“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’” (Rev 6:3).
There is an interesting comparison here between the first living creature, the lion, and the second living creature, the ox. With respect to the lion, we would expect him to roar “with a voice like thunder” (Rev 6:1). After all, he is king of the jungle. But what attracts us to the ox? Isn’t his roar more like a “moo?” Isn’t he often the victim of the lion in the jungle?
Think again, though. In the Bible, the ox is often the beast of burden that drives the threshing wheel relentlessly at the time of harvest. He is steady, obedient, and strong. He is not flashy in doing his work, but he endures until the job is done. There is no charisma with the ox in comparison with the lion. The ox is endlessly patient. So instead of roaring, he says manner-of-factly, “Come.” So there is a little mystery as to who will step forth:
“And out came another horse, bright red” (Rev 6:4a).
Red is the color of blood:
“It’s rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword” (Rev 6:4b).
Contrast the two horses. The white horse represents bloodless victories and conquering by Jesus. If I may suggest a link to our mission of perfect unity with the Trinity and with each other, this appears a bit like all humanity standing at the fork in the road to perfect unity that Jesus so fervently prayed for before he left this earth (to go and manage God’s purposes from heaven).
So Jesus on the white horse convinces the multitudes standing at the fork in the road to choose the good fork, which is repentance from our sins. Many do what Jesus offers and are saved by the rider of the white horse and welcomed to heaven, while the enemy – Satan – is partially vanquished.
But sadly, there is more work to be done. Those who choose to reject repentance are really choosing disunity from the Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and eternal judgment in hell. This is the assignment to the rider of the red horse - to oversee all people who choose not to repent upon sight of the white horse, who will kill each other in some sort of revolution. The believers on earth who choose repentance and unity with Jesus will endure persecution to the end, together, in perfect unity.
Sincere Christians throughout my lifetime of 74 years have endured World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Yet we were always taught not to suggest that the end was near, because that timing is known only to the Father and the Son. But I have heard more people in 2021, serious people who know their Bibles well, openly debate whether we are approaching or perhaps already seeing, preparations for the arrival of the white horse. This thought is inspired by the knowledge that, in the past fifty years, the Gospel of Jesus has reached all countries of the world, which has resulted in an explosion of faith and an intensification of persecution, while our enemies appear to be working in concert for our destruction militarily.
Serious people are wondering if the red horse is saddling up too, as bastions of freedom come under increasing attack.
Pray for the saints around the world who are being persecuted for saying YES to Jesus!
And hurry back for the opening of the third seal.