The Two White Horses of Revelation

I recently heard a preacher make the remark in a sermon that the rider of the white horse of Revelation 6 is Yahshua upon His return. This is a common mistake, but it is not true. There is a close relation between Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation, so turn there and let us begin. Keep your finger in both books, because we will be turning back and forth between them to understand these verses.

There are four horsemen spoken of in Rev. 6, namely the riders of, respectively, (v.2) the white horse, (v.4) the red horse, (v.5) the black horse, and (v.8) the pale horse.

A description is given for each horse. For the white one, (v.2) “Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.”

For the red one, (v.4) “And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

For the black one, (vss. 5&6) “When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!"

For the pale one, (vss. 7&8) “When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, "Come!" I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

(the above  verses from the New Revised Standard Version).

Now let’s turn to Matthew 24, where Yahshua the Messiah was explaining to His disciples about end-time events yet to occur, very likely in our own day. Note in verse 3, as He sat on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately and asked when will the events He had just described take place, and what would be the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age.

So, in v. 4, He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in My name, saying ‘I am the Messiah,’ and shall deceive many.” These false messiahs and false prophets are represented by the white horse’s rider in Rev.6:2. The false religious systems of this world (Roman Catholic and her daughters the Protestants, along with Islam), are the chief culprits here. They have deceived billions of people worldwide, and it is prophesied to get worse as we get closer to the end. The “bow” is a symbol of war. Who enforces their religion with the death penalty for non-believers in their system? Moslems? He was given a crown – by whom? Satan? Certainly not Yahweh!

Clearly this horse and this man do not represent the returning Savior. His triumphant return is heralded in the 19^th chapter of Revelation, after these other events have taken place.

Now, let’s notice what takes place after this religious deception – what the other horses and their riders represent. The second (red) one – v. 4, permitted to take peace from the earth – a great slaughter by the sword.

Now notice the next thing Yahshua spoke in Mat. 24:6-7: “Wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation.” This is symbolized by the red horse.

Next, continuing in Mat. 24:7, “..and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.”

Now, back to Rev. 6 – this time, vss. 5-6: Black horse – scales denoting food shortages and being rationed out – famines. This will cause widespread pestilences (disease epidemics) that will kill millions. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, tornados, hurricanes; in short, nature gone wild.

Mat. 24:8 All these things are only the beginning of sorrows! Can you imagine? Millions sick and dying, and the worst is yet to come!

Mat. 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake! And then the real tragedy (v.10), and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another (these are Believers who are giving up their faith to save their skins).

This corresponds with Rev. 6:7-8, the pale green horse: “Its rider’s name was Death and Hades (the grave) followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword, famine, disease (pestilence), AND by wild animals of the earth.”

The earth’s population will be so decimated that wild animals will increase and attack some of those people who are left alive.

Yahshua continues in Mat. 24:11-12: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But the good news is in verse 13: “But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.”

Brethren and sisters, this is all the more reason to strive with all our might to truly “endure to the end.” This life is at best temporary – our future lies in Yah’s Kingdom as Spirit beings – not in this sinful, worldly, temporary flesh.

Now, notice Mat. 24:14. “This gospel (good news) of the Kingdom shall be preached (and published, Mark 13:10) in all the world for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come.”

Who will do this preaching? Who will witness to all the world? Consider the world conditions we have just studied through – false messiahs, false prophets, famine, disease epidemics, wars, persecution on every side, nature gone wild. Will we still be able to carry His words of Good News to all the world? I think not. I believe this is where the Two Witnesses of Rev. 11 come on the scene. They will preach the Good News from the streets of Jerusalem via satellite television to the entire world, as a witness against the beast system for 3-1/2 years. See Rev. 11:1-10. Then they will be killed and lie in the streets, viewed by the entire world, for 3-1/2 days, v. 9, until Yahweh revives them and calls them to heaven, vss. 11-12.

So, to sum up, the four horses and riders of Revelation 6 correspond to Yahshua’s previous prophecies in Mat. 24, and the white horse is in NO WAY ridden by our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah. His triumphant return takes place after all these events have passed, and is just prior to His raising of the Firstfruits, and setting up of His Kingdom here on earth. He will fight this beast system and destroy it, as recorded in Revelation 19–20.~