4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse #4 - Part 72 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together we described the horse that John saw under the 4th seal.  The pale horse presented a pallid ghostly appearance.  What John was seeing was further confirmation to the people of Israel that God was doing everything possible to warn them that judgment was coming, so they would have time to repent before they were destroyed.  Vengeance would be exacted against Jerusalem for rejecting Jesus Christ as their Messiah, and the work He accomplished on the Cross of Calvary - shedding of His blood for their sins.

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 them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by beasts of the earth...Rev. 6:8.

The pale horse symbolizes famine and death  - death by hunger, sword and beasts of the field.  The rider of this ghostly-appearing horse was named Death, while Hades followed.  When Death spreads his constraining web of famine over the rebels of Israel confined behind the walls of Jerusalem, Hades will swallow up those who die in this incredibly savage and merciless war. Hades is the greater cruelty because it is a place of torment and permanent exile, far away from Heaven where peace and justice reign.

The number 4 in this verse - power over a 4th of the earth - symbolizes one or more of the following:
1.    a portion
2.    four corners of the earth
3.    change in the heavens or the earth.

The 4 Horsemen symbolize that a change is coming to a portion of the earth - Israel.  The change that is coming to Israel during the war of 70 A.D. is the fact that they will be annihilated - losing their status as a nation - no longer a blip on the radar.

In order to prove the symbolism of the 4 Horsemen we must turn to the Old Testament - scripture proves scripture.  The 4 horses that John was shown by Jesus Christ were also seen in a vision by the Prophet Zechariah.  The same color of horses used to pronounce judgment on Israel in the New Testament, were used to describe judgment of Israel - past and future - after they had served 70 years of punishment as captives in Babylon.

Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze...with the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses...with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses--strong steeds...Zech. 6:1-3.

The Prophet Zechariah was called by God to minister to Israel about the time they were to be released from 70 years captivity in the idolatrous nation of Babylon.  Zechariah was shown in a night vision 4 horses with chariots, which symbolized judgment on Israel in the Old Testament.  The chariots symbolize war to Zechariah.  The 4 horses that Zechariah saw, and the 4 horses that John saw, are the same colors with the same meaning.

There are three differences in the horses of Zechariah and John...
1.    chariots
2.    number of horses   
3.    color order of the horses

Zechariah saw 4 chariots with horses of 4 different colors ride between two mountains of bronze.  The Septuagint translation of this verse describes the mountains as brazen mountains - mountains of brass.  Mountain is a metaphor describing a proud people. Brass symbolizes judgment.  War chariots riding between two mountains of brass symbolize division in this nation - Israel.  A house divided against itself cannot stand...Mark 3:25.

During this night vision, the Prophet Zechariah overheard a conversation between God and His angel. They were discussing the culmination of God's anger toward His people Israel...let's listen in.  The angel asked God...O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?...Zech. 1:12.

The subject of the conversation between God and the angel was how long will He be angry with Israel, now that 70 years of punishment has been fulfilled.  How does the color order of the horses answer the angels' question?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse #3 - Part 71 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

As we continue our study to determine the meaning of the symbolism of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, we will find the message contained within it. We know that historical documentation has proven that the visions were imparted to John between 50-60 A.D. The message contained in this chapter of Revelation confirms the message given in Daniel's vision - 70th week...Daniel 9:27. The historian Josephus documents this information and we will delve into it in our next study series.

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...Rev. 6:5-6.

John must have been pretty shaken up by now from what he had seen behind the second seal, and may not have been to eager to view the contents of this third seal, but he watched solemnly while Jesus Christ opened it.

Behind this seal John sees a sleek black horse, proudly holding his head high, yet a sense of foreboding permeated the atmosphere, because he understood that the color black symbolized death and mourning.  He must have been mortified as he watched this horrendous pronouncement against his people.  He knew that Daniel's 70-week vision had been faithfully fulfilled through the 69th week. Now he is seeing how the 70th week will be fulfilled.

The rider of the shiny black horse held in his hands a pair of scales - balances.  Scales represent a means of ascertaining the weight of something - symbolizing the gravity (weight) of the prophecy. Israel had been weighed in the balances and was found wanting - spiritually bankrupt.  This very grave assessment will result in vengeance, producing death and mourning - Wrath of the Lamb...Rev. 6:16.

God had given everything to Israel, His chosen people, but Israel had given nothing back to Him except their paganism (idolatry) and immorality.  They had been takers - the scales were grossly out of balance.  John knew that a denarius was payment for a full day of work in his day, so to equate it with the ingredients of one loaf of bread must have been incredulous to him.

Imagine today, if your wage is $200.00 a day, and you had to use it all to buy one loaf of bread, would this create a hardship for you?  Very soon in Israel money, fame, or status would be useless in delivering them from this horrific war of famine and death - judgment.

At the end of the ominous black-horse prophecy we read...and do not harm the oil and wine.  Of course, John knew immediately what this meant - do you?  John knew that the temple priest placed oil and wine on the daily sacrifice to the Lord - the drink offering.  But how does this admonishment pertain to the coming war?

The answer to this question will be answered in detail in our study of Daniel's Seventy-week vision.  For now we can understand that once the war begins, and Jerusalem is surrounded by Roman armies unable to escape, the priests locked behind the walls will be unable to preserve the oil and wine they need for the drink offering, let alone have any animals for the burnt sacrifice.  We will find out that God has a special purpose for the timing of the cessation of these rituals, during the war of 70 A.D.

After Israel rejects God's Son as a final, unblemished sacrificial offering for their sins, they continued their bloody animal sacrifices and drink offering.  This was a rebuke to God - a thumb in His eye. They didn't understand this act was a stench in His nostrils - and He would stop it permanently.

So I looked, and behold, a pale horse...and a 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 beasts of the earth...Rev. 6:8.

With much trepidation, John watches as Jesus Christ opens the 4th seal, which reveals the details of the coming war of judgment against Israel.  John must have been horrified to see the horse behind the 4th seal - a pale horse - emaciated.  The original Greek language describes the pale horse as greenish - dun-colored - which is a dull grayish brown.  To summarize the green, gray, brown colors, a more accurate description of the pale horse would be - a pallid ghostly appearance.

This verse is full of esoteric language - what is it telling us?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse Series #2 - Part 70 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together John was watching Jesus begin to open the seals on the scroll. A loud voice said to him...come and see.  Under the first seal he saw 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...Rev. 6:2. The question is, "Who is sitting on the white horse and what does white symbolize?"

 

The modern end-time doctrine says that this rider must be the Anti-Christ impersonating Jesus Christ. Why do they believe this way? They believe that Revelation chapter 6 predicts the end of the world, so the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse have not arrived as yet. Since the white horse is leading the pack going out conquering and to conquer he must be the Anti-Christ.

 

This is the problem with attempting to interpret prophecy of scripture, especially if you believe it has not been fulfilled. It is tantamount to guessing, pure and simple. This study will take us to the past to read what historians have recorded, as well as defining the esoteric language which will reveal the message.  By doing so, the riddle will be solved for us.

 

Behind the first seal John sees a white horse. Spiritually, the white horse symbolizes purity, holiness, and victory. The only rider that could fulfill this symbolism is Jesus Christ, whom they are celebrating during John's tour of the throne room of Heaven.

 

The bow the rider carries denotes war, and He went forth to conquer. Conquer in the original Greek language means:  victory. No Anti-Christ will have victory.

 

Jesus Christ - king of kings - is the rider of the white horse, so a crown was given to Him.  We must remember, when Jesus left Heaven to come to the earth He laid down His crown of righteousness to take up the form of a bondservant.  The 6th chapter of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ after He finished His work on the earth - victory has already been achieved.

 

In order to execute His wrath upon Israel for rejecting Him as their Messiah, He once again donned His crown of righteousness, completing the definition of the symbolism behind the first seal.  The message is the righteous judgment against Israel - the Wrath of the Lamb - was fulfilled...Rev. 6:16.

 

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...Rev. 6:4. John must have been totally exhilarated and inspired when he viewed the contents of the first seal.  What a sight to behold, his Savior and Lord wearing the royal crown on His head, and riding a handsome, prancing, white steed. 

 

Hopeful anticipation must have electrified the atmosphere, while John and the heavenly host waited patiently for the contents of the second seal to be revealed. Finally Jesus Christ opened the second seal, where John observes a fiery red horse, chomping at the bit pawing anxiously at the ground. He must have been awed by the magnificence of the fiery red, war horse, yet uneasiness lingered in the pit of his stomach. Why? Because John knew the color red symbolized bloodshed.

 

Then John noticed that the rider of the fiery red steed was given a great sword - symbol of war. He knew that war always takes peace from the land, so this horse must have caused consternation in his heart.

 

Historians record that before the fall of Jerusalem in the war of 70 A.D., a phantom sword hung eerily in the sky above the city for one full year - symbolizing war. This strange supernatural omen was a warning to the people to get ready for the coming war and blood shed. Why was war coming to Israel?  Israel had rejected Jesus Christ as their sacrificial Lamb for the sins of all mankind, so the sword in the sky gave them time to contemplate the meaning of this very visual sign and repent.

 

Under the third seal John finds a black horse. What does this horse symbolize for Israel? Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...

 

 

 



 

 

 

 









Four Horsemen Series #1 - Part 69 of Riddles, Enigmas and Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

As we embark on the fascinating study of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation chapter 6, we will discover what the Old Testament reveals about these horses - scripture proving scripture. Together we will scrutinize and define the symbolism which will reveal the message on the scroll beneath the seals, and compare it with the same message - edict - on the scrolls of the Old Testament so we will understand to whom the message was intended.

The modern end-time doctrine is about 100 years old, becoming most popular after the Scofield Study Bible was published in 1909. Cyrus Scofield gleaned much of his doctrine from John Darby. Within a few years his end-time doctrine was placed in the curriculum of Bible schools and seminaries in America, eventually becoming the only doctrine accepted by most mainline churches in this country.

Over many decades I have listened to many Christian radio and television programs, read books and magazines where Christian preachers and authors offered their latest and greatest end-time analysis - hoping to find out how historians define the symbolism - but I could not. I did find that some European authors of this subject couldn't believe that the Americans would adopt the false end-time doctrine of John Darby, their British preacher of the 1800's, which they rejected long ago.

After we analyze Old and New Testament scriptures, we will better understand that what Jesus Christ is revealing to John in 50-60 A.D. regarding the mission of the Four Horsemen is specific to Israel and was perfectly fulfilled in 70 A.D. Of course, this means that the 70th week of Daniel's vision has also been fulfilled - and it was - proven by the historian Flavius Josephus - which will be the subject of our next study.

The Apostle Peter said...no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...II Pet. 1:20-21. So I ask, why do so many preachers and Bible teachers disobey his wise words? I don't know, but I do know that prophecy of scripture is understood in it fulfillment - historical documentation of a fulfilled prophetic event provides accuracy in the message.

Revelation chapter 5 describes Jesus Christ after He returned to Heaven, having accomplished His work on the earth. He is now sitting on the right hand of God on the throne in Heaven - the only One worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals...verses 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 loud 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...Rev. 6:1-2.

Everyone in Heaven was waiting watchfully and expectantly for the seven seals to be opened and reveal the secrets hidden within the scroll.  Behind each of the first four seals John sees a horse - each a different color to signify its specific function in fulfilling the indictment against Israel, which is written on the scroll. The horses that are colored fiery red, black, and pale symbolize the Lamb's judgment, His vengeance against Israel for rejecting Him as their Messiah - Wrath of the Lamb...Rev. 6:16.

With joy in his heart, John reverently beheld Jesus Christ approaching the throne where His Father was sitting. The silence was deafening, while all eyes were riveted upon Him, as they breathlessly watched the Worthy One remove the scroll from God's right hand. Energized suspenseful anticipation hung like a misty cloud, while John and all the heavenly spirit beings anxiously waited for Him to remove the first seal.

Behind the first seal John sees a white horse. Who is sitting on the white horse and what does white symbolize?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



Author of Revelation Series #3 - Part 68 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

This is my third blog revealing my research to identify more accurately the date the Revelation was given by Jesus Christ. Those who ignore historical documentation, and have embraced the one-hundred year old modern end-time doctrine of the Scofield Reference Bible, refuse to ask one very important question. Why would Jesus Christ tell His followers how to prepare for an event that will take place 2000 years from their time, and not prepare them for the imminent persecution that was soon to take place? It boggles my mind that common sense is not applied to this subject.

Yet, Jesus Himself reveals the urgency of the matter when He instructed John...do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand...Rev. 22:10. The Greek word for hand is engys meaning:  near.  Near is defined as:  close in time. Jesus Christ is giving the Revelation to His followers so they can prepare for what will very soon come upon them, so they will not be surprised or discouraged by the horrific events. Yes, there are future events in the prophecy, but also past and present events are delineated.

When we were last together I asked, "How does the earthquake in Laodicea establish a more accurate date for the Revelation?"

Jesus gave an imminent word of warning in the prophecy that was to be immediately delivered to the seven churches in Asia, because the persecution of Nero could cause God's beloved fledgling church to faint in the day of adversity. Jesus needed to instruct them in the purpose of persecution, something He could not explain while He was on the earth, because they wouldn't have understood.

Emperor Nero reigned 54 A.D. to 68 A.D., although his persecution was mild, at first, but by the 60's it became vicious. If God's beloved was to be prepared for this persecution, the prophecy must have been delivered during this time, or even earlier - probably 50-60 A.D.

The city of Laodicea, where the 7th church was located, collapsed by an earthquake in 65 A.D., along with Colossae and Hierapolis, sinking into insignificance after Nero's reign of terror ended at his death in 68 A.D.  In His letter to this church Jesus said...as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten...therefore be zealous and repent. Would Jesus Christ send a letter of this gravity to a church that had already been decimated?

The word Revelation in the original Greek language is apokalypsis. The English translation is apocalypse meaning:  disclosure or take off the cover. Since it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it means the unveiling of Jesus Christ. Jesus takes off the cover to disclose (eyes are opened) His plans and purposes for His church, as well as revealing all the spiritual powers behind the events on the earth.

The 'born again church' of Jesus Christ was in transition - B.C. to A.D. The Revelation was essential for helping them overcome what they must endure for this important cultural change. The visions of John were intended to supersede the visions of Daniel in guiding God's people. Daniel chapter 7 reveals 4 beast kingdoms - 3 of these kingdoms were deposed prior to the birth of Jesus.

The 4th beast kingdom with the 10 horns is Rome, which was reigning at the time Jesus was born. While not all subsequent Roman kings severely persecuted Christians, 10 kings were especially ruthless in their endeavor to destroy them and confiscate their property - ending in 313 A.D. with the reign of Emperor Constantine. Historians have documented the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies, but scholars of the modern end-time doctrine, refuse to acknowledge this information.

When Jesus ascended to Heaven in a cloud, He was concealed from His church...Acts. l:9. Through the visions he reveals Himself once again, but this time in all His glory, showing His followers what must shortly come to pass upon the earth. John is instructed to share the prophecy with the disciples of Christ...for the time is at hand.

As gold is refined in the fire to reveal its impurities, the persecution of those who claim to be followers of Christ will do the same - reveal their impurities or pretense.

What does historical documentation reveal about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...