Transparency is needed to sort things out. Before big change happens, God first reveals what’s really going on.

In the Book of Revelation - the last book of the Word - the apostle John describes a series of apocalyptic visions that he experienced during his exile on the Isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea.

In one of these visions, he saw four horsemen, the first riding a white horse, the second a red horse, the third a black, and the fourth - named Death - riding a pale horse. These "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" - oft-pictured - are described in Revelation 6:1-8.

What do these horses, and their riders, represent? What do they have to do with us, today? Watch as Curtis Childs and Jonathan Rose explore the hidden Bible meaning of the Four Horsemen in the Book of Revelation, in this video from the Swedenborg and Life Series, from the Swedenborg Foundation.

Plus, to go straight to the source, follow the links below to the places in "Apocalypse Revealed" where Swedenborg explained the inner meaning of this famous Bible story. A good place to start would be Apocalypse Revealed 298.

(Referencias: Apocalypse Explained 315; Apocalypse Revealed 262-263, 301, 306, 314, 316, 320, 322-323)

6353. Instruments of violence are their swords. That this signifies that doctrinal things serve to destroy the works of charity, thus charity itself, is evident from the signification of “instruments of violence,” as being what serves to destroy charity (that “instruments” denote things that are of service is evident, and that “violence” denotes the destruction of charity, will be seen presently); and from the signification of “swords,” as being doctrinal things. For “swords” [gladii] denote the truths of faith, by means of which combat is waged against falsities and evils ((2799) see n. 2799), thus “swords” [machaerae] are doctrinal things, here the doctrinal things by means of which combat is waged against truth and good, and by means of which these are extinguished, because this is done by those who are in faith alone, or in faith separate from charity, with whom the reverse prevails.

[2] The doctrinal things of those who are in faith alone, whereby they destroy the works of charity, are chiefly those which teach that man is saved by faith alone without the works of charity, and that these are not necessary, and that man is saved by faith alone even in the last hour, no matter how he had lived through the whole course of his life, thus those who have practiced nothing but cruelties, those who have practiced nothing but adulteries, those who have practiced nothing but profane things; and hence that salvation is merely admission into heaven, none being admitted but they who have received this grace at the end of their life; and thus that some have been elected out of mercy, and some damned out of unmercifulness; when yet heaven is denied by the Lord to no one, but the life and the communication of life (which are there perceived as an odor is perceived by those exposed to it on earth) render it impossible for the wicked to dwell there, because they are tormented by the evil of their life there more than in the deepest hell.

[3] That a “sword” signifies falsity combating and slaying, is evident in John:

There went forth another horse that was red, and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, that they should kill one another, whence there was given unto him a great sword (Revelation 6:4).

Again:

If anyone shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed (Revelation 13:10, 14).

[4] That “violence” is violence inflicted on charity, is clear from many passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:

The violent one shall cease, and the scorner shall be consumed, all who ripen iniquity shall be cut off, who make a man sin in a word, and ensnare him who reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just into emptiness (Isaiah 29:20-21);

in this passage the “violent one” is expressed by another word in the original, but of similar signification; that the “violent one” is one who inflicts violence on charity, is signified by “making a man sin in a word,” and “turning aside the just.”

[5] In the same:

Their works are works of iniquity, and the deed of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood (Isaiah 59:6-7); where “violence” is violence inflicted on charity, which is also signified by “shedding blood” (see n. 374, 1005). Again:

Violence shall no more be in thy land, wasting and a breach in thy borders (Isaiah 60:18); where “violence” denotes the destruction of charity, for hence comes “wasting and breach in the land,” that is, in the church.

[6] In Jeremiah:

I proclaim violence and vastation; because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a shame all the day (Jeremiah 20:8); where “violence” also denotes violence in spiritual things, thus the destruction of charity and also of faith.

In Ezekiel:

The land is full of judgment of bloods, and the city is full of violence (Ezekiel 7:23); where “judgment of bloods” denotes the destruction of faith; and “violence,” the destruction of charity.

[7] Again:

If he beget a son that is violent, a shedder of blood, that doeth any one of these things: if he hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his companion’s wife, hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath seized spoil, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to idols, hath committed abomination, hath given upon interest, and hath received usury; shall he live? He shall not live, dying he shall die (Ezekiel 18:10-13);

here a “son that is violent and a shedder of blood” is described, and all the works of charity which it destroys are recounted; thus a “son that is violent and a shedder of blood” is a destroyer of charity and faith.

[8] In David:

Deliver me O Jehovah from the evil man, preserve me from the man of violences, who think evils in their heart, the whole day they gather themselves together for war; they sharpen their tongue like a serpent, the poison of the asp is under their lips. Keep me O Jehovah from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the man of violences. Let not the man of tongue subsist in the earth; let evil hunt the man of violence to overthrow him (Psalms 140:1-4, 11);

a “man of violences” denotes those who destroy the truths of faith and the goods of charity; their fighting against these truths and goods is signified by their “gathering themselves together the whole day for war, sharpening the tongue as a serpent, the poison of the asp under their lips, and evil hunting him to overthrow him.” (And so in other passages, as Ezekiel 12:19; Joel 4:19 [NCBSP: 3:19]; Malachi 2:16-17; Zeph. 3:4; Psalms 18:48; 55:9-11; 58:3-6; Deuteronomy 19:16)