sword to destroy the peace, symbolising the coming war for life to endure. The third black horse and its rider are known as Famine, symbolising the continuous struggle to come and how the result of the other riders will create more disaster to lead to the final horseman; Death. Death appears in Revelation along with Hades to join in and create more disaster and apocalyptic progression to the dooming world, bringing more disease, war, and mass death. Understanding that these themes of conquest, war, famine, and death are noticeably relevant throughout the story, as they reoccur in the theme of punishment and judgement for those who deserve it, this creates these characters to be more than minions sent to carry out harsh punishments. The horsemen are each a

16 to better analyse the impact and the current teachings the story provides. As Nickel defines as a “culturally complex” story that shows its wide interpretations through the government, political, and social interactions by individuals that mirror action depicted by the Four Horsemen through their symbolic origin. Examples depicted in these sources vary from the problems such as nation tensions being the symbolic example of modern day apocalypse , the Four Horsemen being represented in present day wars and disastrous we witness every day. This theme of apocalypse in our day today was a dominant message throughout these different sources, and depending on which interpretation to pick from, the world may just be in apocalypse. Nickel and Holsti both use the statistics of their respective fields in union with the idea that we are currently in a real world apocalypse that takes form in our failing government and social systems . This method of interpretation, while holds a statistically correct structure, doesn’t take into account the symbolistic meaning of the horsemen, labeling pestilence, war, famine, and death as traits we all unconsciously take apart in. This type of