4th Seal, World Conflict

Revelation 6:7-8 (New International Version)

7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.


When was a minimum of 25% of the landmass of the earth first affected by the combined devistations of sword, famine, plague, and by the wild beasts? We know this was the event known as World War II.  Here is the list of Countries at war during World War II
 countries involved in World War II 

(see 4th Seal Explained) Although the historical record supports this, we should be sure there is not another candidate in recorded history.

When could mankind have first known this was in fact occurring or had occurred? The first time there was communication around the Globe was after the advent of the printing press. Even up to World War II there were happenings in different parts of the Globe that were unrecorded and unknown until much later.

Second, it could be argued that armed conflict (sword), famine, plague (mass disease) and attacks by wild animals have been with mankind since the dawn of time. So when did this combination first reach a 25% reportable volume?

Let us look at the 4 separate elements separately first, assuming that all have been present in the world for many millennia.

1. Attacks by wild animals – This is ongoing and inseparable from the history of mankind all over the world.
2. Plague – This is a phenomenon known to mankind from today back certainly to the middle ages but also to prior civilisations on every continent, but has increased steadily
3. Famine – Once again we have frequent famines on all continents of the earth during all of man’s recorded history up to the 21st Century, and is with us today
4. Sword – Again, armed conflict has been with us for millennia, but, when can we say that the Sword, or Armed Conflict became global in application? We know it is with us today

The facts listed below are commonly available on the Web, from sources including the World Health Organization, United Nations, Wikipedia, and other common sources.

When was the earth first reported to have a World War? And did that World War cover 25% of the earth?

The First World War, often referred to as the “Great War” encompassed theatres of war in many countries

The information can be found in detail here:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/theatresofwar.htm#Western_Front

The armed conflict was confined largely to Continental Europe, Western Asia, and the Middle East. If one includes the oceans it could be stated that the area of conflict was much larger, however, the Prophecy does not take into account the sea, or bodies of water, only the “earth”.

We cannot say with any certainty that 25% of the landmass of the earth was in a state of armed conflict in 1914, however more than 25% of the landmass was represented by the countries who were active combatants. Therefore it can be argued that all of North America, all of Russia, Europe, Australia, and parts of South America were at war. In addition there was the Great Flu Pandemic from 1918 to 1920. It infected 27% of the world's population and was world wide.Between 50 and 100 million died.

Is this the fulfillment of the prophecy? I do not believe this is the correct answer. I acknowledge though, that it could be, but please bear with me as I explain. History shows us that the years of World War II totally fulfilled this prophecy.