In Revelation 6:7–8, the fourth horseman, named Death and followed by Hades, is described as being given power over a fourth of the earth to kill through violence, famine, plague, and wild beasts. Importantly, the text does not state that the fourth horseman directly killed a quarter of the earth’s population. Instead, it highlights a domain of influence, specifying that the rider's authority extends over a portion of the earth. This distinction suggests that the "fourth of the earth" refers to a geographical area or scope of impact rather than a precise fraction of humanity. Historically, some interpretations have drawn comparisons to global events such as World War II, during which significant portions of the earth’s landmass—particularly in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific—were directly affected by the conflict. When calculating the territories involved in or impacted by the war, this could approximate one-fourth of the earth's surface, aligning symbolically with the passage's description of power over a "fourth of the earth." This perspective emphasizes the scale and reach of the devastation, linking it to specific forms of destruction without requiring a literal interpretation of population numbers. (ChatGPT)
