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CUL:Satan's Cavalry  by Bill Jackson

   The Four Horsemen of Revelation 6

   With a voice like a clap of thunder, the first living creature
addresses the aged apostle: "Come and see." John sees a panoramic
unfolding of the conflict of the Ages, the full manifesting of Satanic
power and the glorious revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of
kings and triumphant Victor over Satan.

   The first picture that flashed before the Apostle was of four
horses, each different yet all bearing features that spoke of the
devastation of mankind. These four horsemen begin the drama that is
concluded when Jesus Christ returns in majesty, defeats Satan, sets up
His Kindgom and wipes away all tears - tears that had been the result
of the workings of Satan in the realm of time.

   It is possible to differ in exact prophetic interpretations, and at
the same time agree on general truths. Some assign Rev. 6 to
post-Rapture; others see Satan working throughout time in these ways
and believe that, while it will be more concentrated in the tribulation
period, Satan is even now developing his master plan (an endeavor to
produce something that will rival that which God is making). Therefore,
it is not surprising that Satan's production is a counterfeit of God's
truth (Isa. 14:14; 2 Cor. 11:14).

   2 Thess. 2:7 tells us that, in the same time of the Apostle Paul the
"mystery of iniquity", Satan's master plan, was working. We can trace
this counterfeit, a satanic system of religion, morals, economy and
government many centuries as we study biblical and secular history.

   In the pages following, I will look at the characteristics of the
horsemen of Rev. 6. I believe we'll see in them a blue-print of Satan's
efforts to create, in this world, counterfeit systems that will bring
satisfaction to men. We will see both the dismal failure of Satan's
devices and the eventual complete judgement of these by a triumphant
Christ, Who will then usher in His millennial Kingdom of perfect
religion, morality, economy and government.

   The chief aim of this study is to help God's people see where we are
today, and to realize our Christian responsibilities. Although the way
of many may seem prosperous, if it is not in Christ it is doomed to
failure and defeat.

   The White Horse

   It is a plain scriptural fact that Satan tries to pose as a
wonderful creature. When he appeared to Eve in Eden, he came in a
beautiful form and spoke words that sounded most pleasing. When he
tempted the Lord Jesus in the wilderness, three times he tried to
present himself as a benefactor of Christ, to satisfy His hunger,
accomplish His mission and prove His Deity.

   The image conjured up for us by medieval artists of a loathsome
creature breathing venom and hate is not the image that Satan give
himself. Because of the unreality of the old concept of Satan, many
dis-believe his existence. Scriptures assures us of Satan's reality and
it reveals his true image.

   We're told in 2 Cor. 11:14 that Satan is transformed into an angel
of light. The word "transformed" means disguised, and we can be sure
that Satan performs this masquerade with the near-perfection. so
effective is his disguise that we are explicitly told to prove all
things (1 Thess. 5:21). We can take nothing for granted. A man may be
the graduate of a fundamental school and speak like an angel, but we
are still to measure his teachings by God's Word.

   Satan is known as the arch-deceiver. His earthly agent, spoken of in
2 Thess. 2:9, comes "with all deceivableness". Jesus' prophecy in
Matthew 24:24 is enough to send a chill down the spine, for false
satanic manifestation will, if it were possible, deceive the very elect.

   In Rev. 19:11-16 is pictured for us the Lord Jesus Christ coming in
final power and victory. Notice that He is on a white horse, that he
has a weapon, and that He is crowned with many crowns and comes
conquering.

   Then we look at the first horsemen of Rev. 6. He, too, is on a white
horse; he has a weapon and a crown, and he comes forth to conquer.

   One difference is the company he keeps. The horseman of Rev. 6 comes
with three fellow horsemen, all of whom contribute to man's misery. The
Horsemen, all of whom contribute to man's misery. The Horseman of Rev.
16 comes with the armies of Heaven, clothed in white linen.

   The horseman of rev. 6 brings with him destruction and death; he is
indeed clothed with vesture dipped in blood, but He Who comes to mete
judgement upon the earth is only worthy because He's the Lamb for
sinners slain, and because of His shed blood He is the One Who unlocks
all the mysteries (Rev. 5:5,6), and then executes God's judgement upon
the earth.

   They may look alike to some, but praise God for the eyes of faith
which can look upon the Well - beloved of the Father and find Him
precious beyond compare and who through the Word of God can discern the
wiles of the masquerading father of lies.

   The rider of the horse in Rev. 6 has a bow as his weapon, and it is
significant that, in history, the bow is first associated with Nimrod,
the mighty hunter before the Lord (Gen. 10:8,9). The kingdom of Nimrod
is the first such kingdom in the Bible; Nimrod's designation, "mighty
one", comes from the Hebrew "gibor" meaning tyrant. The name Nimrod
means "let us rebel" and the expression "before the Lord" has a hostile
meaning. Nimrod was an ungodly ruler; the religious system springing
from him, his wife Semirmis and her illegimate son Tammuz was a satanic
system (Babylon, Mystery Religion, Woodrow).

   This religion was Satan's organized counterfeit religion, complete
with false "virgin", a false son, and a supposed resurrection. This
religion dogged the Israelites whenever they turned from God (Judges
2:13; Jer. 44:17; Eze. 8:14). In that region, there was still an
organized heathen worship in the time of the Apostle Paul (1 Cor.
10:21). It was this paganism that united with a church that had
degenerated through the false teachings of Irenaeus, Ignatius and
Cyprian, so that it accepted the unsaved emperor Constantine and became
state religion, the pagans flocked into the church bringing the embryo
of Satan's religious masterpiece - Babylonian paganism with a thin
veneer of "Christianity". This is embodied in the Roman Catholic Church
today and will be fully manifestated after the Rapture.

   The rider of the first white horse is also given crown, which is of
great significance. We can search the world for an important crown, and
only one will be found - the papal crown that sits on the shelf in the
Vatican waiting for a crowned pope. This triple crown of the papacy
embodies absolute power. Both John Paul 1 and John Paul 2 shunned the
crown, but a pope will again be crowned, and he will be the head of the
fully developed satanic super - church.

   Therefore, in his disgusting as the Lord Jesus, in his association
with the religious rebellion of Nimrod, and in his wearing of the
crown; the rider of the first horse displays himself as the religious
Anti-Christ. At present he is in embryonic form, but he will be fully
manifested after the Rapture.

   The Conqueror

   The rider of the white horse goes forth conquering and to conquer.
Already he has, by his disguise, bow and crown, been defined as a
religious leader. Therefore, his conquest must be religious.

   A student of church history can detect a water - shed in religious
movements. This was the Protestant Reformation. Prior to this, all
movements were going away from Rome (Waldensians, Hussites,
pre-Reformers). After the Reformation, all religious movements, some
imperceptably, are going toward Rome.

   Prior to, and just after, the Reformation, Roman catholic doctrine
and practice was gelled by Thomas Aquinas, Pope Hildebrand and the
Council of Trent. All of the movements within Roman Catholicism to this
day are going along guidelines set down at that time. Even calling
Protestants "separated brethren" instead of "heretics", while a seeming
contradiction of Boniface VIII's Unam Sanctum ("it is necessary for
salvation to be subject to the Roman Pontiff"), is a confirmation of
that encyclical. The Roman Pontiff (pope) is still laying down the laws
for salvation, and even though they seem to be more lenient, he now
teaches a Baptism can be saved because he is sincere, and, therefore,
objectively, a Roman Catholic.

   While Roman Catholic doctrine and practice was being completed, many
moved away because they could not agree with what was going on. Now,
however, the movement is toward Rome, and only those standing fast on
the Word of God are not moving.

   The heart of any religious movement is its theology, and the core of
theology is the doctrine of Christ and the Bible. Romanism developed a
Christology which portrayed a Christ who needed help from Sacraments,
devotions, works, etc. to effect salvation. While giving lip service to
the Deity of Christ, Roman Catholics were in actual fact denying His
Deity by teaching the need of supplemental works to His Atonement.
Since this took away from His perfection, it impugned His Deity. They
also professed belief in inerrant scripture, but supplanted its primary
role by tradition.

   The modernistic movement in Protestantism, from the very outset,
moved theologically closer to Rome by their denial of the Word of God
and the efficacy of the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   Pentecostalism, as it began in the early 20th century, while
vigorously denying any compromise with Rome, was nonetheless moving
theologically Rome-ward by reason of their insistence on contemporary
revelation, denial of eternal security and belief that the work of
salvation had to be supplemented by moral attainments of the believer.
These trends were not uniform throughout the movement (in which are
many sincere Christians), but the tend is there.

   Neo-evangelicalism, with its compromise on the Word of God and
emphasis upon subjective religious experiences, likewise moves
Rome-ward. Liturgical groups, Anglican and Lutheran, are daily moving
closer to Rome. Neo-pentecostalism, with its subjective emphasis on
experience and by discarding plain commands of scripture by embracing
Catholic Charismatics, is likewise moving toward Rome.

   It can be said that all roads lead to Rome except one; that leads to
Heaven. All of these ecumenical advances can be seen as beginnings of
the complete victory of the religious Anti-Christ over all religions
that are left in the world after the Rapture (when the Lord Jesus
Christ will remove all true believers, even those who are now caught up
in movements with deficient theologies). How far this unity goes with
non-Christian religions remains to be seen, but the Vatican is probing
ecumenical possibilities with Jews, Buddhists and even Communists.

   The Red Horse

   The second seal is broken and lo, there appears a red horse, "and
power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,
and that they should kill one another; and there was given to him a
great sword."

   This represents Satan's political power on the earth. It began with
rebellion against God and His government, and it produces war and death.

   Man has rejected God's government. In 1 Samuel 7, Israel demanded a
monarchy in place of a theocarcy, and the die was cast. God's last
political rampart was overrun and Satan, in every increasing intensity,
has his way in governmental affairs of men. There were bright spots:
the reign of King David; constitutional monarchies in the fear of God
as in the days of Queen Victoria; with its high ideals of a democratic
republic under Fod. but on the whole, the picture is getting dimmer.
Today, the majority of the world lives with restricted freedom, many
with serious lack of human rights. Even in lands supposed to be free,
many are finding out that freedom is license to do evil while good is
restricted. In the midst of political wrong, hatreds are being fomented
among nations. The world, that once fought "a war to end wars" find
itself never without hostility somewhere. Means to achive world peace
are futile, because of the nature of the rider of the red horse. The
only war to end wars is Armageddon.

   This political power wields a great sword, not for international
war, for he already has men killing one another in those. Incorporated
in this figure we see the foreshadowing of a big government far more
hideous than that by which Christians are being persecuted today. And
I'm not talking just about Communist dictorships. In our own land,
Christian ministers are behind bars. Things are not going to get
better; all of us can expect to feel the edge of the governmental
sword, as they control more and more in a bloodthirsty effort to bring
all aspects of life under their control. Just like the masquerading
rider on the first horse, the demon rider of political dictatorship
likes to appear benevolent - feed the hungry, house the homeless, save
the whales. But the aim of public welfare programs is public control,
and the rider of the red horse is with us today. Praise God, we will
not be here for his final manifestation after the Rapture!

   The Black Horse

   The rider on the black horse represents Satan's endeavors in the
economic field, aided by man's greed. We're living in a day when
staples are over-priced, and luxuries are affordable to the comparative
few. This economic trend is spurred by man's selfishness, which is
preparing the world for financial ruin. We cannot fail to be alarmed at
the instability of the world's money, the fact that our financial ups
and downs are being manipulated by a core of elite financiers, the
apparent ignorance of the government economic "experts" and the
frightening increase in the use of imaginary money (credit cards) to
buy their paper "money" into gold, silver, platinum or diamonds. Yet
even the lasting value of these is open to debate; every financial
system will crumble before the Satanic economy of the future.

   Just as Satan has his hand in religion and politics to bring about a
one-world religion and government, so his plans include a one-world
religion and government, so his plans include a one-world economy. Many
financiers avow this as the only solution. We are closer to it than
most imagine. May we instead of looking out for ourselves, look up for
the coming of the Lord.

   The Pale Horse

   On the horizon comes a forth horse, more ghastly than the other
three. The rider is Death, and, following closely behind a specter
called Hades. Power was given to them to kill with sword, hunger and
the beasts of the earth.

   In order to understand this horseman, we must investigate the cause
of death. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). "Sin when it is
finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15). Death is the result of
sin, and even now, sin is bringing forth death. Violent crime is
rampant; senseless murders that can only be explained by reference to
satanic temptation are making headlines, and that is just the tip of
the iceberg. What we don't know about moral perversion would chill us
to the marrow.

   Even now, sin is causing death with the sword and with hunger. There
is enough potential food for all human beings, but the selfishness of
man has deprived millions of a adequate diet. If our wasted time, money
and resources were channeled to the hungry, the world would be fed.

   On the horizon are scourges that could blot out millions of people.
In this age of grace, when full manifestation of satanic power is
divinely curtailed, there are still reported incidents of men being
killed by animals and insects. What it will be like after the Rapture
beggars description.

   Yes, the the forth horse is on the horizon now, and all the misery
and death now rampaging through the world is only a foretaste of that
to come.

   Why does Calvary Ride?

   Satan's fall was due to his pride - "I will be like the most High."
After he was judged by God and cast from his former estate, Satan
continued to try to prove that he can produce something that is
superior to God's Kingdom. In this, not only is Satan the deceiver; he
is the deceived.

   The four horsemen represent Satan's final attempt to produce a
kingdom over which he will be king. The One World Church: most
religionists believe this is the only way to achieve spiritual
prosperity. Most politicians are working overtime to achieve political
unanimity of One World Government. Economists look to One World
Currency to solve our economic woes. The problem is that these all
derive their power from the same soul as the forth horse, for Satan is
incapable of moving other than immorally. Even the moral platitudes put
forth by exponents of one world religion, government and economy are
mere facades to cover lurking wickedness. It cannot be otherwise, for
the one who motivates this coming ride of the Cavalry is Satan himself.

   In order to understand this, we must consider how the conflict
between Satan and God was manifested throughout human history.

   During the Ages of Law, God ordained a criterion, of human action,
that demonstrated the exceeding sinfulness of man. God decreed that man
should keep the law, but He also gave man a way back should he sin. God
was offering life to man if he would observe God's requirements. Satan
was not only trying to trick god's people into sinning against God, he
was creating (outside of God's chosen race) a mysterious pagan religion
that counterfeited all God was preparing through Israel.

   During the Age of grace, the Gospel is proclaimed to all mankind.
Through the Gospel message, God is saying that the structures built by
satan - prosperity, popularity, religion and morality - are wrong. He
is calling upon men to repent; to turn from all the workings of Satan
and respond to the Gospel message. The message of the Gospel is that
the Lord Jesus died, was buried and rose again, in an act of Atonement
to satisfy for our sins. All that is entailed in prosperity and
satisfaction is found in Him. A person's relationship to others
(political and economical) must be revolutionalized as they turn from
the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God.

   However, Satan is also busy in this Age of Grace. While God is
calling out a people for Himself, Satan is accelerating his programs.
False religion abounds, as do the progresses of political enslavement,
economic disaster and moral degradation. And a conflict is still going
on, between God and Satan, for the souls of man.

   During the first part of the Tribulation period, we will see Satan
working in all his fullness. He is unleashed to bring into completion
his four-fold plan - religious, political, economic and moral. As the
satanic Cavalry rides, it is plain that Satan is endeavoring to prove
to the world that his plans are better than God's. However, not only do
the utterly fail, God underlines His majestic control over creation by
pouring out awesome judgements upon the world.

   Following the Tribulation, we are ushered into the Millennial
Kingdom, when God contrasts the ruin of Satan's reign to the Glory of
His own. Following the Millenium comes the final choice that man must
make, and many rebel against God and follow Satan. Having seen the
horror of Satan's rule and the glory of God's rule, they still chose
the former. What a commentary on man's deceitful heart!

   What Should Christians Do?

   Any study that has, as its aim, mere dissmination of knowledge
cannot fulfill a really godly purpose. My aim is to get you to think,
in the light of all that is happening, what manner of persons you ought
to be (2 Peer 3:11).

   We are lining in a challenging generation. There are three main
duties for every truly born - again child of God.

   The first is to evangelize. The Lord Jesus Christ has never
rescinded the Great Commission. Our critical assessment of the ungodly
movements in the world must never outweigh our zeal to win those in
these ungodly movements to the Lord. It is too easy to want to be so
insulted from Satan that we view everyone else with a narrow judgement
void of love and scriptural evangelism. We must always be obedient to
plain command of the Lord Jesus, and evangelize the lost.

   Next, we have a scriptural obligation to stand fast for what the
Word teaches, in the face of all who teach otherwise. The inerrancy of
the Bible is under attack today. Also under attack is the scriptural
truth of the once-for-all, perfect redemption purchased by the Lord
Jesus Christ on Calvary. Man-made decisions, exciting experiences and
moral reform are being headlines today instead of redemption from sin.
Even the fact of sin is being obscured. The trouble with man is not
confusion, depression and insecurity. The trouble is sin. There are
many pseudo-Christian solutions to man's wrong attitudes; there is only
one solution to sin. The Son of God bled and died on Calvary to redeem
mankind.

   Because many who call themselves "Christians" err concerning the
Book and the Blood, there is a need to separate from this evil. Because
our century is a time of love and brotherhood, it is increasingly
unpopular to so stand, but failure to stand surrenders to the enemy the
precious heritage of our Saviour and our Bible. May we always stand,
against all odds, for this apostolic faith.

   Thirdly, we must come out from all alliances with the consolidating
evil of this world. This does does not just include religious
affiliations; we must stand against political encroachments (not of our
rights, but of the right), against the economic mania of rampant credit
that is destroying us, against the moral evils of our days. God's call
plainly is for Christians to cease in their pursuit of worldly
alliances, unscriptural fellowship, selfish materialism and unbridled
lust. Alas, how many who name His Name are so engrossed in the world
that they cannot hear His clarion call, "Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins." (Revelation 18:4)

   The Conclusion

   Today, in the midst of battle, we are not always sure who is
winning. Anti-Christian forces are making headway in every arena.
Political forces militate against the people of God; the Financial
insecurity that is ravaging the world seems to re-inforce the
prediction of economists that the only way out is One World Currency.
The increasing numerical identification of individuals is making a
probably out of what once seemed a science-fiction account of
computer-controlled international economics. Does anything need to be
said about moral degradation? One cannot even watch a football game
without being exposed to senseless nudity.

   All is working toward a climax known, frighteningly, as "the Great
Tribulation". This time of Satanic manifestation will be mixed, of
moral necessity, with God's awesome judgements. But even that is not
the end. Then comes the Millenium and then the final rebellion. God's
Word writes the closing chapter of evil in Revelation 20:10-15.

   Just as the Gospel message is adjacent to man's sinfulness, right
after these awesome words of judgement come words of everlasting Glory.
The conflict that seems muddied, uncertain and inconclusive reaches a
divine end. As the Lake of Fire is open to all not written in the Book
of Life, life is eternally revealed to the saved.

   Revelation 21 and 22 are the firm basis for the believer's assurance
that, although some battles may appear to be lost, and Satan seems to
have his way now, there is coming a day when every tear will be wiped
dry, and every conflict will be resolved in Victory for the Right.
Then, not only in our hearts, but in the Universe He created and died
to redeem, Jesus Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

   Satan's cavalry will rumble through God's creation. But the final
sound will be the shout of triumph and the everlasting song of
redeemed, "Unto Him..." (Rev. 1:5).

   Copyright to this article is held by Christians Evangelizing
Catholics. You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its
entirety and without any additions or deletions. This article
originated on S.O.N.