This chapter gives the answer to the question often asked today “Why does God allow all the evil to go on and on in this world?”
This “book” referred to in Revelation 5:2-5 had seven seals, which are to be broken open, one by one. It is the book of God’s judgment (punishments). But the details are in symbols. The horses may represent: (1) A white horse and rider: a victorious conqueror (v. 2). (2) Red horse; wars and civil upheavals (v. 4). (3) Black horse; mourning and famine (v. 5). (4) Pale horse; pestilence (v. 8, it is referred to in Ezek. 14:21). The riders representing those who control these things. God, for thousands of years has been silent, watching, listening to every word said, allowing Satan to be the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), enduring the insults (and yet never losing control). And now He intervenes! People plan for a better world! But evil shall get worse and worse, and shall go on till Satan is worshipped.
These are the events to take place on earth after the believers are taken to heaven. The world will go on just as it goes on the day before the Lord Jesus comes. Business will continue, many churches will be the same. Everything will go on as before, for a little while. Then the trouble will start.
V.9-11 Those Jews who are killed for preaching the gospel of the kingdom — that the King the Lord Jesus is coming back to set up His kingdom.
V.12-17 Dreadful! The governments federal down to civil (town) will collapse. There is terror and utter despair everywhere. People are crying out to die, but worse is to come.