The Four Horsemen of Revelation 6: Do they reveal the beastly character of the Antichrist?

Posted by on 26 November 2009 | 0 Comments

The Four Horsemen of the book of Revelation may reveal four different faces of the Antichrist.  The first is a white horse and rider, symbolizing false religious leaders, and ultimately the greatest deceiver of all time, the Antichrist.

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! (The white horse represents deception. Many false teachers will appear on the scene right after the signing of the seven-year covenant) Its rider (the rider of the white horse is Antichrist. Antichrist, the future ruler of the earth, will be the ultimate deceiver - a false teacher and a counterfeit messiah who is empowered by Satan) held a bow, (the bow symbolizes warfare. But note that the rider - Antichrist - has no arrows, indicating in the beginning of Daniel's 70^th week, Antichrist will conquer by diplomacy: Specifically, Antichrist will come to power through skilled diplomacy as he negotiates a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. This peace treaty marks the beginning of Daniel's 70^th week. See Dan 9:27. Although the treaty will be praised as a sign of peace, it will actually be a covenant of death. See Isa 28:15-18. Antichrist is crafting a false, insincere and short-lived peace for the chaotic Middle East) and he was given a crown, (Antichrist will begin to conquer the world posing as the protector of Israel. This victory crown demonstrates that he has earned the right to rule the entire Earth) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (After the covenant is ratified, Antichrist will break the 7-year agreement and world conquest will be revealed as his ultimate goal. Overnight, Antichrist will become ferociously war-like and will quickly rise to total world power through a 10-nation empire.)

The second is a red horse and rider, symbolizing bloodshed and war.

Revelation 6:4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one (representing war and blood). Its rider (Antichrist) was given power (Jesus alone has the authority to break the seals and "allow" the Antichrist to gain power as a part of God's prophetic plan for the End Times) to take peace from the earth (Clearly suggesting that Antichrist's influence will be worldwide) and to make men slay each other. (As Antichrist gains more power, he will force the world into intense, violent warfare. His rise to power will include a treacherous invasion of Israel. His negotiated 7-year "peace treaty" will be ignored as he aggressively consolidates his 10-nation empire, from which he will eventually rule the entire world.) To him was given a large sword. (He will possess some kind of powerful weapon allowing him to defeat his enemies. One can only imagine, given today's technological advances, what this weapon will be).

The third is a black horse and rider, symbolizing famine and economic distress.

Revelation 6:5-6 "Come!" (Come Forth!) I looked, and there before me was a black horse! (Symbolizing famine and economic distress that will occur as a result of the worldwide wars) Its rider (Antichrist) was holding a pair of scales in his hand (The balance scales are a symbol of rationing and famine. At this time, the world will be in severe economic distress and turmoil due to wars, rumors of wars, and destructive earthquakes. Antichrist will continue to gain power and, somehow, takes control of the food supplies - this could have something to do with the powerful weapon referenced above. Antichrist will be the most powerful man in the history of the world and the final Gentile ruler of the earth) 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures (John heard a voice from among the four Cherubim announcing conditions of famine), saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, (Famine and inflation at its highest - work all day for something to eat) and do not damage the oil and the wine!" (Wheat, barley, oil and wine are among the common necessities essential to normal lives of most ordinary people).

The fourth is a pale horse and rider, symbolizing disease and death.

Revelation 6:8-9 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale (Greek: Sickly Green) horse! Its rider (Antichrist) was named Death (We are now at the midpoint of Daniel's 70^th week. It is at this point that Antichrist's true character is revealed. Up until this point he has deceived many, beginning his rise to power as a peacemaker. However, after the Abomination of Desolation all pretense will disappear - Antichrist will reveal himself to be a man of Satan who seeks to destroy both Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ. It is at the time of the Great Tribulation that Antichrist's campaign of death against Israel and believers will begin in earnest) and Hades was following close behind him. They (Death and Hades) were given power over a fourth of the earth (There are two interpretations of this prophecy. The first view argues that widespread death will take the lives of up to one-quarter of the earth's population. By today's population of 6 billion, 1.5 billion would perish. The second view is that the initial sphere of influence of Antichrist will cover 1/4^th of the earth, primarily in the Middle East.) to kill by sword, famine and plague, (The undiluted persecution of the Antichrist now begins. It will be the last and worst wave of anti-Semitic and anti-Christian activity in the history of the world. Many will die due to war, starvation - because they cannot buy food without the mark of the beast - and disease. Note also that "plagues" may refer to modern day biological warfare) and by the wild beasts of the earth. (These are the names given to the Antichrist and the False Prophet in the Book of Revelation. They are beastly in character!)

See Prophecy Sign #5