WHAT DO THE FOUR HORSEMEN REPRESENT?

[JOHN DAVIS]

WHY COULD IT BE SAID THAT THE FOUR HORSEMEN ARE RIDING NOW AT THIS TIME?  REVELATION 6:2-8

[The Librarian]

A photo from Stanley Theatre:

 

[JOHN DAVIS]

very good

[JW Insider]

15 hours ago, JOHN DAVIS said:

WHY COULD IT BE SAID THAT THE FOUR HORSEMEN ARE RIDING NOW AT THIS TIME?  REVELATION 6:2-8

Because the Bible tells us so. One of the theme scriptures either directly quoted or directly referenced in most of the books of the Christian Greek Scriptures was Psalm 110.

• (Psalm 110:1-4) Jehovah declared to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”  2 Jehovah will extend the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying: “Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”  3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In splendid holiness, from the womb of the dawn, You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.  4 Jehovah has sworn an oath, and he will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever In the manner of Mel·chizʹe·dek!”

We merely have to look at what time period this was applied to, in order to see if the four horseman are riding at this time.

During what time period (since when) has Jesus been sitting at Jehovah's right hand? Obviously, it was from the time he was resurrected, back around 33 C.E. Just days after Jesus' resurrection Peter said:

• (Acts 2:29-35) . . .David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one of his offspring on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in the Grave nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God resurrected this Jesus, and of this we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”’

So Jesus was seated on the throne at the right hand of God at his resurrection, which is confirmed by many other scriptures. We can even see from Paul's commentary on the verse that the term sitting at God's right hand is the equivalent of "ruling as king" which would explain why Jesus was also called King of Kings in the first century.

• (1 Corinthians 15:25) 25 For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet.

So Jesus has been ruling as king since 33 in the midst of his enemies. And what enemies has he been ruling in the midst of? Paul adds:

• (1 Corinthians 15:24-27) . . .when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. 26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. 27 For God “subjected all things under his feet.”. . .

So he has been ruling in the midst of the worst enemy, Death, awaiting the time associated with the thousand-year reign when God has finally put all enemies under his feet, including "Death." This is the same image we have in Revelation when we see Jesus given a crown (ruling) and going out conquering in the midst of this worst enemy, death by violence/war, death by famine, death by pestilence, etc.

And it is obvious that Jesus is still waiting until God has finally put Death under his footstool, which is still in the future -- therefore Jesus is still riding and conquering at this time, until death is swallowed up forever:

• (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) 54 But when this which is corruptible puts on incorruption and this which is mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: “Death is swallowed up forever.” 55 “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting producing death is sin, and the power for sin is the Law. 57 But thanks to God, for he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

• (Revelation 20:13, 14) 13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the Grave gave up the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. 14 And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. . . .