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. Plough
. Servant
of God Studies
A
Closer Look at the First and Second Seals
By Servant of God
First Seal. The Antichrist.
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.
Notes from Bullinger:
If we interpret these Seals by the words of Christ in Matt. 24., where
He is describing this very time in answer to the disciples' questions,
there can be no doubt as to their meaning and reality. His very first
words relate to the false Christ's who shall appear as the sign when
these things should be (i.e., when the Temple should be destroyed).
And so it was; but these were only the prelude to what should mark
"the beginning of sorrows." These should begin, not by many
"false Christ's," but by one, who should give it out and say:
"I am the Messiah, and he shall deceive many" (Matt. 24. 5). This
first Seal, therefore, must mark the first rising of this
False Christ. This is the silent secret preliminary intimation of his
going forth. Further details of this are given in Rev. 13., where it
is expressly said that "it was given to him to make war with the
saints and to overcome them, and there was given to him authority over
every tribe and people, and tongue and nation, and all who dwell on
the earth shall do homage to him whose names have not been written (in
the book of life of the Lamb slain) from the foundation of the
world" (Rev. 13. 7,8). It seems impossible to separate this from
the rider on the white horse (in 6. 1, 2), for we read of him in like
manner that "it was given to him" to wear a
crown, and to go forth and overcome. We see in this rider an imitation
of the "faithful and true" Messiah when He comes forth on a
white horse to really conquer, how natural for the false and deceiving
Messiah to go forth in a manner that will be most calculated to
"deceive many."
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in My name,
saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over
all kindreds, and tonques, and nations.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the
earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The descriptions of Antichrist's career in other Scriptures coincide
entirely with this. He rises unrecognized by the dwellers on the
earth. His beginning is "Peace," but his aim is universal
dominion, which he finally acquires. In Daniel it is said that
"his power shall be might... that he shall destroy
wonderfully" (Dan. 8. 24) and that "he shall stretch forth
his hand upon the countries" (Dan. 11. 36, 42).
The commission "given to him" concerned
war, as the second seal goes on to explain. Horses
are specially associated with war.
The Second Seal.
Revelation 6:3 And when He had opened the
second seal, I heard the second beast say, “Come and see. “
Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse
that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take
peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there
was given unto him a great sword.
Notes from Bullinger:
That this relates to the whole earth, and not merely to the Land,
seems to be determined by our Lord's reference to the subject of the
second seal, in Matt. 24. 6,7: "And ye shall hear of wars and
rumours of wars... and nations shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom." These words, coupled with the second seal,
point to a general break up of the nations in the process of their
absorption into Antichrist's universal kingdom.
In Ezekiel 38. verse 21 it is written: "I will call for a sword
against him throughout all my mountains, saith Jehovah Adonai: Every
man's sword shall be against his brother."
Ezekiel 38:21 And I will call for a sword
against him throughout all My mountains, saith the LORD GOD: every
man's sword shall be against his brother.
Jeremiah 25 tells of this second seal; when God has His controversy
with the nations. Read from verse 15-33, and note verse 29: "I
will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the
Lord of hosts... for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations; He
will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord"
(verse 31). Against Israel also comes the sword, "I will bring a
sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant"
(Lev. 26. 25-33). The "sword" is one of God's "four
sore judgments" sent upon the earth (Ezek. 14. 13-21).
There was given unto him."
We must note well these significant words. They are spoken of the
first rider on the white horse; and similarly of all the judgments.
All are initiated from the throne. It will be again, as it was in
another period of Israel's history in the days of Asa, "In those
times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came
in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the
countries, and nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city; for
God did vex them with all adversity" (2 Chron. 15. 5, 6).
No new thing is referred to in this second seal.
2 Chronicles 15:5 And in those times there was no
peace in him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations
were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
vexations
Strong's #H4103
Hebrew: מְהוּמָה
Transliteration: mᵉhűwmâh
Pronunciation: meh-hoo-maw'
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Bible Usage: {destruction} {discomfiture} {trouble} {tumult}
{vexation} vexed.
Definition:
confusion or uproar
2 Chronicles 15:6 And nation was destroyed of
nation, and city of city : for God did vex them with all adversity.
adversity
Strong's #H6869
Hebrew: צָרָה
Transliteration: tsârâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-raw'
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Bible Usage: {adversary} {adversity} {affliction} {anguish} {distress}
{tribulation} trouble.
Definition:
tightness (that {is} figuratively trouble); transitively a female
rival
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Additional information from E. W. Bullinger:
1. Re: first seal, the beginning of sorrows begins when the
first rider on the white horse (THE Antichrist = the false Christ who
specifically calls himself Messiah) appears.
2. This false Christ is the the one who will make war with the saints
to overcome them, because IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM to wear the crown to
deceive to go forth and overcome (all people/nations and tribes)
3. We clearly see this first rider as an imitation of the true Messiah
when He comes forth on a white horse to truly conquer.
4. Re: second seal, Peace is how the first rider, or Antichrist
is able to come/enter/rise undetected, “destroy
wonderfully”, and his hand will stretch forth (universal dominance)
upon the countries.
5. We are talking about the whole earth, not part of it.
6. The first rider or Antichrist is given a great sword with which to
take peace, which according to this by Bullinger is to break up the
nations and bring them into the Antichrist’s kingdom.
7. “There was given unto him” comparing to the days of Asa with
vexations upon all the cities and nations, God vexed them with
adversity. These vexations and that adversity is going to be the
judgment upon the land for following the Antichrist.
The tools used
to produce these Bible studies were:
The
King James Companion
Bible
Companion
Bible Appendixes
Strong's
Concordance
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