Revelation imagery in the OT

[Tambora]

It is said that Revelation uses more OT imagery than other NT book.
However, John does not directly quote OT verses.
What he does do is piece together imagery scattered throughout the OT prophets to convey the message of what is going on and why.
Thus, one needs to be mindful of the places in the OT that uses similar imagery in order to conclude the basic concept of what he is directing your attention towards.

 

[Tambora]

Revelation 6 uses the imagery of multiple colored horses.
So where do find similar imagery of multiple colored horses in the OT?
Zechariah 1 & 6.
In both of those chapter we have multiple colored horses, and the context in those chapters is about judgement on the nations that attack and oppress God's people.

in Revelation 6, we have the Lamb unleashing judgment on the world (the four corners—the whole world) by means of the four horsemen. And they are going to punish the world (i.e., those who are oppressing and persecuting the ones who follow the Lamb).

 

[glorydaz]

Revelation 6 uses the imagery of multiple colored horses.
So where do find similar imagery of multiple colored horses in the OT?
Zechariah 1 & 6.
In both of those chapter we have multiple colored horses, and the context in those chapters is about judgement on the nations that attack and oppress God's people.

in Revelation 6, we have the Lamb unleashing judgment on the world (the four corners—the whole world) by means of the four horsemen. And they are going to punish the world (i.e., those who are oppressing and persecuting the ones who follow the Lamb).

So the four horsemen must be sent by God. Good find, Tam.

It won't be the church who are being oppressed.
We don't follow the Lamb, and have already been raptured.

 

[Arial]

Revelation 6 uses the imagery of multiple colored horses.
So where do find similar imagery of multiple colored horses in the OT?
Zechariah 1 & 6.
In both of those chapter we have multiple colored horses, and the context in those chapters is about judgement on the nations that attack and oppress God's people.

in Revelation 6, we have the Lamb unleashing judgment on the world (the four corners—the whole world) by means of the four horsemen. And they are going to punish the world (i.e., those who are oppressing and persecuting the ones who follow the Lamb).

There is so much in Revelation that is relevant to understanding the book and understanding the imagery is crucial. As are the numbers used even the colors and the connection between these things. It is so difficult to know where to start and how far to go!. So thanks for bringing a focus onto the imagery and it relationship to the same imagery used in the OT. The four horseman (and 4 referring to all the world as you say, and even more specific four in the Bible represents creation,) correspond also to the four living creatures as well as the Zech passage. In Rev they represent conquest, war famine, and death. They represent an indefinite period before the second coming. They happened during the tumults of the Roman empire, are happening now and will continue to happen until Christ returns. This imagery has many embodiments. White often represents purity but in the first century could also represent victory, which is the case and the point here. God's people are sealed in Christ.

The red of the second horse represents the bloodshed of slaughter and echoes the fiery red of God's judgement. This slaughter could be wars but all forms of human slaughter. The black horse represents famine. The pale horse---death. These four categories echo Ez 14:21. The seven judgments move forward to the second coming, as do all the series of judgments.