Before movies or TV shows are released, there will be a preview or a trailer that’s available. The purpose is so that you can get an idea as to what the movie or the TV show is all about. The trailer will be produced to show major highlights; a trailer won’t show minute details or insignificant features. It’s more or less an overview of what’s to come.
Revelation 6 is the trailer for the Tribulation period that will take place.
One other thing to remember is this. Movies and TV shows have different sets. I’m going to go old school here for a moment. Think of the Brady Bunch. Some scenes took place in the orange and avocado green kitchen. But then the next scene would take place in the girls’ room upstairs. Those two scenes could be happening simultaneously, but we see them back-to-back as separate events.
We will experience switching between scenes for several chapters. Some of what we read happens in Heaven; some will happen on Earth. We will see a pattern develop in that we’ll read of God’s wrath on the earth-dwellers (non-believers) and we’ll read of chaos, devastation, and horrific events. But then, John will be told to write a reprieve (think commercial break) for the saints (believers in Heaven). These will be scenes of worship and praise.
Revelation 6 is a crucial chapter as this ushers in the events that lead up to the end times.
Before we read Revelation 6, let’s read Jesus’ words in Matthew 24. This takes place very shortly before Jesus is crucified. As we read, note the things Jesus warns His disciples about.
“3 After that, Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives. While he was alone, his disciples came to him. They said to him, ‘Please tell us when all these things will happen. Also tell us what will show us that you will soon return? What will show us that the world will soon end?’
4 Jesus said, ‘You must be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe them. 5 Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am the Messiah.” Many people will believe their false words. 6 You will hear about wars. You will hear reports about wars in other places. But you must not be afraid. Those things must happen first, but it is not yet the end of everything. 7 People in one country will attack the people in another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies. In some places, people will be hungry, with no food. The ground will shake in many different places. 8 All those things will be like the first pains that a mother has before her baby is born.” (Matthew 24:3 EASY)
Matthew 24:21 EASY “21 Great troubles will happen to people at that time. Nothing as bad has ever happened before, since the beginning of the world. Nothing as bad will ever happen again.”
Matthew 24:29 EASY “Then after all these bad things have happened,
“The sun will become dark.
The moon will not shine any more.
Stars will fall out of the sky.
And the powerful things in the sky will shake.”
Last week, John is in the Spirit, and as a result, he’s given a vision. His focus goes from the throne to a scroll that is in the hand of the One on the throne to a Lamb who we believe to be Christ Jesus. Jesus is the only One who is worthy to break the seals on the scroll.
It’s generally believed that the scroll is the title deed to the Earth. In order for that title deed to be redeemed, the seven seals must be broken by the Kinsman-Redeemer, who is Christ Jesus, Himself.
Each broken seal unleashes a layer of catastrophic consequences. We need to keep in mind that these seals, once they’re opened, remain open. One seal doesn’t replace the seal opened before it, but rather, is added to it. Jesus likens this to a woman experiencing labor pains. We all know that labor pains are uncomfortable in the beginning, but they intensify and can become excruciating and more frequent as the time of birth gets closer.
This is a great illustration of what will take place. It will start off as seeming to be not so bad. But as time goes on, things will become horrific and agonizing. We’re going to see horses unleashed and loosened with the breakage of the first four seals.
Horses, scripturally speaking, represent many different characteristics such as strength, power, and fearlessness. Easton Bible Dictionary says that horses are most often used“in connection with warlike operations”.[i] That certainly rings true with these horses. Warren W. Wiersbe said, “Horses represent God’s activity on earth, the forces He uses to accomplish His divine purposes.”[ii]
Revelation 6:1 NIV “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”
The first horse is white in color. White is symbolically seen as good and pure. When we see a white horse in a western, it is a sure bet that the hero of the scene is the one sitting on the white horse. White horses are usually symbolic of victory of good over evil. This rider holds a bow, but not arrows. He’s given a crown. His mission is to conquer. So, who could this be? If we think white horse, used for God’s activity for His divine purposes, victory of good over evil, and a hero, then our first inclination is that this is Jesus. Jesus will indeed come in on a white horse but that will happen much later. When Jesus arrives on a white horse, He’ll be wearing many crowns and He’ll lead the armies of Heaven who will all be riding white horses as well.
But this white horse in Revelation 6 is not carrying Jesus. This white horse brings in the AntiChrist.
To get the full picture, we must switch scenes. We go from worship to wrath. After chapter 3, John is writing about what’s occurring in Heaven. At this point, as John begins chapter 4, we presume that the rapture has taken place. While the saved are in Heaven worshipping around the throne, there are those who were left behind. Spouses, parents, and children will be missing. Co-workers, best friends, and neighbors completely will have vanished. There will be theories and speculations trying to explain what has happened.
Dr. David Jeremiah has written a book titled “After the Rapture”. It’s a guide for those left behind. In the introduction he writes, “What’s happening around you is undoubtedly traumatizing and deeply disturbing. You may feel like you’re in the cast of an apocalyptic movie set in a dystopic future. I’m sure you have found yourself asking questions you’ve never asked before and never dreamed you would be asking. Even so, no matter how ominous things look, God is still in control and holds the future in His hands.” “I wrote this book for you with one simple purpose in mind: to give you hope in the darkness. You must, however, take care that your hope is accurately placed. You must put your hope in Jesus Christ.”
The time after the Rapture will be like no other period in history. We felt vulnerable after 9/11. This will be much worse. We were frightened by COVID. That pales in comparison to this. The churches may be full, but the believers won’t be there. The earth has been stripped of those who had faith and could offer encouragement. People will be searching for something or someone to give them hope.
This provides the red carpet for the AntiChrist to ride in on his white horse, giving the illusion that he is their hero.
The only time the word antichrist is used in the Bible is in 1 and 2 John. 1 John 1:18 (NKJV) “Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming.”
He’s referenced in other areas of the Bible, but is called by different names.
“a despicable man” –Daniel 11:21 NLT
“a worthless shepherd”—Zechariah 11:16–17 NLT
“the one who brings destruction” –2 Thessalonians 2:3 NLT
“the lawless one” –2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV
“the evil man” –2 Thessalonians 2:9 NLT
Nothing flattering, right? So who exactly is the Antichrist?
Obviously, we don’t know his true identity at this point. But we know that Satan tries so hard to be like God that he mimics Him and takes delight in counterfeiting God in many ways. One of these ways will be that he forms his own trinity. It’s often referred to as the “unholy trinity”. Whereas we have God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Satan portrays himself as God the Father, the AntiChrist as the Savior, and the false prophet (that we will be introduced to in Revelation 13) as the Holy Spirit.
The first horse ushers in the AntiChrist who will enter the scene as a peacemaker, and as someone who instills hope in those left behind. He will endear himself to the people and will gain popularity, and will be respected. He will seem to have all of the answers and will appear to be a true blessing. But it won’t be long until the layers are stripped and he will eventually become a “world dictator”.ii
Whereas Jesus has many crowns on His head, the AntiChrist has one that was given to him. The original Greek word used for crown in this verse is “stephanos”. This is the same word used for the crown of thorns that Jesus was given. It’s thought to be a wreath fashioned out of a vine or leaves. It’s a temporary crown. It’s not made to last.
The Greek word used for the crowns that Jesus wears is diadem. These were made of precious metals (gold, silver) and were often adorned with jewels. Diadem were given to signify royalty. And diadem are not temporary; they are everlasting.
The AntiChrist has a bow, but there is no mention of arrows. A weapon without the ammunition. Tony Evans explains this indicates “the bloodless nature of his coup (6:2). He will assume power through his strength, recognition, and substance, but without resorting to violence initially. The ensuing sense of peace throughout the world, though, will prove false.”[iii]
Those left behind will be desperate for calmness, reassurance, and peacefulness. He will arrive appearing as if he is unarmed but we are told that he is anything but.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:16 NIV “16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
The first broken seal unleashes the white horse who ushers in false hope, lies, and deceit.
“3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.” (Revelation 6:3)
The horse, this time, is fiery red. Red is often symbolic of blood and carnage. Whereas the AntiChrist “appears” to bring peace, it will become apparent that it was a ruse. The illusion of peacefulness will be shattered when the single bow with no arrows is swapped for a large sword.
Just imagine what those left behind will be experiencing. First, the sudden loss of millions of people around the world. Unexplained, unprecedented, and unexpected. And then a hero seems to appear out of nowhere. Making promises of peace. Steering a campaign of community and unification throughout the world. Perhaps life begins to feel better than before. There is hope. Finally. Someone who simply makes things better. But it’s deception in its rawest form.
Things aren’t going to get better.
Following on the heels of the AntiChrist will be war. Not only nation against nation, but man against man. Neighbor against neighbor. Sister against sister. “This rider didn’t need to bring war and destruction. All he needed to do was take peace from the earth. Once this peace – God’s gift to man – was taken, men quickly rush in with war and destruction.”[iv]
The second seal brings war and chaos to the world.
And yet, there’s more devastation to follow. Jesus was, Jesus is, Jesus will always be our only solid hope.
[i] Horses In The Bible: Symbolism, References, & Meaning | Think About Such Things
[ii] Be Victorious by Warren W. Wiersbe
[iii] The Tony Evans Bible Commentary
Beacons of Light 