Episode 48 focuses on the initiator of the tribulation period, the conqueror on a white horse, and looks to Daniel chapter 7 for details on this mysterious figure.

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Transcript
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The Future of the Teachings of Jesus
29. The Rider on the White Horse (Ep 48)
The Little Horn of Daniel 7

(December 2024)

 

 

And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Rev 6:2)

 

The four horsemen of the apocalypse symbolize a sequence of four great tribulations. Revelation chapter 6 pictures four great tribulations that will come to the earth as a prerequisite to the coming of the kingdom of God. These 4 great tribulations are symbolized by the coming of four riders on different colored horses. The first horse is white and portrays the coming of a conqueror. The second horse is red and symbolizes the taking of peace from the earth. The third horse is black and pictures inflation, poverty and famine. The fourth horse is pale and symbolizes death followed by Hades, with killing by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. Taken together and in sequence the coming of these four horsemen of the apocalypse portrays the unfolding of four great tribulations which will take place before the secular, corrupt, and evil forces that presently rule the world are defeated and replaced by the kingdom of God.

The rider on the white horse initiates the tribulation period. In the sequence of the four horsemen the rider on the white horse comes first; it is his appearance that initiates the tribulation period, and he plays a central part throughout this time of God’s judgment of the ungodly, evil forces that have overtaken the world.

Daniel is a great source of knowledge about the rider on the white horse. We may learn much about the rider on the white horse from Old Testament prophecy, especially Daniel. The best sources of information we have about him are contained in the book of Daniel, chapters 7, 8, and 11.

The four great empires and the evolution of the fourth. Daniel chapter 7 begins with the depiction of the four great empires that ruled the western world, each of which was conquered by the empire that succeeded it. These four empires and their succession were also recounted in Daniel chapter 2. This succession began with Babylon, which was conquered by Persia, which was then conquered by Greece, while Greece was conquered by Rome. Rome was not conquered by a succeeding world empire, but gradually became divided up and fragmented into its various original provinces. Over time these provinces evolved into the modern nations of Western Europe.

The beast representing Rome had 10 horns representing ten modern European nations that grew out of the Roman empire. In Daniel 7 the last empire, Rome, is described as the “fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong…. It was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had 10 horns.” (Dan 7:7) These ten horns represent ten modern European nations that grew out of the Roman empire. They are ten nations and rulers in existence at the time of the coming of the rider on a white horse. In Daniel’s vision a “little horn” appears and uproots 3 of the ten original horns.

Identification of the little horn with the rider on a white horse. This little horn represents an individual ruler who is small at first and comes to power by defeating three of the ten European nations that evolved out of the Roman empire. This little horn is in fact the rider on the white horse coming to power. This rider is referred to as “the beast” throughout the rest of the book of Revelation because the word “beast” best depicts his animalistic and secular, ungodly nature. We may identify the little horn with the rider on a white horse, the beast, because they both symbolize a conqueror who appears at the time of the end, gains great power, conquers the people of God, and is finally defeated by God’s divine forces; this defeat is followed immediately by the coming of the everlasting kingdom of God to rule the kingdoms of men.

Facts about the little horn. Many facts about the little horn beast are revealed in Daniel chapter 7. Following is a listing of these facts excerpted from Daniel 7:

 

(1) there came up among them [the 10 European nations] another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; (Dan 7:8; my insertion)

(2) the horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things and which seemed greater than its fellows. (Dan 7:20)

(3) he shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half the time [that is three and one half years]. (Dan 7:25; my insertion)

(4) but the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end, (Dan 7:26)

(5) as I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the Kingdom. (Dan 7:21)

(6) and the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey them. (Dan 7:27)

 

The career and destiny of the rider on the white horse, the little horn. These verses give us a good idea of the career and destiny of the little horn of Daniel 7 who is also the rider on the white horse. He will be small at first and will come to power by overcoming three European rulers. He will be a great speaker who can move and influence others by his “great words.” He will seem greater than his fellow rulers. He will make war against those who follow in God’s way and prevail over them. He will oppose and speak words against God himself. He will seek to change the times and the law. He will conquer and overcome the followers of God and Jesus and shall rule over them for three-and one-half years.

Destruction of the little horn followed by the coming of the kingdom of God. But the heavenly court shall sit in judgment and the Ancients of Days will take away his dominion and he and his followers will be utterly destroyed. His kingdom and rule will be given to the saints of the Most High and to those who remained loyal to God throughout the tribulation period. This (political) kingdom of God on earth “shall be an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve” it.

This concludes Episode 48. Episode 49 will continue the focus on the rider on the white horse and what we may learn about him from Daniel chapter 8.

 

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