What does the lion-headed horse description in Revelation 9:17 represent?
The lion-headed horses in Revelation 9:17 represent, in this interpretation, ancient language for modern warfare—probably tanks, whose weapons issue fire, smoke, and brimstone. Their lion-like heads and fiery mouths picture artillery or tank guns firing nuclear-type shells, not literal horse-creatures. This supports the broader possibility that such imagery depicts modern military machines.
Les explains that he has always taught for 20 years that Revelation 9:17 is the ancient language for probably even tanks. He points to the wording—breastplates of fire, brimstone, horse heads like lion heads, and mouths issuing fire, smoke, and brimstone—and connects it to modern warfare, where artillery and tank guns can fire nuclear shells. He also allows that the horse-like creatures or locusts may be the ancients' way of picturing modern-day helicopters. Then Revelation 9:18 says by these three—fire, smoke, and brimstone—a third part of men are killed.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.