02.19. LECTURE No. 19 -- Rev_6:1-2

LECTURE No. 19 -- Revelation 6:1-2 The Opening of the Seven Seals - Not an Outline of History Except in a Very Vague Sense - The Seals Belong to the Tribulation Period - The Prophecies of Daniel and Christ Concerning the Great Tribulation - The Seals Will Be Opened Following the Rapture of the Church - The Opening of These Seals a Work of Judgment - The White Horse Goes Forth Conquering and to Conquer - Who the White Horse Rider is - Evil Will Increase
THE subject of Revelation 5:1-14 which we have just finished was the 7 sealed book, which John saw in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. This book we have stated, represented the title deed to the earth, and since it was in the hand of Him that sat on the Throne it represented man’s forfeited inheritance.

We have learned that Christ under the threefold name of the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, and as the Lamb of God, was the only one in Heaven or in earth or under the earth who was counted worthy and who had power to open the seals thereof. In other words Christ is the only one who is able to act as man’s kinsman redeemer and restore unto him his lost state, which was forfeited when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and thereby lost their dominion.
By prophetic vision John saw Christ take the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne in preparation for breaking the seven seals!

And in our last lesson we pointed out that this is to be one of the most momentous events in all the history of the universe! When Christ had taken the book out of the right hand of Him that at upon the throne the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb and worshiped, and they sang a new song saying: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and has made us unto our God Kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:1-14 closed with a universal peon of praise in which the angels cried saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor and glory and blessing!” And John also said, “Every creature which is in Heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and Honor, and Glory, and Power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever.”

Thus my friends, was the consummation of the scene which John saw in heaven. Concerning the seven-sealed book which was in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne and the one who was declared worthy to open the seals thereof.

Let us continue our study by reading what is written in Revelation 6:1-2 where John said, “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

“And I saw and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer!”

General Remarks

Now before we begin our study of the opening of the first seals, a few general remarks will be helpful in preparing us for a better understanding of those things which are to come to pass under the opening of these seven seals.

First of all let us remember that in the book of Revelation there are not only seven seals but also seven trumpets and the seven last vials of the wrath of God. The breaking of the 7th seal introduces the sounding of the seven trumpets and the sounding of the seventh trumpet precedes the pouring out of the seven vials of the wrath of God. Both the opening of the seven seals and the sounding of the seven trumpets and the pouring out of the vials of the wrath of God are followed by a parenthetical passage. This orderly ongoing of events plainly shows that back of all which is to come to pass, God has a well ordered plan, and also an ultimate purpose which he desires to accomplish. Not an Outline of History

Now it is important for us to realize that what we have under the opening of the seven seals is not an outline of history except perhaps in a very limited or a very vague sense. The events referred to here belong to those things which shall be hereafter as indicated in Revelation 4:1, i. e., after the close of the Church age. The events, therefore, indicated by the opening the seven seals belong to the future.

During the Tribulation Period

It is perfectly clear from the text that what John saw take place when the seals were opened, happened on the earth and not in heaven, and that the time when they will take place will be during the tribulation period.
To confirm this it will be well for us to remember that the prophet Daniel prophesied of a time of trouble in Daniel 12:1 where he said: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.”
In Matthew 24:1-51, Jesus Himself, also spoke of a time of trouble when he said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be, and except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved, but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened.”

New Testament Prophecy

We should remember that all of Matthew 24:1-51 was spoken in answer to the disciples’ question given In Matthew 24:3 where it says:

“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives the disciples came unto him privately saying, tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world” (or age).

It is generally conceded by most students of prophecy that the events of Matthew 24:1-51 closely associated with what is spoken of as Daniel’s 70th week of unfulfilled prophecy.

In Daniel 9:1-27 the prophet was given a vision of the weeks, sometimes spoken of as the prophetic calendar. In Daniel 9:24 says:

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

A careful study of what is stated in the remainder of this chapter will reveal that 69 of these prophetic weeks have already been fulfilled, and that the last or 70th week of seven years remains yet to be fulfilled! The Period Divided

Now, from what is stated in Daniel 9:27, we understand that this prophetic week is to be divided into two separate periods of 3 and 1/2 years each, and according to the statement of Jesus in Matthew 24:1-51, the first 3 and ½ years will be what he termed “That beginning of sorrows,” and the last 3 and 1/2 years will constitute the actual period of the great tribulation referred to by our Lord in Matthew 24:21.

Understanding these things, therefore, we may say that the opening of the seven seals will take place during the coming time of the tribulation referred to, both by the prophet Daniel and also by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before

It is an old and familiar saying that “coming events cast their shadows before.”

And who would dare say, as they study current events in the light of scripture prophecy, that the world is not even now preparing for just such a time of tribulation as the Word of God has prophesied will surely come! But let us not forget that before the opening of the seven seals and the terrible judgments which they represent come to pass, we expect the rapture of the Church as also prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 where it says: “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not Until After the Rapture of the Church From what is stated here we do not expect the opening of the seven seals to begin until after the glorious event of the resurrection and the rapture of the Church has taken place! Then the 70th week of Daniel will begin, during which the seven seals of the seven sealed book will be opened.

And through the events which will come to pass the lion of the Tribe of Judah and the root of David and the Lamb of God will redeem and restore to man his lost estate.

Now let us remember the fact that seven is the number of perfection or completeness. This is true whether it refers to grace or to judgment or to any other subject, for that matter! Since the theme of the seven seals is that of judgment the fact that there are seven seals indicates that by the time the seven seals are opened the work of God in judgment will have been completed!

By that time Satan who now occupies the earth as a usurper will be dispossessed and the earth which was man’s original inheritance will be restored and man will again reign over the earth and have dominion as he did in the beginning. A Work of Judgment The fact that the opening of these seals pertains to a work of judgment is confirmed in Revelation 6:1 where it says: “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.”

We have already pointed out that thunder is a symbol of God’s wrath and displeasure as when God came down upon Mount Sinai at the giving of the Law. This is confirmed in Exodus 19:16 where it says:

“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightning, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.”

Thus we see that thunders and lightning and the sound of the trumpet indicate the going forth of the judgments of God. The Spokesman of Each Event

It is interesting to note that before the opening of each of the six seals, the spokesman, which announced the event, was one of the four living creatures. We have already studied concerning the 24 enthroned elders and the 4 living creatures which were in the midst of the throne and round about the throne in Revelation 4:1-11.

From our previous study we learned that both the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures represent those who have been redeemed from the earth. Each of these groups were represented as being in positions of power and authority, but the four living creatures were more closely associated with the throne than the 24 elders, for they were represented as being in the midst of the throne.

Therefore, we have reason to expect that they would have the right to speak with authority concerning the events which will come to pass under the opening of the seven seals. THE COMMAND

Now let us give our attention briefly to the command given by the Living Creatures before the opening of each of the first four seals. In each instance the living creature is quoted as saying: “Come and see.”
To Whom Addressed?

Now, to whom were these words of the living creatures addressed? At first thought we might be led to think that they were spoken to John the Apostle, but at second thought, it would be rather unreasonable to believe this!

For as we know, John must have already been at least in the spirit, where he could both see and hear all that was transpiring in the vision which God was then giving unto him. If the living creatures had been speaking to John asking him to merely come a little closer in order to see and hear these things, it would not have been necessary for him to speak with the noise of thunder, as the passage indicates.

To whom then were the words of the living creature in each case addressed? There is no question but what they were addressed to the several horsemen of this chapter, who were to be the executors of the judgments symbolized under the opening of the seals.

In his book on the Apocalypse, Seiss says:

“The expression ‘come and see’ is really nothing more or less than a bid of power, calling the several horsemen into action.”

Went Forth Conquering and to Conquer

Now let us consider what is stated in the second verse (Revelation 6:2) where John said:

“I saw and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow: and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.” The Horse a Symbol of Power

I suppose that the first thing necessary for us to do as we approach this subject of the four horses of the Book of Revelation, will be to discover, if we can, from the Word of God the symbolic significance of horses as they are referred to in the scripture. In Job 39:19-25 we have a very interesting comment concerning the horse, which reads as follows:

“Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

“Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

“He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

“He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

“The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

“He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

“He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”

Thus my friends, from the scriptures we see that a horse is used as an earthly symbol of God’s swift and irresistible power! The horse is used in connection with war and conflict which are always works of judgment.

In our present study, therefore, we may expect the going forth of these four horses and horsemen to be associated with God’s judicial power and his work of judgment. The Rider of the First Horse

Now let us give our attention to the rider of the first horse. He is described as having a bow and a crown was given unto him, and it says, “He went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

First of all let us call your attention to the fact that the going forth of the rider on the white horse does not represent the going forth of the Gospel as it is being preached today in this age of grace.

In the present age, the preacher of the Gospel is symbolized by the sower, which went forth to sow, and we know from our study of the parable of the sower given by our Lord in Matthew 13:1-58, that the Gospel was not intended to conquer and subdue all men during this present age of grace. For the parable itself teaches that three-fourths of the seed sown became unfruitful.

True enough, some of the seed did fall in good ground and brought forth an abundant harvest, but all we can hope for as a result of the preaching of the Gospel in this age is that the church which is the body of Christ, will be called out from both Jews and Gentiles as a people for His name.

Then when the Church is completed, the dead in Christ will rise first and those who are alive in Christ will be changed and caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air!

We have pointed out that all this will take place before the rider on the white horse goes forth conquering and to conquer.

Judgment Not Grace The theme of the entire Revelation 6:1-17 which we are now studying is one of judgment and not of grace, as in the case of the Gospel. Therefore, the expression used here, “conquering and to conquer,” could not possibly refer to the preaching of the Gospel.

It must, therefore, refer to the fact that evil will go forth, “conquering and to conquer,” and the time and the events and the circumstances of this Revelation seem to sustain us in this position! The White Horse

Now, the fact that the first of these four horses is white is rather significant!

Some have hurriedly concluded that because Jesus is described as coming on a white horse that the rider on this horse is the Lord Jesus Christ. But this is not true because the appearance of Jesus on the white horse is not given until Revelation 19:11-16 which will be a long time after those events described in the 6th chapter.
The Antichrist on the White Horse Who then could the rider of this white horse be? If he does not represent the Gospel, and if he does not represent the Christ, then who is he?

Most students of the Revelation now agree that the one described here upon a white horse is none other than the coming antichrist, the man of sin. The reason for this belief is that the antichrist is to be the exact opposite of the true Christ.

We all know that Satan is an imitator and that he will seek in every way to imitate the true Christ. Therefore, when the true Christ is described as coming on a white horse, Satan will cause the Antichrist to do the same thing.

In Revelation 19:1-21 when Christ comes upon the white horse it is plainly stated that in righteousness he will judge and make war. This may be a new thought to some of you, but the Bible plainly teaches that Jesus will subdue His enemies.

Christ on the White Horse When Christ comes forth on the white horse, he is described in Revelation 19:12 as having many crowns upon his head, thus signifying his kingly power and authority. And when the Antichrist comes forward, he also is described as being crowned.

We do not need to be surprised at this for we are told in Revelation the 13th chapter that the dragon, that is Satan, is to give to the Antichrist his full seat of power and authority. Naturally, therefore, he would be crowned as a symbol of his authority, even though it is to be derived from Satan instead of God.
In Revelation 19:15 it says of Christ that out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Now in Revelation 6:1-17 it says of the rider on the white horse, that he had a bow. The bow is also a symbol of conflict, which would indicate that the purpose of the rider on the white horse will be to smite the earth and bring the world in subjection to his power.

Thus by comparing scripture with scripture we see that the rider of the horse of Revelation 6:2 is none other than the Antichrist whom Satan will send forth in advance of the coming of the true Christ, and it says “He went forth conquering and to conquer.”

And this is exactly what other scriptures tell us the Antichrist will do.

This is confirmed in Daniel 11:36-45 where it speaks of the willful king. In verse Daniel 11:36 it says:

“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished for that that is determined shall be done.”

Tidings out of the East

Also in Daniel 11:44 of the same chapter it says: “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”

Thus, my friends, do the scriptures confirm the statement in our lesson text for today, i. e., that the rider on the white horse, who is the Antichrist shall go forth conquering and to conquer.

We have already stated that coming events cast their shadows before, and I am sure that any thoughtful man or woman who is studying current event in the light of scripture prophecy is able to see that the forces of evil throughout the world are rising up as never before and have already begun to conquer against those who stand for the right!

In Jeremiah 25:32 the prophet said:

“Thus saith the Lord hosts, behold evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind (or tribulation), shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Evil Will Increase And so, my friends, as we approach the end of the Church age and as the times of the Gentiles are drawing to a close, we may expect, under the permissive will of God, that for a short time the powers of evil will increase. And especially so, when the Antichrist appears on the white horse to lead the unregenerate masses of the earth in another great rebellion against the Lord, even as they rebelled at the tower of Babel long centuries ago.
In this lesson we have only considered the opening of the first of the seven seals. We shall continue our study of the seven seals in our next message.

~ end of lecture 19 ~