End Of Time: Revelation: Opening 3 Seals: Part 6c As the Scroll begins to be opened in Chapter Six, it is done seal by seal. The first seal that is opened is opened by Jesus, the Lamb. It is but one of the first four seals that reveals God’s judgment of the world. The first four seals are introduced via the Four Living Creatures. Each is introduced by a horse of a particular color and a rider who is assigned a particular task.These traditionally have become known as the Four Riders Of The Apocalypse. The first seal reveals a white horse. Its rider carries a bow, and he is sent forth to conquer and subdue. Here scholars on Revelation differ as to who this Rider could be. Some see him as Christ enacting his proclamation of victory to the world. By far most commentators see the White Horse and its Rider as a Symbol of the Antichrist. The crown that he wears is not of legitimate authority. Two Greek words define two different kinds of crowns: One indicative of God’s sovereignty is called “diadema.” The other word for crown is “stephanos” which is acquired by the act of conquest. The term diadema is not used her. Other Futurist see the Rider of the white horse as the personification of government and its rule in the last days. The first Rider and horse arise on the scene as a pretender, but soon and too late the world begins to see his intention is to kill and wreck havoc. The Lamb opens the Second Seal and it is introduced as a Rider who sat upon a fiery red horse. The fiery red color of this horse suggest great bloodshed and speaks of a time of great war and calamity. It also alludes to a time of social and political disintegration: Chaos breaking out in the world: A time of rampant killing and a time in which people begin to murder one another. Since a great sword is given this Rider, is indicative of the only way the political rulers can rule is by the power of the sword. Jesus opens the Third Seal, and the Third Living Creature introduces it.This time a black horse appears and the Rider bears in his hands a pair of scales. The pair of scales is indicative of the famine and shortage of food that will occur as the result of war and bloodshed. Even now days it is not difficult to imagine a world-wide shortage of food and resources: The Revelation says that it will only worsen. How bad can it get: A whole days’ wage for just a quart of wheat. And we think prices are high now! Our next lesson will cover the opening of the 4-6 seals. |
