One fourth - ¼ - 25%
1.3 Billion People
Session 12 The Rider on the Livid Horse of
Death
In Sessions 7-11 we have seen the
Tribulation detailed as a time of
unimaginable deception, horrific war,
and an economic collapse unlike
anything we can probably
comprehend. The cause and effects of
the Tribulation flow from one to the
next in a chain reaction leading to death on a scale that has never been seen before nor
ever will be again. If you total all the documented deaths in history from war, famine
and plagues like I have attempted to do you will find a number of about three-quarters
of a billion people that have died due to these three things.
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This historical number alone is breathtaking but the Tribulation will dwarf that
number. Using some simple research we should be at about 7.8 billion people on earth
by mid-2020, and approximately 2.5 billion people identify as Christian in the
world.
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We can probably assume a number of those do not actually have a
relationship with Jesus but claim a Christian faith because of political, familial or
social ties to the identity of Christianity. Even if we assume that all 2.5 billion people
claiming to be Christian are raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation, we are left
with 5.2 billion people left on earth. Please read Revelation 6:7-8.
1. What is the ratio of people that die in the tribulation at this point from war, famine,
plague and “wild beasts”?
2. How many people at the least, does that
mean will perish during this time?
The ¾ of a billion people that have died
historically from war, famine and disease died
over hundreds and even thousands of years of
time. This tremendous number of people will die
within the time span of only 7 years. This is an
inconceivable event that no one can truly
imagine in all of its horror. Do you know friends
and family that will experience this? This is why
these prophecies we study should prompt us to
bring the gospel to all the people we know need
it.
The destruction of such a huge portion of
humanity will no doubt please Satan because he
has had an agenda for that for a long time called
Revelation 6:7-8 NIV
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me
was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was
following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of
the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts
of the earth.
Interesting Facts 1
In Georgia, about 90 miles east of
Atlanta stands a monument placed
by an anonymous group. This group
described themselves to be
“Americans who seek
the Age of Reason”. This monument
is called The Georgia Guidestones.
There were 10 “guidelines” that
were inscribed on this monument.
The first was:
Maintain humanity under
500,000,000 in perpetual balance
with nature.
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Interesting Facts 2
In 2009 a group of Billionaires met
to address a “nightmarish” concern:
overpopulation. This group included
Bill Gates, Ted Turner, David
Rockefeller Jr., George Soros and
Warren Buffet.
A murderer from the
beginning.
Sword (War), Famine, Plague (Epidemic disease) –
Same sequence almost the same death count
The Tribulation Saints or those that come to saving knowledge of Christ
after the Rapture as well as the Jewish nation.
The destruction of all humanity. Perhaps “those days” are specifically referring to
days of war, famine & disease. Perhaps he allows mankind to “recover” somewhat
by not allowing the war, famine and plagues to continue as the appear they will.
population control. Please read John 8:44 and 1 Peter 5:8 to see the bent of our
enemy towards death.
3. What is Satan described as
in John 8:44?
We can see that not only does
the devil want to destroy us, his passion for our death rises to the level of devouring
humanity. The Greek word used for
devour is katapiein which literally
means swallow or to drown.
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Remember that part of the definition of
the word sober includes the idea of
having good sense, good judgement
and wisdom
2
. This passage seems to
emphasize it is wise to keep in mind
that Satan is bent on humanities
destruction and is very passionate
about it.
4. In Revelation 6:7-8 What is the sequence of events and how does that compare to
the quote in Interesting Facts 3?
In session 7 we looked at a
passage of scripture in Matthew
24 that maps out the Tribulation
in a similar pattern as Revelation 6. Please read Matthew 24:22 for a glimpse of Gods
mercy even during the display of his wrath during this time.
5. If the events of Matthew 24 take place during the Tribulation who do you think
the “elect” are?
6. If God shortens the time of Tribulation what does that suggest about what would
happen without his intervention?
At this point I need to mention that the Rider on the Pale Green Horse is focusing on a
particular earlier part of the Tribulation as the 4
th
Seal judgment. Sadly, the dying is
not over yet in the Tribulation as a whole. Another scene of death is found later during
6
th
Trumpet Judgment. Here 1/3 of the those that are still alive (3/4 of the post Rapture
Interesting Facts 3
Quote: “The newly generated data on the decline in
agricultural production that would follow a limited,
regional nuclear war in South Asia raise the
concern that a global famine could result,
threatening more than two billion people. Epidemic
disease and further conflict spawned by such a
famine would put additional hundreds of millions
at risk.”
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Matthew 24:22 NIV
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but
for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
John 8:44 NIV
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out
your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not
holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he
speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
2 x 10000 × 10000 =
200,000,000
200 million!
1/3 killed leaving 2/3 of ¾
Doing the math…
¾ * 2/3 = 6/12 = ½ = 50%
Sin
Rampant Sin
population of earth) are killed by a fallen angel driven army. Please read Revelation
9:13-18 to understand the impact of that “war” on mankind.
7. How large is the
murderous demonically
driven army?
8. After the Pale Horse
rider and the
inconceivable
demonically inspired
war on humanity.
What percentage of the
original post-Rapture
population is left?
At this point we will
research a related topic
concerning death. Please
read Romans 6:23.
9. From this passage what is clearly the root cause of death?
10. Logically speaking, if there is such an imaginable volume of death during the
Tribulation you would expect to see what in abundance?
Please read Revelation
9:20-21 and Revelation
16:8-11, 21 to look for
evidence of sin during the
Tribulation.
11. In Revelation 9:20-21
what are the specific
sins that are listed that
the people of the
Romans 6:23 NIV
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 16:8-11,21 NIV
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was
allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense
heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these
plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and
its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues
in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and
their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred
pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague
of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Revelation 9:20-21 NIV
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still
did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop
worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and
wood—
idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent
of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their
thefts.
Revelation 9:13-18 NIV
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming
from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said
to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels
who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels
who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and
year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the
mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard
their number.17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked
like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as
sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out
of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind
was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came
out of their mouths.
Interesting Facts 4
As of 2018 the combined Asian nations of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization probably could amass an army of 200
million men. The fact that John mentions this incredible number
in a time when the entire world population was perhaps about
150 million is a testament to how accurate prophecy is as well
as to how specific in time the fulfillment of prophecy can be.
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Demon worship, Idol worship, murders, magic arts, sexual immorality, thefts.
(Magic arts – Strong’s Greek: 5333. Pharmakos – Describes people using drugs)
Demon worship, Idol worship, murders, magic arts, sexual immorality, thefts.
(Magic arts – Strong’s Greek: 5333. Pharmakos – Describes people using drugs)
Demon worship, Idol worship, murders, magic arts, sexual immorality, thefts.
(Magic arts – Strong’s Greek: 5333. Pharmakos – Describes people using drugs)
Tribulation are taking part in?
12. In Revelation what is the repeated sin that is common during the suffering they
will endure?
13. What is the common characteristic of the hearts of the people who are surviving?
(Rev 9:20,21 Rev16:9,11)
In these passages we see all the evidence we need to see that sin is rampant during the
Tribulation. So much sin that it even increases during the pain of judgment. We as
Christians have accepted that we need to repent of our sins, so this view of those that
will suffer during the Tribulation refusing to repent surely is sad and shocking. This is
perhaps the saddest part of the book of Revelation for me.
It is also a reminder that we cannot assume that those we love and care for on this
planet now, that do not know Jesus, will automatically accept him during the
Tribulation out of some realization that they need him. The time for repentance is now,
before the Rapture takes place.
One last thing from Revelation 6:7-8 needs to be explored. We see that where all the
previous horses had a single rider the Pale Green horse is visualized as having two, or
more likely they are very closely associated.
14. What are the two “riders” of the 4
th
horse?
In this we see the two aspects of death for those that rebel against God. The first is
almost always translated Death in scripture and represents the physical aspects of
dying and the second, following closely behind, is often translated Hades or Hell
represents the spiritual aspects of dying.
Wrap up
This has been a grim session that has perhaps been very uncomfortable to study. It has
been a reminder of the fact that the wages of sin is death. It is also a reminder that
those that miss the Rapture may not survive long enough to make a decision for Christ.
Even if they are fortunate to be able to make that decision their chances of survival to
Jesus’s second coming are slim. That is the topic we explore in the next session.
