When the lamb opened the second seal, a second horse went out. It was fiery red. Its rider was given power to take peace away and make people slaughter one another. How do the media decide which stories to tell and which to ignore? Who tells them what to say?
The lamb opened the first of the seven seals. There was a white horse, and its rider had a bow. This first rider represents the antichrist who ushers in the 7 year tribulation leading up to Jesus' second coming. These revelations are not necessarily on an earthly time scale.
When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. Throughout history, we can see that many a king has not been happy at the thought of another born to take his place. Especially one who was not his own flesh and blood!
Just in case we felt that the word in the previous thought was a bit extreme, we have confirmation here. The chapter begins with a sad report of what the shepherd's of Israel are not doing, and continues with a promise that the Lord Himself will shepherd His flock.