“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer,” (Revelation 6:1-2).
When the apostle John is caught up to heaven, he witnesses Jesus breaking the seals of the large scroll. It is a time of immense solemnity. Up until now, the fullness of evil’s manifestation had been restrained under the seals. But with the cup of man’s iniquity reaching its fullness, God now allows for the breaking of the seals. The breaking of the first seal releases the earliest events of Daniel’s 70th week, also known as “the end times.”
There comes times in history when God allows the unleashing of evil, even against His own people. His ultimate purpose is to turn the hearts of people back to Him in humility and repentance, in order that He may have mercy upon them and save them. In the end times, our hope will only rest in the return of Jesus Christ!
As John witnesses the first seal being broken, the spirit of a world conqueror is released upon earth. This release is announced by one of the four living creatures who stand guard around the throne of God. The announcement is made with a voice like thunder. Thunder speaks of approaching judgment upon earth.
The breaking of the first seal releases the earliest events of end times, as documented in the book of Revelation. Revelation reveals a conqueror riding on a white horse, the ancient sign of a victorious leader. This leader carries a large bow, an instrument of war. The absence of arrows denotes his coming in peace. Yet, the large bow would imply a powerful military strength backing him.
“And a crown was given to him.” In the New Testament, the Greek uses two different words for “crown”: “diadema” and “stephanos.” Greek is a very specific language, even more so than English. It can tell us a lot, if we are willing and submitted to “rightly dividing the word of truth.”
A “diadema” (Strong’s #1238) is a fillet (usually of gold) that is a symbol of royalty. When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne, a diadem was placed upon her. A diadem is also the crown worn by the 7 heads and 10 horns of the dragon, Satan (Revelation 12:3 & 13:1). It denotes ascension to a royal position of rulership. It is also used in Revelation 19:12 for the royal crowns worn by Jesus.
On the other hand, a “stephanos” (Strong’s 4735) is what we would picture as a laurel wreath or garland. It was typically placed upon the head of a victorious athlete. It is used in the sense of triumph over struggle. Paul cites a stephanos in 1 Corinthians 9:25 as the “crown” of an overcomer in Christ. He also uses it in 2 Timothy 4:8 as the “crown” of righteousness that every faithful believer will receive. And Revelation 2:10 urges us to be faithful unto death, in order that we might receive the “crown” (stephanos) of life.
The use of “stephanos” indicates victory over a competitor or competition, struggle, or other trying circumstance. It is a symbol of one who emerges on top as victor!
In Revelation 6:1, one of the earliest signs of Antichrist is in conjunction with a “stephanos” crown that is given to him. This presents us with an intriguing glimpse of how Antichrist rises to world conqueror. He goes about in the name of peace, backed up with great military strength. Yet, there is a great competition, struggle, or other trying circumstance early in his career from which he emerges, victorious. The crown or stephanos of a victorious competitor will be awarded to him.
Following his emergence as victor from his great struggle or competition, this world leader will be unstoppable. He will go about “conquering and to conquer.”
It is more than interesting that Adolph Hitler also experienced a great struggle early in his rise to leader of Germany. Rebelling against the corruption of the German government, Hitler was early on arrested and spent a year in prison. It was during his confinement that he wrote the book, “Mein Kampf”; simply translated, “My Struggle.” Hitler would emerge from his great struggle, empowered by Satan to become the 7th head of the dragon, Satan. His overt goal was the takeover of Europe and beyond. But, his personal demon was to destroy the Jews and all those who supported them. For Satan— who empowered Hitler— was desperate to stop the Biblically-prophesied resurrection of the nation of Israel. Satan influenced Hitler to target the largest concentration of Jews in the world at that time, the Jews of Europe. Had it succeeded, Hitler had further plans of moving onto the Jews of the Middle East.
Satan knows his end is coming. His last ditch effort to try and prevent Bible prophecy from reaching its ultimate fulfillment will be to try and destroy both “the woman” (Israel) & “the seed of the woman” (Christians— Galatians 3:29 & Revelation 12:17) off the face of the earth. But he will come deceptively— his plan of destruction will start under the guise of a peace plan. Satan comes as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
People have asked me who the coming Antichrist is. I will tell you. He will be the man who fulfills Bible prophecy. His ancestry is Roman (northern European), Daniel 9:26. He will face a great struggle early on, yet emerge victorious, Revelation 6:2. He will be renowned for a great international treaty of peace between Israel & “many” nations, Daniel 9:27. His personality will be marked by arrogant speech, Daniel 7:8, 7:11; 7:20, 7:25. The nation from which he hails will overthrow three other nations, Daniel 7:8. These are just a few of the signs the Bible gives.
The Word of God is sure. What God has prophesied on the pages of Scripture WILL be fulfilled. Before God’s people can be totally annihilated, an interruption of the great tribulation of Antichrist will take place: the startling return of none other than Jesus Christ (see Seal 6 & Matthew 24:31). The “elect” will then be removed, spared from the wrath of God which surely follows. At the breaking of Seal 7, a series of seven trumpet, followed by seven bowl judgments begin, which are administered by God’s holy angels. Events then culminate at Armageddon with the defeat & sentencing of Antichrist, his False Prophet, and Satan himself by the TRUE KING, Jesus Christ. It is written, and it will be done.
If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, be certain that He— and He alone— is the prophesied Messiah/Savior of this world. The salvation of this world will NOT come by the hand of man. That privilege is only kept for the true Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ!
It is time for Christians to stand on the Word of God. Finding peace in the midst of all the turmoil, chaos, and dangers of this present world will only come when our feet are established in truth. It is time the church faces what is ahead for her. And fully understands that our ultimate end, our ultimate victory… will only come in Christ Jesus! Jesus is the WORD OF GOD made flesh. He is our sure foundation. If our house is built on Him and His written WORD, it will not be shaken when the strong storms come. Halleluia!
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