The Second and Third Seals – Revelation

The Second Seal — A Red Horse (A.D. 183-211)

As mentioned previously the colour of the horses of the various seals indicates the state of the Roman Empire at the time of the riders going forth.

White indicates peace, and certainly the first seal period 96-183 from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus was a calm and peaceful period for Rome.

Red is symbolic of bloodshed, war, and sin. Isaiah 1. 18 uses the term “Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”.

The Rider of the Horse

In this period of history a type of royal troops known as the Praetorian Guard were responsible for outrages which deeply disturbed the peace and security of the empire. They were the agents by whom “peace was taken from the earth”. It was further said, “They should kill one another, and would be given a sword”. The word “sword” in the original is “machaira” and according to the lexicographers Liddell and Scott means “a short sword or dagger, but still rather an assassin’s than a soldier’s weapon”.

Rulers in this Period

Commodus (A.D. 180-193). Strangled. Pertinax (193-68 clays). Assassinated. Didus Julianus (193-66 days). Beheaded.

Septimus Sevirus (193-211).

As will be seen from the above facts, three of the four emperors in this period, died bloody and violent deaths, as the scripture says, “They should kill one another”.

The Praetorian Guard

The emperor Tiberius had organised an elite body of troops called the Praetorian Guard, mainly to keep order in Italy. However these soldiers were eventually called to Rome and encamped there. Previously they had not been able to assess the political situation in the capital, because of being quartered in different localities. Once in the Imperial City, however, they quickly realized that real power lay with them, and began to act accordingly.

Marcus Aurelius, the last of the emperors under the First Seal, was succeeded by his son Commodus. This person not having anyone to discipline him became morose and suspicious of all about him. Should he suspect anyone then such person was immediately put to death. One of the senators attempted to assassinate the emperor, but failed. Whereupon Commodus had many of the ruling class put to death. At last in the year 193 an attempt to strangle him succeeded and the imperial purple was assumed by a virtuous ruler called Pertinax.

He endeavoured to repair the damage done by his predecessor, and for a time it appeared he would restore peace and tranquility to Rome. However the Praetorian Guard, fearful of losing their privileges, and power, and having their vices curbed, murdered Pertinax and then let it be known that the seat of Caesar would be sold to the highest bidder.

A wealthy aged senator, Didus Julianus, obtained the position upon payment of a sum of approximately £200 each to the soldiers of the Guard. The conduct of the Guard aroused the anger of three outstanding generals who were serving in various divisions of the Empire. Ciodius Albinus who had served in Britain, Pescennius Niger from Syria, and Septimus Severus from the Danube region. Severus reached the capital first, and with his excellent troops disciplined the Guard, and afterward replaced them with his own soldiers. The Guard did not relish a fight with Severus, and beheaded Julianus after a 66-day reign. They then declared Severus Emperor.

Rome’s new ruler defeated the other invading generals, restored order, and established a just, although severe regime. While civil dissension was at its worst, over 2,000 people had died daily in Rome because of famine and pestilence. Truly peace had been taken from the earth, and they had killed one another.

The Third Seal — A Black Horse (A.D. 211-235)

Again one of the four living creatures invites John to “come and see”.

John records that he saw a black horse and that he who was seated thereon held aloft a pair of balances. From the midst of the four beasts or living creatures a voice proclaimed, “A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine”.

Emperors of the Period

A summary of the rulers and the manner of their decease assists us to understand the requirements of the scripture. The summary is as follows.

1. Geta 211-212 (Murdered by his brother Caracalla).
2. Caracalla 212-217 (Assassinated). Maerinus 217 (Murdered).
3. Elagabalus 217-222 (Assassinated). Alexander Severus 222-235 (Murdered)

Symbology Explained

As mentioned before, the colour of the horse indicates the condition of the Empire at this time. Black is used for distress, intense mental depression ( Job 30. 25-31). In Lamentations 4. 8 black indicates mourning.

Balances have often been used as a symbol of justice or judgment. Hence the use in the book of Daniel, “Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting”. The badge of office of official tax-gatherers in the Roman Empire was a pair of balances, and their operations under Imperial orders were to bring great suffering to the citizens of the empire.

A “Voice” was heard from among the living creatures. In Ezra we are told that Cyrus caused a proclamation to be made, the marginal note says “a voice passed through the kingdom”. The voice, then, in the passage under consideration means a decree or Imperial order.

The Imperial edict brought very heavy taxation particularly on grains such as wheat and barley. Such exactions were the result of reckless extravagance during the reigns of Caracalla and Elagabalus. So despondent did the agriculturists become that vast tracts of territory were neglected. Crops were just not planted and famine followed. Distress to the Empire’s population was on a large scale and severe.

The statement, “Hurt not the oil and the wine” was a later pronouncement and indicates that in the later stage of the seal there was an amelioration of the taxes. This was born out by history when Alexander Severus brought some relief to his subjects.

History of the Period

Under the second seal it was mainly the upper or ruling classes of Rome who suffered. However during the third seal the excesses of Caracalla caused distress to all citizens not only in Rome, but in many provinces also. Caracalla and his brother Geta, as joint rulers, succeeded their father Septimus Severus, who had been a wise and able administrator. Caracalla was brutal and suspicious of his brother, and before long had his brother murdered by guards in his mother’s presence. He also endeavoured to murder his mother, but was thwarted.

He endeavoured to make his position secure by coming to terms with the army. This meant increasing their pay, indulging in reckless expenditure on their behalf, and generally acting as though there was no end to Rome’s wealth. To cope with such a position, he ground the people with taxation to such a point that they groaned under the burden. He caused numerous confiscations of property, and had thousands upon thousands put to the sword.

At last, his civil officer, one Macrinus, fearing he might be next on the liquidation list, assassinated the Emperor, and himself assumed the purple. He tried to discipline the army, but was too weak and was murdered.

Elagabalus who succeeded him, was licentious, vicious and sensuous. Even his soldiers loathed him, and eventually put him to death.

His cousin Alexander had been given the title of Caesar, and after the death of Elagabalus, although only 17 years of age, ruled well for the next 13 years. His mother, a wise and far-seeing woman, guided her son. Eventually in trying to discipline the army he fell foul of them and was murdered.

So came to an end a terrible phase of Rome’s existence, so accurately foretold by Jesus.