Bulletins - Jubilee Ministries

The Fourth Seal – When Death Is Released Primary Text:
Revelation 6:7–8 KJV 1900
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Introduction
Last week we studied the third seal—the black horse—economic collapse, imbalance, and famine measured out by scales. Now the fourth seal intensifies everything that has already begun.
The seals are progressive. They are not random events. They are a sequence. Deception. War. Famine. Now death on a scale the earth has never witnessed.
John says, “I looked.” That phrase is intentional. Revelation is not speculation—it is unveiling. What is hidden behind the veil is not chaos; it is order. It is judicial sequence.
The fourth living creature speaks. The command remains the same: “Come and see.” Heaven is not panicking. Heaven is allowing John to observe.
What he sees is staggering.
The Pale Horse – The Color of Decay
Scripture: Revelation 6:8
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse…”
The word translated “pale” in Greek is Strong’s G5515 – meaning greenish, yellowish, the color of a corpse, a sickly hue. It is the color of decay.
This is not white (false peace). This is not red (war). This is not black (famine). This is the result of them all.
This horse represents the consequence phase.
When deception spreads, when war increases, when famine destabilizes—death follows. Not symbolically. Literally.
Notice something: the rider is named.
“And his name that sat on him was Death…”
Strong’s G2288 – Death means separation, the extinction of life, physical death.
Unlike the first rider whose identity is debated, this one is unmistakable. His name is announced.
This is escalation.
Hell Followed With Him
Scripture: Revelation 6:8
“And Hell followed with him.”
The word “Hell” here is Strong’s G86 – Hades. It is the realm of the dead. Not the lake of fire yet. This is the temporary holding place of departed souls.
Death rides. Hades follows.
Death claims the body. Hades claims the soul.
This is not poetic language. This is jurisdictional authority being released.
Behind the veil, we see something sobering: there is coordination between death and the unseen realm.
The world focuses on physical catastrophe. Heaven shows us spiritual transfer.
Authority Granted – A Fourth Part of the Earth
Scripture: Revelation 6:8
“And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth…”
Power was given. That phrase matters.
Nothing is self-authorized. Even judgment operates within permitted boundaries.
One fourth of the earth.
If we consider current global population numbers, this is beyond anything humanity has ever witnessed. It surpasses world wars. It surpasses pandemics. This is divine-level scaling.
And notice the methods listed:
• Sword – war, violence, civil unrest. • Hunger – famine, economic breakdown. • Death – disease, plague (often meaning pestilence). • Beasts of the earth – possibly literal animal attacks, but also historically symbolic of savage systems or uncontrollable chaos.
This mirrors Ezekiel 14:21 where God speaks of His four sore judgments: sword, famine, noisome beast, and pestilence.
This is covenant language. This is judicial fulfillment.
The Progressive Collapse of Earthly Security
The seals show us something crucial.
The Antichrist system (though not yet fully revealed at this point) does not bring stability—it brings systemic collapse.
False peace (Seal 1) Global conflict (Seal 2) Economic control (Seal 3) Mass death (Seal 4)
The fourth seal is not random disaster. It is the fruit of previous seals maturing.
Behind the veil, we see this: when man rejects truth, systems eventually implode.
This is not fear-based teaching. This is clarity-based teaching.
The Lamb is still the One opening the seals.
Revelation 6 makes this clear. Judgment does not originate from Satan. It originates from the throne.
That is sobering.
What This Reveals About the Character of God
Many struggle here.
How can the Lamb open seals that release death?
Because He is not only Savior—He is Judge.
Revelation 5 established His worthiness. Revelation 6 shows His authority.
God’s judgments are never chaotic. They are measured. Notice the fractions:
A fourth part. Not total annihilation.
Even in judgment, there is restraint.
Even in wrath, there is limit.
This is consistent throughout Scripture. God does not pour out everything at once. There is escalation. There is mercy even in warning.
Application: How Should the Church Respond?
We anchor ourselves in Christ’s present reign.
Death rides—but it does not rule.
Jesus said in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore… and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Death may ride temporarily, but the keys belong to Christ.
We live soberly, not fearfully.
The fourth seal is not given to terrify believers. It is given to prepare mature believers.
This series is called Behind the Veil for a reason. We are not reacting to headlines. We are understanding spiritual sequence.
We strengthen our endurance.
If seals progressively intensify, then spiritual stability must increase proportionally.
Fearful believers will not stand. Grounded believers will.
Closing Insight
The fourth seal teaches us something critical.
The world will interpret these events as environmental crisis, geopolitical failure, random catastrophe.
But behind the veil, it is judicial sequence.
And above it all stands the Lamb.
He is not losing control. He is unveiling reality.
Next Week Preview
Next session, we open the fifth seal. The focus shifts from earthly devastation to heavenly perspective—the souls under the altar.
We will see what heaven says about justice and timing.
Until then, remember:
Death rides for a season. But the Lamb reigns forever.
- - Revelation 6:7–8KJV1900

The Fourth Seal – When Death Is Released Primary Text:

Introduction

The Pale Horse – The Color of Decay

Hell Followed With Him

Authority Granted – A Fourth Part of the Earth

The Progressive Collapse of Earthly Security

What This Reveals About the Character of God

Application: How Should the Church Respond?

We anchor ourselves in Christ’s present reign.

We live soberly, not fearfully.

We strengthen our endurance.

Closing Insight

Revelation 6:7–8KJV1900