At the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation Period four symbolic “horsemen” appear (Revelation 6). The first one is the rider on a white horse. Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation on a white horse, but this rider is a false messiah, the “Antichrist.” He appears, not as a dreadful, evil person, but as a savior of mankind. He will bring the promise of peace and prosperity, and because of this, the majority of the earth’s inhabitants will follow him.

The second “horseman” is a rider on a red horse. He symbolizes a great world war, which most likely is the war of Gog and Magog that is predicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This war will start in Israel, with an invading army led by an alliance of a great Northern power (Russia) and anti-Israeli nations including Iran (Persia) and other Islamic countries. It will come at a time that people in Israel are living in peace. God will rain fire and brimstone on the invaders. This could be a picture of nuclear war.

The third rider comes on a black horse, symbolizing a great world-wide famine. At that point, the Bible says:

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" – Revelation 6:5-6

Antichrist will eventually become an economic world dictator. In Revelation 13 we read about his rise to power and the imposition of the “mark of the beast.” Without this mark, one will not be able to buy or sell.

The United States does not appear to be a great world power during the Last Days. This could very easily be caused by some measure of destruction during the great war of Gog and Magog. Since Israel is the target, the U.S. would be drawn into the battle also, as Israel’s only strong ally. Another reason the U.S. is missing as a world leader during the Tribulation might be economic collapse.