The Four Horses of the Apocalypse
Rev. 6
Oct. 12, 2008 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
I The rider of the white horse
A Some say this rider/cavalier is Jesus by comparing 6:1-2 to 19:11-16. Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come ." 2 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. Rev 6:1-2 (NASB)
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev 19:11-16 (NASB)
1 Actually, these two riders have little in common.
a The rider in 6:1-2 is wearing a stephanos (a victor’s crown), carrying a bow; the Rider in 19 is wearing many diadems (sovereign crown), carrying a sharp double-edged sword.
b Rider in 6:1-2 will bring about a peace agreement/cease-fire; Rider in 19 will bring real peace, he is the Prince of Peace.
aa In don’t believe this is the Antichrist, because other riders are not individual persons, but rather impersonal forces.
bb However, the Antichrist will play a leading role in promoting this worldwide obsession with seeking peace.
2 How can peace be bad? The Antichrist uses it as bait.
a Lure, lull the entire planet into a false sense of peace/security followed by war, famine, & death.
b He will be especially deceptive to Israel. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. Dan 9:27 (NASB)
aa 3 ½ years into his peace with Israel by desecrating the temple.
bb How? The Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) sits on the Holy Mount.
c I believe the Temple will be rebuilt during this 3 ½ years of peace.
aa A noted professor in Jerusalem, who has spent thousands of hours studying the temple, its ancient location, and the process of rebuilding the temple, said under normal circumstances it could be built quickly.
bb However, because of certain required prayers/rituals/ dedications, the process would take about 3 ½ years, 42 months.
cc And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 11:3 (NASB) Elijah/Moses act as prophets for 1,260 days...42 months
B How could this “abomination of desolation” occur? Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. Dan 11:31 (NASB)
Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Matt 24:15-16 (NASB)
1 Most of you know that modern-day Iran & Iraq are ancient Persia & Babylon, respectively (until 1935, the nation we call Iran was called by its ancient name, Persia).
a Nazis of 30’s & 40’s & modern-day Iran share similar views of Israel/Jews.
aa Nazis believed only pure Aryan blood was worthy to live in the borders of Germany.
bb All other bloodlines were inferior, & the Jews were the worst.
cc Radicals in Iran feel the same way.
b The reason Iran changed its name was to give homage to all the Aryan tribes who settled the region long ago (Iran is derived from the same word as Aryan).
aa No wonder they’re all about hating Israel & the Jews.
bb Their own spiritual writings in the Qur’an confirm their hate for Jews & Christians. “O ye that believe. Take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends to one another. He among you who taketh friends is (one) of them. Lo, Allah guideth not wrongdoing folks.” Surah 5-51
“Then when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush.” Surah 9-5
“Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believeth not in Allah nor the Last Day, and not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low”. Surah IX-30 Perry Stone, Breaking the Code of Feasts, pg. 144
cc If they can’t beat us into submission, then kill us.
2 It’s well-documented that Iranian leadership is preparing the way/expecting “al Mahdi”-the Islamic Messiah. Islamic eschatology (not just the Muslim world-in 2005, Ahmadinejad said he spoke with al Mahdi).
a They believe he will conquer the world in the name of Islam & rid the earth of infidels like you & me (namely, Jews & Christians).
b The coming of “al Mahdi” is interesting as we see the broken first seal, because Islam also embraces this rider on a white horse.
aa Muslims believe there are some “uncorrupted” Scriptures that they accept, Rev. 6:1-2 being one of them.
bb Two well-know Egyptian authors, Muhammed Ibn ‘Izzat and Muhammed’Arif, in their book Al Mahdi and the End of Time, quote Ka’bal Ahbar as saying, “I find the Mahdi recorded in the books of the Prophets...for instance, the Book of Revelation says: ‘And I saw and behold a white horse. He that sat on him...went forth conquering and to conquer.’” ‘Izzat and ‘Arif then go on to say, “It is clear the this man is the Mahdi who will ride the white horse and judge by the Qur’an (with justice) and with whom will be men with marks of prostration on their foreheads [marks on their foreheads from bowing in prayer with their head to the ground five times daily].” All Islamic leaders allegedly have a white horse at the ready, in case they get the call.
cc He’ll come riding out of the desert on a white horse. Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 "So if they say to you, ’Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ’Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. Matt 24:25-26 (NASB)
dd In Baghdad, there were murals of Saddam Hussein portraying himself as a Muslim knight on a white horse with a sword to battle against the infidels.
c I believe, per Daniel 8:9, that the Antichrist will come from this region of the world, more than likely he’s Muslim, & will unite the world under Islamic law. Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. Dan 8:9 (NASB)
aa At the end of 3 ½ years, the al Mahdi rides into Jerusalem & sits on the mercy seat.
bb I believe it’s at this time that the second (war), third (famine), & fourth (death) seals are broken.
cc Nuclear war, conventional/biological weapons making war against the saints! Why? They won’t bow to Antichrist.
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