What is the 1st Seal?
The 1st Seal
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Revelation 6: 1-2)
Some scholars think this refers to the spirit of the Antichrist. But according to 1 John 2: 18-2 and 1 John 4: 1-6, the spirit of the antichrist was already in the world. The antichrist is known as the deceiver and he denies the Father and the Son (Jehovah God and His Son: Jesus Christ).
Some scholars assert that the rider on the white horse represents the spirit of false religions and false prophets. But both the Old and New Testament confirm that false prophets were already in the world.
More than likely, the 1st Seal represents something significant that puts things in place for the one world government. The Antichrist is part of that one world government but it is put in place before he comes to power.
The rider of the white horse seeks world domination. It appears that he will eventually align with the spirit of the antichrist (which was already in the world) to pave the way for the Antichrist and the one world government of the last days.
He Rode a White Horse
This is the same color horse that Jesus Christ will ride when he fights against the Antichrist and the False Prophet at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19: 11-16) – but this rider is NOT Jesus Christ.
The Antichrist is a false messiah (not simply a false prophet). The false messiah will be the opposite of Jesus Christ. Since the Antichrist is trying to replace Jesus Christ as the world’s messiah, it is feasible that he would ride a white horse.
The Rider was Given a Crown
Of the 4 apocalyptic horsemen, this is the only one who is “given a crown.” This rider will become a king. He will be given the power to rule over a kingdom.
When Jesus Christ returns, he has earned and will wear many crowns (Revelation 19: 11). This rider has been “given” only one crown. This rider is NOT Jesus Christ.
The Holy Bible has several scriptures that foretell the rise of a king at the end of this age. That king is different from other kings:
24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. (Daniel 7: 24)
It will speak boastfully against Jehovah God. It is also referred to as the “mouth of the beast” (the spokesperson of the beast):
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13: 5)
Revelation 13 also says that the dragon (Satan) will give the beast his power and his throne and great authority:
The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13: 2-4)
If this rider is empowered and crowned by Satan, he is likely to use similar tactics as Satan. For example, this king would not speak truthfully. He is likely to use deceit to gain an advantage over his enemies.
He Rode Out as a Conqueror Bent on Conquest
This rider will aggressively seek to conquer other kingdoms. He desires to greatly enlarge his kingdom by the conquest of other kingdoms. This rider appears to be interested in world domination:
7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation 13: 7)
Jesus Christ does not attempt to “conquer” people. This rider is NOT Jesus Christ.
He Held a Bow in His Hand
This rider carries a bow. This seems like an odd symbol to include within such a brief description. Why a bow and not a sword? The reference to a bow in his hand provides a significant clue as to the identity of the rider.
Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe an end times prophesy that correlates with the battle of Armageddon. It is a prophesy against Gog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. Gog is the most powerful ruler (chief prince) of a geographical region located near the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (Meshek and Tubal). Gog leads the hordes (a large army comprised of various nations) in an attempt to annihilate Israel. Gog fits the description of the Antichrist. He also carries a bow in his left hand:
“Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. (Ezekiel 39: 1-4)
Who Might This Rider Be?
First, let’s take a look at Biblical history. According to Genesis 16, Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar (Sarah’s maidservant). Genesis 21 describes Hagar and Ishmael being sent away because of their hatred toward Sarah and Isaac. It also says that God watched over Ishmael as he grew up and that Ishmael became an archer.
20 God was with the boy [Ishmael] as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. (Genesis 21: 20)
Out of the lineage of Ishmael, the Arab nation was born. From the Arab nation, the religion of Islam emerged.
Islam teaches that in the Last Days, an Islamic messiah will arrive. This Islamic leader is expected to unite the nations of Islam. This person will be given the authority to rule all of Islam. During his reign, he will aggressively expand the realm of Islam. He is expected to successfully conquer the entire world and bring it into submission. According to Islamic teachings, this Islamic messiah will cause the entire world will be ruled by Islamic law (world domination).
Islam calls their Islamic messiah the “Mahdi.” The spirit which indwelled Allah’s prophet Muhammad is expected to indwell the Mahdi. The Islamic messiah is the opposite of the Jewish Messiah. And according to their prophecies, the Islamic messiah rides a white horse.
Significance
The first 4 riders described in Revelation 6 work together to prepare the way for the Great Tribulation. Each rider plays a special role in events that take place before and during the Great Tribulation.
The 1st rider appears to be the spirit of world domination. It appears to prepare the way for the 6th Trumpet War (which precedes the Great Tribulation) and the Antichrist (aka the mouth of the beast).
Note that the end times Antichrist will not officially be revealed until halfway through the 7 year peace treaty when he stands in the Jewish Temple, puts an end to animal sacrifice, and sets up the abomination that causes desolation. But he will be involved in the negotiation of that 7 year treaty which allows for the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt.
What has this Rider already Accomplished?
It appears that the 1st horseman of the Apocalypse was revealed in 1994 (a Shemitah year) when the Palestinian National Authority (PA) was formed. The PA was created as a vehicle for Palestine to self-govern (the Gaza Strip and Jericho in the West Bank).
Before the PA was established, the people living in Palestine had enjoyed steady economic growth. Since the PA took control of governing Palestine, the economy in Palestine has steadily declined. Instead of taking responsibility and working toward improving their situation, the PA blames Israel (and the West) for their economic decline.
Emboldened by achieving a governing foothold in the land that God historically gave Israel, the Islamic fundamentalists have increasingly become aggressive, intolerant, and hate-filled toward Jews and non-Muslims.
The Islamic mandate to Conquer Jerusalem (and the World) is Re-awakened.
What else happened in 1994?
On September 5, 1994 (the last day of the Shemitah cycle) (29 Elul), the United Nations began a landmark conference in Cairo Egypt. It was called “The International Conference on Population and Development.” Its purpose: to declare the future of the world for the next 20 years.
At that conference, they confirmed plans for a one world government. They also formerly embraced “Agenda 21” which had been created in 1992 (Rio) to describe their plans for changing the world over the next 100 years. In 2015, Agenda 21 was replaced with an accelerated program called Agenda 2030.
The politically-correct goals they set are directly related to the events of the 4th Seal and ultimately, began to put things in place for what the Holy Bible calls the end of this age.
The Agenda for a One World Government is in Place
For more information, please read:
Leave a Reply