The Four Horsemen

 

  The "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" are described in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Evangelist. (Revelation 6:1-8). The chapter tells of a "book, or scroll, in God's right hand that is sealed with seven seals." The Lamb of God, or Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons forth four beings that ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses. Although some interpretations differ, in most accounts, the four riders are seen as symbolizing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, respectively. The Christian apocalyptic vision is that the four horsemen are to set a divine apocalypse upon the world as forerunners of the Last Judgment. Lets begin our study in Revelation chapter six.

The white horse: Representing conquest!

  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1). One of the first living creatures, angels, opened the first seal.
   
  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. (Revelation 6:2). The white horse here represents the antichrist and the bow described here means, "Toxon," Strong's Concordance Greek Dictionary #5115 meaning a cheap fabrication or fake. A false Christ, gospel, and church. The antichrist come first before the real Christ and he is coming in peace to play savior. Remember (Matthew 24:4-5 & Mark 13:5-6). Christ has foretold us all things.

  Keep in mind that their are two Christ's, the antichrist and the real Christ. Lets turn to Revelation chapter 19 for a better understanding. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11). Yes... He is the real thing, and Jesus is the one who justly punishes and makes war! His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (Revelation 19:12). Remember that God is a consuming fire. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13). "The Word of God." All of it! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1). And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14). Christ's second advent and His return. His army is coming! The horses represent the vehicles the army of Christ will arrive upon. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15). His mouth is a two edge sword. (Revelation 1:16). Striking down the nations with power and He will rule them with an iron grip. This wrath is only against His enemies, not His people. This is the return of true Christ! Now lets go to the book of (2 Thessalonians), and see how the Apostle Paul explains the coming of the Lord and what will precede it.

  Paul tells us; Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Do not be deceived! Christ will not return until the "Great Apostasy" rebellion against God, fallen away of the church, or one who gives up their professed beliefs. And the son of perdition, one of Satan's names, be revealed. The false messiah! (Revelation 17:8).

  Paul continues; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4). He will defy God and will try to take the place of God, sitting in the temple of God in Mount Zion. (Isaiah 14:12-16). What happens to this wicked one pretending to be God?

  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This wicked one will appear and only be allowed a short time to do his work, till the Lord consumes him with the "Holy Spirit" and destroys him with the brightness of the Lord's presence.

  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9). We are speaking of one of Satan's roles as the antichrist. He will trick everyone with strange demonstrations, great miracles, and lies, because he is the father of lies. (John 8:44). Lets turn to the book of Matthew and see what Jesus has to say to us about the false Christ and false teachers claiming to be of Christ. 

  Jesus warns us; And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4). Christ made it very clear not to let anyone fool you.

  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:5). Many will come in Christ's name, saying they are Christians and will deceive many with their false teachings and doctrine. How and when did this happen. Lets go to the book of Jude.

  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4). Ungodly people and false teachers have wormed their way into the churches. They lead you to believe that the grace of God allows us to live immoral lives. (2 Peter 2:1). There were false prophets in Israel in that day and there are false teachers among us today. They work their false teachings and traditions of men into their doctrine and lead many people astray. "When does Satan come riding on his white horse to deceive the world?" Lets go back to the book of Revelation.

  "Remember, Satan comes first before the real Christ." And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9). This is when Satan is cast out of heaven and into the earth. Up to this period it was just his spirit roaming the earth. Satan will be cast out to the earth just before the return of Christ, the 5 months of tribulation when Satan will be here in the flesh pretending to be Christ. (Mark 13:22-25). Jesus warns us in the seven seals (Revelation 6:12-13), and also in (Matthew 24:36-38). It will be as in the days of Noah when they were eating, drinking, and marrying with the fallen angels. (Genesis 6). Noah's flood also lasted 5 months. One of the four horsemen bringing conquest.

The red horse: Representing scourge of war!

  And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4). Remember the wars and rumors of wars mentioned in (Matthew 24:6 & Mark 13:7). And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6). Satan will utilize this time to try to bring peace to the earth gaining favor with those who follow him. Written with a good description in the Book of Daniel. 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 8:25). He is a master of deception and catches many people off guard as they bask in false security. He destroys by peace and deception. "He is so puffed up that he will try to take on the "Prince of Princes" Jesus Christ Himself, in battle, but he will be broken by the hand of God." Is more about this written in the old testament? Yes... Lets go to the book of Jeremiah.

  Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and great destruction. The lion is come up from the thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. (Jeremiah 4:6-7). The Standard here represents Jesus Christ. The evil from the north with great destruction is the battle of "Hamagog and Armageddon." Many scholars believe that this army form the north will be Russia; Hooked up with the "Locust Army," of the end times. But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joel 2:20). God will drive away the armies of the north and send them into the parched wasteland.

The black horse: Represents famine like the time of Abraham!

  And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5). Balances stands for justice, and black represents famine. Famine like in the time of Abraham. (Genesis 12:10, 41:56). And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:6). There will be famines in the land as stated in (Matthew 24:7 & Mark 13:8), and a time is coming when you will work a full day for a loaf of bread. Were not that far off now with the rising cost of living. People barely getting by working paycheck to paycheck, without even a dollar left over at the end of the day. However, keep in mind that the famine of the end times is not just for food or water, but a famine for hearing the Word of God. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11). That famine for hearing the Word of the Lord is upon us now. People are starving for the truth in the Word, not a bunch of fairy tales, false teachings and traditions of men that are taught in most churches today. 

The pale horse: Represents death and pestilence!

  And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7). The fourth living creature says to look with understanding.
   
  And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:8). A fourth part of the earth will die! We are speaking here of the "Beast System" that looks so religious, but is controlled by Satan. Remember that Satan represents death, Satan is death. What is this power to kill with the beasts of the earth as written in the book of Leviticus? I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high-ways shall be desolate. (Leviticus 26:22). All brought upon to those who do not walk according to God's ways. It's all about deception! Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15). A prophet is a true man of God and teacher of the Word. Plenty of fakes out there deceiving people teaching their own doctrine and traditions of men. Christ warns us to stay away from these wolves in sheep's clothing! And lets not forget the beast that rises out of the sea. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1). In (Revelation 17:15), it tells us that the waters represent the mass of people from every race and nation. Out of the waters are the people that the one world political system will rise from. This same type of beast rose against God in the first earth age as stated in (Revelation 12:3), And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3). A sign in heaven... The great red dragon is Satan, and he utilizes the same government as he did in the first earth age. In the first earth age he wanted the mercy seat of God. He no longer wanted to serve God, but wanted to be like God. 

  Now lets go to the book of Matthew and see how Jesus sums it all up as an end time prophecy warning. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4). Christ made it very clear not to let anyone fool you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:5). Many will come in Christ's name, saying they are Christians and will deceive many with their false teachings and doctrine.

  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6). When you see these wars beginning, this does not signal my return. What we should look towards is when they call for peace among all these nations. Wars and rumors of wars have been taking place for some time, but now we are hearing the cry for peace, peace, peace. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Matthew 24:7). We are now experiencing famines, plagues, and earth quakes in many places like never before. It's happening around the world already. Again, keep in mind that the famine in the end times is for hearing the Word of God. (Amos 8:11). This is another bench mark for the end times, because people are starving for the truth of Gods Word. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:8). When you see these things, this is only the beginning of the horrors to come. This word sorrows is like labor pains. It is the beginning of a new world age. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22). In fact, unless those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But, for the sake of God's chosen, those days will be shortened. Speaking of the 1,290 days of (Daniel 12:11). The time of the locust army that will be shortened to a five month period. (Revelation 9:5, 9:10). time of the locust is May through September, this is also the time of Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! "Prepare for the four horsemen when they ride."

Keep The Faith,
Barton