Revelation 6:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This verse indicates that these are the wars that will take place in the future, as we also read in the Gospel: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes (Lk 21:10-11).

Here, in our opinion, another apostolic teaching is meant, preached by martyrs and teachers. Through this teaching, after the preaching had spread, nature was divided against itself, and the peace of the world was disturbed. For Christ said: I did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword (Mt 10:34). By confession of this teaching, the sacrifices of the martyrs were raised to the higher altar. The red horse signifies either the blood that was shed or the ardent zeal of the martyrs’ hearts for the name of Christ. The words, to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace, indicate the wise will of God. In afflictions, He sends trials for the faithful.

Against the victorious and triumphant Church comes forth a red horse, that is, a corrupted and evil people, covered with blood by its rider, the devil. Although we read in Zechariah of the Lord's red horse, there it was in its own blood, but here in another's (cf. Zech 1:8). A great sword was given to him so that he might destroy peace on earth, namely his own peace, the earthly peace. The Church possesses the eternal peace which Christ left her. Therefore, as said above, John calls the Church the white horse, and its rider Christ or the Holy Spirit. The bow He holds in His hand means His commandments. They are like sharp and mighty arrows, sent through the whole world straight into hearts, to destroy sins and strengthen believers. The crown on His head is the promise of eternal life.

"And another horse came out, red," led by one of the sacred living beings. As it is said, "to him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, that men should kill one another; and a great sword was given to him." The red horse signifies blood. For this reason a sword was given to the one sitting on it, so that he might destroy and cut apart the evil unanimity of those who dwell on earth. Their unanimity was in idolatry. Thus it says, "that they should kill one another," meaning that they should bring their common agreement in evil to an end. For the Lord came not to bring peace on earth, but a sword. "Son will rise against father, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (Mt 10:21, 34-35). The young and pious will be separated from the old and condemned.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you (Jn 14:27). Those who have love for God and neighbor have the peace of Christ. For those who have such peace, neither persecutions nor tortures are fearful, and death is gain (cf. Phil 1:21).

The horse is red, πυρός, and according to some manuscripts πυρρός, fiery. In the discourse of Jesus Christ, after war come civil strife and uprisings (Mt 24:7). The color of the horse recalls the color of spilled blood. It signifies the manifestation of hostility and malice which, everywhere and always, accompanied the spread of Christianity in its first stages. According to Andrew of Caesarea, who died in 566, the action of the rider on the red horse signifies the loss on earth of peace of conscience and inner tranquility. These will be disturbed because, with the appearance of Christianity, people will lose certainty about the correctness of their religious convictions. From this, external peace also disappears. This appears especially during persecutions by Jews and Gentiles. This history of hostility, the red horse, toward nascent Christianity and Christian proselytes is always repeated (Mt 10:34; Jn 16:2). Some interpreters find this calamity in the Jewish uprisings before the last war (Josephus, Antiquities 20.7).

The opening of the second seal is the stirring up of unbelievers against believers. This happened when the Gospel preaching disturbed the peace of the world, in fulfillment of Christ’s words: I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Mt 10:34). Then the earth was abundantly watered with the blood of Christian confessors and martyrs.