The Calvary Cavalry

Most often, horses are recorded in the Scriptures as vehicles of war. The infamous "four horsemen" of the Book of Revelation are perhaps the best-known examples (see below), but even Christ will return on a "horse" - not to make war as an end in itself, but to end war by means of a victory that no one will ever be able to overcome or reverse.

"^19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war [see Christ the Conqueror For Peace]. ^19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ^19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood [see Why Blood?]: and his name is called The Word of God [see The Logos]. ^19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ^19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a Rod Of Iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ^19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16 KJV)

"I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see"

"Calvary" is the Latin name that is used by some for the place that Christ was crucified. It means skull, referring to a "skull" that some see in the natural rocks on the "face" of the nearby cliff. "Cavalry" is a similar (in spelling and pronunciation) but different word which in Latin means horse.

The first four of The Seven Seals are the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" (see Apocalypse). They represent end-time religious deception (the white horse), war (the red horse), famine (the black horse) and pestilence (the pale horse) (listen also to the Sermon The Four Horsemen from our Sermons page). They will trigger the great tribulation.

"^6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. ^6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse [see the Fact Finder question below]: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer [see also False Christs and False Prophets].

^6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. ^6:4 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 [see Revelation 13 and World War 3 In Prophecy].

^6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. ^6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat [see Corn] for a penny, and three measures of Barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

^6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. ^6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death [see What Happens When You Die?], and Hell [see Sheol and Hades and Through The Gates Of 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." (Revelation 6:1-8 KJV)

The fifth seal is The Great Tribulation and martyrdom (see Martyrs) of many true Christians by deceived people who think that they are Christian (see Revelation 13), as Christ warned earlier: "the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2 KJV).

"^6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls [see Where Is Your Soul?] of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: ^6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? ^6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Revelation 6:9-11 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the difference between the white horse that is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the White Horse "whose Rider is called "Faithful and True" that comes later?
See Revelation 19:11-21 and Two White Horses
Note: Some assume that both white horses are ridden by Jesus Christ. They are not. Their appearance (the first rider has a bow and one crown, the second has a sword and many crowns), and their purpose (the first is a "king" who will be the cause of a great war, the second is the "King of kings" Who will put an end to all war) are very different.