Revelation 6:1-2 – 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.
In Revelation 1:19 John was told to “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” We now move to the “what will take place later.”
“I looked,” John did as he was told in V1. He looked to perceive and subsequently report.
“and there before me was a white horse!” The white horse has caused confusion. Some have taken the white horse to refer to its rider as Jesus because the rider on the white horse mentioned in Revelation 19:11 is clearly described as Jesus. As we look at the verses following V19:11 we see that Jesus is clearly being described there. However, here in V2 we can clearly identify the rider of this white horse as not being Jesus. The rider of the white horse is the first of the four horsemen commonly identified as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This first horseman is not Jesus. See how he is described. He rode out to conquer. Jesus has already conquered. All His work is, as He proclaimed from the cross, is finished. This rider is a fake, a counterfeit of Jesus meant to deceive and conquer the world. The white horse is meant to fool people who would not follow the rider on the white horse who is identified in chapter 19. The white horse is part of the deception of the Antichrist to lull people to let down their objections and arms and to follow him to a one world government of world peace. The peace is temporary and false. Hate of God, and mankind, is behind it all.
“Its rider held a bow,” The bow is usually understood that the rider has a bow for shooting arrows. Remember all these are symbols. Notice that the rider is not mentioned as carrying arrows with the bow. That is because the rider will set out to be ruler of the world, not by war, but by words and making peace among the nations. His bow is empty, but he is the most dangerous and deceptive man that had ever lived. He is the devil’s man. He comes to deceive those who would not embrace the Truth. This group will include most of the world. Just as right now most of the world rejects the grace of God that comes through Jesus.
“and he was given a crown…” The Greek word used here is “stephanos” (transliteration). It is not “diadem” which is a permanent crown. The stephanos was a wreath mad of olive branches that lasted only a short while. This man is an imposter and he will, in due time be exposed. He serves a purpose. Those who have not served God will flock to this man and serve him. He will have their allegiance. Thusly these are self-identified as those who reject God. His followers will be those who now follow the leading of the bulk of the people who now live and believe, in their rebellion against God, that they have “safety in numbers.” They will follow the Antichrist and suffer the same fate as their leader. They will follow him, by their own choice, to where he is going. Where he is going to, and will forever stay, is the lake of fire.
“and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” Again, he wants to finish what his father started. His father, in the Garden of Eden, manipulated Adam by deceiving Eve and stole the title to earth. That was the first Adam. The second Adam is Jesus. Jesus has already defeated the devil and all who are allied with him. Jesus has and will take back the title deed and rule and reign over earth. The Antichrist is out to rule the world and give it back to his father the devil. He will deceive the world. He will be seen as a peaceful and loving man. We know that He does not love mankind. He is one with his father the Devil. He hates mankind and only wants to conquer them and to make sure that all that all who follow him will never live their eternity with Jesus. But the rule of the world has already been determined by the perfect life, the suffering, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has overcome the world! (John 16:33) Praise God! We have already been eternally united with God! God wins! Jesus has won!
Family, as we progress through Revelation we will read of terrifying things coming to the world. But not terrifying to us. Jesus will remain Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14) and He is able to keep all who put their faith in Him. He has kept all who have believed in Him, is keeping all who do believe in Him, and will keep all who will come to Him during the tribulation period. God remains supreme. But for all those we know and love that do not know Jesus as the Savior and Lord, the time for them to humble themselves before the Lord is now. During the time the Antichrist is on earth, the temptation to resist the Lord will be immensely greater (Mark 13:22). Still, many will come to the Lord during this time. For us that serve the Lord, we need not fear. Jesus will keep us as He promised. We can be sure of that! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.