THE WHITE HORSE AND THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SEAL
Greeting John and all Doves!!
I read so many great commentaries on the Book of Revelation, and find that I agree with many things being said, but one thing that keeps bothering me is how the great majority of Bible scholars see the rider on the white horse of the first seal, as the anti-Christ. I feel that holding this view confuses the context of what is really happening in Rev.5 and 6, and throws off the true timing of when the seals are opened.
WHY THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE IS NOT THE ANTICHRIST!!
First of all, Christ would not have to send the anti-Christ, into the world!!! Why would the anti-Christ have to go about conquering the world to begin with? According to the words of Jesus Christ, Satan is already the prince of this world (John 14:30)! Also 2 Corinthians 4:4 declares Satan to be the god of this world, Ephesians 2:2 declare him to be the prince of the powers of the air. So, the anti-Christ does not need to conquer the world that is already his!! The idea that the anti-Christ would have to conquer is based on the notion that man is basically good; that the nations are basically good. We all know that this is not true, nor ever found in the Word of God!!
The world already belongs to Satan, and it is Satan that Christ is reclaiming the world from, by opening the seals of the deed of earth!! So right off, this seems like the wrong interpretation.
Let’s look at some other misconceptions.
Revelation 6:1 says:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (6:1-2)THE WHITE HORSE
White is, and always will be, a symbol of purity and righteousness throughout the Bible. All through the Bible, white has always been associated with the holiness and righteousness of the trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. White was associated with the Transfiguration, Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus:At the Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:2 Mark 9:3 Luke 9:29, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, and His face did shine as the Sun, and His raiment was WHITE as snow.
At the Resurrection of Jesus: Matthew 28:3 Mark 16:5 John 20:12, His countenance was like lightning and His raiment WHITE as snow.At the Ascension of Jesus: Acts 1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in WHITE apparel.In the Book of Revelation White is used several times to describe events and clothing.Revelation 1:14 the Son of man's hair is referred to as white like wool.Revelation 2:17, to him that overcometh will I give a white stone.Revelation 4:4, four and twenty Elders were clothed in white raiment.Revelation 6:11 White robes were given to the martyrs.Revelation 7:9, White robes were given to those that were sealed.Revelation 7:14; White robes were given to those that come out of great tribulation.Revelation 14:14; Son of man sat upon a white cloud.Revelation 19:8; Bride was arrayed in white linen.Revelation 19:14; Armies of heaven followed on white horses.Revelation 20: 11; the Great White Throne Judgment.
All throughout the Bible the color white is symbolic of purity in relation to righteousness and holiness and is never used in connection with sin, corruption, evil or the devil!! The WORD of God NEVER attempts to deceive us in any way. Satan may portray himself as an angel of light, but the Bible calls him a serpent, a red dragon, and the father of lies. The Scriptures never portray Satan as an angel of light, but tells us he can betray us that way. In this regard, Scripture would never tell us that Satan, or the Anti-Christ would be riding a white horse!!
THE CROWN“and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest”.
The crown the rider wears is not that of an earthly kingdom. The Greek word for crown being used here is stephanos (4735), and denotes "the victor's crown, the symbol of triumph in the games ... a token of public honor for distinguished service" (VED). It is the same word used for the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. This crown is for the victory of Christ described in Rev. 5. The same Greek word appears in Rev. 2:10, where Jesus said, "Be faithful, even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life." The ten kings of the ten-horned beast in Rev. 13 do not wear victors’ crowns but diadems, earthly crowns.
THE BOW
The language used to describe the weapon that the Rider had is a bow. Through the wars of the Old Testament the bow was a common instrument that was used. It was not described as any of mankind’s weapons of this day and hour in which we are living. God promised Noah that He would never destroy the world by water anymore and His promise was sealed with the rainbow. In this regard the bow is an instrument of peace, and a spiritual sign, not a weapon of war.Genesis 9:13 “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.14. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.”CONQUEROR BENT ON CONQUEST
Conquering, by New Testament standards, is defeating the devil by overcoming. Jesus conquered sin on the cross, and Revelations refers more than once to overcoming the beast and the number of his name. The conquering spirit is out to defeat sin and deliver victory to men for Jesus. Remember, there is a war in heaven and it is over the spirits of men.
SO WHO IS THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE AND WHEN IS THIS SEAL OPENED?
I totally believe that the rider on the first horse is the HOLY SPIRIT, and Jesus opened this first seal as soon as He ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father.
Chapter 5 of the book of Revelation describes a heaven which is before the Ascension of Christ to the right hand of His Father. God is on the Throne and is holding the book with the seven seals. (Rev.5:1). No one in heaven, or in the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, and this causes John to weep.
At this point, one of the elders tells John that the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy, and then Jesus shows up in heaven as a Lamb that has been slain. And the first thing, that Jesus does, is take the book out of the right hand of His Father. (Rev. 5:7) Therefore, the very first thing that Jesus does after He ascends to the Father is take the deed to the earth and start to open the seals.
He has promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, as soon as He arrives in heaven, and that is what He does. He opens the first seal and sends the Holy Spirit, and he descends on the disciples gathered in the upper room on the first Pentecost.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Acts 2:1-4 1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Jesus said, when He returned to His Father, He would send the Holy Spirit, as the Comforter to them. So we have seen Heaven without a savior, then Jesus arrives in heaven after conquering sin on the cross, then the first seal is opened and this sends a pure conqueror to the earth. The only way that man can overcome evil is being indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and the only way to the Holy Spirit is through Christ and His sacrifice for us.
The White Horse and its rider, are the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised to send, and is the first thing, (other than taking the book from the hand of God), that He did when He got to heaven.
Revelation chapter 5 does not take place in the future. In the vision that John was being shown, Jesus had not yet arrived at the throne from earth. Rather than a description of the throne room scene after the future resurrection, transformation, and catching-up rapture event, this is a vision of the scene at God’s throne, just after the ascension of Jesus Christ, and just before he took his seat at the right hand of God.
This also helps explain who the saints are in Rev 5:9. As I have stated before in other posts, I believe them to be all the saints that were taken out of Paradise and ascended to heaven with Jesus at his ascension. They are the pre-Church saints and were taken out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation, (all the children of Abraham up to the first coming of Christ) and will rule with Christ on the earth during the millennium. They are not the Church or the Bride.
All this makes perfect sense to me; I finally understand it all so much better!! It never made sense, nor felt true that the bride was in heaven without Christ being there, and it never made sense that Christ would send the anti-Christ to the earth!! I have also always believed that the seals have been opening all throughout history, and will not begin opening sometime in the future, after the Rapture. I believe the seals are the birth pangs, and not part of the Tribulation. Also, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit as soon as he ascended, and even instructed his disciples to stay in Jerusalem for Pentecost. The first seal and the rider on the White horse describes exactly what Christ promised, and exactly what He sent.
I also believe that the second seal was opened on September 11th 2001, when peace was taken from the whole earth, all at once!! I also believe that the 3rd seal was opened during the economic collapse that started in October of 2008, and that the 4th seal opened when Obama set up his health care program that will bring Hell and Death to so many as it will require taking the mark of the beast. I also believe that Rapture will happen before this program is fully implemented.
I also see the opening of the 5th seal as the resurrection of the dead that rise first in the Rapture, they are given resurrected bodies, white robes, and then the living are caught up in the air with them. This all takes place at the same time as the opening of the sixth seal and is the cause of the sudden destruction via the earthquakes and EMP’s produced by the supernatural resurrection Rapture.
Of course I am not saying I am totally correct on seeing it all this way, only that it fits together with what I am being shown in the Spirit and what rings true in my heart.I am totally open to how others see this and would be interested in hearing what the Lord has placed on your hearts about this, as well.
WE ARE GOING HOME SOON!!!
Agape!!!
Patti C.