The wording here as always caused me to wonder:

Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Most people have always told me that it simply means war.

Well, then, why not say only that?

First, it says that "power" was given to the rider.

That power is specific for one thing.

It is power to "take" something "from", not to "cause something", or to "send" something.

The rider is to take something from the earth that had been there previously.

The rider is take peace from the earth.

Not to "end" peace, or to "start war", but to "take" peace "from".

Not from one person, or from one group, or from one nation, or from one continent, or from one religion.

But, to take peace from the earth.

Yes, that would no doubt result in war, but it would be far more pervasive.

Like Cain and Able, brother would probably kill brother.

Perhaps it will be the complete fulfillment of:

Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Or even the complete fulfillment of:

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

When Jesus returns to the earth, then peace will come like never before, since he is the Prince of Peace.

Right before the flood, the earth was extremely dangerous, violence was mentioned twice in the context:

Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

When peace is taken from the earth, will it be like those very violent days of Noah?