Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start COME AND SEE… THE WORKS OF THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE EVOLVING FROM STRONG DELUSION 08-01-10 (Rev 6:1) And I saw when the Lamb [of God, Jesus Christ] opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 1. Commentary: The “four beasts” (Gk: zoon; a live thing, i.e. an animal: beast) of Rev 6:1 are set in direct opposition to “the beasts of the earth” (Gk: therion; a dangerous animal: (venomous, wild) beast) of Rev 6:8. Our first observation of the four beasts is “in the midst of the throne [of God], and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” (Rev 4:6). Of these four beasts then, we may say that, at the very least, they are certainly domesticated or tamed (obedient) in comparison to the later mentioned “beasts of the earth” who are dangerous, venomous, wild, and therefore undomesticated, untamed, and thoroughly disobedient. a. (Eccl 3:18) I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 2. Commentary: May we further note that in each of the first four seals (1-4), one of the four beasts says, with express rational intelligence, “Come and see,” which, in context, indicates a definite present viewable reality. We may then notice the absence of “Come and see” in the last three seals (5-7), which would indicate a future reality in addition to the present reality, coexisting with the present reality. There is a certain probability that the coexisting realities of seals 1-6 have existed since the Garden of Eden. Why? Because everything is progressive, and the seals find their origination there. (Rev 6:2) And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him [What is His name?] had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering [Gk: to subdue: overcome, prevail, get the victory] [in the present], and to conquer [Gk: to subdue: overcome, prevail, get the victory] [in the future]. 1. Commentary: Horses are a biblical symbol of power. All of the four riders are mounted on horses of power. Please note also that each rider commands and directs his horse, and the horse (the power) implicitly obeys. White is a biblical symbol of purity and righteousness, so therefore one would expect that the rider who leads and comes first on a white horse characterizes our Lord Jesus Christ. However, we observe that he had “a bow,” but no arrows. An empty bow could well indicate a defeated foe – remind you of anyone? And we observe that “a crown” was given unto him,” indicating that he did not of his own come with a crown, but that someone of a higher order gave him a crown. May we note in the depiction of the definitely real appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ in Rev 19:12 that when He appears, He shall already have on His head “many crowns.” a. (Rev 19:11-13) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 2. Commentary: That which comes first is the foundation upon that which follows is built, and we know that Jesus Christ is our “sure foundation” (Isa 28:16 & 1 Cor 3:10). However, this image of a rider on a white horse in Rev 6:2 is not Jesus Christ at all, but an impostor or counterfeit, seeming to be Jesus but not, yet in possession of tremendous power. Then who or what foundational entity might this image represent? Well, what first comes to mind is Satan, and then we recall that Satan is the great deceiver, and it is he who, in the Garden of Eden, has laid the foundation of deception in mankind’s heart. This truly is the “mystery of iniquity” but how does that correlate in the Bible? a. (2 Th 2:8-12) And then shall that Wicked be revealed (Rev 6:2) [but very very slowly over many hundreds of years], whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (Rev 19:11-13): Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 3. Commentary: It is upon the Satanic foundation of strong delusion that “power was given unto them [the four horsemen of the Apocalypse] over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword [war], and with hunger [famine], and with death [pestilence], and with the beasts of the earth [unsaved men].” (Rev 6:8). The foundational power of strong delusion was established by Satan through his subtle distribution of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (a delusional mingled mixture) in the Garden of Eden. This evil foundation of strong delusion has been and is being continuously built upon and extends throughout the Bible, paralleling in many respects an inverted Tower of Babel, but leading (successfully) to Hell rather than (unsuccessfully) to Heaven. This evil foundation of strong delusion extends through the present, and shall continue to extend, but indeed wax stronger and stronger, until the advent of the “great white throne” judgment of Rev 20:11. 4. Commentary: Please note that each seal is directly a consequence of the preceding seal; this dreadful progression of evil is altogether initiated and continuously advanced by the rider (What is his name again?) of the white horse of “strong delusion” described in the first seal. (Rev 6:3,4) And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red [war, a consequence of strong delusion]: and power was given to him that sat thereon [a demon, fallen angel, unclean spirit] to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Rev 6:5,6) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse [famine, a consequence of war which is a consequence of strong delusion]; and he that sat on him [a demon, fallen angel, unclean spirit] had a pair of balances [weighing scales] in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny [a man’s wages for one day’s labor], and three measures of barley for a penny [barley was less expensive than wheat because it was esteemed rougher and of poorer nutritional quality, and perhaps more plenteous as well; barley was also fed to the animals as grain fodder]; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 1. Commentary: Here we may gladly hear mention of a restrainting influence (2 Thess 2:6) placed upon the evil design of the rider who would injure the spiritual oil and wine, both of which are spiritually discerned to represent the Holy Spirit. God always seems to make provision for protecting His own. Aaron and the Aaronic priests were anointed with oil, in type, for their priestly duties, from the top of their head and running down unto their feet, just as we, in antitype, are anointed with the Holy Spirit for our priestly duties. a. (Psa 23:4,5) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup [of wine] runneth over [Heb: satisfaction: wealthy /// to slake the thirst: (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly)]. b. (Luke 10:33-35) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him [the wounded man – a symbol of us], he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again [His Second Coming], I will repay thee. c. (Luke 22:19,20) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after [the last] supper, saying, This cup [of wine] is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Rev 6:7,8) And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale [Gk: greenish] horse [an indicator of gangrene, i.e., pestilence, a consequence of famine which is a consequence of war which is a consequence of strong delusion]: and his name that sat on him was Death [not a fallen angel now, but the concept of the culmination of their evil works], and Hell followed with him [a legally correct and directly consequential truism of death for all unsaved men]. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts [Gk: therion; a dangerous animal:--(venomous, wild) beast] of the earth [past, present, and future].
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COME AND SEE… THE WORKS OF THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE EVOLVING FROM STRONG DELUSION
08-01-10
(Rev 6:1) And I saw when the Lamb [of God, Jesus Christ] opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
1. Commentary: The “four beasts” (Gk: zoon; a live thing, i.e. an animal: beast) of Rev 6:1 are set in direct opposition to “the beasts of the earth” (Gk: therion; a dangerous animal: (venomous, wild) beast) of Rev 6:8. Our first observation of the four beasts is “in the midst of the throne [of God], and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” (Rev 4:6). Of these four beasts then, we may say that, at the very least, they are certainly domesticated or tamed (obedient) in comparison to the later mentioned “beasts of the earth” who are dangerous, venomous, wild, and therefore undomesticated, untamed, and thoroughly disobedient.
a. (Eccl 3:18) I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
2. Commentary: May we further note that in each of the first four seals (1-4), one of the four beasts says, with express rational intelligence, “Come and see,” which, in context, indicates a definite present viewable reality. We may then notice the absence of “Come and see” in the last three seals (5-7), which would indicate a future reality in addition to the present reality, coexisting with the present reality. There is a certain probability that the coexisting realities of seals 1-6 have existed since the Garden of Eden. Why? Because everything is progressive, and the seals find their origination there.
(Rev 6:2) And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him [What is His name?] had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering [Gk: to subdue: overcome, prevail, get the victory] [in the present], and to conquer [Gk: to subdue: overcome, prevail, get the victory] [in the future].
1. Commentary: Horses are a biblical symbol of power. All of the four riders are mounted on horses of power. Please note also that each rider commands and directs his horse, and the horse (the power) implicitly obeys. White is a biblical symbol of purity and righteousness, so therefore one would expect that the rider who leads and comes first on a white horse characterizes our Lord Jesus Christ. However, we observe that he had “a bow,” but no arrows. An empty bow could well indicate a defeated foe – remind you of anyone? And we observe that “a crown” was given unto him,” indicating that he did not of his own come with a crown, but that someone of a higher order gave him a crown. May we note in the depiction of the definitely real appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ in Rev 19:12 that when He appears, He shall already have on His head “many crowns.”
a. (Rev 19:11-13) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
2. Commentary: That which comes first is the foundation upon that which follows is built, and we know that Jesus Christ is our “sure foundation” (Isa 28:16 & 1 Cor 3:10). However, this image of a rider on a white horse in Rev 6:2 is not Jesus Christ at all, but an impostor or counterfeit, seeming to be Jesus but not, yet in possession of tremendous power. Then who or what foundational entity might this image represent? Well, what first comes to mind is Satan, and then we recall that Satan is the great deceiver, and it is he who, in the Garden of Eden, has laid the foundation of deception in mankind’s heart. This truly is the “mystery of iniquity” but how does that correlate in the Bible?
a. (2 Th 2:8-12) And then shall that Wicked be revealed (Rev 6:2) [but very very slowly over many hundreds of years], whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (Rev 19:11-13): Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
3. Commentary: It is upon the Satanic foundation of strong delusion that “power was given unto them [the four horsemen of the Apocalypse] over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword [war], and with hunger [famine], and with death [pestilence], and with the beasts of the earth [unsaved men].” (Rev 6:8). The foundational power of strong delusion was established by Satan through his subtle distribution of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (a delusional mingled mixture) in the Garden of Eden. This evil foundation of strong delusion has been and is being continuously built upon and extends throughout the Bible, paralleling in many respects an inverted Tower of Babel, but leading (successfully) to Hell rather than (unsuccessfully) to Heaven. This evil foundation of strong delusion extends through the present, and shall continue to extend, but indeed wax stronger and stronger, until the advent of the “great white throne” judgment of Rev 20:11.
4. Commentary: Please note that each seal is directly a consequence of the preceding seal; this dreadful progression of evil is altogether initiated and continuously advanced by the rider (What is his name again?) of the white horse of “strong delusion” described in the first seal.
(Rev 6:3,4) And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red [war, a consequence of strong delusion]: and power was given to him that sat thereon [a demon, fallen angel, unclean spirit] to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
(Rev 6:5,6) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse [famine, a consequence of war which is a consequence of strong delusion]; and he that sat on him [a demon, fallen angel, unclean spirit] had a pair of balances [weighing scales] in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny [a man’s wages for one day’s labor], and three measures of barley for a penny [barley was less expensive than wheat because it was esteemed rougher and of poorer nutritional quality, and perhaps more plenteous as well; barley was also fed to the animals as grain fodder]; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
1. Commentary: Here we may gladly hear mention of a restrainting influence (2 Thess 2:6) placed upon the evil design of the rider who would injure the spiritual oil and wine, both of which are spiritually discerned to represent the Holy Spirit. God always seems to make provision for protecting His own. Aaron and the Aaronic priests were anointed with oil, in type, for their priestly duties, from the top of their head and running down unto their feet, just as we, in antitype, are anointed with the Holy Spirit for our priestly duties.
a. (Psa 23:4,5) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup [of wine] runneth over [Heb: satisfaction: wealthy /// to slake the thirst: (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly)].
b. (Luke 10:33-35) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him [the wounded man – a symbol of us], he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again [His Second Coming], I will repay thee.
c. (Luke 22:19,20) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after [the last] supper, saying, This cup [of wine] is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
(Rev 6:7,8) And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale [Gk: greenish] horse [an indicator of gangrene, i.e., pestilence, a consequence of famine which is a consequence of war which is a consequence of strong delusion]: and his name that sat on him was Death [not a fallen angel now, but the concept of the culmination of their evil works], and Hell followed with him [a legally correct and directly consequential truism of death for all unsaved men]. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts [Gk: therion; a dangerous animal:--(venomous, wild) beast] of the earth [past, present, and future].