Who is the Rider of the White Horse in Revelation 6?

Who is the writer of the white horse in Revelation chapter 6, that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will high on Bill Meyer with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We'd love to hear from you and here's our phone number is 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 the core. You can also post a question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch a drill live right now in the studio on our YouTube channel and send us a message. That way you can always send us an email as well. Here's your email address for questions, it's questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners. This is Michelle 1029. I believe I have a heart and unbelief and I really think I don't have any help, because I had been willfully and I was wondering if I like me to come in. You show me that even though you may seem to come back. I'm really scared. I willfully and I can put on light and I know what that meant until I heard my stage and then I don't know what to do.

Heart wants Jesus and the other part just like you cannot just go live in a while the he will save you and help so I was just asking for verses that show that Nico has not down with you and please explain and 29. Thank you six Michelle the first thing I want to do is pray for you. Let's pray father in heaven we come before you right now and we want to lift Michelle her sister up to you as she is wrestling Lord wrestling with a sense of your love wrestling with hope. Lord God that the blood of Jesus your son is sufficient even to cleanse her sins.

And I pray Lord God that you would fill her with a heart of faith that you would help her Lord God to see with the eyes of faith the grace the goodness, the forgiveness that is in Jesus Christ. I pray that she would receive that for herself. Lord God, that it wouldn't be something foreign to her something that she feels like doesn't apply to her but that she would realize gracious God, that your your goodness your love your mercy is for all those who call upon the name of your son Jesus and the sheep as she calls upon the name of Jesus that you do not cast her out, but that you welcome her and that you forgive her and Lord, would you would you do that for her. We pray and comfort her in Jesus name, amen Michelle. Many people read Hebrews chapter 10 and are confused are afraid because you get to verse 26 and the author. The Hebrew says if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Anyone was set aside a law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

How much worse punishment.

This is verse 29. Do you think will be deserved by the one who is trampled underfoot the son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified in his outrage, the spirit of grace. We know him who said, vengeance is mine, I will repay, and again the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God him to stop there. In verse 31.

First you have to understand Michelle the context of the book of Hebrews.

This is a book that was being written to a congregation, a group of Christians who had professed faith in Christ but were being tempted to go back to the old covenant system of worship that is, instead of relying on Jesus is once for all sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins. They were relying on their own works.

Their own works of righteousness their own adherence to the law.

The ceremonial law, the sacrifices of the old covenant. This is why throughout the book of Hebrews you have this continual refrain that Jesus is better. He's better than then the old covenant priesthood is better than the old covenant sacrifices.

He's better than the Angels. The author, the Hebrews is trying to get these people to understand that Jesus is the one that they need to cling to and hope in because if they trust in anything else. There's a serious problem and so for those who are turning from their sins and from their own self righteousness and trusting in the once for all work of Jesus Christ. Actually, this book is an immense comfort but for those were saying I don't trust in Jesus's sacrifice. I minute by minute get to God on my own through my own offerings through my own sacrifices through the old covenant, the types and shadows of of the old covenant, which is again with these people were doing well for those people, there's a serious warning.

This isn't just you know addressed to Christians who are sinning deliberately, that is that you know I did something wrong. I knew it was sinful and I did. Anyway, that's not what is being addressed here. This is specifically talking about people who, having heard the gospel are now turning from it and trusting in something other than Jesus. And that's what the author the Hebrew says you're trampling the son of God underfoot. What comfort is there that what what verse can I give you will just listen to what he says in the next verse in verse 32 writing to these people who live thinker and innovate a worse condition than you. Frankly, I'd sound like you're saying I've I've I've done something that I knew was sinful arrived by. I'm continuing to sin but but you know I'm I'm conflict that I'm conflicted with this.

Did these people who are being tempted to turn away from the gospel.

He says in verse 32.

Recall the former days when you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction and sometimes being partners with those who with those so treated you had compassion on those in prison and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property since you knew the you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God. You may receive what was promised is even the other.

The Hebrews holds out hope for these people in the hope is not in them, not in their own righteousness putting in their confidence their conferences in Jesus Christ, anything, don't throw that away. Don't turn away from Christ and from the gospel and begin trusting in something else. Don't confidence in yourself. Put your confidence in Christ and hold fast to Jesus, the anchor of your soul is out. I would say to you, look if you're trusting in Christ if you're going to God, saying, Lord, I have my battle Woodson.

I struggle with sin. I even do the things I don't want to do at times but you Romans chapter 7 Paul talks about this in your broken and your afraid and you're saying God have mercy upon me, a sinner.

I believe when you go to the Lord in faith. He's merciful to you. I know that he is and you can cling to that to the promise of his word and receive his forgiveness. One of the things that Satan wants to do. I think in our lives is get us to believe that our sin is too much for God. That's a lie that that you know maybe the Lord is done with me.

He's through with me for for whatever reason, and then people who think that where there there despairing. They're afraid they're terrified they feel like just just as you said Michelle will maybe I should just turn away altogether and and live in sin if God is just and rejecting that's that's a lie from Satan. That's not true. The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient for you to forgive all of your sins because it's it's God's grace God's mercy. Your call to lay hold of it by faith to accept that to realize that no matter how great your sin is your Savior. Jesus is greater. Michelle any calls you to receive his goodness, his grace, his mercy and he gives it to you freely and so may God comfort you with those words and and may you be at peace sister in the gospel and what Jesus is done for you.

God bless what powerful words of assurance. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We have a brand-new Bible study.

We want to tell you about this is really cool because it looks at the parables of Jesus.

Yeah, the Bible studies called the parables of King Jesus. It's a 10 week study and so really great resource if you want to learn about the parables on your own or if you're just interested in digging into the teachings of Jesus.

Maybe this summer, you know, make that a goal of yours get a hold of this resource.

It is not just a resource you can go through on your own. You mean one of the things we love about the studies is there. Great for groups as well.

And so if your church is looking for a new study to go through in in small groups or something like that and get a hold of this resource. Again, it's called the parables of King Jesus and get a copy over core, Christianity.com and it's yours for donation of $20 or more love to get that in your hands the summer and Isidro said we actually would love to get this to you if you've got a small group or a Sunday school class that is looking for some curriculum to go through this to be a great thing to start on this fall again. It's called the parables of King Jesus, and you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers what we do receive voicemails here and you can call us 24 hours a day with your question and leave us a voicemail at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. There's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Pat my Revelation chapter verse two is a white horse, and he sat on him had a bottle and a crown was given get hand and he went forth conquering and to conquer. Now some translation faded that cry and say that is what each other three horses represent war and famine and who in the rider on that whiteboard and chapter 6 verse two thank you bye-bye this question. I just started preaching to the book of Revelation for our church and I'm not at chapter 6 yet so my mind might change in the next several months, but right now where I met as I actually think that this is an antichrist figure or something representative of evil no one of the reasons that people will suggest this is this is Jesus is because of the fact that this writer is on a white horse, and later in the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 19. You have Jesus the word of God described as riding a white horse judging and making war and so so there's that that similarity there and you know it's not.

It's not that that interpretation is is baseless that there's there's nothing to support it here in the beginning of verse one of chapter 6 as I watched when the Lamb and the Lamb is Jesus right me throughout the book of Revelation. Just saw that earlier in chapter 5 I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals.

And so Jesus is the one is releasing these writers were bringing about judgment in particular judgment against those who persecute the saints. Those who came against the church opened one of the seven seals and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a loud voice like thunder, and I looked, and behold a white horse and its writer had a bow and a crown was given to him and he came out conquering and to conquer.

While in chapter 13. The beast has the ability to conquer in particular the saints is the, the, the evil one is is given the opportunity and ability to persecute the saints ultimately right. God is the one who's in control.

And certainly, Jesus is the one who is who is opening the seals here and so so we rest in the fact that the Lord's intro is one of the things we do see throughout the book of revelations despite the great tribulation and persecution and suffering that the church is experiencing that God is the one who is still seated on his throne was in control. He is the first and last. Jesus is the first and the last of the people don't have to be afraid we don't have the fear but here I do think that that this first writer is not to be identified with Christ but is to be identified with this evil figure and in it, of course, the following writers also seem to be identified with this certain negative figures of it was a white why than the white horse will remember and this is something we see throughout the book of Revelation as well that that the evil one wants to imitate Jesus wants to in in in some sense mimic him that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and so that very well could be why there is this dissimilarity, this correlation visits just emphasize the deceptive nature of the evil one.

And so it is.

It's for those reasons that I think well probably not Jesus there on the white horse in Revelation chapter 6, but again, as I mentioned there. There are biblical reasons that that people will will say that we think it is. It is Jesus there and so I think that the big thing for us to take away is one.

The fact that Jesus is the one who's absolutely control very beginning of chapter 6, he's the one that that opens the seals. He's the one who's guiding, history, and ultimately guarding and protecting his people bring them to himself even through the suffering that they experience and so thank you for that question and I love to see that your dear digging into the book of Revelation. By the way, we have a great Bible study on the book of Revelation as well.

Would love to tell you about that.

You can find out more by going to core Christianity.com/studies is just an awesome Bible study that will help you understand that book which can be a little bit confusing at times.

While our phone lines are open and were taking calls for the next eight minutes or so. If you have a question for pastor a drill about the Bible or the Christian life would love to hear from you, and in fact were to be recording a second core Christianity program today so will be taking calls for the next 35 minutes or so you can call us here are the phone numbers drop this down. It's 833 thought core 833 the core or 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Cynthia and Satan St. Louis Missouri Cynthia what your question for pastor atrial my call and I wanted to know American and not have Christianity enabling God of the universe will their spirits be in heaven sent a thank you for that question very very thoughtful question. There are a few passages of Scripture that I that I think about what one is in acts chapter 14 in verse 17 we read Bible server 16 on this is Paul and and Barnabas, and in verse 16. As in past generations God allowed all nations to walk in their own ways that he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you reigns from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. In other words God was God was giving to the nations of the world even even prior to the coming of Christ as it had heard the gospel.

This common grace, satisfying them with fruitful seasons with food and with gladness he was giving them this this witness in just a couple chapters later in acts chapter 17.

As Paul is speaking the Areopagus, he says in verse 24. The God who made the world and everything in it being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods in the boundaries of their dwelling that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him, yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being is even some of your own poets have said, for we are indeed God's offspring and then and then Paul goes on to say, this being then God's offspring.

We ought not to think of the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image formed by the art and imagination of man the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead, so your postexilic got God overlooked the times of ignorance now is calling everywhere everyone everywhere to repentance through Jesus Christ.

There is no excuse and the reality is, even with with just the creation that we see in one sense there's no excuse. That is, even if the if you don't hear the gospel other people who don't ever hear the gospel, who only have the testimony of creation and of God's common grace his goodness to mankind through those seasons and foods and in good gifts that God gives is as was said there in acts chapter 14 and this is something that the apostle Paul talks about in Romans chapter 1 where he talks about how the created order reveals to us. God as the sovereign Lord is the creator of all things, the problem Cynthia's human sin, we take what God is revealed about himself that he is the sovereign Lord of creation, we suppress that truth in on righteousness and we turn away from the Lord and we worship you know that the the things that we create with our own hands. Idolatry is oh so a couple of things that I would say is those prior to Christ. Never heard the gospel. They do have the testimony of God's creation and that's enough to hold each and every one of us accountable to. I would say were were judged more severely or less severely on the basis of what we know on the light that we have received. If you will, and I think this is the principle that we see throughout the Bible. And so for those who don't have that that the clear proclamation of the gospel, who were just started feeling their way towards the truth. As Paul talked about there in acts chapter 17 there to be judged justly by God.

Just like everyone else but but but I think that there's grace and mercy and an end that in one sense or is the judgment for people who hear the truth all the time and reject it and fight against his and be far more severe than it is for others. Those who never heard it.

And so I would understand entirely how this is all gonna work out. We know that only those who are who are coming to God through Christ can be saved but we do know that God is merciful that God is just so. However, God parses this out. It's going to be just and it's going to be good he's going to receive praise and glory for what he's done because everything that he does is good and true and right and so so those are a few of the passages that I would point you to ask 14 acts 17 Romans chapter 1 and and in summary what the show is one God did not leave himself without a witness throughout the world to guide basically is is calling all people to himself and that they might feel their way to him if if you will, and three that were all judged accountable on the basis of love, even though the light of nature we might say what we see in the created order. And yet with that God is calling us to embrace the gospel as well through preachers, through teachers, through his special revelation and so today may God bless you and thank you for that question. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Pedro Sanchez a reminder we have this brand-new Bible study that we are offering today. It's called the parables of King Jesus just so good and would love to get that in your hands sometime this summer to go through individually or maybe in a small group from your church. You can find out more by going to our website. Core, Christianity.com/studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies let's go to Diane calling in from St. Charles, Missouri Diane what your question for pastor atrial, Inc., in particular, wondering will I get their name from the cake out when God changed name to instrumental yeah I would say yes, thank you for that question yeah and and when that happened that happened in Genesis chapter 32 where you have Jacob me for this. This baptismal picture innately crosses the waters of of the J book and wrestles with God and God says to him in verse 28 then he said your name shall no longer be called Jacob at Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed and so there's this transformation that takes place that the children of Israel receive their name from from this work of God from this this new identity that God is bestowed upon the patriarch and so we are in. In one sense that the beneficiaries of that to because by faith were the children of Abraham where a part of Israel. If you will the people of God through Jesus Christ. This is something the apostle Paul brings out in the book of Romans. In Romans chapters 9 to 11, but yet I would I would say that the answer to your question is yes, they did get a did get their name from the patriarch Jacob and from the, the changing of his name to Israel talked about this before Israel.

The fact that the Jacob was the deceiver until he wrestled with God and heads that that that change of heart. And that gives I guess hope for all of us who maybe have a not so great past and that God offers that redemption now one of the things it's amazing that struck me while I was preaching through the book of Genesis is just how messed up Jacob, is that God God chooses him and uses him it you know prior to this in Genesis 32 he sees exhibiting fear, cowardice, and then he has his experience with God that makes them courageous and in bold and God transforms in the change of heart is something that God did it was a work of the Holy Spirit. And so, as you say, Bill.

This gives us all hope that the Lord can work in our lives. Despite her past. Despite our failures, he's sufficient. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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