Morris Cerullo - The Four Horsemen

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Who Can Open The Scroll?

When John began to compose the last book of the Bible, he had been banished to an island in the middle of nowherethe island of Patmos.

Despite his apparent solitude, the disciple whom Jesus loved kept up his habit of worshiping the Lord, and he kept up his tradition of setting aside a special time on Sunday to worship.

Indeed, in the beginning of the book, he declares: I was in the Spirit on the Lords day... " Revelation 1:10

The phrase in the Spirit denotes that John possibly was in a deep state of worshipbeyond the physical realm, his entire being was focused on worshiping God in spirit and in truththe natural world had melted away, and John was completely engulfed into the realm of God.

It was in this state of intense spiritual awareness that the apostle saw the following:

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a hook written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. " Revelation 5:1-4

In Johns day, nobody had ever seen a book; books simply didnt exist. The Greek word thats translated into our Bibles as book is actually scroll.

John peered into Heaven, saw at the right hand of God a scroll that was written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. In the old days, a person who wanted to send a message would seal it up in a scroll with melted wax imprinted with his insignia. If the scroll reached its destination and the seal had been broken, the recipient would know that an unauthorized person had peeked into its contents.

The seal was the author and recipients guarantee that only appropriate eyes would see the contents.

The scroll John sees is sealed with not one seal, but with seven.

As the angel asks for the scrolls intended recipient, nobody in Heaven or earth can answer the callno one is worthy to break the seals and read the scrolls contents.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof Revelation 5:5

Though no one in Heaven or earth is found to be worthy to open the book, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus prevailed to open the book.

He is worthy to open the book because He is no ordinary man He is the Son of the living God! Because He is the testator of the new covenant, He is the recipient of its blessingsHe is the inheritor of its promises, and He is worthy to open the scroll in the right hand of the living God.

And I beheld, and, lo in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. " Revelation 5:6-10

By His blood Jesus is worthy to open the scroll and read its contentsthrough the very act of redeeming mankind and changing paupers into kings and priests...

Its important that the angel first calls Jesus the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and then the apostle John describes this Lion as a Lamb who was slain!

Through His death Jesus prevailedspeaking literally, He gained power by laying down His life! The lamb became a lion through humbly sacrificing Himself.

Though we believe the predominantly Gentile Church will be raptured before this time, the Bible is clear that a remnant of believersa predominantly Jewish Churchwill be on the earth at this time, waiting for the final battle and the final return of Jesus.

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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. " Romans 11:25-27

It is this predominantly Jewish Church that will be the recipient of the sparing grace of God during the tribulation and the apocalyptic rides of the four horsemen...

Chapter 2

The First Horseman: The Conqueror

The first horseman is one of the most misinterpreted figures in the book of Revelation.

Because one of his attributes is conquering, it is often assumed he is a man of violencethat he goes forth and shreds nations and peoples.

But the Bible seems to tell a very different story:

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2

Many Bible scholars have noticed that the horseman is given a bow, but no arrows. Theyve also noticed that the crown is given to him; he doesnt take it and he doesnt steal it.

This conqueror is one who appears to conquer through the threat of force, not actual force itself. He appears to get a crown from the sheer fear of others that he could incite violence if he wanted to.

This seems to agree with the predictions in the book of Daniel:

And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. Daniel 11:21-24

Partner, before Adolph Hitler began the tragic course that threw the world into its largest war, he came to power in Germanynot by force but by his political savvy. Similarly, the antichrist will come to power through his ability to manipulate politics.

This passage seems to predict that the white horse rider (also known as the antichrist by many Bible scholars) will obtain an empire in the Middle East through intrigue and threats. He will not, conquer by force to obtain his kingdomat first. Instead, he will conquer by politicsa bow with no arrowsto obtain an empire in the Middle East that will quickly gather the nations attention.

The book of Daniel also describes the entire Middle Eastor nearly all of itbecoming part of his empire, falling as everything falls before the power of the waves of a massive flood. Even the prince of the covenantor the nation of Israelwill make league with him.