Chapter 6

Israel’s “Seventieth Week” Begins -3

v.2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

All the chaos, debasement, and ruin that characterize the Tribulation period are signified to John in the form of four malignant horsemen. The first is a man.

Though some would argue that this is a picture of Jesus, I am personally convinced that this is the Antichrist. He is shown to John upon a white horse (to symbolize him as a counterfeit of the true Messiah of Israel), holding a bow (because he will be aggressively militant; yet without arrows to illustrate that his true conquest results from cunning and deception), and wearing a crown (a “stephanos”—or victors crown—to show him as one who has victory over the world and as the leader over the kingdom of the world). Jesus, on the other hand, will wear many “diademas” (royal crowns) at His appearing to show Him as royal King victorious over all kingdoms (Rev.19:12).

“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Dan.7:23-27)

This anti-Messiah will make his appearance to the world and to Israel as a brilliant and charismatic political leader who, by political wrangling and strong military alliances, will be able to negotiate peace for Israel; including the ratification of a seven-year agreement that will allow them to rebuild their temple, thereby causing Israel to consider him to be their Messiah; an event Jesus foretold when He said, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive” (John 5:43). After three and a half years, however, Daniel tells us that Antichrist will break the treaty with Israel, invade Jerusalem, and then desecrate the temple.

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Dan.9:27)

The Apostle Paul also foretold of the nation’s unholy alliance with Antichrist with ominous clarity: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ “, Paul says, “then sudden destruction comes upon them” (1Thess.5:3).

v.3-4 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

This second horse has no humanized rider. But is itself a grim apparition (as are the next two horses) meant to symbolize the destructive and devastating forces brought upon the earth in the wake of Antichrist’s ravaging path. The horse is fiery red, and by it peace on earth is vanquished as Antichrist sets out to conquer the world.

“Then the king shall do according to his own will…He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses…Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain” (Dan.11:36-39)