Church of God, New World Ministries

The Four Horsemen Of Revelation

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.

 
Want to know more?
  1. Enroll in our correspondence course Request the FREE correspondence by clicking here
  2. Sign up for our monthly DVD Sermon program Request the FREE monthly sermon DVD's by clicking here
  3. Subscribe to our mailing list Request to be added to the mailing list by clicking here
They are all free, there are NO strings attached and we DO NOT solicit for money.
 
  Web Site Artwork Credits
© 2024 Church of God, New World Ministries
P.O. Box 770 New Tazewell, TN 37824       (423) 626-0553