Revelation 6:8

A pale horse; the original denotes the ghastly paleness of a corpse. By this awful symbol destruction in multiplied forms is indicated.

Hell; that is, Hades, the abode of the dead. Hades follows death to swallow in its abyss those whom death has slain.

The fourth part of the earth; see note to chapter Revelation 8:7.

With sword-hunger-death, and with the beasts of the earth; four destroying agents to slay the fourth part of men. Compare Ezekiel 14:21, from which the imagery is taken; also Jeremiah 15:3, where also four destroyers are named. Not only famine, but pestilence and all destructive judgments are under divine control; and whenever God pleases, he can desolate cities, sweep off nations, and consign their inhabitants to utter ruin.