Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
1. The First Seal: A Rider on a White Horse (Revelation 6:1-2)
The First Apocalyptic Rider: John was astonished when he saw a white magnificent horse galloping out of the fog of the eternity. This animal was energetic – a royal horse! It could be used for any attack as well as for close combat. The rider on the white horse had a bow in his hand so as to shoot fiery and poisonous arrows. He had a brilliant crown on his head which he did not put down before the throne of the Highest so as to indicate his meekness and gratitude; for he appeared in his own power, energy, authority and honor. He started his course in his self-confidence and brilliant glory.
Who is the Rider on the White Horse? The expositors propose different interpretations for the first apocalyptic rider. Some of them may be mentioned briefly.
Several expositors assume that the rider is Jesus Christ who according to the report of John (Revelation 19:11-16) as the risen Lord appears like a rider on a white horse. However, the Lord has not only one crown on his head but many. Yet his attendance is not war, famine and epidemic plagues, but the heavenly host riding on white horses. The returning Lord has not bow and arrow in his hands but the judging sword.
Other expositors think of the first apocalyptic rider as of the victorious course of the gospel in the world through the apostles whom Jesus has sent to all nations before his ascension. The messengers of the Lamb had not bows for an attack or for self-defence, but they allowed themselves to be beaten, stoned or killed, as their Lord had exemplified them through his own life until his death on the cross.
Several expositors think that the rider is a symbol for the Parthians who as a rider-people after 62 AD had been a dreadful danger for the people in Minor Asia. The Parthians were so trained with bow and arrow that they even on their withdrawal were able to shoot against their persecutors.
Others, e.g. J. A. Bengel, A. Schlatter and H. Lilje, think that the rider on the white horse indicates to brutal usurpers who use explorations, conquests and modern technique so as to realize the world domination.
The Anti-Christ: Several expositors, among them are A. Fuhr and A. Pohl, think of the rider on the white horse as of anti-Christ in his great power and cunning. In his first epistle John warned insistently of anti-Christ and confessed that many false prophets appeared in the world in his spirit (1. John 2:22-23; 4:3).
Likewise as Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit in the desert immediately after he had been baptized, in order to face and overcome Satan (Matthew 4:1-11), so the Lamb of God after his enthronement had at first to enter the conflict with the curate of Satan, that is anti-Christ. Anti-Christ saw the dominion of the prince of this world endangered when the little Lamb began to rule. Jesus with his first official act forced the son of Satan to reveal himself and show all his cunning and power so as to be destroyed finally (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).
We join the exposition that the rider on the white horse means a sequence of anti-Christian powers with their rulers who as false prophets try to inspire the masses by means of blinding programs so as to tie them (the masses) to them and then destroy them in following wars. These powers are victorious commanders, experienced strategists and versed organizers. Their armies sweep away any opposition. Rebels will be eliminated without further ado. The masses follow them enthusiastically. They have tied the masses to them by bread and circuses, by well directed use of modern media and by the promise to create a new world order of peace in an affluent society.
Karl Marx propagated a workers' paradise, Adolf Hitler an eternal empire, Jamal Abd al-Nasser wanted to catapult the illiteracy of the agriculture of Egypt in a modern technology, Mao commanded a great leap forward by his cultural revolution, and Ayatollah Khomeini hoped to establish the dominion of Allah on this earth. Millions of people followed these leaders, dictators and false prophets, sacrificed their money and life and died in the end in world wars, by famines and epidemic plagues. These leaders promised them to establish heaven on earth by means of technology. Yet they all ended up in misery. They rejected the Lamb of God and his spirit and ended up in eternal death.
Without any doubt Muhammad was one of these anti-Christians spirits, a false prophet who immunised a fifth of mankind against the crucified Son of God. He had been the most effective of all anti-Christian spirits on earth up to now, for none of the other spirits could tie so many people to himself like him during the last 1380 years.
Anti-Christ, who has to appear in the Last Days as the personified evil, will crown himself, go from victory to victory, blind the masses, fill them with enthusiasm, tie them to himself, and fight a worldwide fight against the true Christ and his church. In the beginning he will appeal for international understanding like a lamb as a prince of peace so that even church leaders will sympathise with him. Yet at the end he is going to throw off his sheep's clothing and swallow everybody who will not be prepared to become a wolf in the pride, of which the anti-Christ himself is the alpha wolf (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).
An Imitation of Christ: John saw that the son of perdition tried to anticipate Christ's appearance as a rider on a white horse in the Last Days as he galloped first in the arena of history on a white horse (Revelation 6:1-2).
To this first rider on a white horse will be given authority over all tribes, nations and tongues by the prince of the world so as to contest the authority of the Lamb, the true ruler of heaven and earth (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 13:11-14). Anti-Christ seems to be invincible (Revelation 13:4).
In the second half of his reign he is going to fight against the church of Jesus Christ and seems to overcome it (Revelation13:7). But Jesus had purchased his church beforehand with his own blood and bestowed it with eternal life. Nobody is able to snatch them out of his hand (John 10:28). The gates of hell shall not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18).
Antichrist wants to sign all people with a mark on the forehead or hand so as to claim also ownership of the chosen of Jesus Christ. Yet their Lord had already beforehand sealed them with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; Revelation 7:1-8; 13:16-17).
The son of the evil one will be killed during his fights, but afterwards he will rise from death so as resemble the risen Lord in everything (Revelation 13:3).
On the height of his authority he will take his seat in the reconstructed temple in Jerusalem and insist that all people worship him. He will deliberately complete the temptation of Satan to the original sin, "You will be like God!" (Genesis 3:5). In contrast Jesus who had always been true God, denied himself and took the very nature of a servant (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-11).
At the end the son of the evil one will incite his followers to fight against the returning Christ, so as to destroy him, if possible, before his arrival. But the Lord will kill everybody who will oppose him by the breath of his mouth (Daniel 8:23-25; Isaiah 14:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-21).
The Muslims have incorporated in their tradition the witness of the returning Lord and his fight against anti-Christ. They testify that the Son of Maria will return so as to kill anti-Christ. He will pursue him until Damascus where his adversary will melt like wax when he is facing the glory of Christ who is coming from God. Afterwards the Son of Maria will break in pieces every cross in churches and on graves, kill all pigs, get married, produce offspring, and as reformer convert the godless world to Islam. Then he will die and be buried in Medina next to the cemetery of Muhammad. "There will be knowledge of the hour" (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:57-61). At that very moment Allah will appear for judgment and raise Muhammad and Isa from their shared grave, place both of them on thrones and give them authority so as to judge their followers and all mankind, if they had not been faithful Muslims.
What a caricature of reality! Yet the victory of Jesus Christ over anti-Christ shows even through the Islamic doctored report of the return of Christ.
In all revelations about the coming anti-Christ in the Old and New Testament one fact can be seen: His authority is not the authority and almightiness of the Lamb of God (Matthew 28:18). He cannot do anything except what the Lamb allows him to do. Jesus always controls the initiative in the events of the Last Days. The wicked must become very wicked and the good very good (Matthew 24:12-24).
PRAYER: Upright Lamb of God, You sent Your Holy Spirit to the world though all men are under the control of the Evil One, and multitudes run under the leadership of unclean spirits. Open the ears of the hearts of those who go astray that they may hear Your call, accept Your Anointed One and join His spiritual body. However, he who rejects Your salvation falls prey to the masters of evil and they hate You.
QUESTION:
- Who is the rider on the white horse?