Who is He!

 

Many bible teachers say Jesus must be first to ride in on a white horse and therefore this rider must be an imposter.  However, the bible is very clear in its imagery.  You must remember this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  This is how Jesus sees things and how He wants John to see it. Jesus views the antichrist as a beast! And he gave Daniel a similar vision too. Therefore, the antichrist is seen by John and described as a beast!  

 

Rev 13:1-2

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

 

The false prophet is also seen and described as a beast having two horns like a lamb and speaking like a dragon.

 

Rev 13:11

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

 

If he was an imposter and a fake wouldn't John have seen something like a blasphemous name on his head?  Or perhaps he spoke like a dragon?  Or the rider looked like a wolf in sheep's clothing? If he is false, he should at least go out riding on a white goat!  But is there anything to signify to John or the reader that this rider on a white horse is antichrist?  The answer is no.

 

Jesus views this rider as coming on a white horse!  The vision that John sees is how the Lord sees it.  Did Jesus use bad imagery? That would be nonsense.  If Jesus wanted us to know this was antichrist He would have made it crystal clear to John.  You cannot confuse the beast.  And this rider should not have been confused as the beast.  But many bible teachers have already concluded that the first seal begins the great tribulation and thus this must be the antichrist. They force the text to fit their preconceived ideas. 

 

Why must this man come first?  Why is he the first to ride in conquering?  What did Jesus say about the one who must come first?

 

Mat 17:10-11

And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.

 

This rider is none other than the prophesied prophet of Malachi 4:5-6.  He is so powerful God calls him "Elijah the prophet."  He is the last stand.  If it were not for his appearing than God would have simply raptured the small faithful remnant and completely destroyed the world for being in such a miserable state.  But so that He does not have to destroy it completely as in the days of Noah He sends a mighty prophet instead.

 

Mal 4:5-6

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

And he will turn

The hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

 

Notice, he must come BEFORE the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  That is he must come before the great tribulation.  He must begin the restoration process so God doesn't utterly destroy the earth.  The Lord says, "Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”  In other words, God is saying I send you Elijah the prophet so that I don't have to strike the earth with a curse (utter destruction).  The word for curse (cherem) is the same word for the utter destruction of Jericho in the days of Joshua.  It is translated "doomed" in Joshua.

 

Jos 6:17

“Now the city shall be doomed (cherem) by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it.

 

This end time prophet will prepare the bride of Christ to be ready for the "marriage supper of the lamb."  As John the Baptist prepared a people ready for the Lord at His first coming, this prophet will prepare the bride of Christ for His second coming (coming for His church in the rapture).  For the rapture is the coming of the Lord for His church.  The church (bride of Christ) must be made beautiful and ready for the marriage of the lamb.