The Two Trumpet Call Events
Part Seven
At
the opening of the First Seal the anti-Christ is revealed as the rider of the
white horse.
The
rider on the white horse in verse 2 is not Jesus, but is the anti-Christ (the
son of perdition) because Jesus is The One opening the Seals. He would not be
the contents of the Seals and open them as well.
Furthermore
in Revelation 5:1-9 Jesus is symbolized as The Lamb Of GOD, not a horseman.
The
opening of the First Seal and the revealing of “the rider on the white horse”
are synonymous with the first half of Daniel's seventieth week when the antichrist
enters into his seven year peace treaty with Israel (Dan 7:7-8, 24-26;
8:8-10,20-25; 11:35-45).
The
rider on the white horse in Rev 6:2 also symbolizes the antichrist, who rises
up at the start of Daniel's seventieth week – the antichrist rises to power as
the eleventh king among the ten kings through a great manifestation of satan,
which is what is unveiled in Daniel 8:24-25 and 11:36-39 (read also: 2Thess.
2:8-9; Rev. 13:1-4).
Note
that the antichrist is the only one prophesied to go forth "conquering and
to conquer", not Christ (Dan. 7:23-25; 8:9-14; 11:40-43). The white horse rider
of Rev. 6:2 is not to be confused with the One of Rev.19:11. The horse in 6:2
is only symbolic, whereas the one in 19:11 is literal.
Christ
is The Rider on the white horse in Rev. 19:11, but until the fulfillment He is
symbolized as a Lamb (Rev 19:11-13).
I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white
horse, whose Rider is called Faithful And True. With justice He judges and
makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He
has a Name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a
robe dipped in blood, and His Name is The Word Of God.
Rev 19:11-13 NIV
There
are no Scriptures to corroborate any teaching that Christ is symbolized by the
rider on the white horse in Rev. 6:2 who went forth "conquering and to
conquer".
The
antichrist was given a crown because he had brought peace and prosperity to the
earth (temporal false peace, and prosperity). He has a bow but no arrow which
depicts him as a benevolent dictator. He brought peace to the earth in verse 2
and in verse 4 he is given power to take it away. This power comes from satan (Dan.
7:21-22; 8:9-12, 24; 11:40-45; Rev. 12:13-17).
The
opening of the Second Seal in Revelation 6:4 signaled the onset of the
Tribulation in the middle of the antichrist's reign. The opening of the Second
Seal and the revealing of the rider on the red horse and the events that
followed in Rev. 6:3-4 are synonymous with the second half of Daniel's
seventieth week - the time of the Great Tribulation.
But
where is the Church during the first 3½ years after the First Seal is opened?
The
Church is never again mentioned in Scripture as being on earth after Rev. 3:22;
the conclusion of Jesus Messages to the Seven Churches. And the antichrist is not revealed until Rev.
6:1-2. We need to know why
Concerning The Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being
gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or
alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us,
saying that The Day Of The Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you
in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man
of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and
will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that
he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you
these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be
revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at
work; but The One Who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken
out of the way. And then the lawless one
will be revealed, whom The Lord Jesus will overthrow with the Breath of His Mouth
and destroy by the splendor of His Coming. The coming of the lawless one will
be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles,
signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are
perishing. They perish because they refused to love the Truth and so be saved. For
this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the
lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the Truth but have
delighted in wickedness.
2 Thess. 2:1-12 NIV
Who
is the restrainer of lawlessness here that has to be taken out of the way for
the antichrist to be revealed?
The
Thessalonians knew who it is as verse 5-7 proves, so we can know it too.
Chapters
4-22 in Revelation addresses themselves to the events that come to pass after
the Rapture - the emergence of the antichrist, the Great Tribulation, Christ's
Second Coming, the Battle of Armageddon, and Christ's Millennial Kingdom, etc.
The
Rapture takes place between Rev. 3:22 and Rev. 4:1 as this closes the Church
Age. This is why The Voice from Heaven, like a trumpet said to John,
"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after
this."
The
saints who are saved after Revelation 4:1 come out of the Great Tribulation -
they are not the Church as we have previously learned (Rev. 7:13-14; 13:7, 15).
Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation record the Heavenly spontaneous worship by the
entire host of Heaven and the Church of The FirstBorn represented by the four and twenty elders; which
is well before the antichrist is revealed in 6:1-2 (Rev 4:3-4, 10-11; 5:4-5,
8-14; 19:1-4; 22:8-9).
The
four and twenty elders in Revelation 5:9 with the Church, are redeemed to God
from out of every tribe, language, people, and nation in the earth (Rev 5:9).
That is why Paul was able to assure the Thessalonian Church that the Great
Tribulation would not overtake them as a thief in the night - because the
Church would already be with Jesus in Heaven (read again 1Thess. 5:1-11). This
is for our edification also. We too can comfort each other in the knowledge
that not only will the saints still living when Christ appears in the sky not
go through the Tribulation, but will be Raptured to Heaven before the antichrist's
seven year reign even commences.
It
has been established from Scripture the fact (1Thess. 5:1-11), the manner (1Thess.
4:13-18), and the time frame of the Rapture for those who are not sure (2Thess.
2:1-8). Praise GOD!