The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The First Six Seals

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners for more ways to deepen and challenge your spiritual walk and roll and pastor breaks free online courses sign up and harvest out alert will long for your drums and you'll do what no other resident prime minister and leader over the ring. It will save this man can bring the world together. Greg Maurice's antichrist here the world will be hailed as the greatest peacemaker ever live. The Bible says please see will Paul's Messiah warnings were even more new beginning. Laurie helps us consider the rise of the Antichrist, the one who comes in place reinforces the need to make sure our friends and loved ones no they don't. Be sure to tell them about SoCal will present the gospel details of all. I will let all grab our Bible going to the book of Revelation together in the title of my messages though four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is pretty ominous outing. This meant that you be talking about for Horsemen of the Apocalypse Revelation 6 verse one and now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals I heard one of the four living creatures saying with the boys like thunder. Come and see, and I look to behold a white horse and he that sat on it had a bow and a crown was given to him and he went out conquering and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal he heard the second living creature say come and see another horse, fiery red went out and it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another and there was given to him a great sword. When he opened the third seal heard the third living creature say come and see, and behold a black horse. And he that sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Now notice this is all happening after these things, that's all. Revelation 4 begin after these things after what things after the things of the church. We looked at the words of Jesus in the seven love letters of Christ to his church in Revelation chapters 2 to 3 when we come to chapter 4 now were in heaven and also in chapter 5.

So this is all happening after the church is removed. This is important because the first horseman of the apocalypse is none other than the antichrist. This is antichrist on Naga rating the tribulation. Some get confused. Think maybe this is a reference to Jesus Christ because he rides a white horse and we noble guy always rides a white horse right the old Westerns a good guy had the white hat well well it's true that Jesus comes on a white horse, but this writer is not the same as the description of Christ. Revelation 19 Revelation 19 which is describing Jesus returning it since I saw heaven opened up before me was a white horse, whose rider is called faithful and true.

With justice he judges and wages war and on his head are many crown so here comes Jesus on Air Force One returning to planet Earth. This is different.

What were reading about here and revelations six. This is not Jesus Christ.

This is antichrist masquerading as the Messiah.

Antichrist wears a crown. In contrast, Jesus wears many crowns member Jesus said one of the signs of the last days will be many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ. So here is antichrist now, the prefix anti-can be translated instead of as well as against so we might as the question is antichrist is coming, world leader against Christ or is he offering them self instead of Christ. Answer both I and if you contrast the white horse and rider in Revelation 19 with the writer in Revelation 6.

There's a lot of important differences. The antichrist and what we just read here carries a bow without arrows Jesus Christ has a mighty sword Antichrist wears a victors crown singular. Jesus Christ wears many crowns. Antichrist initiates war Jesus comes with his armies at the battle of Armageddon and ends war antichrist inaugurates the great tribulation. Jesus Christ ends the great tribulation. Now just as mysterious as the word Apocalypse is the word antichrist who is this person is an actual human being. Answer yes he has many aliases in the Bible is called the man of sin, the son of perdition. The little horn, the wicked one, the Prince who is to come. The one who makes desolate, and of course the beast, but we pretty much know him as the anti-Christ.

He's not who you may suspect he's going to be suave is going to be intelligent, engaging magnetic and charismatic but it's all a mask hiding who he really is the most evil man whoever lived. If Satan were to have a son.

This is him the only man I could even compare to the antichrist would be Judas Iscariot.

The Bible even tells us that Satan entered Judas his heart, but there are over 100 passages in the Bible that detail the origin, nationality, career, character, kingdom, and the final doom of the antichrist out. Sometimes a question is asked is the antichrist alive right now know we can say with any certainty. In a Newsweek poll that was done 19% of Americans said they believe antichrist is on earth right now in the U.S. News & World Report article 49% of Americans said they believe that there will be an antichrist sometime in the future, but we don't know we don't know if he is alive double. Let me say this, he could be. We know that when he emerges on the scene cometh economically hard times. He'll do with no other president, prime minister, king or world leader has ever done to bring economic stability and global peace still be hailed as the greatest peacemaker that ever lived, and of this is going to be interesting because the Bible says in Daniel 825 through peace, he will deceive many.

We all long for global peace.

A we want there to be no war. Here comes a man inaugurating the tribulation. With peaceful solutions with economic solutions.

We don't even know how evil he is, until a little bit later in the tribulation.

By the way I think is completely futile and pointless to try to figure out who the antichrist is because if you figured out to the antichrist is that means you miss the rapture, so waste your time. As I've said before, don't spend your time looking for antichrist.

Spend your time looking for Jesus Christ because the Bible says when you see these things begin to happen. Look up for your redemption is drawing near.

So notice. Also it says in verse two is crown is given to him.

This reminds us that even this evil man needs permission from God to do his evil work member in the book of Job. How the Angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was among them.

Remember Satan as a fallen angel and got God was bragging on Job, saying, have you considered my servant Job, a perfect and upright man when the fears God and shuns evil and Satan pushes back says that why do you think Job fairs you we fears you because you bless them and in effect, Jesus, let me have a little time with him like let me have access into his life and God gives them a limited permission in the life of Job with a series of calamities both follow him, but just remember the devil always has to ask permission and God will not let you be tested above which you are able. Now we come to horse number two.

We can call him the warhorse Revelation 63, he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, come and see another horse, fiery red went out it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth and the people should kill one another and there was given to him a great sword to know antichrist is showing his true colors.

First, he comes off like a good guy riding on a white horse wearing a crown bringing peace. For now we see his real agenda.

A red horse, fiery red would be a literal translation. Remember later in Revelation 12 three we read a description of Satan as being a great, fiery red Dragon and that reminds us that Satan is behind the wars and struggles on this planet. Jesus said of Satan. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. But again, notice the difference between Jesus Christ and antichrist at the coming of Jesus Christ we have peace on earth. That was the announcement to the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men with whom God is well pleased when antichrist comes along to take peace from the earth, we read that he has a sword in the record here for sword speaks of the short stabbing sword, a Roman soldier would use in close combat. It was also used as a weapon by assassins.

It speaks of something that is sudden and unexpected again becomes first, as amended peace, but actually he's a man of war and now is going to bring the misery and habit that is part of his plan. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment so I will bring a message of no time is the title of today's study from Pastor Greg gives the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. We looked at the first two recorded in Revelation 6 and now Pastor Greg continues following the white horse in the red horse. We have the pale horse in the black horse death plagues in misery follows. This is the great tribulation. The first half of it. The first 3 1/2 years begin peacefully. This I can have a bed antichrist pursues his agenda and the judgment of God ultimately falls on the planet. By the way God takes no pleasure in bringing judgment. That's why even during the tribulation.

The Lord gives opportunity for people to repent. We read that he sends his angel and the heavens preaching the everlasting gospel and warning people to not take the mark of the beast.

That's why it's so crazy when people get hung up.

Think you know if I take the vaccine for covert, 19, is that the mark of the beast know it isn't because when the beast is here when antichrist is revealed during a know it, you're going to know. He said coming world leader. And if you're Christian you ship me around know it anyway and I'll tell you why I believe that in just a moment.

So this is not something we have to be worried about, but the Angels are telling us not to take in the mark of the beast and proclaiming the gospel.

I call this an angelic mop up operation. The angels will reach the ones we missed flying to the heavens proclaiming the gospel. We also read of two powerful witnesses that will be raised up in the tribulation. The perform miracles calling fire down from heaven, stopping the ring. Some believe these two witnesses may be Moses and Elijah. Then we read of another hundred and 44,000 people who are called by God to preach the gospel.

We know that these are Jewish people know they're not Jehovah's Witnesses. It's very clear that there from the 12 tribes of Israel.

So these are Jewish people that have embraced Jesus as their Messiah. So think 144,000 kosher Billy Graham's proclaiming the gospel as you combine that with the angelic message in the heavens. You combine that with the witness of the two prophets that will get into later and you realize God is going out of his way.

God is bending over backwards to help people to repent of their sin so they don't have to face this judgment. The Lord says I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. That's why he sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sin. Antichrist, why has he not been revealed yet. The only thing holding him back is the presence of the church on the earth is a very important verse second Thessalonians to seven says the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed. That's antichrist, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. Who is the one that is not restraining sometimes people say will it's the Holy Spirit who is restraining when the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, then antichrist will be revealed, but the Holy Spirit is not going to be removed from the year and the reason for that is, people are coming to Christ during the tribulation. The victim of the greatest spiritual awakening.

Some revivals are going to happen during the tribulation.

In the Bible is clear and pointing out that no one can come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit draws right so it's not the Holy Spirit that's taken from the earth it's the Holy Spirit working through the church.

He who now restrains speaks of the spirit working through you and me. Listen to this. The reason things are worse right now is because believers followers of Jesus are the restraining force on the planet keeping things at bay. I mean, I imagine how bad it will get will more caught up suddenly and thousands, even millions of Christians disappear. How all help to break loose. No more restraints no more people pushing back no more people protesting it we can just do whatever we want. Nonbelievers will think and they will. So what are we to do in the light of this teaching of the imminent return of the Lord hate Jesus told us were to be both salt and light in our world.

Salt and light. He says you are the salt of the earth. You're the light of the world. So what is that mean well salt back in the first century was used as a preservative. They didn't have refrigerators like we have today so they would rub salt in their meat, and it would it would last longer. Our modern equivalent would be something like beef jerky right so where restraining force, you know we going we permeate we make a difference when another thing that salt does is it stimulates thirst. I can remember the last time I went to a movie, but I remember ordering popcorn and you know they have different sizes little size and a bigger size and then one that's like the size of a trashcan or something and other give you a free refill. So you're motivated to get that one because it's a better deal and then they salt it right and then you go back and see can I get a little cup of water. I'm sorry were not allowed to give the cops out and this is our remember about anyway. Salt stimulates thirst right and I think when you're walking with Jesus. As you ought to, you will stimulate in others of thirst for God when they're around you don't see something he knew that they want.

Why is it that stolen food always taste better. There were no set you're in a restaurant. Somebody orders a burger and fries and you say, I'll just have a salad you know your eating your little salad then you think you have one of your fries and they say yes and then the fight turned out to be the greatest French fry you've ever eaten in your life. There's something about watching someone enjoy a meal that makes you want to have the same meal. And there's something about watching the Christian walk with God to make the nonbelievers say I want what you have Jason point. Remember when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for preaching the gospel.

Their backs were ripped open with the Roman web. Their legs were fastened in stocks in a dungeon and we read at midnight Paul and Silas began to sing praises to God. Not long after that an earthquake came in the Roman jailer thought he was in big trouble because all of his prisoners would escape but they didn't run away.

Paul said were still here. Don't harm yourself, and that man that harden Roman jailer said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved. He saw something in Paul and Silas that he wanted so badly and I just pray that you and I could be like that we could be salt in our culture, we could be light in our culture and draw people to Christ. Let me address the question I raised last time I'll close with this one is the rapture. No one knows the day of the hour, but here's an interesting verse second Peter 39, says the Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think know he's been patient for your sake because he doesn't want anyone to perish, he wants everyone to repent, you know, I came to Christ, 1970 and we were talking a lot about the Lord's return and we were saying, Lord, even so, and we were hoping he would return in the 70s and of course in the 80s and 90s into the present day. But aren't you glad God didn't answer our prayer back in the 70s because think of how many people have come to Christ. Since then, why is Jesus not yet come because he doesn't want any to perish but he wants all to come to repent.

What that means is he's waiting on you. He's waiting on you to come to him to believe in him because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God died on the cross for your sin he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life in the Knox. If you hear his voice and open the door will commit listen if you reject the offer of Jesus Christ to forgive you.

You will face a certain judgment in a place called hell. The last thing Jesus wants is for anyone made in the image of God to spend eternity in this place that was designed not for people, but for the devil and his angels. He wants you to be forgiven. He wants you to join him in heaven. Don't you want to go to heaven. Don't you want to be ready for this event.

We been talking about called the rapture of the church because if you're not a believer in Jesus Christ.

Listen, you will be left to face the great tribulation.

It is going to be hell on earth.

You do not want to be here when this happens, God has a far greater plan for your life, but he won't force coming back to that statement of Jesus, for he says he sense of the doorknobs he he's Pilates is a good gentleman he can I command. I I would really love to come in and have a relationship with you.

I would really love to forgive you. I would really love to bring you peace and joy and purpose in life.

Why would you say no to that you can have your sins forgiven you can enter into a relationship with God right now I want to pray a simple prayer and ask that you would pray this prayer after me you can print out loud if you like you can print quietly in your heart.

But God will hear this prayer and God will answer just pray these words after me, Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior I turned from that sin. Now I repent of it that I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray that Pastor Greg Laurie with those making a decision for the Lord today and if you just pray that prayer with pastor Greg and meant those words sincerely we want to welcome you into the family of God and would like to help you get started. Living the life of faith letter sent you something we call our new believers growth packet will answer many of the questions you might have and help you build a strong foundation for your face so ask for the new believers growth packet as you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God.

And when you connect with us. Let us know how you're enjoying this new series on Revelation. Yesterday we hear so many terms that apply to Bible prophecy mark of the beast millennium, the great tribulation, and our understanding might be a little hazy about what those terms mean and in what order they come, yeah, could you maybe give us a little flyover of God's end times plan. Yes, I'd be happy to, but I need some trumpets and echo and that'll do it.

So you're ready. I'm ready flyover of the book of Revelation. Okay so this is my understanding of how all these events fit together. The next event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church. That's when the Lord comes in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye were caught up in the air to meet him.

It's also one were reunited with loved ones who preceded us to glory. So were caught up to heaven on the heels of that, this mysterious character called the Antichrist is revealed. That inaugurates what is called the great tribulation.

The last for seven years. Interestingly, the Antichrist comes initially as a good guy up with that."

A peacemaker, but in reality he's a troublemaker.

He rebuilt the temple for the Jewish people, but erect an image of himself and demands that people worship him.

This marks the halfway point of the tribulation. In this event is called the abomination of desolation. So the first part of the tribulation is the peaceful reign of Antichrist. The second part of the tribulation is where he unleashes his theory against Jewish people against Christians and God ultimately brings his judgment upon the Antichrist and the tribulation.

We have a group called the hundred and 44,000. These are Jewish people will put their faith in Jesus as their Messiah and they travel around the world proclaiming the good news okay so everything culminates to what the Bible calls the battle of Armageddon and then Christ returns again and the second coming. This inaugurates the 1000 year reign of Christ, which is called the millennium, then heaven and earth becomes one, the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven to this planet fulfilling the prayer of Jesus when he said that kingdom come that will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So that's a flyover of end times events. By the way, we put this all on this really cool bookmark that comes with our brand-new book called Revelation, a book of promises and we want to put this book in your hands because I've written it to help you to understand how this great book of the Bible applies to you the very title says it all.

Revelation means unveiling and God's desire is not to conceal but to reveal he wants us to understand these things and so I want to help you with that. So for your gift of any size will send you your own copy of this brand-new book from harvest ministries that I've written simply called Revelation, a book of promises. Yeah, that's right, and will be glad to send a copy your way.

As soon as we hear from you. Your donation is an investment in change lives. Your investment helps bring the gospel through our evangelistic harvest crusades such as SoCal harvest coming up October 3. So thank you so much for your generosity. You can write us today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and again the title of pastor Grace new book Revelation, a book of promises and please be in prayer for our upcoming SoCal harvest at Angel Stadium of Anaheim October 3 great music and a powerful message from Pastor Greg get all the details and find out how you can be involved by going to harvest.org/SoCal next time pastor Greg addresses an interesting question to those in heaven know was going on hereunder is a question many gas, especially those who have loved ones there waiting for some answers.

Next time join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg floor and will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to do, harvest partner, sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org