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HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSEPastor James A. McMenis

Part 4: Preparing the Way for the Horsemen of Revelation 6

White Horse: The Coming Prince of False Peace (Anti-Christ)

The horsemen of the Apocalypse will be preceded by an age that compliments their individual judgements. This is revealed in a closer study comparing Matthew 24:1-8 (9-) to Revelation 6.

MATTHEW 24:8 - “Beginning of Sorrows” [Travail, Birth Pains] The birth pains are being felt in this age and will continue to intensify…PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE HORSEMEN OF REVELATION 6! WHITE HORSE: D E C E P T I O N (False Peace) RED HORSE: W A R (Removes Peace) BLACK HORSE: F A M I N E PALE HORSE: D E A T H

Revelation 6:2 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.

Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page � of �1 5

“Bow” - ‘covenant’

Genesis 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

“Crown” - ‘stephanos’- the victor’s crown, the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games. In contrast to a ‘diadem', diadema, signifying kingly authority. Christ will wear a diadema, the crown of a sovereign, reigning King.

Revelation 19:12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns [diadem];

and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Daniel 8:25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

“peace” marks the end, not war “travail”: ‘odeen’, sorrows, birth pains

The Leader will be the Son of Satan, the “Seed of the Serpent”Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 27:1; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Revelation 13.

-An intellectual genius: Daniel 7:20; 8:23; Ezekiel 28:3-A persuasive orator: Daniel 7:20; Revelation 13:2-A political manipulator: Daniel 11:21-A commercial genius: Daniel 8:25; Revelation 13:17;Ps 52:7; Dan 11:38, 43; Ezekiel 28:4,5-A military leader: Daniel 8:24; Rev 6:2; Revelation 13:4; Isaiah 4:16-A powerful organizer: Revelation 13:1,2; 17:17-A unifying religious genius: 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:3, 14, 15


2 Thessalonians 2:3-12[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come [1] (the) falling away first, and [2] that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Warns against deception. Two events must occur before:

FIRST: The apostasia; deliberate abandonment of a formerly professed position or view; a defection; a rejection of a former allegiance. Used to denote a political or military rebellion. A rebellion against God: OT, Joshua 22:22. NT: Acts 21:21; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:3-4; Hebrews 3:12.

SECOND: The Man of Sin revealed. Aorist tense; a definite time when the veil will be removed. His revelation will herald the fact that the Day of the Lord has actually arrived. “Perdition,” opposite of salvation.

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

An anti-theistic revolt, replacing all existing forms of worship.

“Anti-christ” = pseudo-Christ, in place of Christ;

Summary: The Anti-Christ / Satan’s Imitation of Christ

-His coming (2:9, 2:1); -His apocalypse, revelation (2:3, 1:7-8); -will have no rival (2:4); -all power and signs and lying wonders (2:9); -man of Sin empowered by Satan (2:9). -his gospel, the lie (2:11) vs. the truth (2:10,12);

The Restrainer

[6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

The restraint prevents the premature manifestation of the man of sin as the very embodiment of iniquity. [A “fulness of time” for Christ (Galatians 4:4); so also for the man of sin.]


[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

“iniquity” (“lawlessness”): Definite article, denotes the definite aim of the devil to overthrow the law of God and establish his own rule (not merely disorder and violation of the law in general). Lawlessness = asserting the absence of moral absolutes; right and wrong, etc. (sound familiar?).

“work”: energeo, the active operation of some (supernatural) power. (Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:13: the working of the Word of God in the readers.) While the individual has not yet been revealed, the spirit that will dominate his career is already operative.

“He”: The neuter participle of v.6 has been replaced by the masculine participle, “the one restraining.”

Only God has ever restrained sin:

Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh...

Job 1,2 - It was God’s hedge that restrained Satan. Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit assumed a special relationship to the church as its Indweller: John 14:16-17. (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) He came to abide with the church forever!

“Without repentance.” [After completion of His work in the church, He will resume the relation to mankind that He had before Pentecost.]


Three conditions, still today:

1) Apostasy had not come;2) Spirit of God had not been taken away;3) Man of Sin is not yet revealed.

[8] And then shall that Wicked One be revealed, whom the Lord [Jesus] shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Man of God vs. the Man of Satan (Revelation 19)


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