Les Feldick Bible Study

Does the red horse rider's war involve killing the enemy or people killing each other?

The red horse rider’s war is characterized by people killing one another, not by killing an enemy. His arrival removes peace from the earth, producing real war, and the text emphasizes that they should kill each other and will kill one another.

Les explains that when peace is absent, real war follows. The rider of the red horse brings war on the earth, takes peace from the earth, and the result is that they kill one another. Les emphasizes underlining “kill one another” because it identifies the red horse rider. His battleground is epitomized not by killing the enemy but by mutual killing. Les also notes that the color red is associated with Russia.