The Four Horsemen

ChatGPT-generated illustration for COJCOM

by Leonard V Johnson

GREETINGS EVERYONE! Now, I have spoken of this important subject before: the Four Horsemen of the “Apocalypse” ── like in our article, “Revelation – A Book of the Past and the Future (Part IV).” Which is also in audio on our SoundCloud channel. 🔊

As I’ve asked before, if you could know what your future holds, would you want to know? And who would you trust to tell you the truth regarding this? What is going to happen in the world in the very near future? Truly, all of God’s living prophecies are coordinated within the Book of Revelation──that is how important this Book truly is. God’s prophecies begin in the Book of Genesis and go throughout His living word all the way to the end of the Book of Revelation.

In the very Book of Revelation──and our Lord Jesus Christ had sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who recorded the visions of what he had seen. The Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ contains the word of God and the direct testimony of our Lord Jesus, besides His prophecies. And these are His prophecies; they are of no private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). Most of the prophecies are recorded in what the Apostle John had seen in vision while imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos. When we come to chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation, we find that it’s in symbols.

Again, it is our Lord Jesus Christ who is the revelator, not the Apostle John. Apostle John was merely the one who was recording it. JESUS CHRIST IS THE REVEALER! He is the one who reveals the prophecies. Because, as we are told in chapter 5, it was He, ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, who had prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its SEVEN SEALS.’ And something that has been revealed to me, and I speak more concerning this in the article, “Conversation With AI Regarding the Meaning of ‘the beginning of sorrows’ ── and ‘Then’ (Part I)” is that our Lord Jesus Christ begins to open the seals spoken of in chapter 6 not long after His glorious resurrection and ascension to the upper heavenly realms! But here in chapter 6, He begins opening the seals; we find the first seal reveals a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown upon his head. The second seal reveals a fiery red horse, and he who sat on it was granted to take peace from the earth, and there was granted to him a great sword. The third seal reveals a black horse, and its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. The fourth seal reveals a pale horse with a rider whose name is Death and Hades──and these are all symbolic.

So, it’s not made plain here, yet we find that just as our Lord Jesus explained His parables to His servants then──His parables were used to mask the true meaning of a subject──in which the people didn’t understand, His disciples went to Him privately and asked Him for the subject's true meaning. He went on to reveal to them the true meaning in simple and plain language. Notice ──

“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ 11) He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom [from] heaven, but to them it has not been given.’” – Matthew 13:10-11.

So, again, something that I want to reiterate and stress, and I’m not sure if many people truly understand this, but the seals in chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation were beginning to be opened not long after our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected and had ascended back to the upper heavenly realms. Those four seals have been in motion throughout Church history rather than purely future events. They are ongoing rather than just end-time markers.

Matthew 24

We find that our Lord Jesus Christ does indeed explain these symbols of the four horsemen with the same identical story, in plain language, in what many call His “Sermon on the Mount.” It’s found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

First, our Lord Jesus said there would be false Christianity ── “’ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’” – Matthew 24:4-5.

Mark 1:15 ── is the heart of our Lord Jesus’ entire ministry! “’ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. …’” That kairos moment when the LORD God’s prophetic timeline began upon our Savior’s arrival. That moment in time when ‘the beginning of sorrows’ was about to begin, with each generation experiencing those ‘birth pangs’ our Lord Jesus speaks of ── false religion, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places ── all intensifying as we move closer to His glorious and powerful return!

Simon Magus, the magician from Samaria, likely began gathering his own followers sometime in the mid-first century AD, roughly around 50 AD, just after he clashed with the Apostle Peter ── we hold that he was the founder of Roman Catholicism and their first pope.

The first major conflict after Jesus’ ascension was the Jewish‑Roman War, kicking off around 66 AD and ending with Jerusalem’s temple destruction in 70 AD.

One of the earliest severe famines after Jesus’ ascension was the worldwide famine foretold by Agabus in Acts 11:28, which struck during Emperor Claudius’s reign around 45 AD, affecting Judea and much of the Roman world.

One of the most catastrophic pestilences after Jesus’ ascension was the Black Death, which swept Europe, North Africa and the Near East from 1346 to 1353, killing up to 50 million people—about half the continent’s population.

Right from our Lord Jesus’ ascension, those signs He warned about began to be manifested! A major series of earthquakes around 62 AD in the Pompeii region is just one example of how these ‘birth pangs’ were already beginning in the apostolic era.

The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China, on January 23, 1556, was the deadliest recorded quake, killing about 830,000 people.

We’ve experienced all of these signs since our Lord Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, growing more and more intense and continuing to the glorious and powerful coming of our Savior, accelerating their intensity. “’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – Matthew 24:7. World wars.

World War I ── the Great War ── officially began on 28th July 1914 until 11th November 1918, resulting in an estimated 15 to 22 million deaths, including those in war crimes and genocides.

World War II ── the Second World War ── which officially began 1st September 1939 until 2nd September 1945, the deadliest conflict in history, causing the deaths of 60 to 75 million people, a majority of whom were civilians. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocide, including the Holocaust.

Well, here we are. We know from God’s living word in prophecy that there is coming another world war ── a World War III. We have yet to come to the final world war that is foretold and prophesied to take place just before the glorious and powerful return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, called the battle of “Armageddon” ── the terrible Great Day of God Almighty, as His word tells us (cf. Revelation 16:14-16). We haven’t come to that yet. Is it five years away, ten, fifteen? Could Mankind’s 6,000 Years End in 2030?

Well, how is this third world war coming? And from whom will it begin? This second horse, fiery red, with its rider that was granted to take peace from the earth, ‘and that people should kill one another; given to him a great sword’ is indeed a symbol for world wars. Then, as we see, our Lord Jesus spoke of famines and pestilences. The third horse, black, with its rider – a food merchant- symbolizing famine and carrying a pair of scales. Then there are pestilences, diseases, and epidemics: the pale horse and its rider, whose name is Death and Hades. They are the Four Horsemen.

And as I’ve been saying, these have been occurring throughout the world ever since our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended back to the upper heavenly realms.

So, speaking of famine and drought, the Book of Joel is a prophetic work likely composed between the 9th century BC and the early Ptolemaic period, or even in the mid-ninth century during Israel’s pre-exile. Chapter 1 opens describing a catastrophic locust swarm and a severe drought and devastating agriculture and temple offerings, and then it shifts in Chapter 2 to an apocalyptic image of the LORD God’s army and a call for national repentance. The Prophet Joel was likely writing this around ── and I have noted at the top of my Bible, 835 – 800 BC ── during King Joash’s minority after Athaliah’s reign. A devastating locust swarm struck the southern kingdom of Judah, wiping out crops, vines, and olive oil. This disaster cut off grain and drink offerings at the temple, leaving the people in famine and prompting the Prophet Joel to urgently call for national repentance.

This dire message is seen as a dual prophecy──it was initially addressed to the 9th-century locust disaster, but it is also speaking and pointing to a future Day of the LORD judgment against Judah──modern-day Israel──which our Lord Jesus Christ has called ‘great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.’

Sadly, so many of these worldly churches are waiting for ‘a great tribulation’ to occur to America, the United States. Yet, these prophecies are focused on Judah, which is modern-day Israel. That’s where biblical prophecy points: Judah as the epicenter and a “United Europe” playing its prophetic end-time role, not America being the main stage like so many churches assume.

As we look at today’s geopolitical landscape, we see devastation on the horizon in the Middle East. We see Judah surrounded by her “enemies” (Luke 21:20). We see the evil and vile Islamic Regime of Iran──who could… well… the idea of acquiring a tactical nuke from North Korea may be gaining quiet traction behind closed doors. 1 Again, the living words of our Savior, Jesus Christ ──

“’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), …’” – we certainly need to understand what occurred when King Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Jerusalem temple, stole its treasures, and set up an altar to Zeus, sparking the first Maccabean Revolt. (I speak with AI regarding this in the “Conversation With AI Regarding Various Biblical Subjects (Part II).”) 16) ‘then let those WHO ARE IN JUDEA flee to the mountains. … 21) For then there will be great tribulation, such as HAS NOT BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22) And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake THOSE DAYS WILL BE SHORTENED.’” – Matthew 24:15-16, 21-22.

Now indeed one of the major factors of the downfall of the United States of America has to do with our burdensome debt ── which is soon to reach $50 TRILLION! And, of course, that’s only part of it; there’s much more than that ── like mass immigration. This massive debt burden is what historically brings down empires. When you’re spending over a trillion just on interest payments alone and heading toward fifty trillion, that’s what weakens a nation from within. And, of course, a mass influx of legal and illegal immigrants into a nation doesn’t help ── when large numbers of people bring different cultures and values and systems, it can strain the social fabric that holds a nation together.

In fact, Europe is experiencing exactly what I’m speaking of, with countries like Spain, Italy, and Germany all struggling with the pressures from large-scale migration flows that are straining their systems and creating political tensions across the continent. Without getting deep in depth here, we can see from God’s living word that He never originally designed countries and nations to be a “melting pot” (cf. Deuteronomy 32:8). We can look to the Tower of Babel as an example, where the LORD God scattered the people, establishing boundaries. It doesn’t suggest that He intended peoples and cultures to be one homogenous mix. When differing cultures and beliefs move into one homogenous mix, you create internal tensions that strain the nation’s foundation rather than strengthen it. And in this present evil age, this is where you get cultural and religious conflicts, because well-established societies have their own foundations and belief systems that they’ve built their communities around. The LORD God does things for a reason. He doesn’t do it because He wants us to suffer or because He doesn’t want us to visit other lands. No, He does it for our protection ── it’s a divine protection, not punishment. He knows that when different belief systems and cultures clash, it creates conflict and suffering, so establishing boundaries is actually an act of love to preserve peace.

And when a nation takes in too many immigrants who don’t have anything to offer, whether it's education, job skills, or a career, relying instead on a state or government, it creates a drain on resources that were meant for citizens who’ve been contributing to the system, while also undermining the self-sufficiency that built strong communities in the first place. When you flood a nation with people who can’t contribute, or won’t contribute, economically, it strains the whole system and weakens the foundation that took generations to build.

National Repentance Is Needed

Chapters 4 & 5 of the Book of Ezekiel were likely written around ── again, I have written at the top of the page 593 – 565 BC ── when Jerusalem was under Babylonian pressure. We see a miniature model in chapter 4 being used to show the city’s upcoming siege, and chapter 5 depicts the harsh judgment, the cutting off of hair and clothing, to illustrate how the people’s sin will lead to their destruction and exile. This is a dual prophecy ── Jerusalem’s great damage (cf. Isaiah 22:6-9) and Judah’s coming judgment. The broader warning is for both kingdoms, though it focuses on Judah’s exile.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us, “That which has been is what will be,” which highlights the LORD God’s view of history’s cycles and the enduring pattern of rise and fall. History’s ups and downs mirror humanity’s ongoing struggle to follow the LORD God’s Way. The pattern will repeat itself until humanity collectively turns back to the Eternal One and obeys His commandments. Sadly, so many people make the mistake that God’s living words here in the Book of Ezekiel are only ancient prophecies for the kingdom of Judah and therefore are not necessary to learn.

The LORD God’s WARNING ── through the Prophet Ezekiel ── wasn’t just past events; they illustrate timeless principles about judgment and obedience that still apply today. The Prophet Ezekiel’s dual warning mirrors today’s Middle East tensions, where nations grapple with cycles of conflict and judgment.

Our lands are filled with churches, and they make mention of God in their prayers, but as our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “’ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8) ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.’” – Matthew 15:7-8. There is a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof, as the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:5). O’ there is a great deal of ceremony ── a great deal of what Brother Guy calls religiosity, but I want to tell you, people are not putting their whole heart into it.

And going back to the Book of Joel, the LORD God tells us what we need to do, and if the nations would do it ── the United States of America, the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations, and Judah (modern-day Israel) ── this downfall and destruction would not occur ──

“’ Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; … Now, therefore,’ says the LORD, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ 13) So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” – Joel 2:15, 12-13.

Now, the very word Zion is derived from an uncertain Hebrew root ──likely ṣiyyôn meaning “fortress” or צִיּהָ “dry place.” It first denoted the Jebusite stronghold on Jerusalem’s southeast hill that King David captured. Later it became a poetic name for Jerusalem and, by extension, all the tribes of Israel. Prophetic language can let Zion represent the whole of the children of Israel, the kingdom of Israel, even the twelve tribes united. Revelation chapter 7’s “multitude from every tribe” shows us a similar duality here. The word Zion, in its primary sense, remains geographical and historical, not just a blanket term for the spiritual Church of God.

“’ Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babies; … 17) Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. …’” – Joel 2:16, 17.

And if we REPENT UNTO THE LORD GOD as a nation, the LORD God tells us that He will repent and prevent this destruction from coming.

Now, 2nd Chronicles chapter 20 was written by the post-exilic Chronicler in the late 5th century BC, which preserves for us a ninth-century BC event during King Jehoshaphat’s reign (circ. 873-848 BC). He had just reformed Judah’s worship and justice when a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites marched from the Dead Sea corridor to attack Jerusalem. The chapter records for us Judah’s nationwide prayer to the LORD and the miraculous defeat that followed, emphasizing the LORD God’s sovereignty over all nations. Other tales with the LORD God’s divine intervention include David’s win over Goliath, the angel of the Lord striking down the Assyrian forces in 2nd Kings 19, the Red Sea crossing in Exodus 14, and Jehoash’s defeat of Amaziah in 2nd Chronicles chapter 25.

And in more modern times, the Allied victory in World War II. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower would later note that a sudden break in the worst weather in 20 years allowed the invasion to proceed with far fewer losses than expected. That breaking of the weather was a true miracle from the Lord!

Our LORD God Almighty fought the battles for His people. He won the wars. There was a time when three allied nations, three allied armies, were coming down against Judah, and they were unprepared, ‘having no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.’ – 2 Chronicles 20:12.

“ …’ Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ … 22) Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15, 22.

It is coming to be acknowledged that the exiled children of Israel (the Twelve Tribes of Israel), upon their release, either returned to Judah or joined existing diaspora communities, spreading gradually through the Mediterranean and eventually Europe.

Utter destruction is coming. And we need to think about this and wake up! Because one of the greatest falls that has ever happened to a nation is coming to the United States of America. And if we don’t, as a nation, repent and turn to the LORD God, it will. Because we are God’s people and we are injuring ourselves by the things we are doing. I want to tell you, my friends, right here in the United States, we need to awaken from spiritual sleep.

Yes. At this moment in time, under this Administration, the crime rate in the United States has subsided ── The homicide rate in the United States dropped to the lowest it’s been in 75 years. 2 According to statistics, the U.S. divorce rate has not increased in recent years; it remains at historic lows. 2020–2023: The pandemic caused a temporary pause in divorces, but rates have since rebounded slightly, still well below historical highs. 3 However, according to a WifiTalents Report 2026, 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes! 4 Overall, juvenile delinquency has decreased in the United States, but certain types of offenses, particularly violent crimes involving firearms, have increased. 5 Chronic diseases are on the rise. Recent global health data show that both chronic and infectious diseases are increasing in prevalence and impact worldwide. Infectious diseases are also increasing in some areas. 6 And one key takeaway from those reports is, “Over 95% of HIV child infections occur via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) without prevention.” And, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in five U.S. adults, approximately 59.3 million adults, or 23.1% of the adult population, is living with a mental illness. 7 Mental illness! Now why should that be? Of course we hear all kinds of answers to this question. The other day I went around and around with AI with this very question. I discussed genetics in relation to mental illness. It stated, “that while genetics plays a role [in mental health], environmental factors could be just as important in explaining the rise in mental health issues.” 8

Imperial Socialism Shattered the Roman Empire! 10

If we reach back into our history. The Spanish were the first Europeans to establish permanent settlements in the territory that became the United States. St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565. The first English attempt at colonization was the Roanoke Colony in 1587. The first permanent English settlement was Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607. My 6th great-grandfather came to Virginia from Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1696. Now, this land was taken from the Native Americans. And maybe that was meant to be by the LORD God, but we certainly didn’t “take it” the LORD God’s Way ── The nation’s indigenous people had a population of nearly 10 million before European settlers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the current total population of Native Americans in the United States is 6.79 million, which is about 2.09% of the entire population. 9 Native Americans faced centuries of persecution and discrimination, losing their land and resources and being forced onto reservations that lacked the soil and natural resources needed to build and sustain their communities. Certainly, the way our forefathers went about it was horribly wrong! Never should we think it was alright; it wasn’t.

Now look at us ── Democratic Socialism and Communism are making a rise in America! We have great division; we have strife even in our own homes, strife between husbands and wives; even politically. Sadly, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations, along with Judah (modern-day Israel), are going the way of Rome! And far faster than even ancient Rome ever did. And the LORD God is calling upon us to cry out unto Him, “Spare Your people, O LORD, …”!

Christ’s Coming!

There is something else that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, mentioned in Matthew 24 that needs our attention. And that’s the word, “Then.” Because after verse 8, comes the word “Then” ── “’ Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.’” And we contend that our Lord Jesus is speaking about here His end-time prophets. 🔊 (See also: Revelation 14:6-7). The LORD God’s end-time prophets will be going around the world, ‘standing before the god of the earth,’ kings, presidents, and world leaders, including the final end-time false prophet, ‘having the power from God to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy [3 ½ years]; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth will all plagues, as often as they desire.’ – see Revelation 8:7-12. And they will be announcing the coming kingdom of God! “’ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” – Matthew 24:14. Then the end of this present evil age will come!

Now, what did His disciples ask Him? “’ And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” – Matthew 24:3. Truly, the answer is no different than the answer He gave the scribes and Pharisees of His day (Matthew 12:38) ── Three and a half years. Notice Daniel 9 ──

“Then He shall confirm a covenant with many FOR ONE WEEK [seven years for a day]; But in the middle of the week [Wednesday] He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. …” – Daniel 9:27.

Our Lord Jesus’ ministry lasted about three-and-a-half years! He was to confirm a covenant with many for one week ── there is soon another 3 ½ years coming! See again, Revelation 14 ──

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of [the atmosphere], having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth ── to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people ── 7) saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT HAS COME; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” – Revelation 14:6-7.

Now, I’m aware that this revelation from the LORD God sounds strange to you ── you’ve probably never heard it! Many will say that these 3 ½ years are merely symbolic ── was our Lord Jesus’ ministry merely symbolic? No.

At the very beginning of His WORK OF GOD, our Lord Jesus Christ taught His twelve disciples, whom God the Father had called unto Him (cf. John 17:24), the very Message given to Him by His Father concerning the soon-coming Kingdom of God. Then, after 3 ½ years, our Lord Jesus finished that initial phase of the Work of God, which Father had given Him to do. In His final prayer to Father, He says, “’ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do’” – John 17:4. Daniel 9:27, a two-fold prophecy, speaks of a remaining 3 ½ years of an end-time work. □

Sources:

1 Weiner, J., Iran Has No Options Left — Could It ‘Rent’ a Nuke from North Korea or Russia?, Washington Morning, 27 August 2026.

2 Associated Press, Homicides Dropped 18.1% in 2025 to the Lowest Rate Since 1956, FBI Says, U.S. News, 14 Aug. 2026.

3 Krolikowska, A., J.D., Historical Trends: Divorce Rates in America by Year & What They Mean for Modern Family, Anna Law.com, Feb. 2026.

4 Prescott, H., Fatherlessness Statistics, WifiTalents, 14 July 2026.

5 Lantz, B., Ph.D. & Knapp, K.G., M.S., Trends in Juvenile Offending: What You Need to Know, CCJ, Sept. 2024.

6 Nuwer, R., Around the World, Chronic Diseases Are Rising, Think Global Health, 12 Oct. 2025.

Llewellyn, P., Infectious Disease Statistics, Worldmetrics, 7 July 2026.

7 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Mental Health Statistics [2026], Retrieved 28 Aug. 2026.

8 Amazon.com, 26 Aug. 2026.

9 World Population Review, Native American Population by State 2026, Retrieved 28 Aug. 2026.

10. While the modern concept of socialism as a political and economic ideology did not exist in ancient Rome, there were early forms of state-directed economic policies and welfare measures that resemble socialist principles, particularly during the late Republic and early Empire.