Hi John and Doves,
 
Marilyn, your post:- http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2011/marilyna818.htm Firstly, thank you so much for your thoughtful, scholarly response. I've always admired your posts - your depth of Bible knowledge. I also admire your certainty. I wallow in confusion, interspersed with moments of clarity. It's exhausting.
 
There was a lot to take in, so I won't address everything in your post until I've absorbed it completely. The Pope angle (White Horse) is something that I am unsure about. I have a lot of Catholic friends and we tend to steer clear of things like 'Mary being the Queen of Heaven', plaster cast statues, purgatory etc., etc. One dear Catholic friend told me that she's been so brain-washed and ingrained with Catholic teaching that it's terribly difficult to let go. As I've had first hand experience of cult tentacles and teachings (my sister is a long time Jehovah's Witness) I have every sympathy and understanding. Saying that - it still bemuses me as to how the Catholic church still holds such sway over a lot of very good people. Not only are the vast majority of their rites and teachings enforcing stuff the Bible tells us specifically not to do (praying to different 'saints', kneeling before statues.....a few examples) there's their horrific past to contend with. Keeping the Holy Scriptures from being translated - the Spanish Inquisition, persecution of men of science, dodgy Knight's Templar stories and their iron grip on the poor. Keeping the women constantly pregnant, poor and hungry (Ireland is a classic example) Now - all the HORROR of the child abuse by Catholic priests !! It's a wonder they're still standing. The Pope and his entourage are going to Spain soon - amidst the awful financial crisis the Spanish people are enduring, they're expected to cough up the cash for the Pope's visit. Hideously inappropriate. The lashings of pomp and ceremony, gold, linen, jewel bedecked hands etc., do make me shudder. Another creepy aspect is the Catholic Popes (plural) penchant for tyrants and dictators. Photo shoots with Hitler and numerous others of the same ilk. One Robert Gabriel Mugabe (Zimbabwe PM) was raised a Catholic. Many young African's were abused by Catholic priests. The current Pope seems to be a willing participant in this 'global religion' nonsense that's abounding. Tony Blair (ex British PM) converted to Catholicism when he lost power. Blair is at the helm of a global, one world religion. It's not difficult to connect the dots.
 
So, your White Horse theory has a lot going for it. A lot. There are many other players though. It does make sense that the Pope will be made the 'figure head' of this dreadful apostasy. He is the one that has the frocks and the jewels, after all! I am still of the mind that the 4 Horses have many layers of meanings - all of them holding truth. Spread over periods of time.
 
God Bless you, Marilyn and all Doves
In Jesus' Beloved Name
 
Fay