8. Death riding upon the pale horse is followed by hell. If this be the hell of the damned, the prophecy must refer to the death of the wicked, especially the persecutors. It is worthy of note that nearly all the Emperors who persecuted the Church were taken off by tragic or violent death. It is more probable, however, that "hell" here corresponds to the Hebrew "sheol," a general term for the abode of the dead.
Death is given power to destroy by every sort of plague, the chief of which are war, famine, and pestilence. Such were the chastisements inflicted upon the pagan Empire of Rome for persecuting the Church. Such will be the punishment of every nation that follows in her footsteps. We have seen this prophecy fulfilled in our own day upon nations that sought to oppress and destroy the Church of Christ.
9, 10. At the breaking of the fifth seal St. John sees the souls of the martyrs beneath the altar where they enjoy eternal happiness in union with Christ, yet they cry out for justice. They beseech God to manifest His glory, His justice, and His mercy by the resurrection of their bodies, the punishment of His enemies and the general judgment of all men.
The imagery of this vision seems to refer to the altar of holocaust which stood in the inner court of the temple before the Holy Place. In the Jewish ritual the blood of the victim was poured out at the foot of the altar.[1]
- ↑ Leviticus iv, 7.
