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THE RIDER ON THE ‘WHITE HORSE’ ( of )
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE.
{ Apocalypse }-- The Book of Revelation in the New Testament has the literal title in Greek, the "Apocalypse of John." The word apocalypse means revelation. That which is uncovered. It comes from the Greek word which literally means to
pull the lid off something.
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis)
Definition: an uncovering
Usage: an unveiling, uncovering, revealing, revelation.
Revelation 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him
had a bow; and a crown was given unto him:
and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
“The Four Horses of the Apocalypse” are beasts of a different nature…bringing the most vile, graphic form of justice the human mind can fathom throughout
the book of Revelation.
The four horses of the Apocalypse are:
1.the white horse.
2.the red horse.
3.the black horse
4.the pale horse. The white horse carries a rider who conquers the earth, greedily running roughshod over all who stand in his way with his out-of-control lust for power.
He is a great deceiver, a dictator, and a living devil.
The rider on the white horse is the Anti-Christ.
He is a man, not a machine.
He is satan’s demonic messiah (Daniel 8:24).
Daniel 8:24
“And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise,
and shall destroy the mighty and [the holy people].”
THIS IS [ NOT ] CHRIST !
Some have said that the rider on the white horse is Jesus Christ. NO !
( That is [not] so. ) The first rider of the four is NOT YESHUA. ( I cannot stress that FACT enough.)
The Greek text in Revelations 6 reveals that the crown worn by the rider on the white horse is called “stephanos,”
a crown of victory worn by a military conqueror.
The Greek word for the crown that Christ wears in Revelation 19
is “diadema” or a crown of royalty.
The rider on the 'first' white horse in (Revelation 6) is the great deceiver, (not) Jesus!
He is the Anti-Christ, the chief son of Satan who will come promising world peace, but will bring a global blood bath. He will force every person to take his number or mark in their right hand or on their forehead. If you refuse, you will have your head cut off.
The Bible calls him the lawless one. He will set up his image in Jerusalem and demand that the world worship him or face certain death in the most brutal fashion.
This white horse is the first of four horses of different colors, similar to the horses seen by Zechariah (Zec. Zec. 1:8; Zec. 6:2-6).
See Zechariah’s Horses for a discussion of the relationship between Zechariah’s visions and the horsemen shown John.
Within the context of the book of Revelation, white represents righteousness.
“The white horse . . . emerges as an emblem of righteousness,
though there is no guarantee that the righteousness
is more than apparent...”
He who sits on it...
The similarities between this rider and Christ are striking:
Riding a White Horse - Both ride upon a white horse indicating victory
(Rev. Rev. 6:2+; Rev. 19:11+).
Wearing a Crown - Both wear a crown (Rev. Rev. 6:2+; Rev. 19:12+).
(But Christ wears multiple crowns.)
Overcome - Both are “overcomers”—victorious in their pursuits (Rev. Rev. 6:2+; John John 16:33; 1Jn. 1Jn. 4:4; Rev. Rev. 3:21+; Rev. 17:14+).
Even so, this is not the white horse which carries He who is Faithful and True in Revelation Rev. 19:11+. For it is the Lamb who has just loosed the first seal sending this horseman out. It violates all logic for the same person to be opening the seal and sending himself forth. “Moreover, it would be inappropriate to have an angelic being call forth Christ or his servants.” If Christ rides forth here, who is it that remains in heaven to open the remaining seals? This rider carries a bow whereas Christ’s weapon is a sword (Rev. Rev. 2:12+; Rev. 19:15+). This rider is alone whereas Christ is followed by the armies in heaven also riding on white horses (Rev. Rev. 19:14+). Finally, this rider sets forth at the beginning of the Tribulation whereas [ Christ ] rides ( after ) the fourth and final horse,
at Tribulations end. It seems best to understand this rider as representing a movement which ultimately culminates in the one whom Jesus described: “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive” (John 5:43).
To an unsuspecting world he looks like Messiah, the political savior of mankind, yet he is a deceiver, the anti- or pseudo-Christ. Here is documented the initial appearance of the figure of the Antichrist upon the stage of world history. Although there will be numerous false messiahs down through history, none as convincing and successful as this final figure. The Restrainer has been taken out of the way so that the Antichrist, the son of perdition, might be revealed in his own time (2Th. 2Th. 2:6-7). He is the one who will be destroyed with the breath of the mouth of the Lamb (2Th. 2Th. 2:8; Rev. Rev. 19:20+). The church has already been taken up. The beginning of birth pangs of Matthew Mat. 24:1 and the first four seals of Revelation Rev. 6:1+ are the same thing and will occur during the first half of the seven years of the 70th week. In light of the fact that the beginning of birth pangs will involve false messiahs, it would appear that the rider of the first seal will be a false messiah. . . . Since, . . . God’s Holy Spirit has the function of restraining humanity’s lawlessness, and since the Antichrist will be the ultimate expression of human lawlessness, it would appear that Paul was indicating in 2 Thessalonians 2Th. 2:6-8 that the restraining work of the Holy Spirit is the restraint that prevents the Antichrist from being revealed until the right time. The Holy Spirit will continue that restraining work until He, as the restrainer, is removed, at which time the Antichrist will be revealed. Since, as noted earlier, only God has the authority to remove the Holy Spirit’s restraint, and since the Antichrist will be revealed once that restraint is removed, we can conclude that it will be through divine activity that the Antichrist will be turned loose to conquer the world. . . . It is important to note that God declared He will raise up the foolish, idol shepherd (Zec. Zec. 11:16). ( The rider on the white horse is more probable to be identified as the Antichrist. )
If this is not Antichrist, then Revelation does not place Antichrist on the scene of events before the middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (in Rev. Rev. 13:1+), and the rider is virtually unidentifiable. The first six seals. . . are thus set here, in order to show us that these judgments do not arise from chance, but are all under Divine control. The great False Messiah of the first Seal cannot be revealed until the appointed moment shall have come and the voice from the throne gives the permissive command “Go!” The judgments cannot fall until the same command is given. “ The first rider carries a bow -- but no arrows.”
The bow is a symbol representing [strength.]
(Job Job 29:20; Job 30:11; Eze. 39:3)
Some understand the mention of a bow, but no arrows as an indication of his initial deception by peace and agreement (Dan. Dan. 9:27). “The Antichrist is seen riding a white war-horse, and with bow in hand, but with no arrow fitted to it. The symbol suggests bloodless victories.” Like Antiochus Epiphanes before him, he would “come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue . . .
and after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully”
Dan. 11:21-23).
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.
( Dan. 8:23-26 )
So before the terrors of the Tribulation break loose and lead to the battle of Armageddon there will come a period of world peace. But it will be a deceptive peace, as the world is lulled into a false sense of security followed by war, famine, and death. The world’s desperate desire for international peace will serve as the bait for the satanic trap. That longing for security and safety will play into the hands of Antichrist, Satan’s ruler, who will convince the world that he can provide them. He will particularly deceive Israel, whose people have for so long desired peace, and he “will make a firm covenant with the many [Israel] for one week” (Dan. Dan. 9:27). Antichrist’s peace pact and protection of Israel will not last, however: “in the middle of the week -
[the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy; the Tribulation]
he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate” (Dan. Dan. 9:27).
The false peace that Antichrist brings will come to an abrupt halt at the midpoint of the Tribulation when he desecrates the temple in Jerusalem, betrays the Jewish people, and launches deadly attacks on them. Mat. 24:4-10).
There can and will be [no peace] until the Prince of Peace ( YESHUA )
sets up His earthly kingdom (Rev. Rev. 20:1-6+).
Like Antiochus before him, the Antichrist plays a special role in relation to Israel during the events to come:
God will have specific purposes for bringing Antichrist on the world scene.
One purpose will be the punishment of Israel. . . .
[the] desolation of Israel by the Antichrist will be part of God’s judgment of the nation because it rejected its Messiah in His first coming [John John 5:43].
. . . . A second purpose will be the repentance of Israel. . . . God will bring the Antichrist on the world scene to play a major role in shattering [Israel’s] rebellion [Dan. Dan. 12:7].
. . . . A third purpose will be the judgment of the world. . . . God will judge the world by giving it the kind of ruler it deserves.
. . . . A fourth purpose will be the exposure of the world’s unbelief. God will bring the Antichrist on the world scene and permit him to make his claim to be God to demonstrate mankind’s unbelief.
. . . A fifth purpose will be the instigation of the final showdown between Christ and Satan’s forces and the defeat of those forces.
(a crown)
στέφανος [stephanos] , generally used of a victor’s crown or wreath, but not always. This crown, being a stephanos and not a diadema,
indicates that the rider cannot be Christ.
( Mat. 27:29; Mark Mark 15:17; John John 19:2,
John 19:5; Heb. Heb. 2:9).
A crown was given… Strongs concordance renders it, bestow, commit, deliver.
ἐδόθη [edothē] , passive voice.
Definition: to give
Usage: I offer, give; I put, place.
Although the rider likely believes he has gained his own crown for himself -
Isa. Isa. 45:1-4; Pr. Pr. 21:1; Dan Dan. 2:21; Dan. 2:37; Dan. 4:25, Dan. 4:31-32; Dan. 5:21), it is (only) given by permission.
By who’s permission? By GOD’S permission.
Everything which proceeds from the opening of the seals is subject to the permission of the one seated on the throne and the Lamb.
The sovereignty of God,
is heavily emphasized throughout the book of Revelation—
There is nothing which transpires that God Himself does not grant authority for it. This is seen in the frequently-found phrase was given which denotes the granting of permission to an agent from another, namely God.
Rev. 6:2+, Rev. 6:4+, Rev. 6:8+, Rev. 6:11+; Rev. 7:2+; Rev. 8:3+; Rev. 9:1+, Rev. 9:3+, Rev. 9:5+; Rev. 11:1+; Rev. 13:5+, Rev. 13:7+, Rev. 13:14-15+; Rev. 16:8+; Rev. 19:8+; Rev. 20:4+). The first horseman is granted his crown (Rev. Rev. 6:2+), the second horseman is given to take peace with a great sword (Rev. Rev. 6:4+); Death and Hell, who ride with the third horsemen are given authority to kill a fourth part of the earth (Rev. Rev. 6:8+), the four angels are given the power to hurt the earth and sea (Rev. Rev. 8:3+), the star from heaven is given the key to loosen the demonic locusts from the abyss (Rev. Rev. 9:1+) who were themselves given power to torment men (Rev. Rev. 9:5+), the beast is given authority to continue for forty two months (Rev. Rev. 13:5+) and to make war against the saints and overcome them (Dan. Dan. 7:25; Rev. Rev. 13:7+), the fourth bowl is given the ability to scorch men (Rev. Rev. 16:8+).
All of these horrific and terrible realities—the very manifestation and flowering of sin of which God is no author—are harnessed for His purposes.
The troubling and yet comforting reality is that there is no creature which ultimately does not serve God’s purpose , either [willingly or unwillingly.] (‘Troubling’), because in the inscrutable purpose of God such evil is allowed to continue. (‘Comforting’), because everything we suffer is subject to God’s approval and purpose (Job Job 2:6; Rom. Rom. 8:28).
“How irresistible the grasp of Omnipotence on the powers and forces of evil. They are effectually bridled till the plans of God are ripe and ready for action.” Once the reality of God’s sovereignty is understood, the bondage of satan is seen for what it is.
For satan has less freedom in rebellion against God than he once had-
in obedient service of the Master, GOD ALMIGHTY. He ( satan ) wanted more freedom and power -- he ended up with much less. So much so, he’ll ultimately end with a total loss of all things, including
(Complete and eternal separation) from [ his ] CREATOR, GOD HIMSELF.
….he went out conquering and to conquer
νικων και ἵνα νικήση [nikōn kai hina nikēsē] , both conquering and conquer are from νικάω [nikaō] , the same root as overcomer. Thus, he is another overcomer (Rev. Rev. 11:7+) to be contrasted with the True Overcomer Who is Christ
Rev. 5:5+; Rev. 17:14+).
He will be endowed with the most extraordinary powers, so that “he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” (Dan. Dan. 8:24). Before his exploits the fame of Alexander and Napoleon will be forgotten. None will be able to stand before him. He will go “forth conquering and to conquer” (Rev. Rev. 6:2+). He will sweep everything before him so that the world will exclaim, “Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. Rev. 13:4+). His military exploits will not be confined to a corner, but carried out on a vast scale. He is spoken of as the man who will “shake kingdoms” and “make the earth to tremble.” ( Isa. 14:16).
Ezekiel Eze. 34:23-30 says that when God establishes His covenant of peace with Israel, the covenant will result in safety, peace with nations, and the elimination of harmful beasts by famine. By contrast, when the Antichrist establishes his covenant of peace with Israel [Dan. Dan. 9:27], God will inflict the world with conditions opposite of those His covenant of peace will bring. He will unleash war (the sword) [the second seal, Rev. Rev. 6:3-4+], famine (the third seal, Rev. Rev. 6:5-6+), and harmful beasts (the fourth seal, Rev. Rev. 6:7-8+) upon the earth to demonstrate that the Antichrist’s covenant of peace is not the covenant of peace that will bring true safety, as foretold in the Old Testament. Ultimately, satan is a defeated foe!
Jesus Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is the Mighty One of Israel.
He is the once and soon-coming King!
Are you ready, Church?
Our time is growing short!
While no man knows the day nor the hour…all of the major players are walking onto the world stage. I believe that we are literally watching Bible prophecy unfold before our very eyes.
I will make it as clear as I can...
Get your house in order.
Make practical preparations for famine.
Collect bottled water and canned goods. ( If for no other reason, for those who may come after you & I are gone )
Pray with and for your family members.
Make sure they have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
While we do not live in fear, we must be prepared.
Our time grows shorter with every waking hour.
Don’t wait another second to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life or to share with your lost friend, neighbor or loved one the great plan of eternal salvation.
We have no time to waste!
((( 3 more riders to go….)))