Revelation 6:4 Revelation 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. red By this red horse we may understand the bloody sufferings of the churches, ministers, and members of Christ, by the persecutions of the Roman pagan emperors, who were called the ‘ red dragon’ \ who killed many of the saints and servants of God; but yet they overcame and conquered at last, by the blood of the blessed Jesus, and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives unto death. \ And power was given to him that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth. This power was two-fold, first, that dominion, rule, and authority, which the fourth beast in Daniel’ s vision had given unto him of God; that is, the Roman pagan monarchy (compare Daniel 2:40 with Daniel 7:23), in all political, civil, and lawful administrations. Secondly, that tyranny and cruelty, which the Roman pagan emperors exercised over the Christians by their soldiers and magistrates, by God’ s permission in matters ecclesiastical, or idol-worship (as in Hebrews 11:35-37, &c.), mystically signified by ten days. \ By the earth we may understand the churches of God on earth, and literally the inhabitants of the earth: the Roman pagan emperors took peace from the churches of God on earth, by their bloody persecutions of the primitive Christians: And they took peace from the inhabitants of the earth, by their wars in several countries, cities, and towns. And there was given unto him a great sword. The sword is an instrument of war and persecution. \ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Where the earth is put for the disciples of Christ, his churches and ministers that were on earth; and by the sword, Christ meant the persecutions and tribulations that should be in this world. \