The Truth About Tribulation and the Four Horsemen

There will not be a seven-year period of tribulation at the end of time, as the concept of "Seven Times" or a literal seven-year prophetic period for the final crisis is not found in the BibleDAR1909 784.3. While the term "seven years" appears in historical contexts, such as the duration of Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation or specific periods of denominational expansion, it does not define the length of the final time of troubleYI April 4, 1905, par. 1+1.

The Nature of the Final Tribulation

The final tribulation is described as the "time of trouble such as never was," which commences when Michael stands up and Jesus finishes His intercession in the heavenly sanctuary Daniel 12:1ExV 19.1+1. This period is characterized by specific events rather than a fixed seven-year timeline:

• The Loud Cry and Persecution: Before the close of probation, the Sabbath is proclaimed more fully, leading to a "loud cry" that calls people out of spiritual BabylonEVRR211+1.

• The Time of Jacob’s Trouble: This is a fearful ordeal for the righteous, where they experience great mental anguish and cry for deliverance day and night Jeremiah 30:5-7ExV 19.1+1.

• Protection of the Saints: During this distress, the righteous are preserved by the ministration of heavenly angels and will have their bread and water made sure Psalms 91:1-11CCh 281.4+1.

• The Seven Last Plagues: These judgments are poured out after the door of mercy is closed, and they enrage the wicked against the righteous Revelation 16:14-15ExV 19.1+1.

Historical Applications of Seven Years

The number seven is used in scripture and history to denote completed periods of trial or work, but these are distinct from the final crisis:

• Nebuchadnezzar's Abasement: The Babylonian king passed through seven years of shame to learn that God rules over the kingdoms of menYI April 4, 1905, par. 1.

• The Dark Ages: The "great tribulation" of the Dark Ages under the Papacy lasted for many years, but the specific persecution was shortened for the elect's sake Matthew 24:21-22PROLI 122.1.

• Ancient Types: In Egypt, there were seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, which served as a lesson in preparation Genesis 41:29-303SG 151.1.

Preparation for the Crisis

The focus for believers should not be on "borrowing trouble" by anticipating a specific timeframe, but on developing a faith that can stand without an intercessorRH March 25, 1884, par. 5+1. We are currently in a period of probation granted to prepare for the day of GodGC88 621.2+1. This preparation involves separating sin from the life, putting on the whole armor of God, and exercising a faith that can endure hunger and delay Ephesians 6:11-17GC 623.2+1. The final deliverance occurs at the voice of God, when the 144,000 triumph and are welcomed to the marriage supper of the Lamb Revelation 14:1-5ExV 19.1+1.

Revelation 6

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and see a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the middle of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine.

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

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 to 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.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, see, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse represent four distinct forms of spiritual warfare involving the church of God during the great controversy between Christ and SatanEVRR208+1. While many people confuse these symbols with literal famine or pestilence, they actually depict the progressive spiritual condition and external conflicts of the Christian church throughout historyEVRR188+1.

🛡️ The First Horseman: The White Horse

The first horseman represents Jesus Christ leading the apostolic church in a war of righteousness and purity during the first centuryEVRR192+1.

• The Symbolism: The white color signifies the purity of faith and doctrine in the early churchSBBS 495.2+1.

• The Rider: The rider is identified as Jesus Christ, the "Word of God," who wears a crown (stephanos) denoting victory rather than just earthly kingship Revelation 19:11-13EVRR188+1.

• The Mission: Carrying a bow, which represents the convicting Word of God, He went forth "conquering and to conquer" as the gospel spread with marvelous success throughout the known world Habakkuk 3:9+1EVRR192+1.

🗡️ The Second Horseman: The Red Horse

The red horse symbolizes a period of blood, carnage, and intense religious strife that followed the apostolic age, roughly from the late first century to the time of Constantine in AD 313MWV2 180.1+1.

• The Symbolism: Red denotes sinfulness and the loss of original purity, as the church began to be corrupted by internal dissension Isaiah 1:18EVRR192.

• The Conflict: Peace was taken from the earth as the church suffered under the "ten persecutions" of Roman emperors like Nero, while also facing internal "warfare" against its own doctrines and standards Revelation 6:4EVRR192+1.

• The Sword: The "great sword" signifies both the power of the persecuting state and the sharp divisions that arose within the faithEVRR195+1.

⚖️ The Third Horseman: The Black Horse

The black horse represents a period of profound moral darkness and the union of the church with worldly power, covering the era from Constantine to the establishment of the Papacy in AD 538SYNPT 202.3+1.

• The Symbolism: Black is the opposite of white, indicating the total loss of primitive purity and the rise of superstition and errorEVRR195+1.

• The Balances: The pair of scales or balances carried by the rider denotes a union of religious and civil power where men became self-appointed judges, exalting themselves above God's law Revelation 6:5EVRR198+1.

• The Famine: The proclamation regarding wheat and barley signifies a spiritual famine of the true Word of God, as the church became obsessed with worldly goods and commerce Revelation 6:6SYNPT 202.3+1.

💀 The Fourth Horseman: The Pale Horse

The pale horse symbolizes the "Dark Ages" of papal supremacy, a time when the apostate church became a persecuting power that destroyed millions of faithful believersSSP 116.1+1.

• The Symbolism: The pale or yellowish color represents the sickly appearance of blighted plants, mirroring the spiritual state of a church that had become a "destroyer"ST186x 18.2+1.

• The Rider: The rider’s name is Death, and Hades (the grave) follows him, indicating the massive mortality caused by the sword, hunger, and torture Revelation 6:8MWV2 180.1+1.

• The Martyrs: During this period, an estimated fifty million martyrs were slain for the Word of God and the testimony they held Revelation 6:9ST186x 18.2+1.

🏹 The Fifth Horseman: The Triumphant Christ

In Revelation 19 a final white horse appears, often called the "fifth horseman," representing Jesus Christ at His second adventEVRR188+1. Unlike the first horseman who began the spiritual war, this rider returns as the "King of kings and Lord of lords" to execute literal judgment upon the forces of evil and deliver His triumphant church Revelation 19:11-16EVRR205+1.