305. Verse 4. And there went out another horse that was red, signifies the understanding of the Word destroyed as to good, and thence as to life with these. By "a horse" is signified the understanding of the Word (n. 298); and by "red" [rufus] is signified good destroyed. That the color white is predicated of truths, because it is from the light of the sun of heaven, and the color red [ruber] is predicated of goods because it is from the fire of the sun of heaven may be seen above (n. 167, 231). But the reason why "red" [rufus] is predicated of good destroyed, is, because by red [rufus] an infernal red is meant, which is from infernal fire, which is the love of evil; the red which is an infernal red is hideous and abominable, there being nothing alive therein, but all dead; hence it is, that by "a red horse" is signified the understanding of the Word destroyed as to good. This may also appear from the description of it below; that "it was given him to take peace from the earth, that they should kill one another:" "the second animal" also, which was like a calf, by which is signified the Divine truth of the Word as to affection (n. 242), said, "Come and look," and thus showed that there was no affection of good, and thence no good with them. That red is spoken of love, as well the love of good as of evil, may appear from the following passages:
Who washed His clothing in wine, His covering in the blood of grapes; His eyes are redder than wine, and His teeth whiter than milk (Gen. 49:11-12). This is concerning the Lord:
Who is this that cometh from Edom, red as to His garment, and His garment as of him that treadeth in the winepress (Isa. 63:1-2). This is also concerning the Lord:
The Nazarites were whiter than snow, brighter than milk; their bones were redder than red-shining gems (Lam. 4:7). In these passages "red" is predicated of the love of good; in the following, of the love of evil:
The shield was made red, and the men were empurpled; in the fire of torches were their chariots, their aspect was as of a torch (Nahum 2:3-4). If your sins were as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; If they were red as purple, they shall be as wool (Isa. 1:18). Neither is anything else signified by the "red dragon" (Revelation 12:3); and by the "red horse standing among the myrtle trees" (Zechariah 1:8). Similar things are said of the colors which are derived from red, as of scarlet and purple.
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