First Horseman of the Apocalypse

First Horseman of the Apocalypse - Charles Gray Adams Jr - https://inhiscommission.com/eschatology-articles/the-first-horseman-of-the-apocalypse/ Rev 6:2, KJV [1] 2And 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 identification of the rider on the white horse of Revelation chapter six is hotly debated. However, for the purpose of the article, he is the Antichrist: He is arrivingon a world stage that has been painstakingly prepared for him; he is mounted upon a white horse which implies he is coming as savior of the world; he holds a bow which is not necessarily what most think it is; he is given a crown; and he goes forth conqueringand to conquer. While this study will address each of these specifics, it will focus primarily on the bow he holds and its significance. Therefore, the intent of this article is to expound upon the identification of the rider of the white horse while identifyingthe means by which he, the Antichrist, conquers. The World-Stage is Set Paul, the apostle, warned the church through his epistles about the condition of the world in the last days. In fact, in his last letter which was penned to Timothy, hewrote: 2 Timothy 3:1-9 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the powerthereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstoodMoses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. From this passage one may clearly ascertain the fact that mankind will be in a fallen state (just like the days of Noah and Lot, Gen 6:5-6; Luke 17:26-29) ‘in the last days’ just before the arrival of the man of sin (2 Thess 2:3). This would imply that he will assume control of a society with which he has great affinity while conquering all who oppose him. The rapture will remove all of those faithful to Christ from the planet.Therefore, the Antichrist will appear to be dealing with the remnants of those who oppose the now dominant worldview which he will champion. This remnant is comprised of all who will be saved during the tribulation period. One further point should be made about the condition of the world just before the arrival of the Antichrist. In the last days, the earthbound inhabitants of the world willnot be the only ones who have fallen into severe moral decay.[3] Indeed, many who claim to be holy will succumb to the wiles of the devil and become apostate. This is evidenced by additional warnings from the Apostle Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-3 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies inhypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shallturn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Sadly, many in today’s church are clearly demonstrating that Paul’s prophecies were one hundred percent accurate. This is made manifest by the fact that the ways of theworld are creeping into the professing church and what was once holy and set apart is now indistinguishable from the heathen world. This brief foray, into the condition of the world at the time of the arrival of the Antichrist, demonstrates that much could be said about this particular topic, however,another article will deal with this in greater specificity. For now, it is clear that preparation is under way for the arrival of the Antichrist and many will fall for his deception, especially those who desire to maintain earth as their home. Sadly, manyin the professing church are also being primed for the rider of the white horse. The White Horse White is generally associated with the imagery of righteousness and holiness.[4] Therefore, when one rides a white horse the intention is often to convey the idea that therider is of the same nature. However, the Antichrist will only appear righteous. In fact, he will be anything but. Instead, he will merely feign righteousness as a counterfeit of the true. The reality of his deception will become very clear when Jesus alsorides a white horse near the end of the Tribulation. The Second Coming of Christ will cause the ride of the imposter to pale in comparison. Incredibly, Jesus will not be the only one riding a white horse upon His return. Indeed, the armies which were in heavenwill follow Him upon white horses (Rev 19:14a). Many have mistaken the first rider as Christ, primarily, because of the white horse. This is not possible for many reasons: First, Jesus is the one opening the seals asthe Lamb (Rev 6:1), therefore, it is not possible to identify Him with the first rider. Second, Jesus Has on His head many crowns, whereas the first rider is given a single crown (cf. Rev 6:2; 19:12). Third, the Antichrist is associated with the beginningof the seal judgments which bring calamity upon earth, therefore it is not likely he is bringing good amidst the bad.[5] In fact, this is the very premise of seeing the first rider as the one who is illuminated by the false light of Satan (2 Cor 11:14). Fourth,Jesus will come as judge and He will not go forth conquering and to conquer, instead, all of the remaining armies of the world will be gathered to Armageddon where the beast and false prophet are captured and cast alive into the lake of fire and Jesus willdestroy those remaining with the sword which proceeds out of His mouth (Rev 19:19-21). The Bow The rider of the white horse holds a bow. Cursory reading would cause one to believe this is a weapon. However, a closer look indicates this is something entirely differentwhich, when seen for what it truly is, reveals exactly how this rider will conquer. Revelation was written in Greek and the word John chose to identify this ‘bow’ is ‘toxon’ which has its root in the word ‘tikto’ which means “the simplest fabric.” Throughoutthe Bible the word ‘bow’ has identified a weapon, it has also been used to identify the rainbow, and it has even been used to identify the act of bowing down. However, the word used to identify the bow in Revelation 6:2 is only used one time in the entireBible. This is clear evidence that John was describing something other than a weapon. In fact, this one word is crucial to understanding this rider and how he wields power. The fact that John indicates this rider carries a bow of simplest fabric could be stated this way, “the rider carried a flag made of fabric which displayed a rainbow.” One is not hard pressed to see how a conqueror could conquer under this banner, especially when considering how prepared the world already is for the one who rides this horse. Undoubtedly, he will be received with outstretched arms by those who now shape thenarrative of the world, especially since those who opposed this lifestyle will have been removed by the rapture. This explains how he will conquer without a physical weapon. Instead, his true weapon is deception which is why Jesus and the Apostles ferventlywarned believers not to be ‘deceived,’ a word used 39 times in the New Testament alone. In fact, Jesus, in answering His disciples question about the last days, began His explanation with the words, “Take heed that no man deceive you (Matt 24:4).” He goeson to warn against deception three more times in this same reply (Matt 24:4-31). In fact, Jesus warned more about deception than any other single thing. This implies, the last days will be marked by great deception. Great deception is truly upon the land as many are incapable of discerning right from wrong. In fact, those who now control the narrative are turning truth on its head.However, God foretold of this particular world condition through His prophet Isaiah who had a dire warning for those who currently manipulate the masses: Isaiah 5:20 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Incredibly, the earthbound are seeing things in an upside down manner. Ironically, their rejection of the truth is actually preparing them to accept ‘the lie’ of the greatdeceiver who will lead them to great suffering and eternal damnation and fire: Revelation 20:15 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Essentially, Satan desires to counter what God has established. God made man and woman; Satan attempts to cause man to believe they are neither or can be both, what utterconfusion. God established how men and women should behave; Satan attempts to thwart this by telling man they can be as god and rule themselves (Gen 3). This is truly the root of what is wrong with mankind, they are following the lead of the great deceiver.In so doing, they are rejecting the truth and running toward, and even championing, the lie. The consequence for this errant way of life is unthinkable, for God’s wrath will be poured out upon all unrighteousness. Paul warned of this when instructing the Romans: Romans 1:18-32 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be knownof God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptibleGod into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changedthe truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not liketo retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that theywhich commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Paul stresses his point by indicating those who reject the truth will be turned over to reprobate minds to do the laundry list of things he shared as the signs of the reprobate.Remarkably, one needs to look no further than the current day media, in its many forms, to see each and every one of these inconveniences manifested. This indicates, judgment has already begun and the first rider is about to come forth in power not his own(Dan 9:24). He Conquers With a Gifted Crown Understanding the means by which this rider conquers will be greatly enhanced by the words of the prophet Daniel. Long ago, Daniel had visions which were identified by theangel ‘Gabriel’ as visions of the last of days. In one vision, Daniel sees the Antichrist as, one who comes when rebellion has reached its full measure, a master of intrigue. Interestingly, this ruler will become very strong by power not his own. This alludesto the crown the first rider is given. Notice, he is given the crown, this would imply that he has not earned it. Instead, he is provided a crown with which to conquer along with power from Satan (Rev 13:2). Therefore, neither his crown or power are trulyhis, he is simply an emissary of Satan. Daniel saw this rider in a vision, over twenty five hundred years ago: Daniel 8:24-25 24And 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.25And 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 (emphasis mine). The fact that the Antichrist will destroy many by peace provides added weight to the fact that this rider will appear unto a very receptive audience. He will ride in asa great champion who truly understands how to deal with the growing deception brought forth by the perversion of God’s ways. However, he will not attempt to correct the populace. Instead, he will validate their debauchery. His mission will be to come againstand overwhelm those who oppose his contrary ways as he attempts to change what God has established. This mindset is already at work in the world. Daniel foresaw this also: Daniel 7:25 25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given intohis hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Fortunately, the Antichrist will ultimately, decide that he is god and for this he will suffer the penalty of being captured on the battlefield called Armageddon and castinto the ever burning lake of fire (Rev 19:20). Ramifications The first rider paves the way, through deception, for the entirety of the remaining judgments of the Tribulation. His actions will cause a great division amongst those whoare left on earth, after the rapture. Many will come to saving faith early on, just after the church departs. This is largely due to the fact that they had heard the truth before, without embracing it. However, they did not reject Christ, wholesale. Instead,they wanted to linger in the things of this world for just a bit longer. Unfortunately, Jesus will come when they least expect it and they will lose their chance to be saved during the age of grace. Now they will have to persevere through the Tribulation andovercome the Antichrist, most likely by laying down their lives: Revelation 12:11 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. The severity of the Tribulation will make it extremely unlikely to survive its entirety. In fact, those who find themselves in this awful time will be dealing with hazardfrom every side. For instance, the very next rider will take peace from the earth and cause men to kill one another (Rev 6:4). Imagine living in a day when neighbor is killing neighbor and no one knows who the enemy is. This is just the next thing on a longlist of dangers which will need to be navigated in order to survive. Thankfully, God always has a remnant and those who make it through to the end of the Tribulation will populate the millennial kingdom, but that is a topic for another time. If you are reading this article and have not taken “the mark of the beast (Rev 13),” you still have a chance. If you never have,you should call on the name of Jesus: Romans 10:8-17 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth theLord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believethon him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on himin whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach thegospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Conclusion The first rider, the Antichrist, will come as the savior of the world. This sounds remarkably like the actions of Christ. However, there is one great difference. Jesus cameto save men “from the world.” The Antichrist will come to “save the world” from man. In fact, he will champion the causes that unregenerate man desires, the list of these pursuits grows daily as man rejects God’s ways and leans unto their own understanding(cf. Prov 3:5-6). The Antichrist, through his craft and deception, will cause many to seal their fate of eternal damnation. The good news is the wise will recognize and avoid falling prey to his wiles (Dan 12:10). Instead, they will likely die for their faithwhich will be far greater than rejecting Christ, accepting Satan as lord, and suffering an eternity in the lake of fire. [1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.” [2] The following translators understood the Greek word to mean “a departure” in this context: Tyndale (1534), Coverdale (1535), the Geneva Bible (1537), Cranmer (1539),and Beza (1565), and so used it in their translations. See also: Kenneth S. Wuest, “The Rapture—Precisely When?” Bibliotheca Sacra, BSAC 114:453 (Jan 1957): 65. [3] For greater understanding of the term ‘earthbound,’ see the article, “Heaven or Earth Bound?” [4] Robert L. Thomas, Revelation Exegetical Commentary – 2 Volume Set (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2016.), 139. [5] David J. MacLeod, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:1-8),” Emmaus Journal, EMJ 01:1 (Winter 1991): 9. --------------------------------------------------------- Gog, Magog, and Ukraine - By Hal Lindsey � www.hallindsey.com In a recent column entitled, �Rumors of War,� I explained why the Russian-led invasion of Israel detailed in Ezekiel 38 and 39 will include Ukraine. These passages givethe leader of this coalition the symbolic name, �Gog.� Could Putin be Gog? He sure could. Is he? We simply don�t know. Some believe that he is, and that the choice to go into Ukraine was not really his at all. They say God is �compelling� him. Ezekiel 38:4 speaks of God putting hooks inGog�s jaws to draw him into a war against Israel. But Ukraine is not Israel. God did not put hooks in Putin�s jaws, forcing him to attack Ukraine. Still, the prophetic significance of Russia�s move into Ukraine cannot be denied. And it does not end with the fact that Ukraine will join Russia as a part of the Ezekiel38 coalition. The war is also impelling Europe to arm itself. In recent years, at the urging of the United States, Europe�s NATO nations made token increases in their defense budgets. But they clearly preferred for US taxpayers to shoulder the cost of theirdefense. Putin changed that. Today, Europe is looking to arm itself. Previously neutral countries are suddenly hoping to join NATO. During the Cold War, Finland and Sweden were famouslynonaligned. Soviet atrocities were not enough to get them to stand with other western nations against the Soviet Union. But now, they see Putin as willing to attack any nonaligned, nonnuclear power. By joining NATO, they would instantly put themselves underthe protection of American, French, and British nukes. Putin�s action in Ukraine also puts pressure on the European Union to arm itself. The EU has always been an economic and political entity. For years, several key leadershave wanted to also make it a military power. Now, with Putin�s help, that idea has new momentum. A central command and control over all the armies of Europe would, in an instant, make the EU a global military power. The Bible says that such power will oneday be handed over to Antichrist. Despite �green new deal� politics, the real world still depends on fossil fuel. That fact looms large over Putin�s war. In recent years, we learned that Israel has an abundanceof natural gas. The Israel-to-Europe gas pipeline is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. At that point, Israel becomes a major threat to Russia�s natural gas monopoly in Europe. That gives �Gog� a major incentive to one day attack Israel. Bible prophecy also speaks of economic instability (especially inflation) and a general atmosphere of chaos and fear in the last days. Those things were already happening,but they have been made dramatically worse by Putin�s war. We need to have compassion on those who are suffering. And we need to know that this war will almost certainly have a negative impact on the rest of us. But we also needto trust God with our lives. When we escape the fear that threatens to engulf us, it will give us space to see with awe the God who told us about these things thousands of years in advance. He told us about technology that would not be invented or even imagineduntil our generation. He told us about national alliances before the nations involved had even been founded. And He told us that in all these things, to rest in Him (Psalm 37:7). --------------------------------------- Is Belief in a Pre-Trib Rapture a Form of Escapism? - By Susan Mouw - https://www.raptureready.com/2022/03/09/is-belief-in-a-pre-trib-rapture-a-form-of-escapism-by-susan-mouw/ I have to admit � I chuckled a bit when I read comments that those of us who believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church are suffering from a mental deficiency anda form of escapism. By that measure, then Noah must have suffered from this mental deficiency as well when he started building the Ark. While there is much argument over how long it took Noahto build the Ark, we do know that he and his family entered the Ark when he was 600 years old, and we know that he was 500 years old when his first son, Japtheth, was born (Genesis 5:32). We also know that Noah�s second son, Shem, had his first son when he was 100 years old, and that was 2 years after the flood (Genesis 11:10). If we look at the instructionsGod gave Noah, He told Noah that �he, his wife, and his three sons and their wives� were to be brought aboard the Ark (Genesis 6:14-18). So, it is safe to say that it took Noah less than 98 years, and some have estimated closer to 75 years, for Noah to buildthat Ark. That is a very long time to hear all your neighbors laughing about you, mocking you, and telling everyone how crazy you are! Let�s not forget about Lot and his family when the two angels showed up and told him to get out of Sodom and Gomorrah! Lot�s neighbors saw the two angels enter Lot�s homeand wanted Lot to send them out so they could �know them.� From the history we know about Sodom and Gomorrah, it�s safe to say those neighbors weren�t looking for a friendly chat over a cup of coffee at the local diner (Genesis 19:1). Was Lot also sufferingfrom this �escapism,� or was he listening to the message sent from God? I think back on my own life experience and remember those days in 2008, preceding the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike. We were living on our boat, moored in a marinain Seabrook, TX. Barry was still running his trucking company, BMS Transport, and was on the road. We kept in touch over multiple phone calls to see what I should do if this hurricane stayed on the projected path. I still remember the phone call when Barrytold me to pack up and get outta Dodge! So, I packed up what I could, loaded my black Lab, Eli, in the back seat of the pick-up, and we headed north. Good thing I did, too, because the scene, after Barry was ableto get back into Seabrook, was not a pretty one. Our 1956 Chris Craft Constellation, Miss M Pulsive, was a total wreck and sitting on the bottom. Even our little 20″ VIP was crushed up against the roof of the marina. Was that escapism that caused me to packup and head north, out of the path of the destruction? If it was, I hope I still have that sense of escapism because that is what kept Eli and me from ending up on the sandy bottom of that marina with our boat. Of course, that wasn�t God telling me to packup and head out � it was my husband. I haven�t asked Barry who told him� Studying God�s Word and listening to that still small voice and then heeding what it says is not escapism � it�s wisdom. I pray that we all keep studying, and seeing, andunderstanding the signs that are all around us today. God gave us those signs for a reason. Susan Mouw, Author The Road to the Cross Go Set A Watchman As In the Days of Noah Website: roadtothecross.org --------------------------------------------------- VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM