302. REV 6:8. THE PALE HORSE

Rev_6:8. The Pale Horse

"And I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him."’97Rev_6:8.

In this chapter we have a description of four horses with their respective riders. The first was white, on which sat an illustrious personage, with a bow, and he went forth from conquering to conquer. The second horse is red, to represent war. The third black, to represent famine: and then comes the fourth, a pale horse, whose under is Death, and Hell followed him.

Let us consider,

1. The figurative Description here given of Death.

1. Death is under a seal, ver. 7.

"When he had opened the seal," &c. Death is not under the direction and power of Satan, but under the management of God. God is the author, proprietor, and disposer of Life. Deu_33:39; Dan_5:25; Psa_103:4.

2. Death is represented as riding.

Not as creeping, or walking, but riding forth with courage and power. Trampling as a war-horse all beneath his feet. See Job_39:19, &c. He has ridden over the heads of all classes and generations of human beings.

3. Death is described as a pale horse.

This may denote the general appearance of mortality. "Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away." Job_14:20. How affecting the alterations of death upon the person of man! Abraham requested a burying-place, &c.

4. Death is described as being followed with Hell.

This word sometimes signifies the grave, and death throws its victims into the cold loathsome grave. It signifies sometimes he invisible state, and death hurries men into the dark unknown world. It also signifies the place of future punishment and death consigns the wicked to the misery of the second death. "The rich man died," &c.

Notice,

II. Our Duty respecting it.

"I heard the voice say, Come and see," &c.

1. Come and see the antiquity of death.

Go and look to the world’s origin, and see how soon he commenced his career, &c. Behold Abel prostrate, &c.

2. Come and see the extent of its devastations.

No country, or color, or people, even yet escaped his ravages. Wherever man is, there death is also. All classes, degrees, &c. fell before him. The living know that they must die, &c. "It is appointed unto men," &c.

3. Come and see this spoiler foiled and conquered.

Jesus in our nature entered the field of combat; for a time death prevails; but at length, Christ arises with power, &c. His sting is withdrawn. The Saviour, standing on the neck of his foe, exclaims, "I am he that was dead," &c. "O death, I have been thy destruction," &c.

4. Come and see how death may safely be encountered.

Repentance’97faith in Jesus, who hath abolished death’97a title for heaven, by justifying grace’97a new nature’97and holiness of life, without which no man can see the Lord.

Application

Let the subject be further impressed, by visiting the habitations of the dying.

1. Go to the death-bed of the Infidel, and see the anxiety, the dread, the despair which surround it.

2. Go to the death-bed of the Profligate, hardened, stupified, callous, dying like a beast.

3. Go to the death-bed of the Worldling, his heart set upon wealth, clinging to the earth, as one exclaimed, "A kingdom for an hour!"

4 Go to the death-bed of the Formalist ever near Christ, but not in him. By the way side, &c., still without No oil, &c. Opportunities gone, &c. "The harvest is past," &c.

5 Go to the death-bed of the Christian How bright and radiant is the scene! The very antechamber of heaven! "I am now ready to depart. O death," said one, "I do not fear thee." "O death, where is thy sting?" &c. And what do you feel respecting your own mortality? Is it not, "Let me die the death of the righteous," &c. Then now be made righteous, live righteously, and your last end shall be like his

Autor: JABEZ BURNS