Lesson #23

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #23
PEACE AND THE HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE – REV 6

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 6:9

• A PEACE TREATY CONFIRMED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST OPENS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• READ ISA 28:14-22 (DAN 11:21-35)
• BACKGROUND ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TREATIES OF THE PAST:
• 1992
• SHIMON PERES OF ISRAEL OFFERED TO GIVE POPE JOHN PAUL II AND THE VATICAN THE CONTROL OF THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM AND THE ATEROT AIRPORT. THE CITY AND THE AIRPORT WOULD HAVE AN ISRAELI MAYOR AND A PALESTINIAN MAYOR BOTH UNDER VATICAN AUTHORITY.
• YASSAR ARAFAT AGREED TO THIS PLAN BUT IT WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE THE VATICAN NEVER RECOGNIZED ISRAEL AS A NATION UNTIL 1996 WHEN SHIMON PERES WAS REPLACED BY NETANYAHU.
• 1993 AND 1995 OSLO I AND OSLO II PEACE ACCORDS:
• WHEN PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SIGNED THE PEACE ACCORD IN 1993, HE SAID, “THIS IS NOT JUST A PIECE OF PAPER, IT IS THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE.”
• WHAT DID IT DO?
• IT CALLED FOR A NEW WORLD ORDER.
• IT CALLED FOR A COMPOSITE WORLD RELIGION.
• IT CALLED FOR A STRONG, WORLD LEADER.
• IT CALLED FOR A MUTUAL OWNERSHIP OF LAND IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
• OSLO I GAVE THE TERRITORY OF GAZA AND THE CITY OF JERICHO TO THE PALESTINIANS.
• OSLO II GAVE 6 MORE TERRITORIES TO THE PALESTINIANS. (JENIN, TUL KARM, QALQILYAH, NABLUS, BETHLEHEM, AND HEBRON).
• 1996
• THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL PLACED IN DETENTION FOR 90 DAYS ANYONE WHO SPOKE AGAINST THE PEACE ACCORDS. JOURNALISTS WERE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR JOBS IF THEY PRINTED ANYTHING NEGATIVE AGAINST THE PEACE ACCORDS.
• THE PEACE TREATY OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD (CALLED THE COVENANT OF DEATH IN ISA 28:15)
• JUST AS ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES IV (A PREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST) MADE A PEACE TREATY WITH THE JEWS, SO WILL THE ANTI-CHRIST. (1 MACCABEES 1:1-11)
• DAN 9:27 SAYS THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST “CONFIRMS” A PEACE TREATY. HE DOES NOT INITIATE IT, NOR DOES HE MAKE IT, HE ONLY CONFIRMS IT.
• THEREFORE, WE CAN ASSUME THAT THE TRIBULATION PEACE TREATY IS BASED ON AN ON-GOING PROCESS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE. THE ANTI-CHRIST PUTS INTO PLACE A FEW FINAL PROVISIONS AND CONFIRMS IT.
• WE SEE THIS PEACE PROCESS GOING ON TODAY. EACH CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT AMONG THE PRINCIPAL PLAYERS PUTS INTO PLACE A FEW MORE DETAILS THAT LEAD TO THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• WHAT DETAILS MUST THE TRIBULATION PEACE TREATY INCLUDE?
• =1= THERE MUST BE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE PALESTINIANS REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL OVER THE LAND OF CANAAN.
• THE OSLO ACCORDS HAVE DEALT HEAVILY IN THIS AREA. THE CONTROL OF 6 CITIES WAS GIVEN TO THE PALESTINIANS IN 1996.
• =2= THERE MUST BE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE JEWS AND SYRIA REGARDING THE CONTROL OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS.
• THE GOLAN HEIGHTS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ISRAEL FOR 2 REASONS:
• ITS MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE:
• THE GOLAN HEIGHTS AREA IS A HIGH PLATEAU 480 SQ. MILES WITH 2 LEVELS. THE LOWER PART IS 600-1900 FEET, WHILE THE UPPER PART IS 3,000 TO 4,400 FEET. THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE TO LAUNCH ROCKET ATTACKS ON ISRAEL.
• ITS ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE:
• THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ISRAEL’S WATER SUPPLY.
• =3= THERE MUST BE AN AGREEMENT REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND AND THE CONTROL OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING JERUSALEM AN INTERNATIONAL CITY CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN 1948.
• =4= THERE MUST BE AN AGREEMENT ASSURING PEACE AND SAFETY FOR THE JEWS TO BUILD A TEMPLE AND TO WORSHIP AND OFFER ANIMAL SACRIFICE ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT IN JERUSALEM.
• =5= THERE MUST BE A PEACE KEEPING FORCE ABLE TO RETALIATE WITH FORCE AGAINST ANYONE BREAKING ANY PART OF THE PEACE TREATY.
• THIS PEACE KEEPING ARMY PROBABLY WILL BE STATIONED IN JERUSALEM.
• =6= THERE MUST A TIME DESIGNATION THAT THIS PEACE TREATY WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR 7 YEARS.
• =7= THIS MUST BE A TREATY SIGNED BY MANY NATIONS.
• WHO REALLY OWNS THE LAND?
• THE LAND BELONGS TO GOD. (PSA 89:11 LEV 25:23)
• BECAUSE THE JEWS KNOW THIS, A PERSON DOES NOT BUY LAND IN ISRAEL TODAY. THE LAND IS LEASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
• GOD GAVE THE LAND TO THE JEWS. HOW MUCH LAND?
• READ GEN 15:18
• THE EASTERN BOUNDARY IS THE EUPHRATES RIVER IN IRAQ.
• THE WESTERN BOUNDARY IS THE EGYPTIAN RIVER, THE NILE. (EXO 23:31)
• THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY IS THE CITY OF HAMATH.
• THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY IS THE CITY OF KADESH (EZE 48:28)
• THIS INCLUDES ALL OF ISRAEL, ALL OF LEBANON, HALF OF SYRIA, 2/3 OF JORDAN, ½ OF IRAQ, NORTHERN SAUDI ARABIA, AND PART OF EGYPT.
• GOD CHOSE JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL. (ISA 62:6-11)
• THE JEWS WERE NOT TO MAKE TREATIES WITH PAGAN NATIONS. THEY WERE TO RELY ON GOD INSTEAD. (JDG 2:2)

• READ REV 5:1 6:1-17 8:1-2
• CHRIST TAKES THE SCROLL, THE TITLE DEED TO THE EARTH, AND BREAKS EACH SEAL UNROLLING THE SCROLL RELEASING JUDGMENT AND REDEMPTION WITH EACH SEAL.
• THE SEVEN SEALS ARE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• SEAL #1 (2) THE WHITE HORSE = THE RIDER IS THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO BRINGS A FALSE PEACE.
• WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST CONFIRMS A PEACE TREATY, IT BEGINS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (DAN 9:27)
• THE BOW = REPRESENTS WAR.
• WHILE THE ANTI-CHRIST COMES IN THE NAME OF PEACE, HE ACTUALLY BRINGS WAR.
• NOTICE THE RIDER HAS NO ARROWS WITH HIS BOW. THE ANTI-CHRIST’S REIGN IS A MIXED BAG OF PROMISED PEACE BUT ENFORCED WAR.
• THE CROWN = POLITICAL POWER
• SEAL #2 (4) THE RED HORSE = THE RIDER IS THE ANTI-CHRIST COMING WITH WAR.
• GREAT SWORD = THE ULTIMATE IN WEAPONS OF WAR
• THREE THINGS OCCUR WHEN THE RED HORSE APPEARS:
• WORLD PEACE IS ENDED.
• MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED.
• MILITARY POWER IS PLACED IN THE HANDS OF ONE MAN.
• SEAL #3 (5) THE BLACK HORSE = THE RIDER IS THE ANTI-CHRIST COMING WITH FAMINE AND FOOD RATIONING.
• WHEAT = A BASIC STAPLE OF LIFE FOR MAN.
• BARLEY = A BASIC STAPLE OF LIFE FOR ANIMALS.
• DENARIUS = A DAY’S WAGE
• A PAIR OF BALANCES (A SCALE) = A MEANS OF MEASURE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST. HE WILL CONTROL FOOD AND THE ECONOMY.
• OIL AND WINE = LUXURY ITEMS.
• ONLY THE RICH WILL LIVE WELL BECAUSE THEY WILL SELL THEIR SOULS TO THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• FAMINE USUALLY FOLLOWS WAR.
• SEAL #4 (8).THE PALE HORSE = THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THE RIDER WHO COMES WITH DEATH.
• PALE IS THE COLOR OF DEATH.
• DEATH AND HADES = PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH
• REV 6:8 SAYS 1/4 OF THE WORLDS POPULATION IS KILLED, WHILE REV 9:15,18 SAYS 1/3 OF THE REMAINING POPULATION IS KILLED. THAT AMOUNTS TO OVER 2 BILLION PEOPLE KILLED DURING THE TRIBULATION. (THAT IS 5 ½ TIMES MORE THAN THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE 1995 WORLD POPULATION WAS 5,733,687. THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD IS DOUBLED EVERY 39.5 YEARS.
• THE FOUR METHODS OF DEATH:
• SWORD
• WAR AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
• HUNGER FROM FAMINE. AN INFESTATION OF PARASITIC MITES THAT PREY ON HONEY BEES IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEPLETION OF THE BEE POPULATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE OF PLANT POLLINATION AND RESULT IN FOOD SHORTAGES. THE BEE POPULATION HAS DECREASED BY 50% IN THE LAST 60 YEARS.
• DEATH FROM PESTILENCE, PLAGUE AND WILD ANIMALS.
• SEAL #5 (9-11) PERSECUTION
• WHO ARE THE PERSECUTED?
• THESE ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE MARTYRED IN THE TRIBULATION BUT NOT YET RESURRECTED.
• THOSE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS THAT WERE MARTYRED AND WAIT FOR RESURRECTION AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION ACCORDING TO DAN 12:1-3.
• UNDER THE ALTAR = UNDER THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE
• THEY WERE KILLED FOR 2 REASONS:
• WORD OF GOD
• WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY
• THE MARTYRED ARE GIVEN A WHITE ROBE:
• A WHITE ROBE MEANS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS (ISA 64:6 REV 7:14 REV 19:8)
• SEAL #6 (12) DESTRUCTION
• READ ISA 13:6-16; 34:1-4; JOE 2:30-31; AMO 8:9-10
• WHEN DOES THIS OCCUR?
• THERE ARE TWO VIEWPOINTS:
• =1= DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RUSSIAN WAR (EZE 38:19)
• THIS IS THE VIEWPOINT OF THE TEACHER.
• =2= AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION DURING THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK (REV 16:17-21)
• HOWEVER, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE 2 EARTHQUAKES
• REV 6 = DAY OF GOD’S WRATH HAS COME,
• REV 16 = IT IS DONE
• SUN BECOMES BLACK = POSSIBLY NUCLEAR CLOUD.
• MOON LIKE BLOOD = POSSIBLY NUCLEAR CLOUD.
• STARS FALL = POSSIBLY NUCLEAR BOMBS FROM SATELLITES.
• HEAVEN DEPARTED LIKE A SCROLL = POSSIBLE NUCLEAR BLAST.
• SEAL #7 THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
• READ ZECHARIAH 6:1-8 THE FOUR CHARIOTS WITH HORSES.
• THE FOUR CHARIOTS = JUDGMENT IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.
• TWO MOUNTAINS:
• =1= MT. ZION AND MT. MORIAH OR
• =2= MT. ZION AND THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
• BRONZE = THE POWER AND PERMANENCE OF JUDGMENT.
• THE RED HORSES = BLOOD BECAUSE OF WAR.
• THE BLACK HORSES = DEATH BECAUSE OF FAMINE.
• THE WHITE HORSES = THE VICTORIES IN THE NAME OF PEACE BY THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THE DAPPLED HORSES = DEATH BECAUSE OF PLAGUES.
• THE FOUR WINDS (SPIRITS) OF HEAVEN = FOUR ANGELS THAT TAKE THE JUDGMENT TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.
• THE BLACK HORSES IN THE NORTH = FAMINE IN RUSSIA.
• THE WHITE HORSES FOLLOW THE BLACK ONES = THE ANTI-CHRIST ATTACKS RUSSIA AFTER RUSSIA BEGINS A WAR.
• THE DAPPLED HORSES IN THE SOUTH = PLAGUES IN EGYPT
• “HAVE QUIETED MY SPIRIT IN THE NORTH” (ZEC 6:8) = THE ANTI-CHRIST PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS.
• SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
• THE JUDGMENTS OF THE SEALS ARE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• TRUMPET JUDGMENTS ARE SPECIFIC JUDGMENTS — REV 8
• BOWL JUDGMENTS ARE SPECIFIC JUDGMENTS — REV 16

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 7
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REVELATION 6
• AS THE LORD BRINGS PEOPLE TO MIND, MAKE A LIST OF THOSE WHO NEED SALVATION. DETERMINE TO PRAY FOR EACH ONE THIS WEEK AS THE LORD BRINGS THEM TO MIND.

• PREPARATION FOR REV 7
• READ REV 7:1-17
• READ GEN 49:3-28 AND COMPARE WITH REV 7:5-8
• MAKE A LIST OF TRIBES FROM EACH PASSAGE:

• READ GEN 48:5
• WHAT TRIBES ARE MENTIONED HERE?

• WHAT COMFORTS ARE GIVEN TO THE GREAT MULTITUDE IN REV. 7?

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 7:17