I hate it when God’s people give too much glory to Satan.
Second Seal: Ray Prinzing “Revelation a Positive Book”
"And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 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." (Revelation 6:3-4).
Now the process intensifies. Not only has He invaded our life with His light and divine illumination, and begun a conquering work of bringing us one into His will, but the process is BY FIRE. Here we have the symbol of a fiery force burning with energy. The word "red" is the Greek word "purrhos" meaning: fire like, or, flame colored. It comes from the root word "pur" meaning: fire. "Our God is a consuming fire," (Hebrews 12:29), and He consumes all our dross. "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor; and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12).
"Behold the Lord will come WITH FIRE, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For BY FIRE and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many." (Isaiah 66:15-16).
When Adam was expelled from the garden of Eden, God "placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and A FLAMING SWORD which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." (Genesis 3:24). This was not meant as a blockage, to keep man from the tree of life, but rather as a safe-guard, and to keep the way open-- so that whoever passed through the FLAMING SWORD would be qualified to eat of that tree of life.
Now we come to the last book of the Bible, and learn that there are OVERCOMERS who are given the right to eat of the tree of life. And we learn that the "red horse" rides prosperously in us, to PURge, PURify, lead us through our PURgatory, until in Him we are PURe. Furthermore, because it is a flaming sword it holds within it a HEALING OPERATION as well as a pruning work. The sword will cut off all the unwanted debris of the flesh, and then cauterize at the same time, sealing the wound to help hasten the healing. Those who have been dealt with by the flaming sword know of this glorious dual working, for while it is ever so painful on the flesh, yet there is a sense of healing, deliverance, victory that emerges through it all.
"But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth ? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness." (Malachi 3:2-3). Does He ride prosperously? Yes! Every one that is purged BY FIRE brings their offering to Him IN righteousness.
Significant also that it is given to this Rider "to take peace from the earth." What does this mean? It means that He will invade your earth, and whereas you might have once thought things were peaceful in your flesh-realm, now it all becomes so meaningless, empty, unsatisfying. You see the vanity of the world for what it is, and you begin to loathe those very things which you once thought desirable. Houses and lands, new cars, fine foods, and expensive clothes, whatever the "things" wherein we found our enjoyment, all become secondary when He takes peace from your earth. Whatever form of peace you once had is gone, and now your only true peace is found in Christ. Temporary moments of earth-peace are taken away, that the true peace from above might be established in you, and in HIM you learn to be content, regardless of the circumstances, even as Paul said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11).
Remember, all of this serves to bring forth another expression of "the revelation of Jesus Christ." And He said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father; and the daughter against her mother... and a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36).
He is the Prince of Peace, yet He brought a sword. It is the GOSPEL OF PEACE, but men war against it. The truth, by reason of men's opposition to it, will cause much variance, even between nearest relatives. "And that they should kill one another," is a difficult word, yet persecution, in one form or other, is necessary to the completion of the Christian character: for "he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. "
Even the Psalmist experienced measures of this, "For my love they made my adversaries..." (Psalm 109:4). And again, "I am for peace: but when I speak they are for war." (Psalm 120:7). So when this happens in your life, just consider that the "red horse" is riding, and using it all to purify unto Himself a people that shall be found to His praise. And the promise remains, the day shall come when "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they lean war any more." (Isaiah 2:4). AMEN!
