White Horse Of The Apocalypse XII

Sagitta - THE ARROW

"The LORD’s arrow of victory"

"But God will shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they will be wounded." 

(Psa. 64: 7)

"And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” (2 Kings 13:17)

There can be no victory for the Lord and for his people without defeating the enemies of the Lord and his people. A winner implies a loser, and vise versa. The same divine act that delivers the Israelites and gives them victory destroys the enemies of Israel. The victory of the Lord and his people is defeat for the enemies of God and righteousness.

Peace results from the firing of this swift and mighty arrow of wonderful victory. There can be no peace while there are enemies seeking to destroy you and it. To have peace, those enemies of God and peace must be destroyed. When peace is not desired by an enemy, and when an enemy wants only to kill you, you can only have peace and safety when that enemy is destroyed. Said the Psalmist:

"My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." (Psa 120: 6-7)

The devil will not ever make peace with God or confess his sin, and the same is it with sinful fallen man who lives under the power of "the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2: 2), i.e. the spirit of Satan. Sinners do not want to make peace with God nor turn away from their sinful passions and world philosophy. They hate true peace.

So too in the Apocalypse and "final conflict" between heaven's forces and the forces of evil, peace comes (Rev. 20-22), but only after the evil world has been destroyed by the arrival of God's arrows of end time judgment.

Some translations give "arrow of deliverance" (or salvation) or "arrow of victory" (or triumph). God's "arrow of victory" denotes an "arrow of death," an "arrow of justice," an "arrow of destruction" in relation to those who are its target. The same arrow that delivers one destroys another so that it is both an arrow of salvation to one class and an arrow of destruction to another.

These arrows of coming wrath and judgment are "targeted," and not simply shot randomly ("at a venture"; I Kings 22: 34). God's arrows are "seek and destroy" missiles.

Wrote the prophet Zechariah:

"Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof." (Zec 5: 3-4)

If we view "the curse" metaphorically as "arrows of the Almighty," then indeed they will "seek and destroy" those against whom they are aimed. That arrow will hunt for and find its target! God does not miss the mark. Interesting is the fact that the Greek word for "sin" is "hamartia" which means to miss the mark! It is used in Judges 20: 16 (Septuagint) to describe stone throwers who did "not miss" their mark.

"Thine hand (or arrow) shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men." (Psa 21: 8-10)

Like God's "hand," so his arrows of justice will "find out," or "seek and destroy," all his enemies, all those under his wrath. And, upon whom does the "wrath of God" abide? John wrote:

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3: 36)

These are they who are destroyed when Christ returns to "judge the living and the dead." Wrote Paul:

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (II Thess. 1: 7-10)

Satan is said to shoot his "fiery darts" (Eph. 6:16), or "the flaming missiles" (Amplified) or "every burning missile the enemy hurls at you" (Phillips).

"Fiery darts" or "arrows" is from the Greek "belos" and "is literally something thrown (pointed weapon, arrow, dart). This is the only NT use of belos which is found 34 times in the Septuagint (LXX)."

The flaming missiles of Satan are deflected by those who have and use "the shield of faith" (Eph. 6:16). Certainly they do not compare to the missiles of Jehovah! The enemy of God has no shield that can stop those missiles!

Swift Justice

"He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly." (Psa. 147:15)

In Sagitta, we see the invisible God's "arrow of victory and salvation" in the heavens, reminding us of the reign of God's justice and righteousness. That heavenly arrow is associated with power and authority, with majesty and sovereignty, and with swiftness of execution. When God gives the order to his angels or messengers of Providence to execute sentence, or carry out his orders, then those agents act quickly in apprehending (seizing or nabbing) the rebels, and "executing the judgment written" (Psa. 149: 9) Wrote Solomon:

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Ecc. 8: 11)

The fact that the day of wrath, though threatened in the long ago, has not yet occurred, has led sinful man to think that he may never be arrested by God. So, today, after about six thousand years since the fall of Adam, men's hearts are indeed "fully set in them to do evil." God's longsuffering and forbearance with sinners will one day end and then the "sentence against" the sinner and his "evil work" will be "executed speedily." So said Jesus too.

"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." (Luke 18: 7-8)

God's time of longsuffering is a reason for the seeming delay in God's speedy execution of just vengeance and retribution (for his not yet bending his bow) upon the wicked, and the purpose behind that forbearance is twofold. First, God's delay in execution, or his waiting, is so that the wicked might turn from his sin, and seek peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness with his Creator. Second, it is so that the wicked world may reach that point, in their sins and rebellion against God, "of no return." To use the language of scripture, it will be when the iniquity of the world is "full" or "filled to the brim" with rebellion against the Lord and his word. (See Gen. 15: 16 and Matt. 23: 32)

Said the prophet Jeremiah: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." (Lam. 3: 22) Each day that passes shows that God is now "reserving" his execution and being merciful and compassionate.

Who or what are the targets of the arrows of the Apocalypse, shot from the toxon of the mighty victorious warrior on the war steed? Who suffers the judgments that follow the first seal's opening? They are these:

Unbelievers
Persecutors of Believers
Ungodly people
Wicked rulers
Antichrist
False Prophet
Satan

Also, even earth itself, with its animals and vegetation, become targets as the seals following the first are opened.

The arrow of Sagitta is viewed as naked and alone, without bow, archer, or quiver. Yet, they are implied. The arrow does not seem to be pointed at anyone particular star or constellation, in other words, against no specific target. It seems as though its presence in the starry heavens, as such, does not mean that it is not directed (shot at random) but may simply denote that it is prepared to be directed and redirected, like today's "guided missiles."

The shooter of this arrow is invisible. Yet, the nature of the arrow itself reveals the identity of the shooter. He is not Apollo nor Cupid. He is rather "the invisible God."

SAGITTA (Ltn) “the arrow”; Sham (Hbrw) “destroying, desolate”

Wrote Seiss in "Gospel of the Stars":

"The first is Sagitta, the shot and killing arrow. It appears naked and alone. It has left the bow, and is speeding to its aim. It is a heavenly arrow, and He who shoots it is invisible. There is a majesty and a mystery about it which startles and awes. It is the death-arrow of almighty justice, which goes forth from the throne against all unrighteousness and sin. It is that death-inflicting instrument which comes with resistless force and sharpness against a world that lieth in sin, and which pierces the spotless Son of God as found in the place of guilty and condemned man. The execution it does is shown in the fallen and dying goat. It is the arrow of divine justice and condemnation upon sin piercing through the body and soul of the meek Lamb of God, who agreed to bear our sins and answer for them.

But this Arrow doubtless covers a further idea. There is a spiritual piercing and slaying in the case of those who come to new life in Christ, akin to the piercing and slaying of Christ himself. Sharp and hurtful words are compared to arrows. And of this character are the words of God as pronounced upon the wicked, judging and condemning them for their sins, bringing them down from their lofty self security, and killing out of them the vain imaginings in which they live. Isaiah speaks of this sort of shaft or arrow in the Lord's quiver — the arrow of the Word — the arrow of conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment — a wounding and killing arrow which enters into men's souls, and makes humble penitents of them, that they may come to life in Christ."

Brother I'll Tell You...

My favorite gospel singing quartet is the Inspirations. The following song "We'll Understand It Better In The By And By" (here) is one of my favorites.

Here are the words (highlighted lines denote a thought that grips my soul):

Oft I'm made to wonder along life's way (I wonder)
As I meet with heartaches from day to day (I wonder)
Why the Father willed it that we should sigh (I tell you)
Brother I'll understand it better in the by and by (in the by and by)

Chorus

By and by there in my new home (with Jesus)
I'll know why these heartaches come (to grieve us)
When I meet you up in the sky (I'll tell you)
Brother I'll understand it better in the by and by (in the by and by)

While the blessed Savior came down to earth (to wander?)
Left his home in glory with untold worth (to heaven)
For a world of sinners he chose to die (I'll tell you)
Brother I'll understand it better in the by and by (in the by and by)

Repeat Chorus

Another good song by the Inspirations that just thrills my soul is one titled

"This I Know" (Listen here)

Also "Better Get Ready" (Listen here)

Also, this by Doyle Lawson 

"I Am So Glad" (Listen here)

White Horse Of The Apocalypse XI

SAGITTARIUS - THE ARCHER

"the gracious one - the redeemer's triumph"

For those Christians who believe that the original Zodiac (Mazzaroth - Job) was written and designed by the first prophets in the time of the first family to tell the story of the Redeemer and of redemption, or of the gospel, the drawing of Sagittarius, together with its leading star names and Decans, speaks of some aspect of the Messiah or "seed of the woman." (Gen. 3:15). The stars and constellations were named by God and then given to these antediluvian prophets (Adam, Seth, Enoch, etc.) and the figures associated with them have prophetic significance.

Star Names

"He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names." (Psa. 147: 4)

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Is 40:26)

"And God said, Let there be lights (stars) in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years." (Gen. 1:14)

When the Lord gives something a name, that name becomes significant. It often can not only describe the thing named, but be prophetic. Names given to Old Testament heroes of the faith at their births were often such. The name "Joshua" (which is the same as "Jesus"), the assistant of Moses, was prophetic of his role of a deliverer of Israel.

Of course, we cannot be any more certain of the meanings of those star names and constellations without knowing their original. The oldest Zodiacal star names must take precedence over changes made by later peoples, especially the names of those stars in Hebrew. Studying those ancient star names will bring one to see clearly how those starry designations and arrangements were truly "for signs."

Truly the constellation signs tell of the coming of the "seed of the woman" and of his conflict with the "old serpent, the devil."

Wrote one author on the subject (here):

"The theory of “the gospel in the stars” is that God actually named the brightest stars and major constellations long, long ago, back in the earliest generations of humanity. He did this to tell an important story: stringing these constellations together, they foretell the message of the gospel.

A similar alternative theory is that God communicated his plan of redemption to the earliest people (to people like Adam or Seth) and they named the stars as a witness to this plan.

For instance…

Virgo represents the virgin who would give birth to the promised Messiah.
Capricornus represents the goat of atonement, slain for the redeemed.
Orion represents Christ, the heavenly light of the world.
Leo is the lion of the tribe of Judah.
…and so on.

Under this theory, early human cultures understood these original pictures in the sky, but then some time after the Flood, as sinful human beings spread all over the world, they attached their own names to the stars, and thus the pagan practices of astrology began.

This theory became popular in the late 1800s. Ms. Frances Rolleston’s book, Mazzaroth, published in the 1860s, was the first to propose this theory. Joseph Seiss’s book, The Gospel in the Stars, came out about 20 years later. E.W. Bullinger’s book, The Witness of the Stars, came out the last decade of the 19th century. The theory also has a number of modern proponents, probably the most famous being Dr. D. James Kennedy."

Wrote another in "Mazzaroth – Story in the Sky" (here):

"The Hebrew name for the zodiac is the Mazzaroth. Amazingly, is it possible that the twelve constellations in the Hebrew Zodiac (Mazzaroth) tell a fascinating story of God's plan for mankind's redemption?

1. Virgo – The virgin holding a branch and an ear of corn; the promised seed of the woman.

2. Libra – The scales; the price deficient balanced by the price that covers.

3. Scorpio – The scorpion; the attack of the enemy; the redeemer's conflict.

4. Sagittarius – The archer; the gracious one; the redeemer's triumph.

5. Capricornus – The sea goat; the goat of atonement slain for the redeemed.

6. Aquarius – The water bearer; the living waters of blessing poured forth for the redeemed.

7. Pisces – The fishes; the multitudes who will follow; the blessings of the redeemed.

8. Aries – The ram or lamb; wounded and slain, the blessings of the redeemed consummated.

9. Taurus – The bull; the congregation of the judge; the coming judge of all the earth.

10. Gemini – The twins; two natures; the reign of the prince of peace.

11. Cancer – The crab; assembled together; the redeemer's possessions held fast.

12. Leo – The Lion of the tribe of Judah; the consummated triumph of the redeemer in the end."

Notice that Sagittarius means "The archer; the gracious one; the redeemer's triumph."

That is exactly how Christ as the rider on the white horse is described. The entire Apocalypse of Christ as pictured in Rev. 6: 2 and 19 shows him acting as a "redeemer" in "the day of redemption."

Author of many well known books, J. A. Seiss in "Gospel in the Stars" (here) wrote:

"And thus the "arrows" of the divine Hero of the text "are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies." His war is with the whole Serpent-brood, and His going forth is for their destruction. Whether we understand it of the moral and renovating power of the Gospel, or of the judicial administrations of the Son of man at the end of the present Gospel dispensation, or more naturally of both, it is the office and purpose in all the doings of the glorified Christ to pierce and wound the Serpent, to destroy all his works and power, and to disable him for ever. And this is shown in the sign, just as it is declared in the Gospel." (pg. 41)

Seiss also wrote:

"Swiftness is another idea included in these names; and hence of quick and resistless power, of which horses and horsemen are the biblical images, particularly in connection with the scenes of the great judgment which Christ is appointed to enact. And the coming again of Christ is everywhere described as being with great power and glory, quickly, suddenly, like the lightning's flash."

The Arrow of the Archer is pointed at the heart of the Scorpion (star "antares" meaning "wounding"). That is significant. Notice these passages.

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you." (Luke 10:19)

"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under thy feet." (Psalms 91:13)

"To tread on serpents and scorpions. The promise is doubtless literal, so far as necessary to manifest higher spiritual power. In view of the connection we must accept an allusion to Genesis 3:15 : ‘bruise the head of the serpent,’ and perhaps to Psalms 91:13 also." (Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament)

In the star-picture of Scorpio we see a gigantic scorpion endeavoring to sting the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent, but is rather crushed by the man, who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart. In one scene the foot of the glorious seed of the woman is seen in the act of stepping on the head of the scorpion and in the other we see him as an archer shooting his arrow at the heart of the scorpion. The Hebrew name is Akrab, which is the name of a scorpion, but also means 'the conflict,' or 'war.' The Coptic name is Isidis, which means 'the attack of the enemy,' or 'oppression;' referring to 'the wicked that oppress me, my deadly enemies who compass me about' (Ps. 27:9). Said Paul:

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." (Rom. 16: 20)

In "The Witness of the Stars" E.W. Bullinger wrote:

"The names that God gave to the stars and the constellations was revealed to Adam, Seth, Enoch, and the first patriarchs of our race. The same is true with the gospel message that was revealed to those ancient prophets and which, together with the names God had given of the stars; it was written in "twelve chapters," each chapter being one of the twelve drawn constellations (or "houses") with their Decans. Starting from Virgo and going all the way around to Leo one will have the gospel story of the Messiah.

Of the major stars in Sagittarius and their star names and meanings:

1. "Vega" (the North Star) means "He shall be exalted, the warrior triumphant"

Is that not what Christ's appearance on the white horse demonstrates?

2. "Naim" means "the gracious One"

Again, all the scriptural testimony is to this fact about the character of the promised victor.

3. "Nehushla" means "the going, sending forth"

Is that not we see in Rev. 6: 2 when heaven says to our Lord "go"? He is the one who was sent here in his incarnation and who is to come a second time. He is throughout the scriptures called "the coming one." All these terms are likewise descriptions of Christ, the "seed of the woman," as are found in the scriptures.

Decans of Sagittarius (associated constellations)

1. Lyra – the harp (denoting praise for the triumph of the warrior prince)
2. Ara – the altar (turned upside down and spewing out a fiery deluge denoting wrath poured)
3. Draco – the dragon (like serpent, hydra, and scorpion, a symbol of Satan)

The constellation names are:

• Latin is Sagittarius, meaning “archer.”
• Hebrew & Syriac is Kesith, meaning “the archer.”
• Arabic is Al Kaus, meaning “the arrow.”
• Coptic is Pimacre, meaning “the graciousness, or beauty, of the coming forth.”
• Greek is Toxotes, meaning “the archer.”

Al Shaula (Arabic for “the dart”),
Al Warida (Arabic for “who comes forth”),
Ruchba er rami (Arabic for “riding of the bowman”),
Nun-ki (Akkadian for “Prince of the earth”) and in the Denderah he is called Pi-maere (same as Coptic- “beauty of the coming forth”).

These names give us a clear indication that the rider is the “beautiful bowman” who is “riding forth” to conquer Satan and redeem His loved ones at His second coming (Rev 19:11).

Dr. D. James Kennedy, who also believed that Rev. 6: 2 referred to Christ, also spoke on Sagittarius being an emblem of the Messiah as he comes to destroy the serpent and his brood. (see here)

Are We Really What We Profess?

The words of an engraving from the cathedral of Lubeck, Germany, echo Jesus' sobering declaration…

Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us…

You call Me master and obey Me not,

You call Me light and see Me not,

You call Me the way and walk Me not,

You call Me life and live Me not,

You call Me wise and follow Me not,

You call Me fair and love Me not,

You call Me rich and ask Me not,

You call Me eternal and seek Me not,

If I condemn thee, blame Me not.

Was Christ Crucified On Friday?

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40)

If Jesus spent "three days and three nights" dead "in the heart of the earth," then he could not have been crucified on Friday.

For a couple good defenses of a Wednesday afternoon crucifixion see these postings.

HERE and HERE

Dr. D. James Kennedy & The Gospel In The Stars

"The gospel in the stars" series by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy (here)

In this series Dr. Kennedy introduces the subject of how the first patriarchs organized the constellations and designed their images with the purpose of giving a prophetic history or revelation pertaining to God's plan of redemption through "the seed of the woman." These messages are well worth the time for any Christian to listen to. I guarantee that you will come away strengthened in your faith in the gospel. You will come away with a firm belief that the gospel was well understood by those patriarchs and prophets who produced the original Zodiac or "Mazzaroth."

The link above takes you to a web page that gives all his sermons on each of the twelve signs.

White Horse Of The Apocalypse X

Christ The Archer

"the Son of God goes forth to war" 
 "he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors."

Wrote Dr. Henry M. Morris:

"At this tremendous moment in history, "the Son of God goes forth to war," as the Lamb breaks the First Seal. The seven seal judgments follow, then the seven trumpets , then the seven bowls. However the seventh seal includes all of the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet leads into the seven bowls. The entire series thus represents the Lamb's successive forays into the invader's strongholds until finally the enemy is driven out completely. The climax comes at the battle of Armageddon, when the great Rider appears once again on His white horse to win the final victory (Revelation 19:11, 19)." (As cited here)

This is good commentary on what the appearance of the Son of God, or Lamb, in his first appearance as the white horse rider, signifies. His first appearance in vision signals the beginning of that "war" of all wars, or "war to end all wars," while his second appearance (Rev. 19) signals the end of it.

As each seal is opened things happen on earth that fulfill what the scriptures describe relating to the day of judgment, the day of wrath and tribulation, and the day of redemption. Each act and each scene are scenes of just retribution and vengeance upon wicked inhabitants who refuse to acknowledge God and his righteous judgments.

Commenting on Revelation 6:2, Dr. Henry M. Morris says the following:

"he that sat on him. Many futurist commentators take the rider on the white horse to be the Antichrist, who they say is seeking to imitate Christ, who is certainly the conquering Rider on the white horse in Revelation 19:11. This interpretation seems inappropriate. The coming Antichrist is not a “false Christ,” pretending to be Christ, but is the ultimate Antichrist, openly opposing Christ and seeking to destroy all Christian believers and everything for which Christ stands. The Antichrist, or Beast, will receive his power and authority from Satan (Revelation 11:7; 13:7), not Christ."

I think I have shown how the Antichrist view of Rev. 6:2 is not sound interpretation. The arguments made to supposedly prove it have all been shown to be untenable.

Morris continued:

"The proper interpretation is to view Christ as the rider; remember also that each judgment of the seven seals is sent forth by Christ, not Satan. Furthermore, it is eminently fitting that the conquering Christ should be seen as riding forth both at the beginning of His cleansing judgments on the earth, and then again at their climactic completion (Revelation 6:2; 19:11). Throughout the events of Revelation 6 through 19, as the successive seal judgments are sent forth, He is gradually “conquering” and is destined finally “to conquer” completely." (see here)

Though I once leaned towards the Antichrist view, yet after nearly fifty years of meditation and research on the text, I have come to see just exactly what Dr. Morris has here stated as being the most obvious interpretation of the passage. What he here says is exactly what I have been trying to demonstrate throughout this series.

In Rev. 19: 11 it is said that Christ, as the white horse rider, "in righteousness (or justice) judges and makes war." When did this righteous war begin? Who began it? Did it first start in Rev. 19 when the last seal has been broken and all of its seven woe trumpets have been blown and their effects realized? Surely not. Surely it began with the opening of the very first seal! And as each seal is opened, there is more victory by the heroic warrior prince who continues going forth "conquering," overcoming and gaining victory after victory. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse of Christ show the initial attack of this mighty warrior who has his name "the Word of God."

Notice how both "judging" and "making war" are connected together in the words "in righteousness he judges and makes war." The one judging is also the one leading military action. This signifies that the "day of judgment" runs along with the "war" being described.

Christ, in his apocalypse, fulfills several roles (or we might say "wears many hats"), such as being a judge, warrior or combatant, redeemer, savior, etc. As judge he gives sentence. As Governor and Lord he executes that sentence.

God's Poisoned Arrows

"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me." (Job 6: 4 KJV)

"The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me." (NIV)

Job was a righteous man. None of the afflictions and sufferings that he experienced were the result of his sin. They did not show that he was God's enemy, as his friends supposed. No, he was God's close friend. But, he indeed was treated by God as if he were an enemy (to a large degree). Job was an enemy in appearance, judging by his circumstances. After all, "the arrows of the Almighty" with its "terrors" and "poison" are intended for the wicked, not for the righteous, as Job was.

Job's case is unique. God has a purpose for Job suffering some of these arrows of judgment and destruction from God's bow of justice. It is in some respects the same with these same arrows that were shot at the Lord Jesus by divine justice in his sacrificial death. In the case of Jesus it was justice meted out, not against him personally, for he was sinless, but against him as the bearer of the sins of the world. In the case of Job, God makes use of Job to demonstrate the truth of God and the falsehood of Satan the accuser.

Notice what God says to Satan about why Job experiences arrows of judgment, that are intended for the wicked only, but nevertheless experienced by this righteous man:

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you move me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2: 3)

God was moved to be "against" righteous Job, to "destroy" or "undo" him, but it was "without cause," meaning it was not what was due Job because of his sin, but in order for God to accomplish his purpose in 1) Sanctifying Job (by the fires of his trials, purging him) and 2) demonstrating both the Deity's character and that of Satan the accuser.

The main point in citing these words of Job is to show that God has from the morning of time been viewed as an Archer shooting deadly arrows at his foes. It is also to show how the metaphor of God shooting arrows denotes his sending of evils upon a man in just retribution for his rebellion against his Maker. In the Book of Revelation we may see each scene of destruction as the result of the shooting of these arrows of justice.

Notice that Job speaks of God's arrows as connected with "terrors" being "marshaled" or "arrayed" against him. These words are of a military nature denoting the assembling or arranging in order and rank, the various weapons and ordinance intended for use in conflict. The Hebrew verb means "to set in battle array." "The figure in the end of the verse is that of a beleaguering army; this host is composed of “terrors” from God. The reference is again not to Job’s mere physical pains, but to the perplexing thoughts and fears which they occasioned." (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

Is this not what we see as each seal of the scroll is unbroken? Do we not see a "marshaling" of heavenly forces against the evil world and its wicked inhabitants? Are not the red, black, and pale horses a "marshaling" of terrors and punishments?

"The “arrows” of God are the plagues, diseases and pains with which He assails men, ch. Job 16:12 seq.; cf. Psalm 38:2 seq.; Deut. 32:23. So Hamlet, 'The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.'"

Jeremiah, like Job, also spoke of Lord God having bow and arrows and of having had some of those arrows shot at him.

“He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.” (Lamentations 3:12-14)

Many Christians have seen the experience of being under deep conviction of sin as the result of having become "wounded" in spirit by the word and Spirit of God. This seems to be the meaning of the prophet in this passage. Still, the primary "mark" for God's arrows are for the wretched guilty world in the day of judgment.

Is the figure of being shot by God's arrow a type of being convicted of sin? Of being saved? Is God like Cupid?

Moses' Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them. They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs." (Deut. 32: 21-25)

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." (Duet. 32:39-43)

Ezekiel's Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread: So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken." (Ezekiel 5:16-17)

"Even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord God, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." 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?"  (Ezek 14:20-21)

Psalms Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." (Psa. 7: 11-13)

"He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them." (Psalm 18: 14)

"For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces." (Psalm 21: 12)

"Your arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King's enemies." (Psalm 45: 5)

"But God will shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they will be wounded. So they will make him stumble; Their own tongue is against them; All who see them will shake the head. Then all men will fear, And they will declare the work of God, And will consider what He has done." (Psalm 64: 7-10)

"The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook." (Psalm 77: 17-18)

"Then the LORD will appear over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of the south." (Zechariah 9: 14)

"Sun and moon stood in their places; They went away at the light of Your arrows, At the radiance of Your gleaming spear." (Habakkuk 3: 11)

God's Arsenal

"They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land." (Isa. 13: 5)

"The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans." (Jer. 50: 25)

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence." (Isaiah 59: 16-18)

"Thou Cyrus, art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms." (Jer. 51: 20)

The Gospel In The Stars

"The Gospel In The Stars" (here) is a two hour video showing in a condensed form how the gospel message is told in the ancient Zodiac. It is well worth anyone's time to listen to it. But, if you want an even shorter condensed version, go to the end of the video and listen to the last ten to fifteen minutes where the speaker sums it all up.

Why doesn't God save everybody?

"Why doesn't God save everybody?" by Todd Friel (here)

In this youtube video Todd Friel answers a question from a person in which the above question is discussed. The questions this person asked of Friel pertained to God's justice in damning people who never had a chance to be saved, who never heard the gospel or know the bible. I agree with how Friel answered this person but I thought after hearing it about how different our Hardshell brothers would have responded to the questions. I thought about how many Hardshells would agree with this person rather than with Friel. Listen and see what you think. It is not that long. Also, Friel has a lot of other good videos that are worth watching.

White Horse Of The Apocalypse IX

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD." (Proverbs 21:31)

Seiss in "The Apocalypse" wrote these words about the white horse rider of Rev. 6:2:

"Who has not felt a check of awe upon his heart, when contemplating that magnificent description in the book of Job? 

“Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? The glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength. He goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.” (Job 39:19-25.) 

Put upon that animal now the rider of the text, crowned with sovereign power, and rushing forth to conquest unceasing; and say whether this is the sort of picture which represents a Gospel preacher, or the slow working of the message of grace among human hearts, the great mass of which, in every age, reject and despise it.

Zechariah says, “I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord. what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.” (Zechariah 1:8-11.)

Were these the ministers of grace and evangelic overture? Were they not rather the powers of God’s providence and government of the world? Hear further: “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four Spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.” (Zechariah 6:8.) And when Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes might be opened to behold the mighty powers of God, by which he protects his people, and inflicts judgment upon their enemies, what did he see? Let the sacred word itself tell us: “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha,” and the hosts of Syria were smitten, and hurled back whence they came. (2 Kings 6:15-18.)

Is it difficult then to divine, what horses signify in connection with the Divine government and administrations? Is not the whole idea that of swift and irresistible power? What then are we to see in these horsemen, but earthly images of the swift, invisible, resistless power of God, going forth upon the proud, guilty, and unbelieving world?"

I agree with this fully. However, I do see Christ personally connected with this agency of justice under the white horse.

Note that Seiss (a Dispensationalist) does not believe that the white horse rider is Antichrist. Nor does he see the awful destruction under the red, black, and pale horses as coming from the Antichrist, but rightly as judgments coming upon the wicked world from heaven. He sees nothing counterfeit in the symbolism of purity and righteousness in the white horse rider.

Seiss continued:

"It must be borne in mind, in dealing with these seal openings, that we are dealing with the scenes of the judgment. They relate to “the day of the Lord.” Anticipatory fulfilments have occurred, but the proper breaking of these seals, and whatever is connected with their opening, belongs to the future, and to that momentous period, now at hand, which is to close up the entire order of things now existing. The whole scene presents the action of the judgment throne in heaven, toward those then living upon the earth."

"I have shown that horses, in prophetic vision, are images of God’s swift, invisible, resistless power for the defence of his people, especially in its going forth upon the proud, guilty, and unbelieving world. It was so in the case of those seen by Elisha’s servant, and in the case of those mentioned by Zechariah."

"In these four different horses and horsemen, we are to see four different forms of the coming forth of the judicial power of God upon the inhabitants of the earth, looking to the breaking up of the dominion of wickedness, the punishment and casting out of transgression, and the consummation of that long-pending revolution whose accomplishment is at once the fulfilment of all prophecy and all prayer."

Again, I heartily agree. The first rider inaugurates the coming of wrath, vengeance, and righteous judgment.

Seiss continued:

"We are not to suppose, however, that the action of one ceases entirely, before the other comes into play. They are consecutive in their incoming, in the main stress of them, and in some of their more marked circumstances, but they are all, in a measure, contemporaneous. The action of the first horseman certainly is continuous; for he goes forth in conquest unto conquest, which terminates only in the complete victory in which the opening of the seals ends. His career, therefore, runs on through that of his three successors, and through all the remaining seals. No such intense continuity is expressed with reference to the action of the other horsemen; and the nature of their work is such as not likely to extend itself so far. But there is an inner and natural relationship between the things adumbrated, which renders it quite evident that their several careers overlap each other, and that the doings of the one run side by side with the doings of the other."

This may be true in regard to the four horsemen and the first four seals, but it is not true of the remaining seals, nor of the trumpets associated with the seventh seal. When the events of those seals transpire, the record is clear that the events occur not in an overlapping manner, but in a sequence, so that one series ends before the next begins.

The opening of the scroll is an act of redemption but, as an act of redemption, it also entails the idea of what the Redeemer, acting as a kinsman avenger, will do to murderers and destroyers of family members. Avenging is one of the roles of a "redeemer" (Hebrew 'goel'). He was to avenge the blood of his slain kinsman on the slayer. (Deut. 19:12) "The elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the (Goel) avenger of blood, that he may die."

The Lord Avenger

Notice these verses on the Lord being "avenger," and this as part of his duty as a kinsman redeemer.

"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. " (Luke 18:7)

"That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified." (I Thess. 4:6)

By "avenger" (εκδικος — ekdikos) is meant one who a "righter" of wrongs, or who "sets things right." An avenger is a vindicator, an executor of justice and righteous vengeance. He brings retribution by arresting and bringing to trial, a just retaliation. Inflicting punishment is the duty of the just avenger, and such is the "kinsman redeemer."

Moses testified:

"Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." (Deuteronomy 32:43)

"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." (Isa. 35:4 KJV)

Joel 3 ends with Yahweh saying, “I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged.”

As part of the judgment of the Apocalypse, we see the fulfillment of these primitive prophecies.

"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her." (Rev. 18:20 KJV)

"For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Rev. 19:2 KJV)

Paul saw the Apocalypse of Christ as a time when Christ acts as the avenging redeemer. He wrote:

"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (II Thess. 1:6-9 kjv)

Notice those words "recompense tribulation." He executes "vengeance" and sees that the enemies of his people "get their reward," or "get what's coming to them." He sees to it that the guilty are "punished." All this occurs as the function of Christ being Redeemer, Lord, and Judge; And, it is all connected with his being "revealed from heaven with his mighty angels," with the time of his Apocalypse and second coming.

Redeemer's Garments of Vengeance

"For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke." (Isa.59:17 KJV)

Barnes' Notes on the Bible says this about these words of the prophet:

For he put on righteousness - That is, God the Redeemer. The prophet here introduces him as going forth to vindicate his people clad like an ancient warrior. In the declaration that he 'put on righteousness,' the essential idea is, that he was pure and holy. The same image is used by the prophet in another figure in Isaiah 11:5

The statement that he was clad in the garments of vengeance means, that he would go forth to vindicate his people, and to take vengeance on his foes. It would not be for mere defense that he would be thus armed for battle; but he would go forth for aggressive movements, in subduing his enemies and delivering his people (compare Isaiah 63:1-6).

John Gill in his Commentary wrote:

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate,...Here the Lord is represented as a warrior clothed with armour, and as Christ is, and as he will appear in the latter day on the behalf of his people, and against their enemies, who is called faithful and true, and in righteousness will make war, Revelation 19:11, he will proceed according to justice and equity in righting the wrongs and avenging the injuries of his people; and both in saving them, and destroying their enemies, he will secure the honour of his faithfulness and justice, and the credit of his name and character; which will be preserved by his conduct, as the breast and inward parts are by the breastplate:

and an helmet of salvation upon his head; the salvation he will work out for his people will be very conspicuous; it will be seen by all, as the helmet on the head; and he will have the glory of it, on whose head are many crowns, Revelation 19:12. The apostle has borrowed these phrases from hence, and applied them to the Christian armour, Ephesians 6:14,

and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing; or, "he clothed himself with vengeance as a garment" (k); he wrapped himself in it, and resolved to execute it on his and his people's enemies; the time being come to avenge the blood of his servants, by shedding the blood of their adversaries, with which his garments will be stained; and therefore is represented as having on a vesture dipped in blood, Revelation 19:13,

and was clad with zeal as a cloak; with zeal for his own glory, and the interest of his people, and against antichrist, and all antichristian worship and doctrine; and therefore his eyes are said to be as a flame of fire, Revelation 19:12.

When Christ returns and the Apocalypse occurs, Christ will assume the duties of his function as Redeemer, Judge, and Savior. He will be attired as a warrior, as an avenger, clothed in the "garments of vengeance." This is the way Christ is seen in the Apocalypse. The "day of redemption" is connected with "the day of vengeance" and executing justice is an act of redemption. This is seen in verses like Isaiah 63: 4 - "For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."

White Horse Of The Apocalypse VIII

Here are questions that must be answered in regard to the white horse rider having a "toxon" or "bow."

1. Is the "bow" an archer's bow or some other kind?
2. What is the meaning of "toxon"?
3. Does "toxon" denote an empty bow (empty bow)?
4. If there are arrows, for what purpose and against whom?
5. If the bow has no arrows (an empty bow), why empty? Significance?
6. Why did Strong say of "toxon" - 'apparently as the simplest fabric'?
7. How does "tikto" (root of 'toxon') relate to the idea of a "bow"?
8. Is "toxon" a "ribbon" (as some affirm).

Scholars On "Toxon"

The Greek word translated "bow" is from "toxon." The etymology of this word has not been clearly discernible. The Greek word "toxon" gives us our English word "toxic" (poisonous). Rev. 6:2 is the only time the word is used in the NT. Strong defines "toxon" as: "From the base of G5088; a bow (apparently as the simplest fabric):—bow"

Strong on G5088 (τίκτω tikto):

1) to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed)
1a) of a woman giving birth
1b) of the earth bringing forth its fruits
1c) metaph. to bear, bring forth

There is some mystery surrounding the meaning of this unique Greek word. Confusion is added when one reads Strong's definition as somehow involving a "simplest fabric." There seems to be some unneeded speculation as to the significance of "toxon."

From my research I see the basic root "tox" as meaning a curve. The suffix, whether "on" or some other, says something about what is curved. An archer's bow is curved. The rainbow is curved. A man curves his body when he "bows" to another. Etc.

I offer my own speculation about how "simplest fabric" and "giving birth to" (tikto) or "producing" may be involved and yet the main idea of an archer's bow remains foremost.

So, how did the archer put the poison on the tips of arrows? Not with his fingers, for the poison would kill the archer. So, he would use some instrument to apply the poison to the arrows unless he merely dipped each arrow in the liquid poison. Application of poison to the arrows could easily be done with a piece of cheap cloth also. Further, who knows but that the bow or some part of the arrows were not of some kind of fabric? Further, a quiver being implied, though not mentioned, it could well be that the quiver was made of "fabric." Perhaps too the feathers on the arrows were of some kind of fabric material. But, these are just speculations. But, so too are the things said by those who make "toxon" to mean "ribbon," "rainbow," etc.

Also, as far as "bringing forth" being the root for "toxon" we could speculate that the reason is due to the fact that analogously the bow brings forth, or shoots forth, arrows. Children in the OT were viewed as "arrows" in a father's "quiver." (Psalms 127: 4-5)

We cannot allow the idea of fabric or birth to become the prominent ideas in "toxon," which is rather a bow with poisoned arrows.

The "toxon" cannot mean "rainbow" (though some teach this) for "rainbow" has its own Greek word. Two times in Revelation it is from the Greek word "iris." Though the same Hebrew word for "bow" was used for both rainbows and for archery bows in the Old Testament, it is different in the Greek New Testament.

Those who say that the "toxon" is the rainbow will use this idea to jump to the idea that the rider has some kind of connection with a covenant. But, this is all false. The rider on the white horse is not carrying a symbol of a covenant (as the rainbow is). The rider is a mighty warrior on a war steed.

Toxon in the Septuagint

Toxon is the Greek word used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word "qesheth" (translated "bow" in Old Testament). It is used first in regard to the rainbow.

"I do set my bow (toxon) in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." (Gen. 9:13 and vs. 14 & 16; Exe. 1:28)

Remembering that the basic root of "toxon" simply means "curved" we can see why the rainbow is such. In fact we could translate as "I do set my curve in the cloud." A curve is an arch. But rainbow is not the primary usage of "qesheth" in the OT. It is chiefly used of a man bowing down, or to an archer's bow, used either for hunting or for warfare, or both. Let us look at some OT verses where the Hebrew word "qesheth" ('toxon' in Greek Septuagint) is used and the reference is to a weapon of war.

"And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand." (2Ch 17:17)

Notice in the words "armed men with bow" that there is no mention of arrows. Does that mean that they are not with the warriors? If we use the same logic that many apply to Rev. 6:2 and the supposed absence of arrows there, then we will have to say that they were "armed" with a bow but with no arrows! Is that not absurd? Does it not show how illogical is the argumentation on the supposed absence of arrows in Rev. 6:2? Just as arrows are implied In the words "armed with toxon" so too are they implied in the statement that the white horse rider of 6:2 has a "toxon." Don't you see?

"Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow." (Isa. 41:2)

Again, there is no mention of arrows in this text. Does that mean we are to assume that there are none? Of course not. When the text says "driven stubble to his bow" we know that it does not mean his empty bow! The arrows are implied though they are not specifically mentioned. Further, to exclude the presence of arrows because they are not specifically mentioned is just plain nonsense. A bow is mentioned 78 times in 75 verses in the bible and over 50 times it is mentioned without arrows; And, in none of them is the bow to be assumed as being empty or without arrows!

In Zechariah 9:10 and 10:4 "the battle toxon/bow" is mentioned. It would be foolish to imagine that this battle toxon excluded poisoned arrows! The very word "toxon" carries with it the idea of poisoned arrows. It is from this Greek word that we get our English words "toxic" and "intoxicated."

"The British publisher defines the adjective toxic as “poisonous.” The word first appeared in English in the 1650s. It came from the Latin word toxicus, meaning “poisoned.”

The Latin word itself actually came from the Greek term toxon, meaning “bow.” In ancient Greece, fighters with bows would put poison on the points of their arrows." (here)

On the word "intoxicate" Webster says:

"Etymology: from Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare "to poison," from earlier in- "put into" and toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon "arrow poison," from toxon "bow, arrow" --related to TOXIC, TOXIN.

Word History The Greek word toxon means "bow" or "arrow." From this came the Greek toxikon, meaning "a poison in which arrows are dipped." Toxikon was borrowed into Latin as toxicum, which gave rise to the Latin verb intoxicare, "to poison." The English word intoxicate comes from this Latin verb. Intoxicate originally meant "to poison" in English, but now it is almost never used with this meaning. It is related to the words toxic, meaning "poisonous," and toxin, meaning "a poison." Both of these words can also be traced to the Greek toxon." (here)

Notice then that the Greek word "toxon" includes the idea of arrows that are dipped in poison. Therefore those teachers who argue for an empty bow for the white horse rider of 6:2 are simply ignorant it seems of these plain facts.

Wrote one writer about one of the constellations:

"The Greeks called this constellation Toxeutes, the Archer, from Toxon, bow. Modern archers are known as toxophilites or 'bow lovers', toxophily is the sport of archery. The word Taxus, the yew genus and the Latin word for yew, is of the same origin as Greek toxon, bow. In Europe bows were mostly made from yew, and English bows in particular were invariably cut from yew trees. Greek toxicon, neuter of the adjective toxicos, means 'arrow poison' and poisons smeared on arrows were fired from bows (toxa or toxon) derived from the yew-tree. Our verb intoxicate originally meant 'to poison'. The 17th century herbalist Nicolas Culpepper said of Yew toxins: "it is the most active vegetable poison known in the whole world, for in a small dose it instantly induces death." (here)

Hercules wielded an oversized club, a vaunted bow, and poison-tipped arrows.

Can there be any doubt then that the righteous and victorious white horse rider of 6:2 has a bow with poisoned arrows?

Poisoned Arrows

"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me." (Job 6: 4)

Here God is pictured as an archer with poisoned arrows. Where is Satan or the Antichrist ever pictured as an archer? That he may in some respects be such, as all men are who shoot forth evil words (as we will see), their words being compared to poisonous arrows, it is not that which is generally characteristic of him in holy scripture. However, God and his Son are pictured in numerous places as not only wielding a sword, but as an archer shooting arrows. But, of that we will enlarge upon in upcoming posts.

Empty Bow?

I think we have shown how those who argue for an empty bow are in error. But, why do so many of today's Dispensational theorists not only insist that the bow is empty, without arrows, but that such a supposed fact is significant, denoting "bloodless conquests," a symbol of peace being brought?

As stated in earlier postings the idea of bringing immediate peace is not the chief idea connected with a warrior on a mounted warhorse with crown and toxon, but is conquest by means of the bow. Peace will come as the effect of the work of the white horse rider (in ridding the world of all the wicked, both of men and spirits, and that happens after Rev. 19). In fact, as we see the next three riders bringing death and destruction, peace is not brought but rather "taken from" the world. It is the peace that God has been giving but which he takes away in the day of wrath. In fact, all through the day of wrath and tribulation men are losing peace! "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked." (Isa. 48: 22) And, since the rider on the white horse in 6:2 is leading the charge of the horses that follow, we see anything but "bloodless" conquering.

White Horse Of The Apocalypse VII

Mistaken Identity

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 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." (II Thess. 2: 3-4)

Who comes first, Christ or Antichrist? Obviously, according to these words of Paul, Antichrist comes first. When Christ comes, Antichrist is already present. Said Paul further:

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." (vs. 8)

Christ destroys the Antichrist when he comes, thus Antichrist comes before Christ.

If Christ comes in Rev. 19, then Antichrist does appear first. Antichrist appears in Rev. 11 (or even earlier if in 6: 2 the rider is Antichrist) where he kills the Lord's "two witnesses."

If Christ comes in the rapture in Rev. 4:1 (believed by many), then Christ comes in the rapture before Antichrist. If Christ's coming is in two stages, the first will precede the Antichrist and the latter follow.

So, just when in the Apocalypse does the "man of lawlessness," or "son of perdition," or "Antichrist," first show up on the scene?

The rider on the white horse in 6:2 cannot be Antichrist because he does not appear on the scene till the opening of the sixth seal, where he kills the two witness prophets.

Rev. 11: 7 says:

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."

But, if the beast is in the abyss, or bottomless pit, until the the time when the pit is opened under the seventh seal and the fifth angel blows his trumpet, then he could not be the one who comes on the scene in 6:2. The pit is not yet opened in Rev. 6:2.

It is a reading into the text of 6: 2 the idea of Antichrist, for there is nothing in the context to indicate it is the vision of a false Christ.

The arguments that the white horse rider cannot be Christ in 6:2 were all based primarily on the fact that there are certain things different about the description of the rider in 6:2 with 19:11-15; And as I have shown, they are not cogent or sound. They are so baseless that one must stand bewildered with those modern interpreters who insist on seeing the Antichrist in the rider of 6:2. This insistence exists and persists in spite of the fact that there is no contextual reason at all for doing so and is also against the prima facie case for it being Christ, as I have been demonstrating.

But, there is another argument used by those who insist on making the white horse rider to be Antichrist. It argues that the rider cannot be Christ because of the evils that follow under the red, black, and pale horses. Such things, they argue, would not follow the appearance of Christ on the white horse (as in Rev. 19) and ergo the 6:2 rider must be a counterfeit, i.e., the Antichrist.

Those who argue this way will be easy prey to the interpretation that the Antichrist will give for the things that will have occurred under the previous seals and trumpets. He will no doubt argue that the true God and the true Christ are not causing these things (judgments on the world up to Rev. 11:7) but an evil God/Christ; And that the world must unite around him in order to save themselves from further judgment coming from the heavens.

Further, it seems strange to me that any bible teacher who would make such an argument for it plainly shows ignorance of the scriptures. The opening of the seals begins the day of wrath and judgment. And, vengeance and awful tribulation and death and suffering are connected with the end of the age. The coming of the Lord Jesus is described as coming to bring retribution as well as restoration.

This rider knows no defeat 
How then can it be Antichrist?

This appearance of the white horse rider with his "toxon" (bow) and victor's crown going forth in repeated victory at the opening of the first of the seven seals is not the second coming of Christ but that which marks his inauguration of it. It is the beginning of "that day" as viewed from heaven. He does not fully arrive in the clouds of the lower air, nor set his feet upon sea and land, until all the seals have been opened and the trumpets have all sounded. At that time his being seen on the white horse will by the inhabitants of earth.

Obviously the rider's arrows precede the rider! The red, black, and pale horse riders may be viewed as poisoned arrows shot from the Almighty victor's bow at the "beginning of the end" of the day of judgment.

Or, by another figure, they may be viewed as things "conquered" by the rider on the white horse. Those killed under these three horses are enemies of God and righteousness, and enemies of his people, both among Jews and Christians, and God comes to kill them as he promised to do in the day of wrath and vengeance.

If the work and purpose of the red, black, and pale horse riders is to kill wicked people (and it is) then he is successful or victorious in that conquest.

The movement of the white horse rider (from the words "go" and "see") represents his first advance towards our world.

To me it is a case of "identity theft" to make the victorious rider on the white horse to be Antichrist.

Ready For The Return Of Christ?

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 24:44)

Christian, are you ready?
Unbeliever, are you ready?
World, are you ready?

What is meant by being "ready" for the Lord? What is the fate of those "servants" who are not watching and not ready?

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (45-51)

Notice that Christ will find both "faithful and wise" and "evil" servants when he returns and that the latter shall suffer the fate of the hypocrites, in the place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth." From the above text, what are the differences between these two servants?

The good servant is "faithful," "wise," not slothful (working only when the master is around), and always on the lookout for the master's return. He wants to be "ready" for that day.

The evil servant is not wise nor faithful, and his cry is "my lord delays his coming."

And, for what reason does he "smite (attack) his fellowservants"? Is this not what scoffers of preaching on the second coming (and prophecy and the book of Revelation) do? When someone begins to stir up Christians, because of signs occurring, is he not often ridiculed by other Christians who call such heralds of the soon coming of Jesus by such words as "fanatic date setters," "Chicken Little preachers," "alarmists," etc.?

Why do so many Christians make a merit of not understanding unfulfilled bible prophecy or the book of Revelation? Why do so many think it unimportant to know about the second coming of Christ? Are there not many in our day who, like those of old, "put far off the evil day" (Amos 6:3)?

It seems clear to me that it is those Christians who are in love with this world (hypocrites) who do not want to hear about the second coming. To think about such things makes them too uncomfortable while in their state of worldly comfort and so, they put it out of their minds, a way for them to deal with this cognitive dissonance.

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." (I John 2:28)

"Abide in him" is the way to be ready for the return of the Lord. Any who are not abiding in Christ at the time of the Lord's return will be "ashamed" (or disgraced) "before him at his coming." Those who are watching and anticipating the return of the Lord, and abiding in him, and "occupying till he come" (Luke 19:13), will have "confidence" in that day. Warned Jesus:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luk 21:34-35)

"That day" will catch the nominal hypocritical Christian (one who is such in name only) "unawares" just like it will upon those who never professed the name of Christ. He warns them against worldliness, secularism, hedonism, and a carnal lifestyle. So many Christians are today caught up in the Laodicean spirit and are so comfortable in their lives ("at ease in Zion"), just like those in Noah's day, that they do not want to hear about the Lord coming and bringing on the awful day of judgment.

Dr. John Piper on Post Tribulation Coming

In a very recent sermon by Dr. John Piper titled "The Second Coming: Not Before the ‘Man of Lawlessness’" (here), John Piper gave a powerful defense of the Post Tribulation view of the rapture and return of the Lord Jesus Christ as held to by those espousing "Historic Premillenianlism" (rather than "Dispensationalism"). I was very much blessed to listen to his sound exegesis of II Thess. 2.

I wrote a series in favor of the Post Tribulation viewpoint many years ago, and in those series I overthrew the argumentation of those espousing a Pre-Tribulation view. The opening chapter is here. The other postings in that series are in the archives for The Baptist Gadfly for December 2012.

See also his sermon titled "What Is the Rapture?" (here)

White Horse Of The Apocalypse VI

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev. 19: 11-15)

From this passage we now look at --

Other Additions in Rev. 19
(as compared with 6:2)

1. Rider is named and has a written title on him

Rather than this being a proof that the rider is different from that in Rev. 6:2, there are some good reasons why it is given in the latter appearance of the rider than in the first appearance.

Since the coming of the Lord is an "apocalypse" (unveiling, disclosure, revelation), and an "epiphany" (appearing) and "parousia" (coming, arrival, or presence), we may well see how that visualization will be progressive (like when an army is approaching and one sees more and more details of that army and of the leader of it). Armies see each other from afar before they see each other up close. As they get closer, and when they actually begin the battle, more they will see of each other. Also, as they get closer their weapons will change. As stated previously, it was natural to begin with the bow (long range) and to end with a sword (close range).

Men may question, in the outset of the day of trial and judgment, who it is that is bringing such calamities on the whole world, but by the end of that day they will know his name. That is what I see of the significance of the absence of the name in 6:2 and its presence in 19:11-15.

2. Rider's eyes and clothing are mentioned

Again, this added description in 17:11 should not force us to conclude that the riders are different. As I have shown, this is not a necessary inference nor the only reasonable interpretation for the reason behind the difference. Many of the things said in answer to the above question apply in answer to this question.

There was nothing said about the "eyes" of the white horse rider in 6:2. Does that mean he didn't have eyes? Or, that the failure to mention the eyes in 6: 2 somehow proves that he cannot be the rider in 19? No doubt the attention of John is called to the eyes of the white horse rider in chapter 19 because they are now a "flame of fire." If one studies the battles occurring between 6:2 and 19:11-15 he will easily see why his eyes are at the end a burning flame.

Again, though the archer in 6:2 has no attire mentioned, while the latter in 19:11 does ("clothed with a vesture dipped in blood"), we cannot assume that he had none. What is different is the fact that the later vision of chapter 19 has his clothing "dipped in blood," no doubt from the killing he has been doing since 6:2.

3. Rider is not alone (as is the case, seemingly, in 6:2) 
but with heaven's armies

But the fact that the rider in 6:2 appears alone, while the rider in 19:11-15 does not, is no proof that the two riders cannot be the same person. Other reasons are quite possible.

It is natural to think of the commander of heaven's armies and forces should first appear at the head, or vanguard, of those forces. At the head of a military is the general, leading into battle. He has forces behind him, who will all come in their ordered ranks to execute their orders. And this is what we see occurring after Rev. 6:2 and up until the scene in chapter 19. He will, however, not only lead the charge of heaven's brigades, but will "fire the first shot" with his bow and toxic arrows.

4. The enemies are named

No enemies are mentioned in 6:2 but in chapter 19 the enemies of the rider are "the nations," who he will "smite" with his verbal sword. including kings, captains, mighty military men, etc.  But, does this fact prove that the riders are different? Is that a logical necessity? Of course not.

The enemy is implied in 6:2 however. What else would a righteous heroic leader be fighting but the enemies of righteousness and justice? Why would such a mounted warrior not fight against all the enemies of truth, especially of evangelical truth? Why would such a pure leader not arise to rid the world of all impurity?

5. The type of conquering or making war is described

It is true that the kind of conquering in 6:2 ("he went forth conquering and to conquer") is not specifically mentioned. It is for this reason that many commentators have come up with several different kinds of conquests, such as political, social, military, etc. It is also true that the kind of conquering of the rider in chapter 19 is alluded to, such as the slaughter of the followers of Antichrist and the obtaining of their various territories and sovereignties. But, this difference in description and scene does not in the least prove that these two riders are not the same.

Does the context of 6:2 give any hint as to the type of conquest and victory the rider obtains? Again, since he is a bringer of truth, righteousness, and justice, of which the color white is a symbol, it would seem to necessarily imply that the things to be conquered are some enemy, or some evil, surely something unrighteous and unjust.

From what follows the entrance of the white horse rider in 6:2 we see who the enemies are. It is wicked and unrepentant man, with an evil world, with the Antichrist, and finally with death itself.

Some argue that the fact that the first white horse rider has a singular crown while the second has "many crowns" ("and on his head were many crowns")  proves that they are not the same rider. But, again this is just not reasonable. It is not a necessary inference. I argued the same with regard to the difference in the type of crown on the head of each. Some argue that the rider on the white horse in 6:2 cannot be Christ because he has the "stephanos" crown while the rider in chapter 19 has many diadems. I showed how that was false. However, I did not add this scripture, right in the Apocalypse, that shows Christ clearly with a stephanos crown.

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown (stephanos), and in his hand a sharp sickle." (Rev. 14:14)

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Revelation 6:2. All the figures of this verse are those of victory,—the horse and its whiteness, the crown, and the distinct statement at the close of the verse (comp. chap. Revelation 19:11; Revelation 19:14). The bow expresses the fact that the Conqueror sees and strikes down His enemies from afar.

The great question is, Who is this rider? On the one hand it might seem as if it cannot be the Lord Himself, for how in that case shall we preserve a perfect parallelism between the first vision and the three that follow it? Can Christ be named in the same category with War, Famine, and Pestilence? On the other hand, if it be not the Lord, how shall we draw a line of distinction between the first and the second vision? Both will symbolize war. Besides which, the last words of the verse to conquer so clearly point to complete and permanent victory that it is difficult to limit them to any lower object than the triumphant Saviour." 

I agree.

"In the Old Testament, too, the judgments of God are three, not four, in number, ‘the sword, the famine, and the pestilence’ (Ezekiel 6:11, etc.), exactly those found in the three following riders. We are thus led to see here our Lord in His cause and kingdom ‘riding prosperously (as in Psalms 45), because of truth and meekness and righteousness, His arrows sharp in the heart of His enemies, and His right hand teaching them terrible things.’ It is His kingdom, first in Himself and then in His people, who are one with Him and in Him, that passes before the Seer’s eye,—a kingdom which shall yet prevail over every adversary. By looking at the matter in this light we preserve the analogy of the four riders, not one of whom is strictly speaking a person, while at the same time we render full justice to each part of the figure. ‘Wars’ and ‘famines and pestilences’ are foretold in the same order by our Lord in Matthew 24:6-7."

I totally agree. But, more on this in the next posting.