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HORSEMEN
ON THE HORIZON Introduction:
In this chapter we see
the wrath of the Lamb commencing. This period of time (yet future) is what
the Bible describes as the tribulation. Daniel called it the seventh week
(a week of years) or 7 years of hell on earth. Judgment during this time
will be divided into 3 groups; the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments,
and the vile or bowl judgments. I believe the Bible teaches that the
church will be raptured before the tribulation begins What happens during
the tribulation when the Lamb begins to roar? In the last two chapters we
have been in heaven. We have
enjoyed the glory of the exalted Father and Son. Listened in on the songs
and witnessed the praise. Now, it is time for God to begin working out His
redemptive plan for planet earth. As the Lamb begins to open the seals,
thunder is heard in heaven (approaching judgment). One of the beasts says,
“Come and see.”! The invitation is given for all men to come and look
into future events. It is part of God’s plan that fallen man be
redeemed. He invites him to look that he might see what is coming and turn
from his evil toward the Lord. I.
THE SEAL OF DECEPTION (V.2) Horses
imply swiftness and rapid succession - (This is not Jesus)
A.
He Comes Counterfeiting White Horse - Gives the appearance of good. False purity, (false Christ), He will ride onto the scene in the wake of the Rapture and deceive many into believing that he is Christ - (2 Thess.2:1-12) Deception is his weapon. B.
He Comes Conniving A
Bow - No arrows. He conquers by deception and diplomacy instead of
bloodshed. The world is ready for a man to bring peace. The world’s
thought patterns have been already been programmed to accept his doctrine.
He will unite the world. A Given Crown - The world will accept him and
crown him king of the world (he has no right to the throne!).
C
He Comes Conquering - He will take the world. He will be the last
natural man to try to bring peace to the world - (1 Thess.5:1-3)
His false peace will last 3 and 1/2 years - (Dan 9:27)
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in
the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it
desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate." This rider is not Jesus! Note how they
compare: ·
Both ride horses ·
The first has a
victors crown, the second has many diadems. He is King of Kings ·
The first has a
useless weapon, the second an all powerful sword. ·
The first is a
MAN, the second is GOD! II.
THE SEAL OF DESTRUCTION (VV.3-4)
A.
Fires Of Conflict Red
- The color of fire and blood. Fire devours and destroys. Bloodshed will
be the natural result of these days. The false peace will be impossible to
bring about. This apparently peaceful man now becomes an instrument of
war.
B.
Bloody Combat Many
Wars Will Break Out - (Matt.24:6-8) The world is ready for WWIII: ·
60,000 H-bombs,
enough to destroy the world 17 times over at a temperature of 130 Million
degrees. ·
Since WWII, 12
limited wars; 38 Political assignations; 74 rebellions for independence;
162 revolutions.
III.
THE SEAL OF DESPAIR (VV.5-6)
A.
Sign Of Misery Black
- Mourning, sorrow, famine - The aftermath of war is always famine, and
with famine disease (27 Million died in
B.
Sign Of Measurement Balances
- Rationing food. Measure = 1 Quart; Penny = A Days Wages - Need 1 measure
per person per day! Or, 3 Quarts of horse feed. Could It Happen? - 1/2 the
preschool children in the world are undernourished; Over 1/2 the world
goes to bed hungry; 10,000 people starve to death annually. C.
Sign Of Separation While
The Poor Starve, The Wealthy Enjoy Excess - All compassion will be gone.
One day’s waste of the average American family would feed a family of 6
in IV.
THE SEAL OF DEATH (VV.7-8) Pale
Horse - Pestilence. Green is
the color of dying tissue. Death is The Rider with hell following - There
is no restrainer (2Thess.2:7) 1/4 Of The World’s Population Will Be
Destroyed - Some 18 billion (Ezek 14:21) “For
thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments
upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the
pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?" A. There Will Be Fighting - The Swor B.
There will be Famine
– Hunger C.
There Will Be Pestilence
- Death (Pestilence
= The bubonic plague; AIDS, 20,000,000 cases, possibly 100 times greater
than reported cases) Chemical warfare etc.The animals will kill - Beasts.
Possibly RATS - Destroy 1 Billion dollars of food in the Conclusion:
Many of these things are in place now! Others are coming and will
continue through the tribulation. But, the worst parts is; "All
these are the beginning of sorrows." Those who will run from God
will try to hide from God but man cannot escape the judgment of God except
they come and receive Jesus the Son of God! Right now, this Lamb (Jesus)
is the redeemer, come while He calls to you in grace because one day this
Lamb will roar in wrath and will be your judge!
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