THE FOUR HORSEMEN I            	Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  11-14-99 A.M.        			 Rev.6:1-8   
	What a great scene in Heaven we saw in chapters 4,5. Great worship of the "redeemed" 
ones.. who cast their crowns at the feet of Him who is "Worthy".  Worthy to open the seven 
sealed scroll.  Worthy because He is the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Coming Ruler.
	 So.. now after the "church age" we are given a glimpse of the events that take place 
as the Tribulation period begins.. and advances rapidly. It is the "70th Week" of Daniel; the
"time of Jacob's trouble" of Jeremiah.  (But some believe the church will go into the 
Tribulation. Remember some believe in a "Mid-tribulation rapture"; some in a "pre-wrath 
rapture"; some in a "post-tribulation rapture"; and others believe in a "pre-tribulation
rapture".) But.. in any event this begins the description of the events of this tribulation 
period... 
I.  THE FIRST SEAL IS OPENED..  6:1,2 
  A. It Is The Lamb (slain) Who Is Worthy.. Remember! 
    1. To open the "seals" 
    2. To claim the "title deed" to all the earth.. 
  B. It Is When The "Restrainer" Is Gone.. 2Thes.2:6,7 
  C. It Is The "White Horse and Rider that John Sees First.. 
    1. He is the first of the "Four Horsemen" 
	- They are part of the unfolding of God's judgment.. 
    2. He has a "bow" but no mention of arrows.. 
	- Elegant; impressive; influential; aggressive; diplomatic 
    3. He has a "crown" (stephanos) = a "victor's" crown 
	- It is "given" to him.. 
	- He will be "popular"; poll numbers are high.. 
    4. He goes forth.. conquering and to conquer.. (he is victorious) 
	- He is "bent" on conquest.. goal to control the world 
	- He is a kind of "superman" promising world peace 
  D. It Poses The Question.. "Who Is This?"  I believe he is the antichrist. 
    1. He is the One predicted by Daniel.. 
	- The "little horn" Dan.7:8;8:9 
	- The "willful king"  Dan.11:36 
    2. He will make an agreement with Israel for "one week"  Dan.9:27 
	- They will have comparative peace.. temporary.. 
	- They will be allowed to have their temple.. & sacrifices 
	- Which at this time is still rejection of Christ as their Messiah.. and rebellion against
        God.. 
    3. He will enhance and encourage various anti-Christian philosophies 
	- Notice the tenants of Humanism.. (a secular religion) 
	Evolution.  There is no real evidence that God exists.  the universe is the result of 
                  chance.  Life forms gradually emerged over millions of years. 
	Situation ethics.  Man is the final authority for his own actions. There are no absolute
                         rules.
 	Moral freedom.  Everyone (including children of any age) should be exposed to all 
                      viewpoints that are "realistic," including profanity, immorality, and
                      perversion.. all seen as acceptable methods of self expression.  The 
                      Christian gospel is not realistic, so has no place in the system. 
	Self sufficiency.  Man is not accountable to any higher power.  He is responsible to 
                         himself.
 	Sexual permissiveness.  All forms of sexual expression are acceptable and should be 
                              taught in schools free from biblical bias.
	Anti-religious bias.  Religion is harmful.  It is either meaningless or irrelevant to 
                            the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race. 
	Socialism.  Government ownership or control of the economy should replace private 
                  enterprise and private ownership of property.  There should be an 
                  all-pervasive welfare state. 
	One world government.  "Global citizenship" should replace national self determination. 
                             There should be a system of world law, enforced by an international
                             police force transcending national federal government. 
	Death education.  There is no life beyond the grave.  Euthanasia should be employed and
                        suicide endorsed as acceptable ways to terminate life. 
	Human destiny.  Man should take charge of his own future and realize that he has within 
                      himself the power to achieve the world of his dreams. 
 ** Verbalized in the "Humanist Manifesto" first drawn up in 1933 and updated in 1973. 
  E. And.. At This Time.. Several Events Take Place... 
    1. The Sealing of the 144,000 Israelites..  7:1-8 
	- The forces of destruction are held back until this is done.. 
    2. The Selection of the "Two Witnesses"  11:3
	- They will minister for 3 1/2 years.. and be killed in the midst of the Tribulation. 
    3. The Development of The Global Church 
	- It is an unholy alliance between the "one world government" and the "one world religion"
	- John sees the "woman" seated on the "Beast"  Rev.17 
	- John sees the "10 horns" of the beast..
	   - They hate the woman.. (harlot) 
	   - They make her desolate & naked.. 17:16 "eat her flesh and burn her with fire" 
	- John sees.. it is God who put it into their hearts.. 17:17 
WELL.. THERE IS AN "ANTICHRIST" ON HIS WAY... AND JUDGMENT IS COMING!!
    NOW IS THE TIME TO GET READY... AND STAY READY !

		WHAT WE CAN KNOW ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST:
	He will receive his authority from Satan (Rev.13:2)  Allowed by God!
	He will receive his throne from Satan  (Rev.13:2)
	He will be a ruler  (Rev.6:2)
	His purpose will be conquest.. rule the world  (Rev.6:2)
	He will be guilty of terrible blasphemy  (Rev.13:5)
	He will make a peace treaty with Israel and then break it  (Dan.9:7; Mt.24:15)
	He will put himself above everything and everyone  (Dan.11:37)
	He will proclaim himself to be God  (2Thes.2:4)
	He will stage a miraculous "resurrection"  (Rev.13:5)
	He will make war with the tribulation saints  (Rev.13:7)
	He will have authority over the nations  (Rev.13:7)
	His number is 666  (Rev.13:18)
	He will kill millions of tribulation believers  (Rev.6:9-11; 7:9-17)
	He will be served by a false prophet  (Rev.13:11-17; 19:20)
	He will be worshipped by all whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life(Rev.13:8)
	He will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire  (Rev.19:20)
    (And several other things as well)