Note: This is a continuing evaluation of the book The Days of Vengeance written by David Chilton. Chilton at the time of writing this was a partial preterist who later in life (after a massive heart attack) turned to full preterism. Sections will be taken from the book and commented on to the fullest extent possible. A PDF of the book can be found here.
Chilton's chapter heading refers to the "white horse" but today we'll be looking at the red horse. In fact, I'm going to do my best to keep the subject only on the red horse. It is important to remember Chilton's focus on the horse not being specific events but more general themes. Though I disagree with this he has some good points,
This second rider, standing for war, shows how utterly depraved man is. God does not have to incite men to fight against each other; He simply orders His angels to take away the conditions of peace. In a sinful world, why are there not more wars than there are? Why is there not more bloodshed? It is because there are restraints on man’s wickedness, on man’s freedom to work out the consistent implications of his hatred and rebellion. But if God removes the restraints, man’s ethical degeneracy is revealed in all its ugliness. John Calvin wrote: “The mind of man has been so completely estranged from God’s righteousness that it conceives, desires, and undertakes, only that which is impious, perverted, foul, impure, and infamous. The heart is so steeped in the poison of sin, that it can breathe out nothing but a loathsome stench. But if some men occasionally make a show of good, their minds nevertheless ever remain enveloped in hypocrisy and deceitful craft, and their hearts bound by inner depravity.” (DOV, 85)
There is no way to disagree with Chilton on this point. He simply is correct in the conclusion. I'm just not convinced it must be a broad subject. I think the fullness of the point can be found simply in the removal of "Roman peace" from the people of Israel. Yet again (I'm going to try and not make a habit of this) I'm going to conclude with some audio from Kenneth Gentry.