Transcript:

 

There is great misunderstanding concerning the four horsemen in the book of Revelation.  The rider on the white horse is not part of the other three that kill a fourth of the earth.  Now we'll examine the rider on the white horse in our next study.  The key to understanding the horsemen is found in verse 8 of Chapter 6.  It says, "And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth."

 

To kill with sword.  Who kills with sword?  It says, "When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."  Another horse, fiery red, went out.  And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword."

 

So the guy given a great sword is probably the guy who kills with sword.  Next, it's uh...to kill with sword, with hunger.  Who kills with hunger?  Let's read.  "When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see."  So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.'"

 

So who kills with hunger?  Probably the guy who brings famine.  Next, it says, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death.  Let's read, "When He opened the fourth seal, I heard  the voice of the fourth living creature saying, 'Come and see.' So I looked, and behold, a pale horse.  And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him."

 

So who kills with death?  Probably the guy named Death.  I mean his name is Death, right?  You would think he kills with death.  Next it says, by the beasts of the earth.  Why do we need to be told that people will be killed by the beasts of the earth?  Doesn't being killed with death cover everything that kills you?  So why is it added here?  It's a reminder that Hades follows Death.  If you are familiar with the law of God you'll know being killed by the beasts of the earth is a curse upon the disobedient.  Let's go ahead and read from Leviticus chapter 26.  "Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.  I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; And your highways shall be desolate."

 

So in the Old Testament, if the people were living in sin then they would get killed by wild beasts.  If was the curse of God upon the disobedient.  So here comes Death and Hades follows him.  Death kills the disobedient and takes them to Hades.  So we know the them now.  It's the second, third, and fourth horsemen.  It says, and power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword.  The second horsemen was given a great sword.  With hunger.  The third horsemen brings famine.  With death.  The fourth horsemen is named Death.  He kills with death.  And by the beasts of the earth.  A reminder that Hades follows Death.

 

Now let's go even deeper in this study.  This is for you bible students.  And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword.  To kill with sword.  The word for sword here is rhomphaia.  This is not the typical word for sword.  It's used only 7 times in the New Testament.  The word that is normally used for sword is machaira.  Machaira is used 29 times in 26 verses.  Whenever you read about a physical sword in the New Testament or someone being killed by the sword in the New Testament.  It's the word machaira.  So here are a few examples.  Read from Luke.  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the machaira."  John 18.  Then Simon Peter having a machaira drew it and struck the high priests servant, and cut off his ear.  I got an ear!  Acts 12.  Then he killed James the brother of John with the machaira.  So machaira is the word that is commonly used for sword.

 

Now here in Revelation 6:8 is one of the few places rhomphaia is used.  A rhomphaia is literally just a large sword.  But in the New Testament it's used very carefully.  Remember it's used only 7 times in the New Testament.  6 of those 7 times are in the book of Revelation.  And here's how it's used.  Pay close attention.  Revelation 1:16.  He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged rhomphaia.  Revelation 2:12.  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, "These things says He who has the sharp two-edged rhomphaia."  Four verses down it tells us what the rhomphaia is.  Repent or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the rhomphaia of My mouth.  So the rhomphaia is the sword that goes out of His mouth.

 

Revelation 19:15.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp rhomphaia, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.  Revelation 19:21.  And the rest were killed with the rhomphaia which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.  The last place it's found, well it's actually the first place it's found.  But it is in Luke.  Luke 2.  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother,  "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against, yes a rhomphaia will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  Okay, so what was the rhomphaia that would pierce her soul?  It was the word of God.  That Jesus must die.  So we see rhomphaia used only in reference to the word of God.  Christ is the Word of God.  So out of His mouth proceeds a sharp rhomphaia.  The second horsemen receives a great sword, a great machaira.  He cannot receive a rhomphaia.  Why?  Because a rhomphaia in the New testament is used only to describe the words that come out of Christ's mouth.  That's the sword that comes out of His mouth.  It's the word of God.  So this horsemen, he can only receive a machaira.  But he goes out to kill, it says, he goes out to kill with rhomphaia.  The sword that comes out of Christ's mouth.  Remember Jesus is the one breaking these seals.  He's the one sending these guys out.

 

So let's see, let's read again.  And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with rhomphaia, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.  So who gives power to kill with the sword of Christ's mouth?  Can Satan have that power?  Can Satan speak words for Christ?  Of course not.  That's ridiculous.  If your theology has antichrist as one of these riders then you have antichrist receiving power from Jesus to go out and kill with the rhomphaia that comes out of Christ's mouth.  I mean if that's what you believe I think you got some real messed up theology.  Satan gives power to the antichrist.  Not Jesus!  Jesus does not give him power.  The dragon gives the beast power.  So Jesus gives these three riders power over a fourth of the earth.  That's how the second rider who has the great machaira, the great sword, that's how he can go out and kill with the rhomphaia.  The sword that comes out of Christ's mouth.  Now but truly, all three are sent out by Christ because he's the one breaking these seals, right?  Jesus is the one sending these guys out.  Now you are not to include the rider on the white horse who has the bow.  He is not part of these three that go out to kill.  He is not antichrist!  In our next study, we're going to talk about the rider on the white horse.  Stay tuned and I'll see you next time.  And remember, love the Lord with all your heart.  Love you Jesus!