Revelation 6:1-2; Come and See (2)
Revelation 6:1-2 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Revelation 6 is the detailed description of the start of the Great Tribulation showing the unleashing of 6 seals. The 7thseal (Revelation 7:1) starts the next series of judgment called the Trumpet Judgment and the 7thTrumpet starts the 7 Bowls. We observe a chronological development of events in these 21 judgments.
Only One Person is authorized to open the heavenly scroll, and the victorious Lamb now breaks each of its seals, one by one.[1]
With the rapture of the church, we next will see the rise of the Antichrist. He is described in Revelation 6:2 as the man riding on the white horse. He is not Christ the Messiah in Rev 19 riding on the white horse, but resembles the Christ.
The Antichrist is holding a bow (signifying a warrior) yet without arrow, giving him a bloodless victory.[2] The bow He uses “aggressive war-provoking actions, hidden under suave, diplomatic maneuvers…The Antichrist will be on a white horse describing peace, ceasing from hostilities.”[3] He was given a crown signifying coronation of a king vesting of authority. This ruler conquers by peaceful means signifying peaceful conquest.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Amen.
[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Volume 4, Zondervan, 2002, 288.
[2]Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 1-7 An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1992, 422-423.
[3]Paul Lee Tan A Pictorial Guide to Bible Prophecy, Bible Communications lnc., 1992, 288.