HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE Pastor James A. McMenis Part 2: The Beginning of Sorrows Revelation 4:1-2 KJV [1] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. [2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. After this - Church age, Chapters 2-3. Notice Chapters 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22 heard a trumpet talking with me come up hither - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 hereafter - definite transition, scene shifts to heaven, immediately (1 Corinthians 15:52) Matthew 24:6-8 KJV [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows [travail]. Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page 1 of 5
Sorrows - odeen : travail, birth pains 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 KJV [1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail [sorrows] upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Romans 11:25 KJV [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. REVELATION 6 White horse rider (v.1-2) Red horse: war (v.3-4) Black horse: famine (v.5-6) Pale horse: death (v.7-8) Martyrs (v.9-11) Worldwide chaos (v.12-17) VS. MATTHEW 24 False Christ(s) (v.4-5) Wars (v.6) Famines (v.7) Death (v.7-8) Martyrs (v.9) Worldwide chaos (v.10-13, 29) Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page 2 of 5
NOTE: Horses symbolize judgment many times in Scripture: 2 Kings 6:15-18; Jeremiah 46:9-10; Joel 2:3-11; Nahum 3:1-7; Zechariah 1:8-11; 6:1-7. White Horse: DECEPTION (False Peace) Matthew 24:4-5 [Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8] [4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive YOU. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 [2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: Beware of 3 Thessalonians! Paul addressed the deception of false information. 2 Corinthians 4:4 [5] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 1 Timothy 4:1 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Timothy 3:13-14 [13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Timothy 4:2-3 [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page 3 of 5
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Proverbs 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Galatians 6:3-4 [3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. [4] But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Revelation 12:9-10 [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:and after that he must be loosed a little season. Obadiah 1:3-7 [3] The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?[7] All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee:there is none understanding in him. Romans 16:17-18 [17] Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page 4 of 5
[18] For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Ephesians 5:6-7 [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. For more information and resources, write to: Word of God Ministries, Inc. 6645 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Shreveport, LA 71129 or visit wogm.com Horsemen of the Apocalypse - James A. McMenis Page 5 of 5