This world believes that the Book of Revelation is a mysterious, cryptic message of doom. The four horsemen of the Book of Revelation are also viewed as a mysterious, unexplained horror to be unleashed upon the world.
These four horsemen have intrigued Bible readers for
centuries. What do they represent? The implications for mankind are staggering.
To really come to understand the First Seal of (Rev. 6:2), we must clear up these misconceptions. The Greek term "Apocalypse" simply means "revelation," which is defined as "The act of revealing or disclosing; something revealed, especially a dramatic
disclosure of something not previously known or realized."
(Rev. 1:1) "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto
Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to
pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant
John." Now, if anyone would carefully examine this verse they can
see plainly that the Revelation originated with God (the Father), who
gave it to Christ. Jesus then sent and signified the Revelation by His
angel, who then gave it to John
The Apostle John recorded these events, preserving them for the
servants of God, His end-time Church.
Now, as soon as the Book of Revelation was copied and canonized
(circa A.D. 100 ), the founders of the developing universal church at
Rome denied its origin. "Instead of this (Rev. 1:1) the Church substituted the name of the disciple through whom the message was delivered for that of Jesus Christ, and then designated our Apocalypse
'The Apocalypse of John.' This title was familiar before the end of the
2nd century" ( The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, vol. 23,
p. 212).
If the so called best minds of this world (having been confounded at
the outset by false religion) cannot discern the correct title of this
book, how can they discern its message?
Just about everyone understands the identities of three of the
four horsemen War, Famine, Pestilence. But, by contrast, the first
horseman's identity is universally misunderstood.
To really understand the seals in (Rev. 6), we must first examine chapter 5. Here, we see that John is experiencing a vision of the throne
of God when he sees "in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne
a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals"
(Rev. 5:1). No one in heaven or earth is able or worthy to open the
scroll and reveal its contents. But a voice from one of the elders around
the throne says: "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its 7
seals."
From this scene of chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation, we see that
the fate of mankind rests in the hands of God, and His patience is at
an end. Jesus Christ alone is pronounced worthy to open these seven
seals that announce God's judgments on the nations. The destiny of
mankind is not a matter of chance or some type of whim, but has been
spelled out in the seals that Christ opens.
(Rev. 6:1-2) "Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals and
I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder,
Come and see. And I looked and behold a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Now the words, conquering and conquer means to go from victory to
victory, subdue, get the victory by force. You can read about some of this in Daniel chapter 7, also notice the time setting. As we all know white
is a symbol of purity and peace, the rider of this horse appears to come in the name of peace, but he is a conqueror, one who imposes his version
of peace on the world.
Is it then possible in the 21st century that men should come to think
of themselves as gods and use religion to manipulate their followers? Of
course, the answer is "yes."
(Matt. 24:4-5) "And Jesus answered and said to them, take heed that
no one deceives you, for many will come in My name saying I am the
Christ, and will deceive many."
Now understand this, the rider of this white horse does not represent all the false religions. What he does represent is a false Christianity-- a
false Jesus Christ. This counterfeited church appears spiritual and well
organized. It seems to be well established with its roots going all the way
back to the apostles. Now anything that passes as a counterfeit has to
seem genuine. Not only does this rider of the white horse represent a
counterfeit of the true church, he has also deceived the world of his own
true identity.
Now notice how this subtle counter movement attempts to pass
itself off as a bearer of the original truth. (11 Thes. 2:7) "For the mystery or hidden truth of lawlessness is already at work, only He who
now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way."
(I John 4:1) "Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out
into the world." Also read (Jude 3-4), (II Cor. 11: 3-4, 13-15).
In the book of Matthew, chapter 24, Christ is telling that toward the
end of this age false religious people will increase. Now Christ also
confirms the time sequence of the two riders of the white horses of the
Book of Revelation 6th chapter and 19th chapter. The white horse that
Christ rides does not appear until the 7th and last trumpet sound.
Beginning in the lst century, false religion made its move. It became more firmly entrenched in the 3rd and 4th centuries. These
trends have continued for the last 2,000 yrs, building up to the greatly
intensified end-time events, the era of world wars.
The first biblical account of religious deception, counterfeiting
the "Truth", is found in Genesis the 3rd chapter. This religious deception first occurred in the Garden of Eden with Satan deceiving Eve.
Eve's first child Cain was next to be swayed, and that led him to murder his own brother Abel.This same influence has, in turn, swayed the
course of history or civilization. This deception became so bad that God
had to destroy all humans , except 8 people, by a world wide flood.
Soon after the flood a counterfeit deception made his mark. His name
was Nimrod ( means to rebel ). In (Gen. 10: 8-9) God said that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. The word "mighty" comes from the
Hebrew word gibbor meaning tyrant or despot, and the term "before"
comes from the word paniym which means against. This Nimrod alone,
with his mother-wife Semiramis, was against the Lord in rebellion.
Josephus gives us a more insight into Nimrod's great power and his
defiance against God: Nimrod was a bold man and of great strength
of hand. He gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no
other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into
a constant dependence upon his power. Nimrod also said he would be
revenged on God if He should have a mind to drown the world again;
for he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach.
Nimrod taught that it was wrong, cowardice, to submit to God and
His laws. He claimed to be the "Savior" of mankind, saving them
from God.
Just how powerful was Nimrod's persuasiveness to rebel against
God? The Bible says God had to come down and divide the languages,
halting the tower of Babel project.
Nimrod and Semiramis introduced the Babylonian Mystery religion
during that time. The original Babylon was followed many centuries
later by the Babylon Empire, the "seat of the Babylon Mystery Religion."
Now when the House of Israel went into captivity, the Assyrians had
placed some Babylonian peoples ( these people were later called Samarians) in Samaria. For centuries these Samarians rigorously practiced
the Babylonian Mystery Religion. By the time of Jesus Christ, they
had successfully spread their religion. Some of the
Samarians became true converts in the Church.
Not very long after Jesus Christ started His Church, conspirators, such as Simon Magus, came on the scene. He was a leader
of the Samaritan Babylonian Mysteries Religion. Simon had a mistress named Helen who traveled with him. After a while they began
to attract a significant following. They honored him as a god and even
erected a statue of him on the Tiber river. A great deal of his success
could be attributed to his magic demonstrations, such as levitation.
The Catholic Church has always claimed that the Apostle Peter
was the first Roman Bishop and that he was also martyred in Rome. In
Paul's or Peter's letters there is never any indication that Peter was ever in
Rome. The person of great distinction who bore the title Peter at Rome
was in fact Simon Magus. The title Peter, or pater or patre was one of
religious primacy. Simon Magus carried the title Simon Peter, Papa, Father and Pope.
Hegesippus, an apostate from the true church, was responsible for
designating Peter as the first Pope. As the Church grew in Rome,
they substituted the true doctrines taught by Christ and the apostles with
false doctrines of the Babylon Mysteries and philosophies. The doctrines
of the Sabbath and the Holy Days were dismissed as judaizing. The doctrines of the immortal soul, going to heaven and burning in hell were adopted.The doctrine of the trinity was also gradually accepted.
Idolatry (including image and Mary worship) was in, and the
2nd Commandment was out.
Simon Magus's successors were equally zealous in sowing the seeds of heresy to counter the true apostles' teachings where it was possible.
Some of the more noted followers were Menander, Nicholas, Cerinthus
and Maricon. To understand just who these men were you need to read
Ecclesiastical History, also Hastings Dictionary of the Bible and the
Encyclopedia Britannica.
There were other people who contributed to the counterfeit movement. Clement (A.D. 91-110) advocated submission to duly appointed bishops in his epistle, rather than emphasis of Scriptural authority. Ignatius (67-110) a pupil of John, bishop of Antioch, apostate
from the truth, was anti-semitic and encouraged full separation from Judaism and from judaizing on the Sabbath.
Justin Martyr (100-167) a Greek philosopher and Samaritan, was
anti-semitic. He advocated complete disassociation from the Jews, and
deemed the law of God as unimportant.
Barnabus of Alexandris (130-138) a Jewish scholar, advocated
abandonment of the Jewish Sabbath and acceptance of Sunday to represent the "new world."
Irenaeus (130-200) a pupil of Polycarp,, raised in Smyrna, apostate
from the truth, ventured to Rome, influenced by Justin Martyr, attempted to conciliate between the false church and the true Church.
There were other people like Tertullian, Origen Eusebius, Jerome, and
Augustine. Jerome translated the Bible into the Latin language called
the Vulgate. Augustine molded such distorted doctrines as the Catholic
Church fulfulling the prophecy of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Jesus Christ said that many would be deceived, and according
to Church history that is around 95%. Now as the universal church
system reasserts its power, it will not be for the benefit of humanity.
Instead it will yet again bring danger, destruction, and death for many.
This counterfeit church was not just content with driving the true church of God into the wilderness. This church intended to
destroy it completely. In 1290 a Catholic led army sacked the town of
Beziers with disastrous results. Crusaders forced open doors of Churches
and hacked to pieces those who had sought refuge inside-- this included men, women, babies and invalids. In Montsequr 200 people had
their trial by fire.
Erasmus in his book "In Praise of Folly," portrayed the Roman
Catholic Church as a woman adorned with pomp and royalty.
(Rev. 17:4-6) "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her
hand a golden cup full of abomination and the filthiness of her
fornication and on her forehead a name was written, Mystery Babylon
the Great, the Mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth, I saw
the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her, I marveled with amazement.
(verse 15) "Then he said to me. The waters which you saw where the
harlot sits are peoples , multitudes, nations and tongues."
History shows that no other universal church system has reigned
over peoples, and multitudes and nations and tongues. Another thing
history tells us is that no other universal church system has been drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs
of Jesus Christ, except the Roman Catholic Church.
(Rev. 2:18-23) These verses personify the universal church system as
the woman named Jezebel, the wicked wife of the King Ahab. She
represents this counterfeit church which bears her name in (Rev. 17:5).
Verse 23 tells us that these children retain the same characteristics of
harlotry as their mother. The church that emerged from this system maintains the same idolatrous observances nurtured by their mother, such
as Sunday, Easter. These children kept as much as 90% of their
mother's doctrine.
Now notice some other important parallels between Jezebel and this
mother church. (1) Queen Jezebel was a gentile practicing a gentile
religion just as this mother church does. (2) Jezebel used the charms
and prowess of sex, rather than submit to her husband, likewise, the
mother church rules over her partners in spiritual fornication (Rev. 17:2). Read God's definition of spiritual harlotry-- adultery and fornication (Ezk. 16:31-34 & 23: 1-21). (3) Jezebel martyred God's
true servants (I Kings 18:4), she also tried to kill Elijah ( I Kings
19:2-3). Now go back and read (Rev. 17:6).
In the middle ages, the counterfeit church sank to its lowest level.
This church's celibate Priests begat numerous children. Popes filled
their palaces with harlots and thieves. Vicious women actually ruled
the church elevating their lovers to the papal throne, then murdering
them, only later to elevate others.
There are numerous examples in the Bible of righteous women
whose character symbolized the true church of God. Women such as
Sarah, Ruth, Hannah (Mother of Samuel )and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
This counterfeit church has taken Mary and deified her as equal or
superior to Jesus Christ. This false church portrays Christ as a baby or
hanging on a cross. Before his death, John Paul II in a letter dated
July 7, 1998 said this,” therefore, in commemorating the day of Christ's
Resurrection, not just once a year but every Sunday.” Sunday and Easter
observances are the center pieces of the Catholic dogma.
For self-professing Christians, Sunday is the fundamental feast-day.
Every seven days the church celebrates the Easter Mystery.
Rome's protestant daughters, who came out of her in protest, have
now been separated from her for more than 400 yrs. Today there
exists an ecumenical movement to return to mother Rome.
The British Post Office produced a special stamp for the 1984
European Elections and this stamp displayed a picture of a loosely
clad woman resembling a harlot riding a beast like bull. The Roman
Catholic Church is much more than just a church, it is a global political
power. This counterfeit church has no armies or navies, and has no
super nuclear bombs, but the Vatican has more power at it disposal,
than if it had the greatest military capability. The Pope's government
is as important as the United States, Russia and China.
Do you have any idea why the Vatican is against homosexuality,
Abortion, and birth control? It has little to do with Biblical laws,
or the sanctity of life. They realize that each new life contributes to the
funding of the church.
(John 10:10-13) "The thief does not come except to steal and to kill,
and to destroy, I have come that they may have life and that they may
have it more abundantly, I an the the good shepherd, the good shepherd
gives His life for the sheep, but a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees, the wolf coming and leaves the
sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them, the
hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep."
Impulsive executioners such as Phillip II and Popes Innocent III
and Gregory IX did not even measure up to the level of a hireling, much less that of a good shepherd. These people were wolves who
devoured the sheep, or thieves who came to kill and destroy. Yet there
remains one more terrible onslaught before Jesus Christ returns.
(Matt. 24:9) "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill
you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name's sake."
Where in the world did this universal counterfeit church come from?
Believe it or not, it came from apostatizing congregations of the true
church of God. And just who are the daughters of this counterfeit religious system? Just read the religious section of your newspapers and
you will find them.
This future religious leader of the white horse will be a worker of
Miracles-- showing great signs and wonders-- in the very near future when the modern-day descendents of Israel are taken into captivity.
Many will see the bitter reality of his killing machine firsthand. The
misery resulting from the rider of the white horse will stun the world. We must come to know what is coming and be able to recognize this
Babylon the Great when it emerges in full power.
True Christianity is visionary in its firm hope in the return of Jesus
Christ to save humanity and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. It
is also practical in its application to everyday living. True Christians must strive to exhibit the teachings of Christ in their lives even though
they live in a dark and troubled world. The only solution to this world's
problems as well as all of these different religions is the return of
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
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