Bookstudy For Week Of 18-24 June

[barry]

Hi,

This evening we have the bookstudy and it is about the rider on the white horse from Rev 6:2

In the climax book it is explained that the rider is Jesus and he is riding as a king.

I have been reading an article from a brother who explains that the rider is not Jesus.
It boils down to this. White does not always represent righteousness. According to Numbers 12:10 and 2 Kings 5:27 it is used to describe leprosy
There is a big difference in the description of Jesus in Rev 19 and the rider on the white horse
White horses are also used in another context in Zechariah 6:1-7
Gods 4 injurious acts of judgement according to Ezekiel 14:21 are sword, famine, wild beast and pestilence. These are referred to in Jer 27:6-8; Ezek 5:17
The complete description of the 4 horses in Revelation ends with: "And authority was given them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth." The riders all represent an injurious act of judgement:
2nd horse: long sword
3rd horse: food shortage
4th horse: deadly plague
So 1st horse should represent: wild beasts
Wild beasts are in Bible symbols of World powers
Since the rider gets the crown during the Lords day, he is no king before. So no Anglo-American world power.
So it must be the 8th world power who is represented by the rider on the white horse.
Any one has any thoughts on this?

[watchman]

White does not always represent righteousness. According to Numbers 12:10 and 2 Kings 5:27 it is used to describe leprosy
Oh my. Somebody doesn't know what they are talking about. Okay, leprosy is white, so what? So is snow. So are chicken feathers. In Revelation the color white is always used to symbolize righteousness -- no exceptions.

"'Nevertheless, you do have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their outer garments, and they shall walk with me in white ones, because they are worthy. He that conquers will thus be arrayed in white outer garments; and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will make acknowledgment of his name before my Father and before his angels. (Revelation 3:4-5)

. . .I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire that you may become rich, and white outer garments that you may become dressed and that the shame of your nakedness may not become manifested, and eyesalve to rub in your eyes that you may see. (Revelation 3:18)

And round about the throne [there are] twenty-four thrones, and upon these thrones seated twenty-four elders dressed in white outer garments, and upon their heads golden crowns.(Rev 4:4)

And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they also had been. (Revelation 6:11)

After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: "Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9-10)

And I saw, and, look! a white cloud, and upon the cloud someone seated like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. (Revelation 14:14)

Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. (Revelation 19:14-15)

And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. (Revelation 20:11)



I will try to comment on the other points later, as time allows.

[i]Watchman

[watchman]

2. There is a big difference in the description of Jesus in Rev 19 and the rider on the white horse

Not really. The primary difference is that in the first vision the rider has a bow and arrow and in the latter vision Christ is depicted as wielding a sword. That is an interesting difference, because as weapons a bow and arrow are used to engage the enemy from a distance. And as the battle closes in than a sword comes into play. So, when Christ is first given his kingdom he engages the enemy from a distance so to speak but at Armegeddon it will be as if close up. Interestingly, the 45th Psalm depicts the newly crwoned Christ using a bow and arrow.

Watchman

[watchman]

3.White horses are also used in another context in Zechariah 6:1-7

Yes, and in that context we are told that the four horses represent "<span style="font-family:Verdana">the four spirits of the heavens that are going forth after having taken their station before the Lord of the whole earth." That hardly proves the point this person imagines.

</span>

[watchman]

4. Gods 4 injurious acts of judgement according to Ezekiel 14:21 are sword, famine, wild beast and pestilence. These are referred to in Jer 27:6-8; Ezek 5:17

True. But in Revelation the pale horse, the 4th horse, is called Death and Hades. So that would pretty much cover everything... including death by pestilence and wild beasts. (governments)

[watchman]

5. The complete description of the 4 horses in Revelation ends with: "And authority was given them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth."

Ultimately Jehovah is responsible for the deadly plagues, becuase it is by his order that Christ throws Satan out of heaven, knowing that Satan will be in a white hot rage -- intent on destroying the world. That is what the judgment of God is all about.

[watchman]

6. The riders all represent an injurious act of judgement: 2nd horse: long sword. 3rd horse: food shortage. 4th horse: deadly plague. So 1st horse should represent: wild beasts

Except the Bible doesn&#39;t say that the horse represents a wild beast. The horse and its rider obviously represent Christ. The same imagery is used in the 45th Psalm and in the 19th chapter of Revelation.

[watchman]

7. Wild beasts are in Bible symbols of World powers

That&#39;s true. But a horse is not considered a wild beast. Nor is it a fitting symbol for a wild beast.

[watchman]

8. Since the rider gets the crown during the Lords day, he is no king before. So no Anglo-American world power. So it must be the 8th world power who is represented by the rider on the white horse.

The seven headed wild beast has been in existence for over 3,000 years. The 8th king is said to spring from the seven. That means that the 8th king&#39;s ruling authority is embodied in the beast long before the 8th king comes on the scene. So, it is merely a continuation of a ruling power that is already in existence. However, it is entirely appropriate that Christ be given a crown when it is time for him to begin ruling the world at the beginning of the Lord&#39;s day when he rides forth to subdue all of Jehovah&#39;s enemies.

[barry]

Hi Watchman,

Thanks for your replies.

regards,
Barry