First Seal A White Horse

The First Seal - A White Horse

The Four Horsemen

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.

We can safely assume that it is not Jesus that goes forth because it is Jesus that opens the first seal. He cannot open the seal and at the same time come out riding on a white horse unless he has a twin brother also named Jesus. Jesus is never seen in two places at the same time. If you want the conqueror to be Jesus then at best you would have to say the rider is the Holy Spirit for it cannot be Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit does not need a white horse, a bow, or a crown.

This leaves the question, "Then is he antichrist?"

Let's finish reading about the three other horsemen. An overlooked key verse will be found at the end.

Rev 6:3-8

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him.

And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

The summary of the 4 horsemen is that power was given to them to kill. When we examine the word for sword we will discover who is giving them this power. The word for sword is the Greek word "rhomphaía" (ῥομφαία, Strong's G4501). It is used only 7 times in the New Testament. It refers to the sword of Christ's mouth or the word of God.

Luke2:34-35
"Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword [ῥομφαία, rhomphaía] will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Rev1:16
“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía), and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”

Rev2:12
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía).’”

Rev2:16
“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía) of My mouth.”

Rev6:8
And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía), with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Rev19:15
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía), that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Rev19:21
“And the rest were killed with the sword (ῥομφαία, rhomphaía) which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

There is another word for sword in the bible and that's máchaira (μάχαιρα, Strong's G3162). Machaira is used 29 times in 26 verses, and it is used when referring to a physical sword. Rhomphaía is the sword of Christ's mouth. Jesus is giving power to these riders to kill with the sword of His mouth. The first horsemen

has authority to execute judgement for Christ, even as the Old Testament Elijah executed judgement by calling fire down from heaven. But he does NOT kill by leading armies out to war, so you cannot say he is responsible for the many that will die during this time. He is a prophet and will proclaim the judgement of God. He does not kill people himself. God does the killing, the prophet only proclaims and pronounces the judgement.

The opening of the first seal begins end time events. The opening of all seven seals begin the Great Tribulation.

The second, third, and fourth horsemen begin the beginning of sorrows. The fourth horsemen kills the disobedient and takes them to Hades, which is why Hades follows Death. Christians do not go to Hades when they die.

The Rider of the White Horse

Rev 6:1-2

Notice something exceptional about this horsemen. He is announced with a voice like thunder. None of the other horsemen are announced with a voice like thunder. According to the bible, when do you hear a voice like thunder? Jesus prayed “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jhn 12:28-29

2Sa 22:14

“The LORD thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice.

The White Horse

Rev 19:11

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Now I often hear many pastors teach that the white horse signifies deception. Then I scratch my head and wonder, "What strange interpretation for a white horse." The reason for this interpretation is because Jesus is seen riding on a white horse in Revelation 19:11. Does having a white horse make you antichrist? Of course not, because if that's the case then he is followed by an army of antichrists.

Rev 19:14

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

But this poor guy gets singled out as the antichrist because he is the first to come on the scene with a white horse!

Perhaps it is the color white. Some pastors may say, "Have you heard of a white lie? This rider is a liar." Problem with this is, in the bible, white is a recurring theme that always represents purification, purity, and holiness!

Rev 14:2

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

1Sa 7:10

Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

When God or those in heaven speak it is sometimes likened to a voice like thunder and it is always good! He is not being thundered against but he is being announced with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." Come and see this guy, John! And John looked, and saw a man riding on a white horse!

Isa 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the LORD,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Dan 11:35

“And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end;

Mat 17:2

and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Jhn 20:12

And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Act 1:10

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

Rev 1:14

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Rev 3:4

“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Rev 4:4

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

Even leprosy is seen as good when it has turned completely white.

Lev 13:13

“then the priest shall consider; and indeed if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. It has all turned white. He is clean.

But doesn't he have a bow?

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