Posted on 04/11/2014 7:04:49 AM PDT by pastorbillrandles
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)
I believe that the first two and possibly three of the seven seals are already opened. I could be wrong I admit, but I definitely believe that in our time, the White Horse and Rider is sweeping the earth, for the AntiChrist Spirit is already conditioning people everywhere, to accept a new humanistic Utopia, as well as a new “Christianity”, and to anticipate the new Messiah.
There is little doubt in my mind that the Red Horse of wanton violence has been released upon the earth. Many thought that the end of Cold War would usher in a golden age, an “End of History” because the ‘last man standing’ was the benevolent superpower, the USA.
Alas, the vacuum is filled now by a movement even more totalitarian,violent and extreme than the Communists ever dreamed of being; radical Islam, in both Sunni and Shia versions. Violence has been loosed upon the earth and not even a superpower can stop it, for the new warfare is ‘asymmetrical’, and decentralised.
The genius of this movement is that it is like a swarm of bees rather than as a bear for whom we can always build a big enough gun to shoot down. The Communist leaders were ruthless and evil, but at least they wanted to live, they were coldly pragmatic. This new wave of violence is led by men who want to ‘die for Allah’ and obtain their virgins.
But I don’t think the pale horse is riding yet, in this prophecy for we are given a tally of destruction that the world has never seen before. When these two riders (Death and Hell), commence, destruction occurs in which one-fourth of the population of the earth is slated to die violent deaths.
First of all the actual color of the horse; the greek word is Chloros, which is the color green. A corpse turns green when there is no antiseptic treatment of the body, meat turns green when it goes bad, Chloros is the greenish color of death.
The Riders are both Death and Hell, that is physical and spiritual death are personified, and allowed wreak havoc on the inhabitants of the earth ,using four tools of destruction. How is it that as many as one-fourth of the population of the earth are destroyed?
* The sword- Wars of cataclysmic proportion are going to occur. What we see occurring in the Middle East right now, as secular governments either cede or violently fall to popular democratic movements, is the beginning of this calamity. Islamists are taking the helm in nation after nation, removing the former restraints on the violent forces churning in the Arab world.
This will eventually lead to aggression,particularly against Israel, and the west. The disastrous wars that come out of this will utterly destroy Arab capitols such as Damascus, and Amman, rendering parts of the Arab world uninhabitable. The whole world will teeter, and “stagger like a drunkard”, as Isaiah 24 tells us. Judgment is coming upon the earth.
Instability breeds instability, thus the world is in for geopolitical tremors, earthquakes and tsunamis which are of never before seen proportions. As Daniel tells us,
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)
* Hunger-War always leads to deprivation such as hunger. Therefore it shall be as asJesus told us ,
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”(Matthew 24:7)
*Death- This is plague. It is part of the arsenal of Death and Hades, in the execution of the Judgment of God upon the earth. Part of modern man’s pride is in his “conquest” over the traditional diseases which once wrought so much misery such as tuberculosis,measles, Smallpox, etc.
Devastating plagues are coming for which there is no antidote other than turning in repentant sorrow back to our Maker, whom we have spurned. Some of these plagues, such as AIDS come as a direct result of the accommodation to perversions such as homosexuality.
* The beasts of the earth-There are beasts that are obvious, such as lions and tigers and bears, and there are beasts that are lesser but powerful to destroy such as rats, andthere are beasts that are microscopic, such as germs. God is going to employ all of them in the time of the opening of the fourth seal, to carry out the destruction of up to one-fourth of the population of the earth.
These are the four weapons God told Israel he would bring upon them in the time that they refused to repent, in the last days of Judah,
And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.(Jeremiah 24:10)
For thus says the Lord GOD: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it?(Ezekiel 14:21)
People are going to come to realise that Israel, whom they despise for the most part, is a microcosm of the human race. As God once dealt with Israel, offering the nation grace or judgment, goodness or severity, so does He deal with the whole human race.
The frightening thing about this is it seems that when the fourth seal opens, most of those killed are unready for death, for it is not just death, but death and Hell who ride together. Repent and turn to the Lord while you can!
This series addresses many misconceptions about this book. The anti-christ has not yet been revealed. The seals have not yet been broken. People so often want to rush prematurely to conclusions that are not justified (all this blood moon speculation--the Bible makes it clear that the sun/moon darkening are signs of the "imminent" coming of the Lord to rapture the saints and pour out his wrath).
2 Thessalonians was written in response to the fears of the church when they read the first letter.
chap 2
2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The Day of the Lord comes after the apostasy. The dead in Christ rise upon His one return to rule after He destroys the man of lawlessness. Those dead in Christ are those who participate in the first resurrection of Revelation 20.
At least that is how I see it.
>>> 2 Thessalonians was written in response to the fears of the church when they read the first letter.
How do we know this?
Also... note a key operative phrase in your reference: “as if from us,” suggests to me that the source could be any reputable person.
The way I see it is simple:
The seals are clearly during the tribulation period when a THIRD of the earth’s population is WIPED OUT.
That has NOT happened yet.
Also, I know we are not in the tribulation because I’m still here... and I know that the Holy Spirit is still here...
And Israel has NOT signed a seven year peace agreement with anyone.
Do not be deceived... We Aint seen NOTHIN yet!
I’m a post-tribber living day to day.
>>> I’m a post-tribber living day to day.
Not nearly as important as who you say Jesus Christ is.
If it’s any consolation, I don’t think time will take very long to prove how wrong you are about post-trib theory.
**Note that this time (tribulation period) is a TIME OF WRATH... and that the body of Christ is NOT APPOINTED UNTO WRATH.**
I agree. But to think that it means you won’t feel any pain is not so certain. I don’t doubt that many in bombardment zones during WW2 thought, “This is the END!”
>>> I agree. But to think that it means you won’t feel any pain is not so certain.
No arguments there. “There will be wars and rumors of war, EQ in diverse places, famine, pestilence, etc... and these are just the beginnings of birth pains.”
No question in my mind that christians will be tested in these days before the rapture which precedes God’s wrath.
Unfortunately, I fear most christians wont be ready for it.
bttt
>>> Stealth approach to JW’s “anointed christians” being the only ones ready?
1. You mis-interpret what I mean by “ready”.
Even after Jesus warned Peter that he would be tested and that he would deny him three times, Peter still failed his test.
2. If you were unclear as to what I meant, you could have asked me instead of suggesting that I approach anything with stealth. You don’t know me.
3. The 144,000 which the JWs refer to as being “ready” are the very ones who are NOT ready (Jewish Hebrews) when Christ comes for His bride... but they realize then that they had rejected their true messiah, and become witnesses during the tribulation period. Just fyi.
The JWs are clueless on a great many things... like the Mormons and any other cult of christianity which fails to recognize Jesus as Lord.
The “Door-Knockers” eventually get to a point once they have you captivated attention & stick you with their (NWT) Matt 24:8... “All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.” (NWT)Matt 24:7 is another good one for ‘em. “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. They sight more earthquakes & high Richter scale EGs too. I asked if this is proving anything today, they said Oh yes, since 1914....! I interrupted them by saying “have a better day” & closed the door.
>>> I interrupted them by saying “have a better day” & closed the door.
To which their response to each other as they leave is “persecution” and they are justified (in their own mind) to continue their mission boldly.
I like to keep them on the subject of who Jesus is, and who He claimed Himself to be. What you will find is that they will leave faster than you can close the door on them... and at the next door they knock on they will not be so confident.
Well, JW’s are trained in quick in-out sales pitches which make a point to limited discussions (healthy constructive criticism) however they will pass you onto an Elder & end up being one of their “bible study students”. Your call... LOL
>>> however they will pass you onto an Elder & end up being one of their “bible study students”. Your call... LOL
ONLY if you take their literature.
THAT is the key. Do NOT let them put it in your hand.
Show them in THEIR bible how they are wrong about who Jesus is.
They won’t be back.
Huh!?!? I have read their hand out literature, even on a common down-town street corner. When door knockers are pressed for time (as they appear to be on a quota system), they want to leave their literature & I have yet been forced into any further commitment. I have declined meeting with anyone of their Elders. BTW, they still come back to the neighborhood, just that its a new crew!
I forgot to leave you this(earlier post) on their mystical prophesy of 1914 per their NWT. It brief, but hits the mark.
http://carm.org/1914-ad-607-bc-586-bc-and-jehovahs-witnesses
P.S. misapplication of Daniel 4
later, nice chatting
>>> they want to leave their literature & I have yet been forced into any further commitment.
My reasons for the warning go far deeper than you realize.
The successful placing of literature is a subtle form of victory in their mind as well as a consoling sense of completion of their objectives. Psychologically, any compromise or “agreement to consider” on your part is easily conferred by physically receiving their literature.
Effectively, it places psychological momentum on their side.
Like a game of tug of war or arm wrestling... once you gain the momentum, the urge for victory only strengthens.
Your arguments therefore no matter how strong are not considered or even pondered.
As for the commitment side of things, make no mistake about this... at the bare minimum, your address is recorded if they succeed in placing literature. You are pretty much guaranteed return visits whether its a new crew or not.
Their foot is in the door, and if you don’t want it there, don’t take their literature.
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