"The Apocalypse: The Riders of the White Horses: Are They the Same Rider?
Revelation 6:2:
And I saw , and behold, a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a croiwn was given unto hjim: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Revelation 19:11-16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
In this article we will discover that in the Book of Revelation, there were two white horses and two riders. Over the centuries, there has been a great debate between many different scholars of different dispensational eras ansd well as many bible reader and adamant students in Biblical Seminaries and Bible colleges across this country, even around the world. We will investigate this question concerning the ridres of these white horses and reveal to you what we have found out.
In Revelation 6:2 , the Apostle John shares with us a vision he had from heaven as he laid exiled on the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). In the first 3 chapters, John has been instructed to write to the 7 churches located in Asia Minor to warn them that "the time is at hand" and to represent God in the manner that he expected them to or risk having their candlestick removed from the Golden Candlestick holder Jesus Christ. In Chapter 4 to Chapter 5 we get a panoramic view of what John saw in heaven and discover that the Lion out of the tribe of Judah was worthy to open the 7 seals to release the wrath of God upon the inhabitants on the earth who were left behind at the rapture of the Church.
In Chapter 6:2, after the opening of the seven seals, the Apostle John mentions a white horse rider. Some scholars, teachers and preachers in times past and even to this day teach this is Jesus but, some teach this is the anti-Christ. Everyone is in agreement that in Revelation 19, it is Christ that comes from heaven on a white horse at the end of the 7-year Great Tribulation Period, but as I stated previously, there seem to be many different views concerning the identity of the rider on the white horse in Chapter 6:2. Who the rider on this white horse? It's important that we properly identify this rider because it will profoundly affect a person's interpretive view concerning the entire Book of Revelation.
Clearly the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is not Jesus Christ, because the time of occurence of those events of Revelation 6:2 happened after the church has already been “raptured” from the world in Revelation Chapter 4. The rider riding this white horse is "the anti-Christ" and what he does while riding this white horse is totally different from what Jesus does when he rides the white horse in Revelation Chapter 19. The anti-Christ goes forth to conquer. In Revelation 6:1, it is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that opens the 1st seal to reveal the start of the events that will lead the world into the 7-year tribulation period. The Gospel has been preached to all nations for a witness. The number of people from all nations that would make up God's organism, "the church" has been fulfilled, and the time of the Gentiles reign in power and authority has ended.
The way a person interprets this passage will affect that way they interpret Revelation as a whole. The religious leaders that lived before and during Jesus’ first coming misinterpreted many Bible prophecies and cause them and the people to error and reject him. Dr. Clarence Larkin, in his book entitled “Dispensational Truth, made the following analogy on page 8 concerning the end time prophecy of Jesus’ second coming: " The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:10- 11 that the prophets themselves (Old Testament prophets) did not see the difference between the “Sufferings” and Glory” of Jesus Christ, that is, they didn’t realize that there was a
definite time interval between the “Cross” and the “Crown”. Because of unbelief, many didn’t understand the necessity of Jesus’ death on cross and didn’t see his death as being the “preamble” to him being crowned king, that would take place somewhere in the future.
If you interpret the Book of Revelation as a "apocalyptic book" unfolding in historic progression, it will sustain the belief of the "pre-millennial view" of the "Great Tribulation". If you take the position that the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is not the anti-Christ, then it’s very possible that you might question when Jesus is coming a second time and/or if there will be a rapture. To me, it’s not plausible to see the rider on "this White horse" as Jesus Christ’s in his first coming proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, the kingdom that was rejected by the Jews. Jesus, in fulfilling the "first "of his "3 great divine roles" was "Our Great Prophet" from heaven who declared that" the Kingdom of God was now at hand"! Truly, he did speak in the Gospel of Matthew with a "king-like" proclamation in has first coming, but when he will conclude in fulfilling his role as "Our Great High Priest", "he will be "Our Great King" in his second. As a prophet Jesus through his many teachings sought to clarify the many fallacies that had sprung up concerning the events that would lead the world towards the end times.
The fact that in Matthew 24:1- 31, Jesus spoke in detail about the end times and the kind of events that would be going on that we can use as indicators that let us know we are headed toward the end. Jesus spoke in glowing details about the he, the Son of Man would be coming in the clouds with power and great glory tell us that he will return a second time. The
angel reminded the soon to be apostles in Act 1-10-11 that Jesus Christ would return coming in the clouds in the same manner he ascended up into them, again indicating that he would return a "second time".
The key here is Jesus "partially" fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1 concerning the end time and the pouring out of God’s vengeance. When he read this passage in the temple, Jesus read the portion of this passage and stopped at the phrase: " preaching the acceptable year of the Lord" and closed the scroll, declaring that this portion of that prophecy was being fulfilled in the ears of those who were present at the temple that day. This should have meant to those present in that
assembly that God vengeance was to occur somewhere in the future and would also indicate that the Messiah would have to make a second return to completely fulfill the prophecy. In essence, the right interpretation of that passage in Revelation 6:8 determines whether a person beliefs concerning the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ are Pre-millenial, A-millenial, or Post-millenial in view.
The people of that time in Biblical and human history did believe in the coming of a millennium. They looked toward the promises God gave concerning the End of Time when God would permanently turn their plight around and they would never ever be subservient to Rome or anyone else again. But, just like the prophets of the Old Testament, they never envisioned an interruption in the prophecy of Daniel concerning the end of time. They didn’t see the time and space between the 69th and the 70th week. They didn’t see the “interval of space” is the time in which we are currently ;living in today It represents the" Dispensation of Grace and the Church Age".
Revelation 6:2:
And I saw , and behold, a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a croiwn was given unto hjim: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Revelation 19:11-16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
In this article we will discover that in the Book of Revelation, there were two white horses and two riders. Over the centuries, there has been a great debate between many different scholars of different dispensational eras ansd well as many bible reader and adamant students in Biblical Seminaries and Bible colleges across this country, even around the world. We will investigate this question concerning the ridres of these white horses and reveal to you what we have found out.
In Revelation 6:2 , the Apostle John shares with us a vision he had from heaven as he laid exiled on the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). In the first 3 chapters, John has been instructed to write to the 7 churches located in Asia Minor to warn them that "the time is at hand" and to represent God in the manner that he expected them to or risk having their candlestick removed from the Golden Candlestick holder Jesus Christ. In Chapter 4 to Chapter 5 we get a panoramic view of what John saw in heaven and discover that the Lion out of the tribe of Judah was worthy to open the 7 seals to release the wrath of God upon the inhabitants on the earth who were left behind at the rapture of the Church.
In Chapter 6:2, after the opening of the seven seals, the Apostle John mentions a white horse rider. Some scholars, teachers and preachers in times past and even to this day teach this is Jesus but, some teach this is the anti-Christ. Everyone is in agreement that in Revelation 19, it is Christ that comes from heaven on a white horse at the end of the 7-year Great Tribulation Period, but as I stated previously, there seem to be many different views concerning the identity of the rider on the white horse in Chapter 6:2. Who the rider on this white horse? It's important that we properly identify this rider because it will profoundly affect a person's interpretive view concerning the entire Book of Revelation.
Clearly the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is not Jesus Christ, because the time of occurence of those events of Revelation 6:2 happened after the church has already been “raptured” from the world in Revelation Chapter 4. The rider riding this white horse is "the anti-Christ" and what he does while riding this white horse is totally different from what Jesus does when he rides the white horse in Revelation Chapter 19. The anti-Christ goes forth to conquer. In Revelation 6:1, it is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that opens the 1st seal to reveal the start of the events that will lead the world into the 7-year tribulation period. The Gospel has been preached to all nations for a witness. The number of people from all nations that would make up God's organism, "the church" has been fulfilled, and the time of the Gentiles reign in power and authority has ended.
The way a person interprets this passage will affect that way they interpret Revelation as a whole. The religious leaders that lived before and during Jesus’ first coming misinterpreted many Bible prophecies and cause them and the people to error and reject him. Dr. Clarence Larkin, in his book entitled “Dispensational Truth, made the following analogy on page 8 concerning the end time prophecy of Jesus’ second coming: " The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:10- 11 that the prophets themselves (Old Testament prophets) did not see the difference between the “Sufferings” and Glory” of Jesus Christ, that is, they didn’t realize that there was a
definite time interval between the “Cross” and the “Crown”. Because of unbelief, many didn’t understand the necessity of Jesus’ death on cross and didn’t see his death as being the “preamble” to him being crowned king, that would take place somewhere in the future.
If you interpret the Book of Revelation as a "apocalyptic book" unfolding in historic progression, it will sustain the belief of the "pre-millennial view" of the "Great Tribulation". If you take the position that the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is not the anti-Christ, then it’s very possible that you might question when Jesus is coming a second time and/or if there will be a rapture. To me, it’s not plausible to see the rider on "this White horse" as Jesus Christ’s in his first coming proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, the kingdom that was rejected by the Jews. Jesus, in fulfilling the "first "of his "3 great divine roles" was "Our Great Prophet" from heaven who declared that" the Kingdom of God was now at hand"! Truly, he did speak in the Gospel of Matthew with a "king-like" proclamation in has first coming, but when he will conclude in fulfilling his role as "Our Great High Priest", "he will be "Our Great King" in his second. As a prophet Jesus through his many teachings sought to clarify the many fallacies that had sprung up concerning the events that would lead the world towards the end times.
The fact that in Matthew 24:1- 31, Jesus spoke in detail about the end times and the kind of events that would be going on that we can use as indicators that let us know we are headed toward the end. Jesus spoke in glowing details about the he, the Son of Man would be coming in the clouds with power and great glory tell us that he will return a second time. The
angel reminded the soon to be apostles in Act 1-10-11 that Jesus Christ would return coming in the clouds in the same manner he ascended up into them, again indicating that he would return a "second time".
The key here is Jesus "partially" fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1 concerning the end time and the pouring out of God’s vengeance. When he read this passage in the temple, Jesus read the portion of this passage and stopped at the phrase: " preaching the acceptable year of the Lord" and closed the scroll, declaring that this portion of that prophecy was being fulfilled in the ears of those who were present at the temple that day. This should have meant to those present in that
assembly that God vengeance was to occur somewhere in the future and would also indicate that the Messiah would have to make a second return to completely fulfill the prophecy. In essence, the right interpretation of that passage in Revelation 6:8 determines whether a person beliefs concerning the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ are Pre-millenial, A-millenial, or Post-millenial in view.
The people of that time in Biblical and human history did believe in the coming of a millennium. They looked toward the promises God gave concerning the End of Time when God would permanently turn their plight around and they would never ever be subservient to Rome or anyone else again. But, just like the prophets of the Old Testament, they never envisioned an interruption in the prophecy of Daniel concerning the end of time. They didn’t see the time and space between the 69th and the 70th week. They didn’t see the “interval of space” is the time in which we are currently ;living in today It represents the" Dispensation of Grace and the Church Age".
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