Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 6:4

4 And there went out another horse that was red : and power was given to him that sat thereon , to take peace from the earth , and that they should kill one another : and there was given unto him a great sword .

Signifying Blood and Slaughter.

Either to Christ (as some say,) or, to those that ruled the Affairs of the Roman Empire at that time, to disturb the Peace of the Church.

Either to Christ (as some say,) or, to those that ruled the Affairs of the Roman Empire at that time, to disturb the Peace of the Church.

This was a time of much Blood.

And therefore a Sword is given to him that rode upon this Horse. Some think that this Period began with Nero, 34 years before the other ended (according to what was said before,) others make it to begin with Trajan, and t[illegible: 1 letter] comprehend 80 years, until the time of Commodus; in which time Trajan and Hadrian, and the three Antoninus's successively ruled the Roman Empire; the Reign of Trajan and Hadrian took up near half the time, in which time this Prophecy was most eminently fulfilled; for in Trajan's time the Iews Rebelling, and killing many subjects of the Roman Empire, to the number of 22000 in one place, and 240000 in another place, themselves were as miserably handled by the Roman Forces sent by Trajan and Hadrian ▪ who slew of them (as Histories tell us) five hundred and fourscore thousand: Nay, the Iews themselves say, they lost double the number of those who came out of Egypt, and more than they lost by Nebuchadnezzar, or by Titus when their City was taken; on the other side the Romans lost very many. Many Christians also were put to Death during this period, during which was the third and fourth Persecution.