"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 6:2)
“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5).
The worldwide trend to arise on the scene after Christ’s resurrection was the emergence of many false preachers and false apostles deceiving many. They would, over time, infiltrate the Church of God and corrupt the true message that He brought from the Father. Jude, younger brother of Jesus, exhorted the Church to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered…. For certain men have crept in unnoticed” who would “turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3–4).
The Apostle Paul also witnessed the beginning of this deception in his day. He referred to such teachers as “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” similar to Satan who appears as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15. Note also vv. 3–4).
Satan’s masquerade is depicted in the vision of the white horse of Revelation 6. The horseman astride a white horse appears to resemble Jesus Christ. However, the true Jesus Christ has eyes like “a flame of fire.” He wears “many crowns,” and brandishes the sword, not a bow (Revelation 19:11–15). This sharp two-edged sword is none other than the word of God (Hebrews 4:12), which comes out of Jesus Christ’s mouth to “strike the nations.” Therefore, the first horseman of Revelation 6 represents a world trend of false Christianity that will steadily increase in power and influence. This deception will culminate in the rise to power of a religious leader who “opposes and exalts himself” above God (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, 8–9)!
The Red Horse and Scourge of War
Irfan Rashid
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