Revelation Chapter 6, Part 1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

[Pastor Dave Honey]

Rev 6:1
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."

Let the judgments begin! As we study through the next thirteen chapters of Revelation, we will find ourselves looking at God's planned judgments through the seven years of tribulation! Daniel referred to this period of time as the
final week of the seventy weeks prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27.

Dan 9:24-27
24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city,To finish the transgression,To make an end of sins,To make reconciliation for
iniquity,To bring in everlasting righteousness,To seal up vision and
prophecy,And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand,That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build JerusalemUntil Messiah the Prince,There shall be seven
weeks and sixty-two weeks;The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even
in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for
Himself;And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and
the sanctuary.The end of it shall be with a flood,And till the end of the war
desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one
week;But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and
offering.And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,Even
until the consummation, which is determined,Is poured out on the
desolate."

The book of Daniel is an incredible prophetic work which we will study once we've completed the book of Revelation. Daniel is sometimes referred to as the "Old Testament Revelation!"

Here in verse one of chapter six, we are in the presence of God the Father as well as God the Son, depicted here as the "Lamb Who Has Been Slain!" Having received the scroll, the title deed to the universe,
Jesus has now opened the first seal, which unleashes the first of the "Four
Horsemen Of The Apocalypse!"

Rev 6:2
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

There is much to say about who this is riding in on a white horse, and there is something to say about who he isn't as well. There are two opposing views of just who this rider represents, and I do mean "represents!" First of
all, it is not very probable that this rider, nor the next three are actually
horse and rider trotting out to the center of the stage of tribulation. Surly
these "ghost riders" are mere symbolism of the forces that come into
play at the opening of these first four seals. The two most argued
possibilities of the identity of this first rider are either Christ Himself, or
the Antichrist. So let us first examine the possibility that this rider is
Christ.

Indeed, Christ does make a very grand appearance in chapter 19:11-21 at His glorious second coming!

Rev 19:11-21
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a
name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe
dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in
heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the
nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His
robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven,"Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may
eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the
flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free
and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the
earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on
the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him
the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by 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. 21 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.

Let's examine some of the obvious differences between the rider of chapter six, and the rider found in chapter nineteen, who is Christ.

1) The rider in chapter six carries a bow, but no arrows are mentioned. I believe this symbolizes a bloodless victory, possibly one won by diplomacy and agreement. He brings peace, but only temporarily. The rider in chapter nineteen
brings a sword with which He destroys His enemies!

2) The rider in chapter six wears a stephanos, or a victor's crown. Typically such a crown is constructed of olive branches and is received only for the moment. On the other hand, the rider in chapter nineteen wears many
crowns, translated; diadema, or kingly crowns! These would be permanent
crowns.

3) The rider in chapter six went out conquering and to conquer. In other words, he brings war with him, only after a false or temporary peace. In chapter nineteen, Christ brings an end to war, an everlasting peace!

4) The rider in chapter six ushers in tribulation, while Christ, in chapter nineteen, brings tribulation to a climactic close!

Matt 24:4-5
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will
deceive many.

Just in case you're wondering, I believe that the rider in chapter six symbolizes the Antichrist! One who very well may be alive and well today, quietly waiting in the wings to spring his ugly and deadly surprises on all of
mankind! Could we be that blessed generation who will not see death? Only the
Father knows!

 

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