(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
I read or am asked frequently if the four horsemen of Revelation are riding in the world today.
The short answer to that question at the present time is, no, they have not yet been commanded to come forth by the living creature as described in Revelation Chapter 6.
The release of the four horsemen of Daniel’s 70th week (the 7-year Tribulation) is a time-and-action-specific event initiated by Jesus Christ after the removal of the True Church (Rapture) and upon the opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll.
The King James and New King James read, “Come and see,” as if it is a command to John to witness this event. Other versions, such as the NIV, simply say “come” as if the living creature is ordering the horsemen to come forth. In my opinion, it is a minor difference, as all execution is under the authority of the Only One, Jesus Christ, who is worthy to open the seals of the scroll of judgment.
Having said that, I believe there can be no doubt that we are well into the “beginnings of sorrows” prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:6-8 and Mark 13:6-8.
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:6-8). Emphasis added by me.
Anytime something is said to be or have a beginning, there is a presumption that it will also have an end that is quantifiable.
That is the case here.
The end of this period of sorrows will come when the Lord removes the True, Christ-worshipping Church from this world as typified/described in Revelation 4:1, and, I believe, also in type (portrayed as in an analogy) by:
- The removal of Enoch (Genesis 5:24)
- The saving of Noah and his family in the Ark (Genesis 7:7).
It should be noted that Noah did not close the door of the Ark. God shut them in. (Genesis 7:16b)
- The mercy shown to Lot when he is removed from Sodom (Genesis 19:16).
- Jesus’ promise to keep the faithful and enduring church from the judgment of the “inhabitants of the earth,” or those who dwell on the earth.
Immersed (drowning) in sorrows
Based on what has now become “normal” human conduct in the world, I believe it is prudent to conclude that the sorrows we witness at present are so prolific and accelerating each day that the world is awash in those sorrowful conditions that Jesus articulated.
There is an unrelenting flood of violence, threats, senseless behavior, malevolence and malice that is manifest in every corner of the world.
Those few places that still possess the illusion of peace have become a target of the evil forces that are currently being allowed by God to proliferate.
An unrepentant world is now reaping what has been sown over so many centuries of rebellion and godlessness.
But this is still only the beginnings of sorrows, as Jesus accurately described it. As ever, the mercy of God is evident in that He warns, cautions and pleads with humankind to examine His Word and see the Truth of it.
God has applied His signature to His Word by virtue of fulfilled future prophecy. It is now verifiable history and undeniable proof that He is the Sovereign and only God.
And He told us so, as I frequently remind the readers of my commentaries.
“Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
The current sorrows will not compare with the sorrows to come when the Holy and only God will execute the transition from the warning stage to the judgments that He has made clear since the writing of the Book of Revelation on or about AD 95 by revelation of Jesus Christ to the apostle John. They are frightful, and they will be very real.
A critical distinction
- Who are those who are the “inhabitants of the earth,” or “those who dwell on the earth”?
They are all who are currently unsaved. All who reject the saving Grace of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who came for the specific purpose of paying the price of sin, which is death. They are those who have placed all their trust in this sin-besotted world system as their only foundation and have elected to reject Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
For almost 2,000 years, God has made His requirements for salvation, the reason for them, and the revelation of His Savior clear so that no inhabitant of the earth has any excuse or legitimate reason to claim ignorance.
- Who are those who are NOT the inhabitants of, or who dwell on the earth?
They are those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and have placed their complete trust in His sacrificial death on their behalf. Those who acknowledge Him and only Him as God and Savior. (Please see the special message at the end of this article.)
Because of this, God has promised eternal life in a place that Jesus has promised to those who have believed Him.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).
It is critical to understand that it is not those who only believe IN Him on an intellectual level…
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! (James 2:19).
…but it is those who ACTUALLY BELIEVE Him.
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called a friend of God” (James 2:23).
Bathed in Hope
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).
This is Hope based in Trust. In order that you be able to Trust, you must Believe Him.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
If you believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, you might ask yourself these three questions:
- If God has the power to do these things, doesn’t it make sense that He would also have the power to reveal Himself to humankind by the written Word?
- If that is so, would He not also be able, by His spirit, to inspire human individuals to accurately record His history, laws, precepts, and plan for humankind?
- If that also is true, would He have sufficient power to get His Word printed, published and distributed over the entire world as is currently the case?
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Hope is only as good as that in Whom it is placed. You can have that Hope.
I pray that you Trust God and live.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com