Revelation 6:8
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
What John saw was not taking place in his own day but was shown to him in vision as a coming time of death and ruin, when the pale horse appears with its rider called Death and Hell following after, given authority over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with the beasts of the earth. It stands as part of the prophetic history of nations and of the church written inside and outside the book sealed with seven seals in God's hand, a book holding God's providences and divine utterances, His authority and commandments and laws, symbolic counsel, and the history of all ruling powers with the influence of every nation and tongue and people from the beginning of earth's history to its close. It is one of the terrible judgments of God laid open in Revelation 6 and 7.
It means the Lord goes forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity and to dash His enemies in pieces, so that the earth discloses her blood and no longer covers her slain. Its work of killing belongs to the punishment committed to seven angels who stand before God to receive their commission and are given seven trumpets. That punishment reaches its climax in plagues upon the wicked who would not care for and obey God but insulted Him and despised His mercies, when hail about the weight of a talent falls upon them. It displays terrible scenes to occur as signs of Christ's coming, with pestilence and famine and death coming upon the inhabitants of the earth when the vials of wrath are opened, along with armies mustering for battle, men's hearts failing for fear, the earth moved out of its place, mountains carried into the midst of the sea, and roaring, troubled waves.
It also represents a spirit seen today whose history is to be repeated and reenacted, for that which has been will be again. That spirit works to confuse and to perplex, bringing dissension in every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Those who reject or do not follow the light God has given through His living oracles and appointed agencies become confused and show weakness of judgment. Unholy ambition allures and deceives such ones until they act blindly and without regard for consequences. From this same spirit come disorder and strife and confusion seen in the church.