The first rider on the white horse

Shalom friends,

I will take you through the book of Revelation over the next few weeks and start with chapter 6. In the first verses four horsemen on colored horses are described. This week I begin with the first rider. In verse 1 and 2 we read that the Lamb - Jehôvâh Jesus - opens the first seal of a series of 7 seals. We must always read the Bible in context. Therefore, I will take you back for a moment to the last verses of chapter 5.

Starting in Revelation 5 verse 6, we read how all eyes are fixed on Jesus as the Lamb. The Lamb shown here is no longer the imprisoned Man under the false accusations of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the violent Roman government. Here we see the Lamb Who stands with all authority in the heavenlies and is the Only One worthy to open the seals of the scroll. Jesus is in heaven and from heaven He opens the first seal and releases the first rider. Jesus Himself remains with His bride in heaven during the 7-year judgment period, also known as Jacob's trouble period. Jesus only comes back on earth together with us, after the 7-year judgment period. Then Jesus returns to earth with His bride, on the Mount of Olives, to reign on earth for 1000 years from then on. Jesus, after taking up His bride in heaven, will no longer leave her side:

• Then we, the living who are left, will be taken up with them in the clouds, to a meeting with the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

We are in heaven and so is He. We will even see Jesus opening the first seal.

Chronological order - Order

John wrote down everything he had seen in the book of Revelation. Man has ordered all the books in the Bible by dividing them into chapters, which in turn are divided into verses. We must keep in mind that John had not divided his writing in the way we can read his letter today, divided into chapters and verses. He simply wrote in order what he had seen. There are claims that Revelation would have been written in random order by John and we could also read the order differently. Let us keep in mind that God is a God of order, not of chaos.

3 series of 7 judgments

We read largely in Revelation what the judgments will be that will come upon the whole earth. There will be 3 series of 7 judgments in chapters 6,8-9 and16. These are the 7 seal, the 7 trumpet and the 7 bowl judgments. They are all linked together which each opens another new series of 7 judgments. During this judgment period, the whole world will think that the worst is over, but then another series of judgments follows. Each subsequent series of judgments is worse than the previous series of judgments. The 7 scale judgments are the last ones that John describes as the final judgments, for in these judgments the wrath/revenge will be finished. They bring unimaginable darkness and misery until a merciful voice cries out "It is finished."

• And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels with the seven last plagues. For with these the wrath of God will have come to an end

Revelation 15:1

• And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air. And there sounded a loud voice from the temple in heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Revelation 16:17

All these judgments will last totally 7 years. Then comes a day when all who have rejected the grace of Jesus will be judged for their rebellion and then will be condemned to eternal separation from God.

Four Horsemen

The four horsemen of the apocalypse represent power, terror and impending judgment. In Zechariah we see the same kind of horsemen as described in Revelation, where the Lord sent the horsemen out to explore the whole earth. Here we see four chariots. The first chariot with red horses. The second chariot with black horses. The third chariot with white horses and the fourth chariot with strong spotted horses.

When horsemen come again during the 7-year judgment period, their task has changed. Instead of scouting the earth, as was done in Zechariah, to report to the throne, this time they are sent out from the throne to bring "judgment" upon the earth. It is unlikely that these are the same horsemen as in Zechariah, especially because of the identity of rider on the white horse.

• And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. And to him was given a crown, and he went forth, conquering and to overcome.

Revelation 6:2

Before the rider of the white horse of the Lamb is given permission to go out; by opening the first seal; the rider is given a "stephanos. This is a crown of an overcomer, not the crown of a king. The horseman goes out to conquer and becomes conqueror over much of the world. This horseman is the antichrist. We know that Jesus no longer needs to overcome, for He is already Conqueror. The antichrist still has to do his best on earth at the beginning of the 7-year judgment period to gain power in the world and be recognized as conqueror.

The world is waiting for an overcomer who can help them out of the distress that this world is in, more and more. Humanity wants a leader who will go before them and give them peace and prosperity. That is what the antichrist will be able to bring about. His goal is to be recognized as the christ (anti-christ) because he wants to be the overcomer. The world will follow and believe this rider on the white horse. This is how the antichrist starts his empire: conquering to conquer. He will manage to deceive many in his mission and many will follow him. This horseman is a manifestation of the antichrist, and his campaign of deception and intrigue will earn him worldwide loyalty and devotion, including that of the Jews.

So why do we see the rider on the white horse wearing a victor's crown (and not a king's crown)? Because the world will see him as king and conqueror. Exactly what Satan wants the world to think of him, that he is the conqueror and king: the antichrist.

Let me take you through what Daniel is explained about the antichrist. The writing below from Daniel tells us that the antichrist will come as a king. A king wears a crown. We see this crown again in the vision given to John. Daniel writes that this king will not become great by his own power, but by satanic power. The antichrist will also use miracles to convince many people that he is the christ. And he will succeed. Our certainty is that the antichrist will eventually be broken, but not by human hands. God Himself will intervene and bring an end to deception and destruction.

• And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 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. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Daniel 8:23-25

A-millenialists claim that what you read in John's letter is actually symbolic and figurative language that relates to spiritual events currently taking place in the kingdom of God. And that the judgements you read about should not be taken literally. That you have to look deeper, between the lines to find out what John really meant when he wrote them. For the a-millenialists, the 'what will be' part of Revelation does not begin until chapter 20.

But Revelation cannot be symbolic. It is a record given by God to John of what He has planned for His future judgment on this world. It must be interpreted using a literal method. There are indeed portions where symbolism occurs in Revelation, but they are few and the context helps us to make them clear.

So when we say that the rider on the white horse represents the "antichrist," we are saying that in the same way that the rider on the pale (Greek: green/yellow) horse represents "Death. Although he is given the name "Death," the rider is not Death himself. Death is not a person walking around in a shroud with a sickle. The four horsemen go out not as the judgments themselves, but as those who represent the actual, tragic times that are about to come upon the whole world.

Till so far about the first rider on the white horse.

• And Jesus answered them and began to say, Beware lest any man deceive you. For many shall come under My name, saying, I am the Christ; and they shall deceive many.

Mark 13:5-6

Awaiting His Return,

Natasja

AWAITING HIS RETURN