The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

This episode examines the prophecy of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, asking whether John’s vision was symbolic imagery or a prophetic warning of events yet to unfold in the near future. 

Transcript

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The four horsemen of the apocalypse appeared to John in a vision at the close of the first century A.D. Were they merely a graphic nightmare of an aging apostle's imagination, or are they a living prophecy soon to be fulfilled in the time shortly ahead? You may be shocked to know what the four horsemen represent and when and why they will ride. This information is vital to your understanding, and so is the knowledge of the way to escape all these things which shall come to pass. Let's begin at the beginning of the book of Revelation in chapter one and verse one. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show his servants things which must shortly take place, and he sent insignet signified it by his angel to his servant John. The first five words in this verse reveal two vital keys to the book. Number one, that Christ is the revelator, and number two, that this book is a revelation. Again, the first key to understanding what John was inspired to write is that Jesus Christ is the revelator. He is the one who is able to unlock the meaning of these prophecies, and those to whom the meaning is disclosed are his servants. This is explained further in the first five verses of Revelation chapter five. Beginning in verse one, we read, And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it. So I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. If the book was close to human understanding, how then was it to be revealed? Well, verse five gives us the answer. But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold the line of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. Jesus Christ is the only worthy interpreter of the book of Revelation. The second key is that this book is a revelation. The average professing Christian has assumed that the word apocalypse, the Greek word for revelation, means a hidden cryptic message, when in fact it means just the opposite. In truth, revelation means just what the dictionary says: the act of revealing, the disclosing to others of what was before unknown to them. But where does Christ reveal the meaning of the book of Revelation? Specifically the four horsemen, which represent the first four of the book's seven sealed messages. Well, Jesus Christ, the Revelator, in his own words, in parallel prophecies, reveals the answer in the Olivet prophecy. The Olivet prophecy is the longest and most pivotal prophecy of Jesus Christ when he walked the earth 2,000 years ago. The Apostle John, who was inspired to write the book of Revelation, was there on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem some 60 years earlier when Jesus described to his disciples the signs that would precede his second coming. The book of Revelation is an expanded description of the same events that Jesus described in Matthew 24. The Apostle John was an old man imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote the book. In Revelation 6, verses 1 to 8, John sees four horsemen, a symbolic reenactment of the Olivet prophecy. They differ only slightly in fulfillment. Matthew 24 had a first typical fulfillment when Jerusalem was surrounded and then laid desolate by the Romans in 70 A.D. The historian Josephus gives us a graphic description of this first prophetic fulfillment in his work Wars of the Jews. John's vision of the Four Horsemen occurred at least 20 years after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. John's vision does not refer to any past fulfillment or present condition in his day and time, but to a future fulfillment at the end of the age. The prophecies recorded in the book of Revelation refer to an anti-typical fulfillment of Matthew 24. The understanding of the duality of prophecy is a key. The words of Jesus in Matthew 24 refer first to a typical fulfillment in 70 AD. Secondly, to a long-term condition prevailing from 70 AD until now, and thirdly, an end time fulfillment yet ahead. The four horsemen refer only to the end time fulfillment of these prophecies, what is yet to happen. Two, simple proofs that these events are yet future are very clear from the context. First, John speaks of a 200 million man army in Revelation 9 and verse 16. There were barely that many men, women, and children on the planet in the days of Christ or the Apostle John. In fact, the world did not reach a population of a billion until the early 1800s, and no army, even from a group of nations, could possibly reach the prophesied size of 200 million until the earth housed at least a billion. Second, Jesus said that these prophecies would be fulfilled at a time when total human annihilation was possible. In Matthew 24, verses 21 through 22. Here we read, for then there will be great tribulation such as the has not been since the beginning of the world, and till this time no nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved alive. This was not possible until the nuclear age. Only since the nineteen fifties has mankind possessed the destructive nuclear capability to erase all human life from the planet. The four horsemen represent an intensity of false religion, war, famine, and disease far beyond anything the world has ever known. No one knows exactly when these horsemen will ride, but world conditions show that the time is drawing near. The first horseman represents a counterfeit Christ, represents false religion. In Matthew 24, verses four and five, we read, Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. The first seal is revealed here in Revelation six, verses one and two. Notice what John was inspired to write. Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a loud voice like thunder, come and see. And I looked, and behold a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. The first horseman of the apocalypse has caused much confusion among Bible critics. Using human interpretation and reasoning, many have made the error of equating the rider of the white horse of Revelation 6 with the true Christ riding on a white horse in Revelation 19. It is true that the white horse represents a Christ, but it is a false Christ in Revelation 6. This horseman represents a false gospel and a false church, all in the name of Jesus Christ, but in truth a deception and a counterfeit. Nearly all commentators label the first horseman as Jesus Christ riding on this white horse. Jesus prophesied that this deception and this misunderstanding would occur when he said, Many will come in my name and deceive many. The first horseman represents false religion, the advent of many false preachers, misleading and deceiving many. It was prophesied in Revelation 12, 9, that by the time of the end Satan will have deceived the whole world. Notice how the apostle Paul describes these false teachers. In 2 Corinthians 11, verses 13 through 15, Paul says, For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. The Bible identifies Satan's ministers as being professing Christians. They claim to be Christ's servants and appear to preach the truth, but they are in fact Satan's ministers. The first horseman is no more than a clever counterfeit Christ, one close enough to fool the majority, but not fool the elect. First, let's notice a description of the true Christ in Revelation 19, 15. It says, Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that with it he should strike the nations. The word of God is called a sharp two-edged sword in Hebrews 4 in verse twelve. Christ comes reprovations with his word, while the counterfeit horseman comes with another source of power. Notice the description of the first horseman in Revelation 6, verse 2. And I looked, and behold a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. Regardless of the precise meaning of bow, it is clearly not the word of God, the two-edged sword. The time setting of Revelation 6 as compared to Revelation 19 also proves they could not be the same Christ. The white horse is the first seal opened. The second coming of Christ occurs much later at the sound of the last trump. The two events are actually years apart in fulfillment. The seven seals are opened in succession one after another, as are the seven trumpet plagues. Christ will not return until the last trumpet sounds. The long-term condition of false religion that has increased for nearly 2,000 years will culminate in the end time fulfillment of the White Horseman of Revelation 6, in the person of a great false prophet. From the midst of many religious leaders will emerge a single individual of immense personal power and magnetism, ellipsing all others. He will rise to prominence in the near future, and he will signal the beginning of sorrows. This false prophet is described in a number of prophecies, especially here in 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 8 and 9. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders. This powerful instrument of Satan will dazzle the world with miracles and mobilize vast armies to his service. Only the elect will be able to recognize the true nature of his deceitful wonders. In Matthew 24, 24, it says, For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. The end time false prophet will arrogate himself to himself titles equal to and attempting to exceed those of God Himself. In 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 3 and 4, we are warned, let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. After this horseman proclaims himself to be God, his believers will go forth conquering and to conquer. A series of religious wars, such as the planet has never seen, will scourge the earth. This leads into and overlaps with the second horseman of the apocalypse war. In Matthew 24, verses 6 and 7, it says, You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you were not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Jesus first prophesied of a general condition of war on this earth that would continue from his day until the very end. Immediately after giving this warning of many wars, he said, See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. This refers to world war with an annihilation of mankind as a possible outcome barring divine intervention. The atomic bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were as small compared to today's hydrogen bombs, which can be up to a thousand times more powerful. And today many nations have nuclear bombs. Mankind now has the capacity to erase all life on the planet many times over. Notice how this second horseman is described in Revelation 6, verses 3 and 4. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, Come and see. And another horse, fiery red, went out, and it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another, and there was given to him a great sword. When Jesus opens a second seal, John sees a red horse. Its rider is giving given authority to take peace from the earth. The red horse obviously represents world war. As the first horseman rides forth conquering and to conquer in the name of false religion, the second horseman, world war, is quick on his heels as an instrument of conquest. Prophecy labels this political instrument as the beast, a ten nation alliance which is now forming in Central Europe. This will be the final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. The Bible says that the woman, a false prophet in a false church, will ride the beast. Among the horsemen's victims will be the descendants of the ancient tribes of Israel, for instance, the British Commonwealth of Nations, the United States, and several countries in northwestern Europe. The Bible shows how destructive this war will be in Jeremiah 4, verse 7, when it says, Your cities will be laid waste without inhabitant. How many will die in a full-scale nuclear first strike? Ezekiel 5 and verse 12 gives us the answer. This is a direct prophecy of how many will die by the sword given to the second horseman. The third horseman, famine. In Matthew 24, Christ spoke of a general condition of famine in the context of war. Here again he used the plural famines, referring to many recurring instances of famine over the centuries, increasing at a time just prior to his return. In Matthew 24, 7, it says, and there will be famines. Less than 40 years after Christ prophesied of famines, the Romans laid siege on Jerusalem, causing such severe famine that those within the city resorted even to cannibalism. The historian Josephus wrote about this in his wars of the Jews. However, the third horseman of the apocalypse doesn't refer to the cycle of famines of the past, but to a specific great famine in the near future. In verses five and six of Revelation six, we read about this horseman. When he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine. As quickly as a third horseman appeared on the heels of the second, famine follows quickly on the heels of war. Starvation and scarcity are the natural and immediate results of war. War causes crop damage, it contaminates water supplies, and it destroys livestock. After one third of the population of America and the British Commonwealth and other Israelite nations die in the initial outbreak of war, another third will die from famine and pestilence. Continuing in Ezekiel 5.12, we read one third of you shall die by die of the pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst, and all around you, and I will scatter another third to the winds and draw out a sword after them. These prophecies are yet ahead of us. The rich nations of the earth are about to inherit the lot of the poor majority. This great end time famine will spread to impact all nations of the earth. These plagues will have devastating effects. Mankind will reap what he has sown. God will not allow mankind to continue in their mode of disobedience, but he will allow mankind to learn the bitter lesson that sin results in pain, suffering, and death. We now come to the fourth horseman, pestilence. In Matthew 24, 7 it says, And there will be famines, pestilences. Pestilences are by definition disease epidemics of world proportion. They're also called pandemics. In Revelation 6, verses 7 and 8, we read about this fourth horseman. It says, When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was death, and Hades, or the grave, followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beast of the earth. As the four seal is open, John sees a pale horse. Here it refers to the pale green color of disease. Worldwide disease epidemics will strike hard on the heels of famine. This last of the four horsemen will bring the death toll to one-fourth of mankind. There are approximately 8.3 billion people living on the earth today. This means that more than two billion people will die when these four horsemen of the apocalypse ride. The only reason for such global genocide is man's disobedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28, verse 15, we read But it shall come to pass if you do not obey. Obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. We also read of this in Leviticus twenty six, verse twenty two, where it says, I will send wild beasts among you which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number, and your highways shall be desolate. The Apostle John reaffirms this Old Testament prophecy in the last few words of Revelation 6 and verse 8, when he says, and by the beast of the earth. This refers to animal born epidemics as well as animals literally attacking human beings for food. In fact, the word pestilence is derived from its animal born origin, pest. It is a historical fact that the greatest plagues that mankind has ever experienced have been animal born. When food is scarce for man, it's also scarce for wild animals too. They will not only attack humans for food, they also become weak and disease ridden themselves. And the potential for disease epidemics is always there, and in this case, will take the lives of many when this fourth horseman rides. War is hell, but the disease that follows will be horrific. Will biological weapons be used? Time will tell. But there is a way of escape. The majority of the Earth's inhabitants will be caught by surprise when the four horsemen ride in the years just ahead of us. They could escape if their eyes were open to the truth and if they were watching world events, and if they turned in obedience to God. But right now their eyes are closed, willingly or maybe in ignorance. On the other hand, Jesus Christ promises protection to his own elect. He will send his angels and set them about them and lead them to a place of protection in the prophesied time of the great tribulation soon to envelop the earth. Jesus says this of his elect, because you have kept my command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. We read this in Revelation chapter three and verse ten. Later in the book of Revelation, an entire chapter is devoted to God's loving care for his end time church, his elect. Here the church is personified as a woman, God's betrothed wife. It says, But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness to her place where she is nourished for time times and a half a time, that is, three and a half years, from the presence of the serpent, referring to Satan the devil. This end time prophecy tells of an escape from world war and tribulation signified by the four horsemen and the events to follow. For three and a half years, God's elect will be untouched by Satan and the world at war around them. Notice that the elect obey God's commandments. They don't confuse any church which has the name of Christ and that does not obey all of God's commandments with the true church of God. They do not fall for the teachings of false religions, but rather expose the first horseman of the apocalypse for the clever counterfeit that he is. What will you do with this knowledge? You could suffer with the disobedient, or you could be protected with those that love God's laws and obey them. The choice is yours.

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