Red Horse Of The Apocalypse VII

"who is lord over us?"

(Psa. 12: 4)

"The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" (Psa. 12: 3-4)

"wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?" (Jer. 2: 31)

All unsaved sinners reject the rule of God over them. They say of Christ, the Son of God, "We will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19: 14) So, who do they want to rule over them if not the Son of God? Those who believe in government and law enforcement want just and wise rulers. Anarchists want no government at all. Who needs the police? What they want is what all depraved and lost sinners want, though not all will openly acknowledge it; they want to be their own lords and gods. This attitude is reflected in the above texts. "Who is lord over us?" The answer - "we are lords."

Wrote Paul:

"Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." (Phil. 3: 19)

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16: 18)

It is ironic that sinners, who think that they are their own creators and gods, are actually servants of "their own belly," the belly being their god. Yes, the belly is part of the person, so a person who serves his belly is serving himself. Still, the irony is evident.

"Whose God is their belly - Who worship their own appetites; or who live not to adore and honor God, but for self-indulgence and sensual gratifications." (Barnes)

Today's eastern and new age teachers tell us to "find the god within you." They talk about the "enlightenment" that comes when they realize or discover that the only gods are they themselves. Therefore, to "adore" God is to adore self. To love God is to love self. To serve God is to serve self. Etc. Also, this thinking makes them see their carnal, sensual, and depraved appetites as things not to be suppressed or controlled, or things wrong or immoral; And why? Because these are the cravings of a god! How can those cravings be wrong?

Vincent's Word Studies - Belly; Romans 16:18. "So the Cyclops in Euripides: "My flocks which I sacrifice to no one but myself, and not to the gods, and to this my belly the greatest of the gods: for to eat and drink each day, and to give one's self no trouble, this is the god for wise men" ("Cyclops," 334-338)."

This is the philosophy of life for the world of blind and deceived sinners.

End Time Anarchy

"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." (Jude 1: 8 & II Peter 2: 10 kjv)

"In the same manner nevertheless, also these who are beguiled with sensual images and carried away to an impious course of conduct, defile indeed the flesh, and set at naught authority, and speak evil of preeminence." (Wuest Translation)

The words "despise dominion" (KJV) are also translated as "reject authority," "defy authority," "reject Lordship," "despise lordship," "set at nought dominion," "lordship they put away," etc.

Reject (set aside) from "atheteo," meaning "to set aside something that is established (like authority). To do away with what has been laid down." Atheteo is used by Jesus addressing the Pharisees and the Scribes who rejected authority declaring "You nicely set aside (reject = atheteo) the commandment of God."  (Mark 7:9)

Authority ("Lordship") from "kuriotes," from kurios (Lord, owner, master) and means lordship, ruling power, one who possesses dominion, authority or magistracy.

More is involved in "rejecting authority" than rejecting governmental or civil authority and rule, but includes rejecting parental authority, even landlord authority, and rulers of business, as we see prevalent even today in 2020. It is more than a rejection of the rule of God. Of course, rejecting legitimate governmental authority is to reject God as Paul taught in Romans 13.

Peace Taken

What is a "civilized society"? Check the dictionaries and encyclopedias and you will find it defined as "characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint," and as having "law and order." On the other hand, uncivilized means savage, amoral, lawless. Under the red horse rider "civilization" will give way to a savage and disorderly state. It will in many ways be a "kill or be killed" state, where "might makes right" and where no one is safe. Vigilantism, or taking justice into one's own hands, and private revenge, will be commonplace. It will be like the "wild west" in days when states were territories filled with murderers, bushwackers, etc., and where men out of necessity carried guns to defend themselves. With many nations having outlawed gun ownership, one wonders how people will kill each other during the time of the red horse rider. In areas around the world today, where guns are few, people will no doubt use other means to kill each other.

The first question in our previous list of questions for study was: "What is meant by the taking of peace from the earth?" The second was connected with it - "Is the removal of peace in politics alone, or in other areas?" So also is the third - "Is the removal of peace worldwide?" Let us address these three questions in our musings.

Everything in the book of Revelation is happening on a global scale. Those commentators who think the red horse rider has already come and gone (Preterist and Historicist views) limit the fulfillment to a limited territory of the earth (land) such as to the land of Palestine, or to Israel, or to the Roman Empire, etc. Only the Futurist sees the fulfillment as yet unrealized and that it is global in its extent. The slaughter and bloodshed under the red horse rider is worldwide. This is clear because the judgments of the Apocalypse are all worldwide. So, not only is the murder universal but so is the loss of peace.

The bloodshed under the red horse rider is not the result of nations warring against nations, for that has been occurring since Revelation was written, and for the past two thousand years (since Jesus warned of the continuous presence of wars up until his return in his Olivet sermon); wars between nation states have been occurring before the second seal is opened. It cannot therefore be the precise kind of killing occurring under the red horse rider.

Race Wars

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matt. 24: 6-8)

The Greek word "ethnos" ( translated "nation") does not primarily refer to a political state. The word means "a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus," or "a tribe, nation, people group, or race." The word denotes ethnicity, not necessarily a nation state or political entity. So, "nation warring against nation" may allude to ethnic groups within one political state fighting each other, or what we call "race wars" or "ethnic conflicts." We could justly translate as "race shall rise against race."

The loss of peace that the world will begin to experience when Christ returns, via his precursory judgments under the doings of the four horsemen, will not be limited to the mere political area, to wars between nations, for the reasons stated. It is a total loss of peace.

Many commentators think that the red horse rider brings a final "world war" between nation states and that the bloodshed is therefore primarily confined to soldiers rather than civilians. But the words "that they should kill one another" seems to put the murder and killing on a very local level, where neighbor is killing neighbor, in a kind of gang warfare.

Notice that Jesus says that the warring between races marks "the beginning of sorrows." This is what we see in Revelation chapter six with the opening of the first seals. But, as Jesus said, "the end is not yet." The "end" or culmination comes at the end of the Book of Revelation. The coming of the four horsemen represent the "beginning of the end."

Advice On PB "Preacher's School"

In "Preacher's Meetings," an article by Elder Lasserre Bradley, Jr. (Copied from the March 1997 issue of The Baptist Witness - here), Bradley defends "preachers meetings" or "preachers schools." I have looked at this article before. At this time I simply want to make one recommendation.

Let every PB preacher get a copy of Spurgeon's "Lectures to my students" and make that a mandatory textbook for all to read upon entry into the school. It can be read here. A second book of Spurgeon should be "The Soul Winner" (can be read here)

Spurgeon On Dry, Dusty Preaching

"Spurgeon on Preaching with Feeling"

"To win a soul, it is necessary, not only to instruct our hearer, and make him know the truth, but to impress him so that he may feel it. A purely didactic ministry, which should always appeal to the understanding, and should leave the emotions untouched, would certainly be a limping ministry. “The legs of the lame are not equal,” says Solomon; and the unequal legs of some ministries cripple them. We have seen such an one limping about with a long doctrinal leg, but a very short emotional leg. It is a horrible thing for a man to be so doctrinal that he can speak coolly of the doom of the wicked, so that, if he does not actually praise God for it, it costs him no anguish of heart to think of the ruin of millions of our race. This is horrible!"

This truth and counsel is what I was trying to get across in my previous observation on much preaching done today by PBs and other Baptist ministers.

Continued Spurgeon:

"I hate to hear the terrors of the Lord proclaimed by men whose hard visages, harsh tones, and unfeeling spirit betray a sort of doctrinal desiccation: all the milk of human kindness is dried out of them. Having no feeling himself, such a preacher creates none, and the people sit and listen while he keeps to dry, lifeless statements, until they come to value him for being “sound”, and they themselves come to be sound, too; and I need not add, sound asleep also, or what life they have is spent in sniffing out heresy, and making earnest men offenders for a word. Into this spirit may we never be baptized!"

Can only say "amen" to that!

Continued Spurgeon:

"We are to seek our neighbour’s conversion because we love him, and we are to speak to him in loving terms God’s loving gospel, because our heart desires his eternal good."

How can we tell others of the dangers of sin and of the need for salvation without some emotion in our words and exhortations?

Continued Spurgeon:

"A sinner has a heart as well as a head; a sinner has emotions as well as thoughts; and we must appeal to both. A sinner will never be converted until his emotions are stirred. Unless he feels sorrow for sin, and unless he has some measure of joy in the reception of the Word, you cannot have much hope of him. The Truth must soak into the soul, and dye it with its own colour. The Word must be like a strong wind sweeping through the whole heart, and swaying the whole man, even as a field of ripening corn waves in the summer breeze. Religion without emotion is religion without life." (from Charles Spurgeon, "What Is It to Win a Soul?" in The Soul Winner as cited here)

Can I get an amen?

Preaching Has Become Dry As Dust

What I have to say about this will concern the "Primitive Baptists" and other groups as well. It pertains to many churches and preachers, to many who are adopting what is called "expository" preaching or teaching. Their sermons have become dry as dust. This is an opposite extreme to those churches and preachers who simply entertain by playing on the emotions.

I liked the old time Baptist preachers who could teach and exposit scripture and at the same time preach with some pleading and deep emotion. This lecture type of preaching has its place, but so too does enthusiastic preaching, singing, and worship. Too many PB churches and other Baptist churches have too many "professorial" preachers who give lectures. Again, I do not say that this type of teaching does not have its place; I do say that it has totally eclipsed the other.

Over the past several years I have listened to many sermons by my PB brothers as well as those by other able Baptist ministers, such as John MacArthur, John Piper, James White, etc. Among the PBs I have listened to are Lasserre Bradley, Ben Winslett, Bernard Gowens, Sonny Pyles, David Pyles, etc. From these men I rarely hear a "shouting" sermon, one where the people are mightily stirred and shout amen and hallelujah, and who raise theirs hands in praise, and where the people are laughing with joy unspeakable.

When I was with the PBs I heard a lot of their older preachers and many of them not only taught the word of God but did it with some excitement. No stoical preaching here! But, today, the PBs seem to want to go to the dry and dusty way of only giving "lessons" (ironically, as in a "Sunday School" or seminary class!). I hear few amens and shouts of praise among today's Hardshells.

My advice? We need to model the great Spurgeon in this regard. He certainly expounded scripture but he spoke with emphasis when needed, urging people with warm appeals, and so kept himself from preaching sermons that are "dry as dust."

Just my thoughts, for whatever they are worth.

Red Horse Of The Apocalypse VI

"neither repented they of their murders" 

(Rev. 9: 21)

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev. 9: 20-21)

Murder will be the "order of the day" when the Apocalypse begins with the coming of the four horsemen, especially with the coming of the fiery red horse with his great sword. The above text comes when the seventh seal has been opened and the fifth trumpet thereof has sounded; But, the sins listed did not just then begin among earth's inhabitants at that time. Rather, much murder, death and destruction has already occurred between Revelation 6: 1 and 9: 21. The sins enumerated did not just start with the fifth trumpet but were prevalent throughout the entire time, from the coming of the four horsemen till the hellish locusts ascend from the bottomless pit. Widespread murder begins with the coming of the red horse rider but he continues right on through Rev. 9: 21 and beyond.

Here are specified the "deadly sins" of men in the day of trial and tribulation: idolatry, murder, sexual immorality, theft; And, the chiefest of all sins is a sin of omission, and mentioned twice in the above list of sins, the sin of "repenting not." 

What are the immediate secondary causes of this murderous time? What are the effects of it?

As stated in previous entries, the coming of the four horsemen is for the purpose of bringing devastation upon a sinful world that has rejected Lord God and his Christ. Their coming is in order to "destroy the sinners" from off the earth. That first begins to happen when the second seal is opened and men are under the influence of the red horse rider. The Lord will kill them by bringing them first to kill one another, as we have said, and upon which we will yet enlarge.

Long ago the prophet Isaiah spoke of the time under the red horse rider and during the coming day of wrath and tribulation.

"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. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty...Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it...And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." (Isa 13: 5-6, 9, 11)

Though the "they" (in "they come from a far country") had primary reference to the Persians and Medes who came to destroy the land of Israel, yet it is more fully applicable to the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and to the judgments of the "day of wrath" or "day of evil" described in the Apocalypse. Thus we may say that the four horsemen come from "the end of heaven," or "from the LORD" (as we see in Rev. 6) and are well described as "the weapons of his indignation," and their mission being "to destroy the whole land" and to "destroy the sinners" and "getting them out of the land." It is the beginning of the punishment described for the world in the day of judgment executed by God's "angels of vengeance" or "destroying angels."

As we have seen, it is a time of tribulation upon tribulation. (see our comments upon Amos 5: 18-20 in posting IV) Here is another verse that is like that one:

"Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake." (Isa 24: 17-18)

Escape "the noise of fear" (one trouble) only to "fall into the pit" (another trouble)! Then, somehow, after getting out of the pit, he is "taken in the snare" (another trouble). One tribulation pain after another, like the pains of a woman in travail. Says Dr. Gill: "the meaning is, that he that escapes one trouble should fall into another, so that there will be no safety anywhere." (commentary)

It is all part of the "day of evil," to the day when the Lord will "render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." (Rom. 2: 9) It is then that he will "repay tribulation" (II Thess. 1: 7) to the unbelievers. The words of the prophet are fitting for this great time of global tribulation: "woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves"  (Isa. 3: 9)

Things That Bring Peace

"Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace." (Luke 14: 31-32)

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Rom. 14: 19)

What are the "conditions of peace"? What are "the things that make for peace"? Whatever they are, those things will not be present in the days of the four horsemen or in all the judgments of Christ's Apocalypse.

Of course, when we speak of the salvation experience as finding peace with God (Rom. 5: 1-2) we speak of the "conditions of peace" and of the "things which make for peace" with God. Peace has come through the coming of the Messiah, the "Prince of peace," through his sacrificial blood, and this is appropriated by faith in Christ and repentance (which is a turning away from sin and self to the Lord).

But, the texts above cannot be limited to what is true in regard to spiritual peace with God, but must include peace between men, including political peace between nations (so as not to war), which are nearly always based upon treaties or covenants between them. There are lots of ingredients or conditions for political peace as we all know. They are not dissimilar from what are the conducive elements of social peace in a village or community, or in a family. Today we speak of "global" or "world peace," of "national peace," of "civil peace," of "family peace" or "peace in the home," etc.

First, people must want peace; at least the greater majority of them. They want laws against crimes such as murder, theft, bearing false witness, etc. and therefore want those laws enforced by a police force sanctioned by the ruling authorities. In other words, people must want law and order. It begins here with the will and the choice. The problem is that people at the end of this age will not want peace because they are violent and implacable. Recall the words of the Psalmist:

"I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." (Psa. 120: 7)

When the majority of a society become implacable, violent, contentious, strifeful, vengeful, etc., peace cannot be realized. This is because "war" is "in his heart," in the heart of men who form the Omega generation. So wrote the Psalmist: "the words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords." (Psa. 55: 21)

Self preservation alone leads men to want safety and security of their persons against thieves and murderers, and such like, and there can be no peace without safety. Certainly no "tranquillity" or "quietness."

All societies have had a criminal element. Some have had many lawless people, others few. These are the openly wicked and cruel types, people who are vicious in their brutality against others. These are they who "love violence" (Psa. 11: 5), and who "eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence." (Prov. 4:17) During the time of the rider on the red horse men will be most violent on a scale not seen since the days before the judgment of the Deluge. So, what must happen to people, who naturally want strong enforcement of laws (designed to keep the peace), to all of a sudden, in the great tribulation, become so violent? Is everyone simply taking the law into their own hands by necessity?

In looking further into the conditions or necessary ingredients for obtaining peace, let us notice these words of the apostle.

"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3: 14-18)

Who are they who "make peace"? We have already noticed the reference to the "conditions of peace" and of "the things that make for peace," and here we have a reference to those persons who "make peace." Jesus spoke of the "peacemakers." (Matt. 5: 9) Another question to ponder along this line would be - "who are the troublemakers"? The one implies the other.

Notice that worldly devilish wisdom does not produce a "peaceable" and "gentle" society with citizens who are "easy to be intreated," and "full or mercy," etc. There can be no peace in any society where the citizens are violent and intolerant. We see this on a small scale today in many large American cities, like Chicago, where murder is rampant and gangs rule; Gangs which are composed of those who love violence.

As stated, men are basically "implacable" (Rom. 1: 31; II Tim. 3: 3) because of sin and the rule and love of self. This fact will manifest itself on a large scale under the rider on the red horse. The Greek word translated "implacable" means "not to be appeased" or "that can not be pacified and rendered peaceable; inexorable; stubborn or constant in enmity." Heavenly wisdom, which men will greatly lack in the last days, is "easily intreated" but devilish wisdom is "not easily intreated." A world full of those who "love violence" and who cannot be appeased in their anger and hate! How terrible!

The wisdom that men will possess in the last days is devilish, not coming down from heaven, but what is ascending from Hades. God's wisdom is "gentle" and "peaceable" but devilish wisdom is fierce, cruel, intolerant, etc.

The apostle Paul spoke of "the bond of peace" (Eph. 4: 3). Christians know what this means in relation to one's standing with God, to one's peace with God. They have been "reconciled" to God by the blood of the Lord Jesus. The "bond of peace" is the thing that sustains oneness, agreement, and harmony between parties. In the case of salvation, the thing that "keeps the peace" between the believer and God is the union of the believer with the Lord Jesus Christ, who "himself is our peace." (Eph. 2: 14)

The "bond" of peace also involves a "covenant." Sociologists speak of the "social contract" that exists between citizens and other citizens, or with the government. In the old testament there is mention of "the bond of the covenant." (Eze. 20: 37)

The word "bond" in "bond of peace" is from the Greek word "syndesmos" and means "that which binds together, a band, bond." (Strong) This is what covenants, treaties, and contracts, etc., do; they are means of keeping unity and peace, of binding people together. But, men in the extreme last days will be "covenant breakers" on a very large scale.

Covenant-Breakers

"Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful..." (Rom. 1: 31)

"Covenant breakers" is from the Greek word "ἀσύνθετος" (adjective — asunthetos from suntithemi), with the negative prefix a, hence signifies "not covenant-keeping," i.e., refusing to abide by "covenants" made, "covenant-breaking," faithless.

"Note: Trench, Syn. lii, notes the distinction between asunthetos and aspondos, "implacable," the latter, in 2 Timothy 3: 3 only, being derived from sponde, "a sacrificial libation," which accompanied treaty-making; hence, with the negative prefix a, "without a treaty or covenant," thus denoting a person who cannot be persuaded to enter into a "covenant." He points out that asunthetos presumes a state of peace interrupted by the unrighteous, aspondos a state of war, which the implacable refuse to terminate equitably. The words are clearly not synonymous." (Vine)

When the overwhelming masses of mankind become wholly implacable, and breakers of contracts become the norm, then times will indeed be evil and full of tribulation.

Said the prophet Isaiah:

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." ( Isa 32:17-18)

Notice the words describing the real peace that will come when the Lord overthrows this evil world and replaces it with a most righteous state; "quietness" (including freedom from fear of evil), "assurance" (that all is well and all possibility of evil is gone), "habitations" and "dwellings" that are "peaceable" and "resting." But, in the time of the "Omega generation," or the last generation, at the time of the coming of the red horse rider, men will be almost universally suffering the very opposite of this description! There will be no peace for the rider "takes peace from the earth." 

Strife In The Omega Generation

"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (Jam. 3: 16)

"Where" is it indeed to be found in its most gross manifestation if it is not in the days when the four horsemen ride into this sinful world! Envy and strife, the things that destroy peace rather than "things which make for peace." In this time there will be nothing by "confusion" and bewilderment. Fear on every hand. In every place there is "every evil work."

Another Hardshell Falsehood

"Primitive Baptists are the only known group in existence who believe that God has an all inclusive group of chosen, sanctified and redeemed people in every kindred, tongue, people and nation (Rev.5:9)." (Questions & Answers at Lexington Primitive Baptist Church - here)

Is this not another example of either outright lying or gross misrepresentation? Is this kind of false accusation not characteristic of Hardshells?

Notice also the reference to the Hardshells being the "only ones"! Cult thinking clearly.

Red Horse Of The Apocalypse V

"in the last days perilous times shall come"

(II Tim. 3: 1)

The word "perilous" (KJV) is from the Greek "chalepos" and means "dangerous, harsh, fierce, savage," or "hard to do or deal with, difficult," involving what is painful and grievous.

After describing the last days as perilous, Paul gave the reason for it, laying the cause directly to the immoral spiritual state of all men, with few exceptions, in the days immediately preceding the coming judgments of the four horsemen. After prophesying of the end time peril (vs. 1) he says:

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." II Tim. 3: 2-4)

By the word "for" Paul will identify the cause or reason for the unexpected Apocalyptic catastrophes, going to the root cause of the savage violence and evils of the days when Christ appears in the awful calamities (the presence of Christ being in those judgments before his final bodily appearing); And, what is that root cause? Is it some natural catastrophe like a worldwide drought, or climate changing meteor, or volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes, etc.?

No, it is the direct result of man's inner moral and spiritual depravity. Of all the adjectives Paul used to describe the men who will suffer the vengeance of the Lord in "the day of evil," let us focus on the word "fierce" because it directly relates to the ideas involved in the Greek word "chalepos" (perilous).

The word "fierce" is from the Greek "anēmeros" and means "not tame, or savage." It is thus closely related in meaning to "chalepos." 

The only other time a form of the word "chalepos" (perilous) is used is in these words from the gospels.

"And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way." (Matt. 8: 28)

Here "fierce" (chalepoi) clearly denotes dangerously violent, a state where a person is totally given over to attacking and hurting others. Recall that "perilous" ("chalepos") involved the words savage and fierce and are the same words used to define "anēmeros." "Fierce" (from "anēmeros") signifies "not tame, savage" (from a, negative, and hemeros, "gentle", i.e. 'not gentle'), 2 Tim. 3: 3.

The coming time of great tribulation will see both dangerous and savage times and savage and wild people, where people totally given in to their animal passions and sensual desires.

When the rider on the red horse arrives, his work will be to "take peace from the land," by the removal of divine restraints (as we have seen), cause brutality and savagery among men, and such as has not been seen on a world wide scale since before the great flood. Simply recall the "bloodsport" that was famous in the Roman coliseums! Bloodbath spectacles with crowds cheering! A world with little or no "moral restraint"!

It was said of Ishmael, the one "born after the flesh," that he was "a wild man" and that his wildness manifested itself by "his hand being against every man, and every man's hand against him." (Gen. 16: 12) What a description of the last days under the rider on the red horse!

Though mankind and the times of the coming judgment are "fierce," in a bad sense, yet the Lord at this time will be pouring out his "fierce anger" and "fierce wrath," and justly so.

Governmental Restraints

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." (Rom. 14: 3-4)

One of the things that restrain crime and wicked behavior is "law and order" rulers (authorities) with their strong police forces to enforce obedience. Where are they in "the day of evil"? How can people be murdering one another on such a vast scale with such authorities in place? Obviously, for some reason, rulers and their police forces are unable to stop the mass mutual killing. But, why? Though I will expound on this important question in upcoming postings, I will just say this much now.

In light of present day rioting and the call to "defund the police" we can get a glimpse of the times under the presence of the judgments of the red horse rider. When there is little or no governmental restraint on law breaking, law breaking will increase unimpeded. Consider also the fact that the killing of one another is occurring among all men, including those in law enforcement. Police are killing each other just like the populace! So, they can be expected to do little to stop the killing when they themselves are part of the whole murderous enterprise.

In regard to the restraints that God has had in place, and which he will remove in the time of the end (of which I have already written much),  Dr. John Walvoord had some excellent words in "The Person of the Holy Spirit Part 5: The Holy Spirit in Relation to the Unsaved World" (here - emphasis mine).

Walvoord wrote:

"The doctrines of providence and of the sovereignty of God demand that the power of God be effective not only in the saved but also in the unsaved world. While the ministry of the Holy Spirit is ever primarily directed toward the Christian, it is evident that He is working in the world as well, bringing to pass the will of the Father and the Son."

"The ministry of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unsaved world falls into two categories which are not necessarily independent. The Holy Spirit is given the ministry of resisting evil and restraining the world in its manifestation. To the Holy Spirit, also, is committed the task of making known the way of salvation to a race which has no natural capacity to receive it with understanding. Most of the attention of theologians during the Christian centuries has been directed to the latter ministry, that of revealing the message of salvation to the lost and providing enablement for saving faith. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in restraining sin in the world is most important, however, though few direct references are found in Scripture."

"The work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unsaved world is most important for a number of reasons. In view of the power of Satan and his evident hatred of Christians and the truth, the work of the Holy Spirit in restraining sin is required to explain the relative freedom allowed the Christian in the world and the preservation of those conditions which make possible the preaching of the Gospel and the maintenance of some order in the sinful world."

"The work of the Holy Spirit in restraining the world from sin is found in every age, except during the period of unprecedented sinfulness during the great tribulation, when it is God’s purpose to demonstrate for the first time what unrestrained sin is. The character of this work of restraining sin varies slightly in different ages, however. In the previous discussion of this work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, it was shown that the Holy Spirit undertook to restrain sin throughout the Old Testament period. The striving of the Holy Spirit against sin in Noah’s period is definitely stated (Gen 6:3). While Isaiah 59:19 is not as clear a reference, it infers a similar ministry of the Holy Spirit. The many other ministries of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament tended to restrain sin. His work in revealing truth through the prophets, particularly the warnings of judgment to come, and the work of inspiration of the Scriptures with their power helped to restrain sin. The judgments which followed rejection of His striving against sin (Isa 63:10-11) had their effect. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit by virtue of His holy character was conducive to restraint of sin. Throughout the Old Testament, then, the power of the Holy Spirit guided human events into the path of divine providence."

In the time of coming great tribulation, where violent killing and general lawlessness prevail on a global scale, a great reason for it will be due to the absence of any state police force powerful enough to stop it along with the court system. This brings to mind the words of 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." (Eccl. 8: 11)

Men's hearts will, at the time of the coming of the four horsemen, be fully set in them to do evil." They will be doing the greatest of all evil to their fellow human beings, having no respect for life. People will be "out of control," as Paul said ('incontinent' or lacking self control). There will no effective police force to restrain the masses who are killing one another on such a massive scale. No longer is lawlessness and criminality not given speedy trial and execution, but not given at all! Horrendous times! Jesus spoke of them in connection with his return, saying:

"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matt. 24: 12) Love gone! Hate and furious wrath abounding on every hand. A "hot-headed" people who murder for sport. This is what the world will have come to when Christ appears in the judgments of the four horsemen!

And, remember that one of his purposes (as we have seen) is to remove or "uproot" the wicked from the earth and then to bring peace on earth under Lord Messiah. Said Solomon:

"Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness." (Prov. 25: 5)

This is what we see coming "before the king" and before he establishes his throne on earth in righteousness in the coming judgments of the four horsemen. The Lord begins his work of "taking away the wicked" so that those who are left, "the meek," can by themselves "inherit the earth."

As we have said previously, peace on earth comes after the wicked have been destroyed.

Red Horse Of The Apocalypse IV

"The Day Of Evil"

"Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil. Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction." (Jer. 17: 17-18)

When the four horsemen of the Apocalypse rush into this world "the day of the Lord" will have begun. This same day is otherwise described in the holy scriptures as "the day of judgment," "the day of wrath," "the day of tribulation," "the day of vengeance," "the day of his coming," and as in the above text, "the day of evil." 

The first trouble or judgment that "comes" upon the world from Heaven's court is described under the rider on the red horse. After reaching a time of peace and prosperity such as the world has not known before (which is the case now in our day), there comes "sudden destruction" with the coming of the red horse rider. Wrote Paul:

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (I Thess. 5: 3-4)

"Sudden destruction - Destruction that was unforeseen ( αἰφνίδιος aiphnidios) or unexpected. The word here rendered “sudden,” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in Luke 21:34, “Lest that day come upon you unawares.” The word rendered “destruction” - ὄλεθρος olethros- occurs in the New Testament only here and in 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 6:9, in all of which places it is correctly translated destruction." (Barnes)

Is the description of the calamities and slaughter under the red horse rider not a "destruction"? Is not "taking away the peace" a good definition of that destruction? And, how does God destroy wicked men under the red horse rider? He causes them to fight and to kill one another as we have already partially observed and will bring out more fully in upcoming postings. Peace and safety one moment and all gone the next moment! Totally unexpected by the masses, yet the saints of those days will not be taken by surprise.

The "sudden destruction" will be marked by multiple tribulations as a woman in travail has repeated pains. The rider on each horse may not only be comparable to individual arrows shot from the toxon of the white horse rider, as we have seen, but they also may each represent a separate "labor pain."

Likewise we may view each rider as a separate and distinct tribulation. This is what we see with the coming of the four horsemen, but not with them only, but also with each broken seal, each trumpet and vial; each judgment scene bringing on another instance of tribulation. Well did the prophet describe this time of tribulation in these words:

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" (Amos 5: 18-20)

For some "the day of the Lord" will bring one trouble after another and we are given an example of such in the above words. A man faces a lion and is in danger. That is trouble number one. Next, after having survived the lion by fleeing, the one in danger is met by a bear! That is trouble number two. What else can go wrong? Well, the one fleeing for safety makes it into what is supposed to be the safety of the house and "Murphy's law," the man is bitten by a deadly viper in the house! Can it get any worse? Yes, it all goes dark!

Another prophecy concerning this "day of evil" is found in these words:

"For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." (Jer. 25: 29-33)

Clearly this prophecy receives fulfillment when the red horse rider appears! Notice that the evil is universal. Nothing of this magnitude since the flood in Genesis has happened. This has not yet been fulfilled. Its fulfillment awaits the coming of the red horse rider.

Concerning this "day of evil" king Solomon wrote:

"The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Prov. 16: 4)

Wrote Dr. John Gil on these words:

"this is added to illustrate the general proposition in the preceding clause, and to obviate an objection, that might be taken from the destruction of the wicked, against all things being for the glory of God; for even the destruction of the wicked, which is under a divine appointment, is for his glory. It is not the sense of this text, nor of any other passage of Scripture, that God made man to damn him; nor is this to be inferred from the doctrine of predestination: God made man, neither to damn him, nor to save him, but for his own glory; and that is secured, whether in his salvation or damnation; nor did or does God make men wicked; he made man upright, and he has made himself wicked; and, being so, God may justly appoint him to damnation for his wickedness, in doing which he glorifies his justice. "The day of evil", or "evil day", is the day of wrath and ruin, unto which wicked men are reserved by the appointment of God, agreeably to the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions. This is true of wicked angels, wicked men, and particularly of that wicked one, the man of sin and son of perdition, antichrist; the word here used is in the singular number."

The day of evil, being often another name for the day of the Lord, or the day of wrath and judgment, is not intended for any but for unbelieving and unrepentant sinners. These words of Solomon are similar to those of the Lord Jesus who spoke of "the everlasting fire" being "prepared for the devil and his angels." Just as the Lord "made" (planned or brought into being) "the day of evil" for the detriment of the lost and unbelieving world, so too has he "prepared" the torments of the Apocalypse and of Gehenna for both fallen angels and men.

Another prophet condemned the unbelieving sinners in his day, describing them in these words:

"Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near." (Amos 6: 3)

If we look at the time of one's death as an "evil day," then may we not ask - do sinners who reject God's call to faith and repentance not put off obeying that call, thinking that the day of death (evil) is yet far off in the future? Do they not think that they have all the time in the world? But, not only is it true in regard to the day of death but also in regard to the day of Christ's return and of his judgment of the world. They make light of it, scoff at it, call those who preach impending judgment as fanatics, quacks, Chicken Little types, and think that such fears of judgment are but unhealthy phobias. But, no matter, that great "day of evil" will surely come and it will "surprise the hypocrites" (Isa. 33: 14 & cited previously). They "put far off" the coming day of divine reckoning. Rather than deal with the thought of it, they put it out of their minds, and feel "safety and security" in their own comfortable homes.

In the prophecies and texts cited already we have focused on those texts where "the day of evil" clearly is a reference to the end time day of judgment, to the time of the judgments of the Apocalypse. But, the "day of evil" like "days of evil" may refer to what is commonly experienced by all human beings. For instance, old age is spoken of as a time of "evil days." "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not..." (Eccl. 12: 1) And the Lord Jesus Christ said: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matt. 6: 34) Each day has its troubles, its trials and tribulations. Some days have far greater calamities than other days, as all know. Wrote Paul: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5: 16) "Days of evil" recalls the words to that famous song "Jesus Is Coming Soon":

Troublesome times are here, filling men's hearts with fear
Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake
Humbling your hearts to God saves from the chastening rod
Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake

Troublesome or turbulent times come when the rider on the red horse takes peace from the earth. How can we prepare? Wrote Paul:

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph. 6: 13)