Saturday, January 28, 2023
The Book of Revelation is an amazing book. Some of it we get to understand and some of it we have a lot of questions about. Today we are going to talk about the four horsemen.
Looking at this it is centered about the birth pangs which lead us into prophetic fulfillment. The Bible explains the Bible and when we stop and look at this story of the four horsemen, we need to also look at the fact as to what Jesus said. In Matthew 24:6-8 Jesus says, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes, but all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” So, as stated above… these things are the beginning of birth pangs and those still here will not like what is going to happen.
Birth pangs are not fun as any woman can attest. They start out slow and get harder and harder until the child is born. Well, with these birth pangs they will increase until the Lamb opens the seven seals which seal the scroll. Each of these seals shows us different events for the time of the last days. This starts with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
Revelation 6:1-8 NLT
As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory. When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere. When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.” When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
John was in the spirit and was given a view into heaven. What is there? There was a sea of glass and it looked like crystal. Can we even for a moment think about that scene that John was allowed to see. In the middle/or the center was One sitting on a throne. Around the throne were 24 thrones where 24 elders were sitting, clothed in white with golden crowns on their heads. Whoa! Sometimes we read something and we just like skim over it without really considering what is going on, who is there, and what is really happening. Maybe we should take our time here and really look at that scene.
Now we get to see that in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne was a book (God has books and to be silly here…I don’t see computers anywhere) In this book on the back of it was sealed with seven seals. As John is sitting or standing there, He hears an angel proclaim with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and break the seals?
Well, the Bible tells us that “no one” was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. That is scary. Here God has this very important book that needs to be opened and no one was found worthy to open it…until! Well, John began to weep. Have you ever wondered why suddenly John wept? John was seeing something so amazing and so important and there was this book and no one was found worthy to open it, and John cried. Then…………………one of the elders said to him, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” The only one ever worthy to ever open that scroll and remove the seals was and is Jesus.
However, when John looked what he saw between the throne and the elders was a Lamb standing, as if slain; and He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Picture that a moment. John is watching this unfold right before his eyes and God, the Father is the one holding the book for now. But when the Lamb/Jesus took hold of the book, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb and worshiped, singing a new song.
Revelation 5:9 NLT They sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
That is wonderful. There is and was only one who was/is/and ever more will be worthy and that one is Jesus who died to give us all eternal life that believe in Him and that He is their Lord and Savior.
Today we’re going to watch with John as the Lamb breaks the seals of the scroll, for with the breaking of each seal, events of the latter days will unfold. This first seal and what it represents are the birth pangs and these birth pangs will go on until the fulfillment of all God said would and will happen.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-8,“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”
The ‘birth pangs’ will grow until the Lamb opens the seven seals which seal the scroll. Each of the seals sets forth strong and powerful events of the last days,
beginning with what has been famously called, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” And when you look at what is happening in the world today, you can almost put your ear to the ground and hear their hoofbeats drawing near.
I ask you right now to look around the world at what you are seeing, feeling, and how things of life are affecting you and your family, your finances, if there is inflation, if people are more and more violent and nothing happens to the criminals. I’m not going to list all the stuff going on right now, but I know that people are hurting and scared about what is going on and what will go on. God is not telling this to scare you but to change you while you can change. One second after death is one second to late to change. He is giving you a heads up on what will happen and the opportunity to get your life right with Him right now. Don’t let this opportunity go by without fixing your life with God
Well let’s get back to the four Horsemen of Revelation:
The White Horse represents – The Antichrist. The white horse brings a man of conquest.
Many people will stop right here and say this one riding the white horse is Jesus and they are wrong. Jesus does ride a white horse but this one is not it. This one is talking about the antichrist. He always thinks he can do what God does and he can’t.
In Revelation 19, Jesus is portrayed as riding on a white horse, but in Revelation 6, this is not that white horse and Jesus is not the one riding
on it. This is the Antichrist. He is not revealed until the Lamb breaks the first seal of the book. He is held back until this seal is opened. Held back. The antichrist does not come on the scene until the seal is broken.
So stop right here if you are saying this is Jesus and do your research. This white horse is not carrying Jesus. This white horse is carrying the antichrist.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6-8, Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come (the return of Jesus Christ) until the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction… And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed… only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.
The antichrist will come as a deceiver. The antichrist does all he can to look like God, but he is not God and never will be. However, he will deceive many and when we understand this and put that in our heart and mind we will understand what is going on, and what will be going on when and after that seal is broken by Jesus.
When you think of a bad, bad person what do you picture them to be like? Well, this guy…the antichrist is a deceiver and he won’t be coming in a black outfit all mysterious to catch you off guard if you were to still be here when this happens, but he will come riding a white horse and deceiving people into thinking he is the “one”.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Just think of the deception all around you in this world right now. Can you go anywhere, watch anything, deal with anyone, and our government is so deceptive and corrupt that we have very little faith in mankind any more. Deception is part of our existence right now and every day it is getting worse and worse. But the one coming…this antichrist…is the major deceiver and he will be very good at his job….for a season!!!! As you are looking around you see a lot of people deceivers, government deceivers, and it has become quite scary at what they are doing and trying to do to us, our family, our schools, our finances, and so on. This is nothing compared to what this antichrist will be doing and how well he will be deceiving people.
I see more and more each day that few people value truth. They just go along with the trends of the times, the deceptions, they are constantly believing the lies they are told to believe, they compromise the truth as not to offend anyone, and they are pretty much forced to go along with the lies of satan and they discard the truth of God. They don’t search out the truth of God’s word but they believe the garbage they are told.
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But boy will many be deceived because this so-called antichrist is going to present himself for a time as a man of peace. He will look good and know exactly what to say to con people into believing his lies. Know this: Israel will increasingly become the focal point of world events.
In Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Read that a few times and what do you see? It says “then”! So after a due season something changes.
Do you ever think about this: Jews, Muslims and even the Catholic Church all believe Jerusalem is theirs, though only the Jewish claim is consistent with scripture. God’s word is very clear about who He gave Jerusalem to.
Who is this antichrist. We don’t yet know because he doesn’t come on the scene until the seal is broken. At that time the world will know who it is. However, this is a man so evil yet will come as a man of peace and deceive a lot of the world’s people. He will be able to talk well, look good, and be the one to negotiate a covenant of peace with Israel. People will be happy for a season and then wham! In the middle of the tribulation 3 ½ years into the tribulation the evil comes out and everything changes.
In Daniel 9:27, And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering;
This will fulfill the words of verse 1 that he will come conquering and to conquer. In other words, he will place himself in a position of great authority
over the nations, though he has a bow and no arrows. He rules (a crown was given); he rules with a bow, not a sword, and he exercises dominion over the earth (went out conquering and to conquer). But the results of his rule, as described in the following verses, show clearly that this is not the reign of Jesus.
The four horsemen of Rev 6 are connected with the 70th week of Daniel and the great tribulation itself, or with the course of history up until that time.
The horse is white because he is imitating good. He can never be good…but he will do all he can to imitate the Lord and to get people to believe he is good. The crown that was given to him…he did not earn it.
Added info: Now listen carefully about the white horse and Jesus. The Battle of Armageddon. This is not the same event as the white horse of the horsemen. This Jesus and His white horse takes place during the last half of the tribulation. Read Rev 19:11-16. Conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon? Read Rev 19:20-21. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, bby which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. This is the end of the age. The Lord has fire in His eyes and a sword in His mouth. His word will accomplish all He treads a winepress of the fierceness and wrath of God. Now He rules with a rod. As you can see there are two separate white horses. The first of the horsemen is the antichrist…the evil one. The second white horse is rode by Jesus and He is coming soon.
In Daniel 8:23-26 Prophecies of the Antichrist who conquers. He comes as a traitor! However, he is going to seem like a protector and many around the world will believe his lies, and Arab nations will respect him, but there will arise as a leader of one of the countries of the old Roman empire. However, when he has won the loyalty and admiration of the leaders of the world, he will renege on the covenant he negotiated and betray Israel.
This happens in the middle of the tribulation at the 3 ½ year mark. In Daniel 9:27, but in the middle of the week 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.
In Matthew 24:15-16, “Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolations which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”
And this means what? For the ‘abomination of desolations’ prophecy to be fulfilled, there will need to be a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Many believe that this will be a vital part of the covenant of peace that the Antichrist negotiates. But do we know that for sure that this is exactly what and when it takes place? No!
Muslims built a mosque and the Dome of the Rock over the traditional site of the Jewish Temple. Christian scholars believe that it would be possible to build a Jewish Temple next to the Dome of the Rock with a wall separating them. This could possibly fulfill a prophecy in Ezekiel.
There will be with this seal 3 more horsemen. Number one was the antichrist coming on the scene. He is represented by the white horse. Yes, later on…Jesus will come on a white horse, but again this is not Jesus here but the antichrist. Research it for yourself and you will understand this is not Jesus at this point. We have been focusing on the Antichrist who is represented by the white horse, but the other three will bring great disasters. This is only the breaking of the seals which surround the scroll.
The Red Horse…and war! First, it is extremely important to note that none of these horsemen can come forth until they are summoned by the living creatures surrounding the throne of God. They can’t just go on their own terms and time. The point is that this is the period of time called the Great Tribulation which is the wrath of God and under the sovereign hand of God. The Red Horse represents war, though the word in the Greek for slay is ‘slaughter’ and some have suggested that could also represent sectarian/religious violence. What about the violence which is seen in the Middle East and many Arab countries has been going on for hundreds of years, but in the last days will reach a fever pitch as Islam will become a significant part of last days fulfillment. Then you see the rising trend of mass shootings, and many other violent deeds. John also writes that the rider will have a large sword, which represents the devastation of war. We have always had wars and rumors of wars, but during this time there will be even more wars around the world. What will they be like? Haven’t we been seeing an increase of animosity between the west and a newly strengthened Russia (by oil) and also with China as they become a great world power through economic and military might. This is setting the stage for wars yet to come. With each different horsemen there will be more and more evil and destruction around the world.
The black horse of famine is coming. The black horse represents famine, but also economic collapse. We can already see a lot of this even now and it has not even begun. But beware that if you did not get taken up in the rapture and you are left upon this earth…you will not like what is going to take place. At first, war actually helps economies as many are employed and production levels are high to supply the war machine;
“do not touch the oil or the wine” seems to indicate that there will be a group of wealthy people also who have plenty while the rest of the world suffers, adding to the agony of that day. Many of the world’s wealthy keep gold coins in preparation for such a disaster. But think about this. We, who are not rich if still upon this earth when the tribulation begins won’t have the means to do what the rich people have. However, at some point, widespread war destroys too much and economic systems are destroyed with it. A quart of wheat for a day’s wage is disaster. People won’t be able to take care of their families because there will be no money. We think inflation is bad right now and it surely is, but it is nothing compared to the inflation that will come during the tribulation.
Revelation 13:16-17, And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
If you find yourself in the tribulation do not…I repeat do not take the mark of the beast. It would be better to be a martyr and die than what would happen to you if you take the mark.
The Pale Horse/the Death Horse: The Pale horse aka the ashen horse represents the death that follows these events and Hades, or hell, following close behind. In other words, death takes the body and Hades takes the soul.
Are you disturbed by the thought of hell? Everyone should be, but know this you don’t have to go there if Jesus is your Lord and Savior and you listen to Him. Many who believe they will get into heaven won’t be there, and many who thought they would not be in heaven will be. It is God’s criteria that determines who is there and who is not. No Jesus: no heaven.
Think on this. You have kids. You love your kids. One is great and chooses to do what is right, while the other is always causing havoc and doing wrong, lyings, stealing, cheating, is rude and disobedient. You love them equally but you have to make choices regarding their behavior. Not because you want to punish them, but that they did wrong and there are consequences. Then you might say but God wouldn’t send them to hell. That is true. Their own choices and disobedience is what will put them there. You want the best for your kids and God wants the best for His kids, but when people won’t do things God’s way they will not be happy with their choice. Let’s say your two kids want to go somewhere that means something to them. One does everything right and the other doesn’t. Should they both get to go? No! You make the choice for them because of the choices they make.
There will come death to many on this earth with this horsemen. There will be a forth of the population killed by whatever “means” there is to do it. Will it be from famine, pestilence, plagues, or wild beasts? Plagues could mean the spread of disease as conditions deteriorate, but could also refer to biological warfare or radiation sickness from radiation clouds that are carried by the wind from nuclear explosions. We don’t want to think about a nuclear war but it very well could be from that many will die. Many countries have the means and power to use nuclear weapons. John didn’t know how to describe several things and possibly what he saw were nuclear weapons. I wonder how we would have described the modern things of today back then. Such things as cars, trains, airplanes, computers and so on???
But now think on this for this is a great prophesy for God’s kids…those that believe Jesus and that He is their Lord and Savior. God promised that the church will not endure the wrath of God. That means that the church will be “taken out of this world” prior to the tribulation. That is wonderful and amazing news for us.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Right now we are living in a fallen world and each day as we look around we see more and more evil, more and more pain, more and more deceptions. We don’t know people we can truly trust, and so many are compromised into doing and believing the lies that do we really want to trust them? If we don’t agree with some people they want to destroy us and our way of life. They get to have an opinion….but they don’t want you to have one. They call you all kinds of names, and with all of this modern social media stuff…they go after people and think nothing of destroying people. This also is nothing compared to what is going to happen in the tribulations. They take away your rights, stop your freedom of speech, and want you to declare sins as being okay. You must not do that!!!!
You, as God’s children might have to face a lot of things in this world, but you don’t need to fear for you know your destiny. In 2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
We truly live in a fallen world and stuff is going to get worse and worse, but one day (soon) Jesus will open the seals and the tribulation will begin. Be ready because if you are His…you will be taken and you won’t go through the tribulation. To those that don’t believe that they need to truly study the word of God.
Sometimes peace takes a war! The final peace that will come is after Armageddon and it will be glorious!
Now, may God bless you, keep you, draw you to Him, guide your steps and give you His peace. God bless you.