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The Red Horse of Revelation: What the Second Seal Reveals About End-Time Chaos

Updated: May 14


And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth. Revelation 6:4

A Prophetic Shift Toward Conflict


The Book of Revelation unveils a powerful sequence of divine revelations about the end of days. As each seal is broken by the Lamb of God, a new layer of God's prophetic plan unfolds. Following the White Horse of spiritual conquest comes the Red Horse of Revelation—a figure of strife, division, and bloodshed.


What does this second seal represent? And more importantly, what can we learn from it as believers living in uncertain times?



Let’s dive into this compelling vision from Revelation 6:3–4.


Rider on the Red Horse

Apocalyptic red horse and rider with a sword, symbolizing the second seal of Revelation and the spirit of war and conflict.

Who Is the Rider on the Red Horse of Revelation?


When the second seal is opened, John sees a red horse emerge. The rider is not named, but he is given a divine mandate: "to take peace from the earth."


The Bible teacher App explains the phrase "to take peace from the earth":


The passage in Revelation 6:4 speaks of a time when "peace" will be taken from the earth: "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." (Revelation 6:4 KJV) This is part of the prophetic vision of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, which foretells events that will occur during the end times.


The taking of "peace from the earth" refers to a time of great conflict, war, and strife that will come upon the world. Instead of the peace and tranquility that God desires for His creation, there will be widespread violence, killing, and a breakdown of order and harmony among the nations and peoples of the earth. This aligns with Jesus' own words in Matthew 24, where He warns of coming "wars and rumors of wars" and that "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6-7 KJV) as signs of the end times.


The biblical texts indicate that this removal of peace is a judgment from God, as part of the end times tribulation that will precede the return of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom of peace. It signals a time of great upheaval and suffering for the world, as humanity experiences the consequences of turning away from God.



Many scholars agree this is an angelic figure, sent with authority—not from Satan—but from the throne of God. This is a judicial release of conflict, allowed by God for His greater purposes.


Key Symbols:

  • Red Horse – The color red often represents war, bloodshed, and fiery judgment ( See Scripture below).

  • Great Sword – Not just a weapon, but a symbol of global-scale conflict and division.

  • Removal of Peace – The effect is not just war among nations, but hostility between individuals—“that they should kill one another.”


This is not random chaos. It is a controlled release of judgment, revealing a season where peace is withheld and humanity is left to reap the fruit of rebellion.


How the Red Horse of Revelation Applies to Us Today


Though the full fulfillment of this seal is future and global, we already witness the spirit behind the Red Horse of Revelation at work in our world:


  • Rising tensions between nations and ethnic groups

  • Violence and division in cities, homes, and even churches


Even when peace is taken from the world, the peace of Christ remains in us.


Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

In the midst of shaking, we are rooted in a Kingdom that cannot be moved.


Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12:28

What Can We Do as Followers of Christ?


  • Stay Spiritually Alert – Recognize the signs of the times without falling into fear.

  • Pray for Peace – Be a peacemaker in your sphere of influence.


Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

  • Preach the Gospel – The answer to war in the heart is peace through Jesus Christ.

  • Guard Your Heart – Don’t let the spirit of this age cause bitterness, strife, or hatred to take root.


The enemy’s goal is division, but God is forming a united, end-time Church, filled with peace, power, and discernment.


Prefer to watch? Here’s the full video.




A Call to Action


Watch the full teaching and explore our Revelation study series on theIn pursuit of understanding Bible Prophecy, consider these activities:


Looking Ahead: The Next Seals


This is just the beginning of our journey through the Seven Seals of Revelation. Each seal unlocks more prophetic insight and deeper understanding of God's justice, mercy, and sovereignty in the last days.


Up next: The Black Horse—A symbol of famine and economic upheaval.




Download your study guide today for deeper insights on Bible prophecy.


Questions you may ask


Is the Red Horse rider in Revelation 6 a symbol of the Antichrist, or could it represent something else?

The Red Horse rider is not the Antichrist but is best understood as a symbolic figure—likely an angel—representing the removal of peace and the rise of conflict on the earth. Revelation 6:4 states, “Power was given to him… to take peace from the earth,” indicating divine permission, not autonomous evil. This rider unleashes a season of war, violence, and division, showing that before final judgment, God allows the world to experience the consequences of rejecting His peace. This interpretation aligns with other passages where angels are agents of God's judgment (see Revelation 8–9), and it reminds us that God is sovereign even amid global unrest.



The Seven Seals are not the judgments themselves, but rather prophetic announcements or previews of what’s inside the scroll held by God in Revelation 5. Each seal, when broken by Jesus (the only one worthy to open the book), reveals a portion of the writing on the outside of the scroll—like a Heavenly Table of Contents. The actual end-time events and judgments (such as the Seven Trumpet Judgments and Seven Vials of Wrath) only begin after the seventh seal is opened. Understanding this helps believers see Revelation not as chaotic, but as a divinely ordered revelation of God's sovereign plan.


The lesson teaches that the Seven Seals in Revelation are not action events but announcements—a divine "table of contents" outlining what is to come. This means they serve as a prophetic framework for understanding the judgments and wrath described later in Revelation. Recognizing this helps prevent confusion when aligning Revelation with other prophetic books like Matthew 24 and Daniel 9, and leads to a more accurate understanding of the Rapture's timing based on Scripture rather than tradition.


The key insights that individuals can gain from studying Bible prophecy and integrate into their daily decision-making and life choices are:

1. Recognizing the signs of Christ's imminent return: The Bible emphasizes that the Lord is about to execute events that will escalate us right into Bible Prophecy, and that the Lord is soon to return. This should motivate believers to be watchful, prepared, and focused on living righteously in anticipation of Christ's coming (Matthew 24:42-44 KJV, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 KJV).


2. Avoiding deception and false teachings: The Bible warns against the deception and erroneous prophetic teachings that have crept into the church. Individuals must discern, test the spirits, and rely on Scripture alone to interpret prophecy, rather than the opinions of scholars or ministers (2 Peter 1:20-21 KJV, 1 John 4:1 KJV).


3. Cultivating a right relationship with God: The Bible emphasizes the importance of examining one's own heart, motives, and thought life, and submitting to the will of God. This inward focus and spiritual discipline should guide individuals' daily decisions and lifestyle choices (Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV).


4. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit: The Bible highlights the need for believers to walk in the Spirit, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit and relying on God's wisdom, rather than their own fleshly mindsets. This should shape how individuals navigate their circumstances and relationships (Galatians 5:16-25 KJV).


5. Preparing for persecution and tribulation: The Bible warns that the church will face a coming assault and tribulation. Individuals should be spiritually prepared, strengthened in their faith, and ready to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel (2 Timothy 3:12 KJV, Revelation 7:14 KJV)




Scripture serves as a guide, especially when our passions clash with the principles of humility and love that Jesus exemplified. John 13:34-35 reminds us to love one another, just as Jesus loved us. This type of love transcends personal pride and passion, encouraging us to keep our focus on others rather than our feelings or desires.


In practical situations, when we feel passionate disagreements—be it in conversations or leadership roles—we can reflect on passages that emphasize humility, such as Philippians 2:3-4, which instructs us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but to consider others better than ourselves.

Moreover, facing situations where our emotions threaten to overpower our spirit requires self-examination according to scriptures, such as 2 Corinthians 13:5, which encourages believers to examine themselves to ensure they are in the faith. This reflective practice allows us to identify any misplaced passion that may lead to conflict and divisiveness.


Additionally, Galatians 5:22-23 speaks about the fruits of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. These attributes act as a buffering system, guiding our responses and helping us to manage strong feelings more effectively. When passions arise, aligning our actions with these fruits can navigate conflicts professionally and lovingly.

In essence, Scripture not only highlights Jesus’ model of love and humility but also offers practical approaches to managing our passions in a way that honors these principles, ensuring our actions remain grounded in faith and service to others. This guidance is paramount, especially for leaders who must positively influence those around them.



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