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 the sword and with hunger and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:8
A man who was hoping to build a beautiful house on a piece of property he had bought on a mountainside went to find an ideal location for the house. He walked onto the property from the narrow roadway that ran up the mountainside, and paced the property. He found that there was only one location on which he could place the house and still obtain the full benefit of the spectacular view that he wanted. To his shock, he found that the one place that would afford him a beautiful view was surrounded by an old iron fence, and within that fence were several dozen tombstones. Death had destroyed his plans for a new house! Death has destroyed most plans by most of mankind. But it has not destroyed God’s plans for you and me.
The death described in our text is an unimaginable carnage, sweeping a quarter of all of humanity, billions of souls, into eternity. This frightening prospect for a future world can make us catch our breath in awe, even as we remind ourselves that those who perish under the pale horse rider do not include the Christians. This is a scene from the great tribulation, a time when those who have trusted Christ as Saviour will have been removed to safety and Heaven’s bliss. In stark contrast to the terrible destruction of that time we turn to John 3:16 and read of everlasting life for those who have believed on the Son. The pale horse rider was allowed to take only 25 percent of humanity as his victims. But the salvation that brings everlasting life applies to 100 percent of those who believe.
Why is there such destruction and death in the time of the tribulation? All death and destruction is because of sin, and that refers to today as well as to the great tribulation. During this great time of opportunity, this period of grace, we are no less deserving of judgment than those poor wretches who will fall in the tribulation. Only the grace of God brings us to repentance and faith in Christ. Only the grace of God delivers us from the wrath that we deserve. Only the grace of God brings before us the glorious truth of John 3:16 and the realization that we can be freed from the penalty of death because of the work of the Son. He died, and now we live in Him.
The terrible scenes of the great tribulation, including the slaughter under the pale horse rider, ought to be frightening to everybody. But our fright is for those who will be left behind when we are called to Heaven. Can we issue a warning to them today, and tell them of the other option, that of everlasting life? -Jim MacIntosh