We heard about Christ's breaking of the first seal and its meaning. The end times stand in the light of the spread of the gospel. But Christ continues opening the seals, and so we read about the opening of the following three seals, which He does in succession:
Upon breaking open the second seal (verses 3 and 4), a red or reddish horse emerges. Red symbolizes war and bloodshed. This is precisely what this horse brings. The rider on this red horse possesses the power to remove peace from the earth. Where peace is absent, strife and war arise. This leads to killing, which starts with thoughts and words but culminates in bloodshed through actions. That is why this horseman wields a great sword as a symbol. War arrives with the appearance of this second horseman.
A black horse appears upon opening the third seal (verses 5 and 6). Black symbolizes hunger and a lack of food. Wherever this third horseman appears, there is a shortage of grain products. Due to the scarcity of grain, prices skyrocket, and a full day's wages barely cover the cost of the grain needed for one day's ration (a penny). However, scarcity and hunger are alleviated. Oil and wine, essential products in the Middle East that are required daily, become abundant. As this third horseman brings about grain scarcity, he symbolically carries a scale. Grain is typically measured by scooping with a capacity measure, but now it is so precious that it must be weighed.
On breaking open the 4th seal (verses 7 and 8), a pale, yellow-colored horse appears, the color of death. Where this rider appears, death comes. One-fourth of the earth is killed as a result of war, famine, and the wild beasts of the world.
These three horsemen belong together. They tell one story: peace is taken away, and, as a result, war comes among men. Where there is war, there is scarcity, and food prices are driven up. Where there is war and food scarcity, there is death.
Of course, this begs the question: What is the relationship between these three horsemen and the first? What is the relationship between the spread of God's word, the gospel, and these three terrible disasters? We hope to hear that in the following verses. But for now, we are comforted. Although there are many disasters in this world's history, all those things must happen, and Christ is in control. Is He our King?