Seals · c. 96 AD
Second Seal: Red Horse
War and bloodshed unleashed upon the earth
From the teaching of Apostle Mary Banks
When the second seal is opened, a red horse appears with its rider who is given power to take peace from the earth, resulting in violence and war. The rider receives a great sword, symbolizing his capability for extensive conflict and destruction. The red horse rider is an angel, one of the four spirits of the heavens who go forth from standing in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
The red horse rider oversees matters pertaining to war and violence on the earth. He has authority to remove peace, resulting in unrest and death, and likewise to permit peace to remain where God so wills. In this sense, he functions as both an instrument of judgment and a restraining force. The rider is given authority to bring war and bloodshed to the earth in the time of the end, introducing a major theme that runs throughout the book of Revelation - war and violence.
As one of the four horsemen who patrol the earth and gather intelligence, the red horse rider reports on global conditions. These horsemen are not symbolic figures but real spiritual entities vested with authority, operating as agents of God in the unseen realm while their influence manifests in the physical realm. The opening of this seal reveals the rider's authority and special functions assigned specifically for the end of days.
The scriptures
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 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 unto him a great sword.
And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?