Mistaken Identities

It is quite remarkable how often mistaken identities occur throughout our literature: Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, Charade, et al.; Daphne du Maurier’s Scapegoat, Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Christo and The Man in the Iron Mask all rely on mistaken identities. And in Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton takes the place of Charles Darnay at the French guillotine.

In more modern episodes, Robert Ludlam’s Bourne Identity has spawned a host of derivative episodes of Jason Bourne; Henckel von Donnersmarck’s colorful surprises amused us in The Tourist; and in Tony Gilroy’s Duplicity the devious characters even confuse themselves.

In real life, our actual visit to the infamous Angola Prison revealed that over half of the prisoners incarcerated there are probably innocent; and we could digress endlessly about the identities of Lee Harvey Oswald and Barack Obama among our more contemporary headlines.

But now a much more deadly hazard is currently emerging on our near horizon.

The Ultimate Masterpiece: The White Horse of Revelation 6

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 KJV

What is surprising is how many Bible expositors find themselves misled on one of the most dangerous “mistaken identities” of all.[1] The first world dictator was Nimrod, “a mighty hunter,” whose Hebrew name means “let us rebel,” given by his contemporaries to one who ever had in his mouth such words to stir up his band to rebellion. The final world dictator seeking global domination will also be an “Assyrian”[2] who is here characterized by holding a bow and riding a white horse. It is interesting how many confuse this counterfeit with the rider of the white horse in Revelation 19. In chapter 6, however, this rider is among some very bad company![3]

These “four horsemen” constitute the first four seals of the Seven Sealed Book of Revelation 6: White, Red, Black and Green (livid, or “pale”). It is interesting that each these four colors are featured on the national flags of Islamic countries.

Our subsequent articles will feature a review of each of these four pivotal presentations.

The Law of First Mention

Biblical observers have noticed that the first mention of a concept in the Bible appears to be especially significant. The first mention of “love” in the Bible occurs in Genesis 22, the pre-enactment of the greatest act of love in the history of the universe.[4]

The first mention of a “bow” is as a “token of a covenant.”[5] Here, however, the subsequent violation of a covenant is among the most critical events in Biblical eschatology. In His confidential briefing on the end-times,[6] Jesus even draws on an historical allusion to describe the forthcoming events, including what will be the defining event establishing the “70th week of Daniel,”[7] and the subsequent breaking of the covenant which will lead to the “great tribulation”.[8]

This coming world leader will be the ultimate fraud; using misdirection, disinformation, and all manner of deceit to establish his dominion. He apparently gains control of the electronic funds transfer mechanisms which yields him economic control.[9] In fact, virtually the entire world will be deceived and enslaved without remedy or hope. There are many who believe he is alive today.

He rises to power as a peace-maker,[10] and eventually enforces a 7-year covenant with Israel.[11] It is the mid-term abrogation of that treaty that ushers in a period that Jesus Himself labels “the Great Tribulation.”[12] This is the most documented period of time in the entire Bible: each half of this week of years is variously labelled 1260 days, 42 months, and 3½ years.

Our featured Briefing Pack this month, Behold a White Horse, explores the career of the first of these “Four Horsemen” who seems to have at least 33 titles in the Old Testament and 13 in the New Testament and the common term “AntiChrist” really isn’t one of them.[13] We also explore the only physical description of him in the Scripture!

In addition, we also are featuring a companion study which explores, in depth, the distinctive expectations of each of the various groups anticipating his appearance: the Edomites, the Muslims, the Trans-humanists, the Freemasons and the Vatican. (It may surprise you to discover that the Vatican is openly preparing to receive him as an extra-terrestrial alien!)

Both of these studies are provocative, timely studies for those of you who are serious about the Word of God. “The Five Horsemen” series will present an overview from Revelation 6 & 19; the other is a collection of six studies focusing on the various expectations of particular groups deriving from the antics of the first of the riders.

2015 promises to be an exciting—yet turbulent—adventure. Are you ready?