THE 1ST SEAL - STRONG DELUSION

The 1st Seal and the Judgment of Strong Delusion

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see." "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."

 

The Origin of the Opening of the Seal

This is Two-Fold

1. The Lamb of God is the ultimate origin
This is true in every one of the seals that is opened (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).
2. The Living Creature is the Mediate Origin. vs. 1

There is the voice of thunder which is the voice of one of the living creatures. A.V. says "come and see." R.V. "Come." Gk. "Go" (best)

This judgment is apparently carried out through one of the creatures of God, and is therefore providential.

This is true for the other three of the first four seals. In the last three, no living creature is involved.

The Outset From the Opening of the Seal

The Appearance of the White Horse

This has been held to be the gospel. But the other symbolism is certainly inappropriate for the gospel. The white horse of Rev. 19:11ff, however, provides a basis for the solution.

More than likely this is counterfeit dressed up to appear as the gospel. Cf. Matt. 24:5 with 2 Thess. 2:3-12.

The Rider Upon the White Horse

This is Antichrist and not Christ. Christ opens the seals. Antichrist is associated with false religion. It is headed up in him. The bow is the long-range weapon, and therefore the providential aspect (Hab. 3:8-9; Psa. 45:1-6). The sword is the short-range weapon and suggests that which is immediate. That is what Christ uses when he comes to glory (Rev. 19:11ff).

Inasmuch as men have given themselves to unbe­lief, God gives them what they want and allows the Antichrist to appear and men to believe that he is the Christ. This is the strong delusion he sends upon them. Nor will this be strange since many today believe that this white horse is the Christ (2 Thess. 2:9-12).
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

The Outcome of the Opening of the Seal

"And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."

The Crown Given to the Rider

This must mean that Antichrist rises to promi­nence in political and religious realms Cf. 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:2-4.

The Conquering of the Rider

This marks a progressive career. Triumph is added to triumph and position to position, until he reaches the top both religiously and politically. Cf. Dan. 7:24; Rev. 17:12-13; Rev. 13:7.