The Four Riders
To the individual
in a hurry;to
a world that is rushing;
to the masses
bewildered,yet
seeking tangible truth,
and its evidence
of the thingswe
cannot see nor hear nor feel
this work is reverently
dedicated. ----- MD, 1953
PROLOGUE
God has spoken to
this generation in a language which we can understand, but the generations
gone before us could not understand God's message (for us) because the
horizon of their knowledge was too limited.
Therefore have our
teachers postulated many foolish concepts of God's end-time plan, for,
to them the words were sealed.
And out of that night
and its slumber have been handed down (for us) fantastic ideas of God,
literally turning water into blood, and causing strange and various plagues
to befall man (Divinely brought about).
Hence have so many
- who think - been inclined to skepticism. But now the dawn is breaking.
Light is diffusing: now is the language of God an open book unto this
generation, that even "he who runs may read."
To that end has this
and other articles been written, that the ultra-modern language of God
may impinge - lastingly - upon the soul of this generation.
- The Author.
"THE FOUR RIDERS"
Revelation Prophecies
Four Seals
The Second Beast and the Second Seal
A Great Sword
The Third Beast and the Third Seal
The Fourth Beast and the Fourth Seal
Few - if any - of
the Bible prophecies have been dealt with so extensively as has the Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse. If mere words and beautiful books constitute
the all-sufficient treatment of a subject, then assuredly this Article
is superfluous. ... Yet the hour is at hand, even late, that something
much more than mere volumes of words should be made available, for as
yet the human mind is held in darkness by half-truth doctrines conceived
in the lurid light of man's night in spiritual waywardness. Although so-called
"new books" can be found on the subject, they are mostly - if not all
- rehashing of time-worn ideas out of the stygian night. Perhaps, then,
as we look afresh at the record of history, and with a prayer for understanding
in our heart, we shall glimpse treasures new that our soul may rejoice,
and take fresh courage to victoriously walk the last steps of our earth's
war-seared mile.
There are two well
entrenched concepts concerning the Apocalypse prophecies. Since both are
considerably in error, their brief mentioning will here be in place...
The first and most misleading is that the Revelation prophecies give but
a vision of the struggle between Christianity and the forces of paganism
and Judaism: that thus its 'prophecies' have been fulfilled.... The second
mishandling lies in the more modern belief that these visions refer mostly
to a period of Great Tribulation after His Church has been taken out of
the world. And, say they, since His Church is still on earth, manifestly
"the Tribulation" is not commenced, and is therefore, entirely future.
The great and consistent
error throughout this closing night of darkness has been man's persistence
in "limiting the Holy One of Israel." Doubtful is it that anyone previously,
and outside of the writer has proclaimed and demonstrated that there is
a "great central pattern" unto which everything must be conformed! Therefore
are there fragments and portions of Truth, and many varying interpretations.
Indeed, considerable portions of Truth are to be found in the concept
of the historical, or continuous fulfilment of these prophecies. But only
a portion of the Truth. The other, and even greater portion, is the fact
that He has conformed everything unto The Pattern. Therefore must there
be many phases of fulfilment to these Spirit-inbreathed Revelations, some
of which are past, while others are yet to come.
As to the more modern
error that He shall first take His Church out of the world, we need but
turn back the pages of His record to see what He did and how He dealt
with the great antetype of His Church. For, "God changes not." His ideas
have not been modified; about Him has been no modern school of psychiatrists
to persuade Him to adopt different tactics in the dealing with His children!
The end was fully foreseen, and its details were mapped before the commencement
of Creation. And throughout, the Master-Pattern was adhered to. Therefore,
as He has revealed to us the details unto the very end by means of a vast
picture, we have but to look unto such 'types' to positively know His
method and general plan.
Briefly, then, we
scan the ways of Israel in Egypt. and as they were led out under the hand
of Moses. For, ancient Israel in Egypt was but a type of the New Covenant
Israel (Christendom) in this world of corruption and sin; whose cry of
distress God hears, and raises up a Mighty Deliverer for their emancipation.
Was Israel of old
delivered out of Egypt before any troubles befell them? Hardly! First
we read how there arose a Pharaoh who "knew not Joseph," (demoting Joseph,
recognizing not his authority), and laid upon Israel grievous burdens.
So great was their distress that the anguish of their national cry arose
before God.
Here some will say:
but that is a picture of the weight of sin upon the unconverted before
he finds deliverance through Jesus Christ.
True! But the pattern
is not changed! For, His Church which is yearning for deliverance from
the world is but the greater replica of the individual sinner yearning
for deliverance from the taskmaster of Satan. Therefore must God again
conform unto the pattern for His Church. Thus, the entire course of His
Church is one of distress and tribulation under the Overlord of Darkness
who 'knows not Joseph': the Devil who refuses to recognize our Jehovah
Savior (Jesus our Salvation).
Therefore we see
that His Church is under the constant onslaught of the Powers of Darkness
- as was Israel unto the days of Moses. Then was tribulation increased
through Moses' ministry while Israel was still in Egypt. Yet after the
three first plagues God severed between Goshen and Egypt so that the last
7 plagues fell only upon the Egyptians. Again, while Israel was in the
wilderness, plagues fell hard and fast upon them unto the end that nearly
all perished before the final entrance was effected to the Holy Land.
Thus in both the panoramic vistas portraying His Church, we find that
they were subject to plagues and great tribulation. That is God's answer
to the wishful thinkers who proclaim that an indulgent God shall coddle
them instead of correcting them! True, God did draw a line of demarcation
between Israel and the Egyptians, but first they endured three plagues.
Thus must it also be unto His end-time Church. Yet those details are not
for this particular study, but only to show that we have no right to look
for a full deliverance before all troubles begin. For, according to The
Pattern which then He wrot, so shall He also work now - even unto three
great wars.
REVELATION PROPHECIES
As we read carefully
the 4th, 5th and 6th chapters of Revelation, we find that John was commanded
to "Come up hither", and immediately he found himself in the vicinity
of the glorious throne.... Aside from the account of the Beasts and Elders
and their worship before God, we find the detailing of a "book", or a
Roll which was "written within and on the back side" and "sealed with
seven seals."
This fact is also
mentioned in order that the student of Truth should not be kept in darkness
through the false interpretation that the 'seals' of Revelation's 6th
chapter will not be broken until the time that His Church has been taken
out and up. For, lulled to sleep by that pernicious lie, many shall be
found napping when they should be found praying. While still others, looking
only for milk and honey, shall find themselves in anguished jeopardy as
the mounting waves threaten to engulf....
First, let us take
full stock of the fact that this 'book' was no book as we of this age
think of a book. For, God speaks always to a people in that language which
they can understand. Had John been shown a book such as we know it, he
would not have understood what he beheld. But this 'book' was a scroll
rolled up, written on both sides of the sheet. Thus, when rolled up it
had writing both on the inside and on the outside, or its "back." The
scroll was also tied about with 7 separate sealing bands.
We may safely assume
that these sealing bands were broad enough to hide the greater portion
of the outside surface, for, 5:3 tells us that no one in Heaven or on
earth was able to 'look thereon.' Yet all were looking at it, including
John! Manifestly then, the words of 5:3 do not refer to the gazing upon
the scroll as a unit but, rather, not able to look upon and discern that
which was written there. For, inside it could not be seen, while outside
the sealing-bands hid from view that which was written.
With this proper
perspective in mind, we realize that as soon as the first band (seal)
was severed, certain portions of the writings on the back were laid open
to view. Therefore is it recorded that as seal by seal was broken, things
were said (or read), and immediately John saw in vision the actual things
which those words conveyed. We should also bear in mind that as the first
6 seals were broken, the scroll still remained in its rolled up form.
In other words, nothing but its back, its outside or external factors
could be discerned. Not until the 7th seal was broken could the scroll
be opened, revealing its inner contents. Yet there would be portions obscured
by the 7th band as well as certain outside portions not discernible until
the scroll was unrolled. The evident analysis of this shows clearly that
the first six seals deal with outer or worldly conditions previous to
the 7th seal (the seal of the Church) being broken. And that in the breaking
of the 7th, matters pertaining to His Church are contacted, to the end
that its inner secrets shall be revealed, although much of the outer or
worldly (back side) remains to be manifested after the 7th seal is broken,
due to the rolled form of the scroll.
Although we shall
not here study more than the first four seals, it may be of interest to
observe that no one could open the seals except "the Lion of the tribe
of Judah".... Man may plan, and labor to execute his plans; men may have
conferences and secret sessions, and Governments may gear their people
for this or that yet His word declares that it is none but the Lamb of
God enthroned in the Glory who, is empowered to open - that any of these
things may come to pass! We may stand aghast at the A and H- bomb; we
may cover our mouths in consternation at the stock-piling of the munitions
of war which man is feverishly doing, yet it Is The Lamb upon The Throne
Transcendent "who has opened" that these conditions of horror may come
to pass! Shall we then quail and panic? Shall we then rave about the madness
of the nations' rulers and make it our task to convert them to the sanity
of normal and peaceful pursuits? On the surface such an ambition appears
laudable, yet when we look behind the scenes we know that the One upon
the Throne has decreed an era of judgment, neither shall the puny might
of mortal man swerve the course of world judgment one iota off that predetermined....
FOUR
SEALS
Here let us look
thoughtfully to the first eight verses of Revelation 6 bespeaking the
first 4 seals as they are broken.
"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." Rev. 6:1
John the revelator
did not "hear thunder", but "as it were" the noise of thunder.... What
is like unto thunder? - if it be not the rushing of the nations as they
leap into the action of modern warfare? Motorized cars, trucks and trains
carry soldiers; monstrous tanks speed into the fray with heavy guns spewing
lethal fire; overhead the bombers and fighters roar in such volume that
man can scarcely hear himself shout; jet planes split the air in pursuit
as the lightning; loads of TNT drop: great structures collapse, while
miles away the window-panes shatter with the concussion!.... Nineteen
centuries ago, John in the Spirit was given to hear these things. What
better choice of words could he have made than to say that it was "as
it were the noise of thunder"?
Then said the First
Beast: "come and see."
Are we told that
John went anywhere to behold something? NO! In spirit he was already in
the proximity of The Throne: no travel was needed for him to see. And
this is further supported by the other beasts using the same command;
yet had he gone any where when the first beast spoke, he should first
have been recalled to the presence of the other three beasts in order
to see and hear the balance of the mighty drama enacted in the presence
of The Ineffable Light. Yet four times was he told: come and see.... Manifestly
then, the injunction to 'come' was not unto John in spirit, but unto us
in the flesh! 'It is we who must travel in order to see and to hear that
which the first four seals bring into action. In other words, that which
takes place is confined to a specific geographical area! It may be Great
Britain, Germany, Russia or some other place. Therefore is it necessary
for us to "come", or to go to the area affected in order to behold that
which takes place....
Verse 2: "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."
Quite commonly has
it been claimed that he who sat upon the white horse was none but Jesus
Christ! Yet that is sheer folly Ñ more babble from those who sleep in
the night! Did not the Christ say: is a candle lit to be placed under
a bed, or covered by a bushel? Did He not say that while He was in the
world, He was the light of the world? And is it not written that in the
New Jerusalem, no sun or moon shall be needed because He shall be the
light thereof?
Now it is evident
that the four riders were cloaked figures, otherwise some description
should have been given us. For, the rider is more important than the horse!
Therefore we know the utter impossibility of the Christ to be a cloaked
figure upon the first horse. We might as well try to close a shutter over
the sun as to drape the Glory Magnificent! It can't be done! Neither would
it be in harmony with the Lord's own words just quoted. For, if a candle
is not to be hidden, how much more shall not His light be always manifest?
What twaddle in the night to declare that the Central Light was cloaked
that only the horse could be seen and described!! And finally, could John
the beloved speak of the white horse, but utterly ignore the glory of
its rider if so be that the rider was the King of kings? How utterly ridiculous!
What stupid parroting in the depths of slumber!
Are we adults? Have
we a portion of intelligence?.... Very well then let us use that intelligence
in the maturity of discernment, that we may enter into understanding,
and, incidentally, bring praise unto the name of Him who has known and
also revealed the end from the beginning.
In each instance
of the first four seals, a rider went forth and his horse is described.
As we delve more deeply into His Word, we find that the horse is associated
with war. Therefore, as in times of old, the horse was the great power
and speed in warfare. So does his life and power betoken the "spirit of
war".... He is the carrying and driving power in war; he stands for the
militant spirit. We should also observe that with the breaking of the
first four seals, the four different beasts spoke in their turn. Although
we shall not here enter into a study of the four beasts nor why those
beasts were in heaven, yet we cannot escape the associated thought of
that which is beastial.... And, when we consider that the horse is emblematic
of war's Spirit, and the roar as it were the noise of thunder - linking
it with modern warfare - it becomes quite harmonious to associate therewith
the bestiality of the animals seen by the Revelator.
Come now that we
may learn of His Spirit; unbend that shackles may be broken: that the
eye of spirit may discern, and your heart receive the "message in truth"
as delivered under the hues of the rainbow Glory.
First the Lion spoke:
come and see! And the cloaked figure riding forth sat upon a white horse.
Here is much symbology in a few words. Number one of the beasts first
spoke. One is the number of Life. And the lion the acknowledged king of
the beasts. White was the horse in the spirit of battle. No disputing
the white, all recognizing its significance of cleanness and purity.
What then is the
king of all bestial wars that by comparison can make out of one war that
which is pure and noble, as well as that which is founded in the Life
of the number One?.... Man has fought since recorded time, and the cause
of his warring has usually been founded in the grossest of selfishness:
envy, hatred and the desire for power, or to rule over someone else. But
when man is fully persuaded that the Great God has revealed Himself to
the nation, and that people wage war for the sole purpose of bringing
the knowledge and rule of God unto an ungodly people: that becomes the
voice of the "lion" unto the white horse rider, founded in the '1' of
Life. Even though the ruling voice of such a people were to have an ulterior
motive in the war, the masses going forth in the spirit of their God,
are still carried by the White horse! Even though the armed forces had
swallowed propaganda, the basic concept is that of '1', or Life (Spirit-life)
that becomes the Church Militant....
From the perspective
of an overall picture, that can be said to apply to the early Christian
Church after it had its first affair with the Roman State. (Here the writer
will neither uphold nor condemn the various military exploits, and the
war-spirit's conduct of the early Church, but merely to set forth the
perfect agreement between the vision's symbology and that which did transpire.)
The rider had a bow,
and a crown was given unto him as he went forth conquering and to conquer.
In the days of the
bow and arrow, the bow was the "spring", or "power" unto a more distant
objective. Yet the bent bow is also the sector of a circle! The circle
is Life: the unmanifest life!
All these factors
of symbology link beautifully with the spirit of the so-called "holy wars."
For, the unmanifest Life of God within lent them power (the bow) to die
- if needs be - for the glory of the more distant objective in the Christian
crusades.
The rider received
a crown. One victory was granted him! How we interpret this is not too
important. We might say it was the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, or
we may say that it symbolically depicts the spiritual success of the bloody
wars - Loath as we may be today to admit that any good came from the rivers
of human blood shed in the name of Christ, yet it lies not within the
scope of the finite mind to see and detail precisely what the world situation
would have been today had those wars never been fought. It is a simple
matter to castigate generations long dead, and to use big words in judgment
and condemnation of that which our narrow scope of vision cannot fully
and properly assess; nevertheless countless millions today enjoy a rich
heritage which might not have been ours had no human blood been spilled....
We know well that it is not the pleasurable will of God that the church
should seek its progress by means of the sword, yet we know equally as
well that a world steeped in sin is not the pleasure of His will. Nevertheless
He permitted sin to enter the world - and shall ultimately turn it to
His glory. Likewise with the errors of the Church! Not only did the rider
go forth conquering, but also "to conquer." Unquestionably, that was the
objective of the Roman Church to place the entire world within the sphere
of its ecclesiastical rule. But in those words of the prophet "conquering
and to conquer" we have the clearest of implication that the more ultimate
objective would not be realized! And therein may we confidently abide,
calmly rejecting the hysteria and hate propaganda of those who would infuse
us with frenzy against the Roman Catholic Church. For, regardless of what
their motives may be, or the technique employed, the Word of God declares
that it is not to be. And His word is sure!....
So much for the more
distant past. Yet God conforms all things into the Central Pattern. Therefore
may we look again, knowing that God changes not.
In the wake of the
First World War, a Sawdust Caesar arose, imbued with a colossal ego. And
he roared like a lion. No doubt he thought the whole world was his for
the picking! And he secured a workable understanding with the Vatican.
Then in the fall of 1935, Mussolini sent his armed forces into primitive
Ethiopia. And the Roman Catholic Church sanctioned this unprovoked carnage
under the cloak of planting the Cross of Christ when cannons had cleared
the ground!
We may approve or
disapprove, according to our basic bias, but the fact remains that up
to date, it was the one and only war-rider who went forth with the noise
"as it were of thunder", who could be said to be carried by a white horse
- founded in the intrinsic value of the number '1'. Neither can we help
but to observe how remarkably the balance of the prophetic symbology was
fulfilled in that the King of Italy was made "Emperor of Ethiopia" ("and
a crown was given unto him").... The roar of the hungry lion continued,
and shortly he went forth "to conquer." But the Word of God stands sure!
For, it was only to conquer! And today we all know the ignoble end he
met - Even though some say he shall rise again out of the tomb, and though
some say he is risen, yet his maniacal voice is stilled and the Word of
God was fulfilled- that you and I might know our Lord has declared the
end from the beginning, and is even now preparing for the consummation.
For, we cannot escape the conclusion that as we heard the voice: "Come
and see", and we went to see the specified and precision end-time fulfilment
of the first Seal's contents, that we are now also in the era of the other
seals being broken.
"And when he had
opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say: Come and see.. And
there went out another horse that was red; and power was given unto him
that sat thereon to take peace from the earth; and that they should kill
one another; and there was given unto him a great sword...." Rev 6:3-4.
In this vision-prophecy,
the outstanding symbology is veiled in the number 2, and that of the bull,
or "a calf" - The horse is red; while the rider takes peace from the earth
- and he receives a great sword.
The
Second Beast and the Second Seal!
"And when he had
opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say: Come and see.. And
there went out another horse that was red; and power was given unto him
that sat thereon to take peace from the earth; and that they should kill
one another; and there was given unto him a great sword...." Rev 6:3-4.
In this vision-prophecy,
the outstanding symbology is veiled in the number 2, and that of the bull,
or "a calf" - The horse is red; while the rider takes peace from the earth
- and he receives a great sword.
This rider goes forth
in the power of the number 2. Those familiar with "Number Symbolism" by
the writer, know how 2 is the number of division and separation; of screening,
and with the ultimate objective of reunity.
With this thought
in mind we may run our eye back through the Christian era and observe
how quickly dissention arose within the early Church.... This developed
into the "great schism" and the eventual splitting of the Church into
its Eastern and Western division - today known as the Greek and the Roman.
As students of the Great Pyramid, and of the Tabernacle series know, all
progress is from East to West. And so has also been the ever-progressing
crest of civilization's zenith leadership. Hence it was imperative that
the eastern half of the Catholic Church submerge ever more and more into
oblivion, yielding its portion to a new, spiritually infused member coming
under the law of the "replacement" prophecy through Esau-Jacob. This has
been witnessed in the rise of the spiritually virile Protestant organism
since the 16th century.
But coming back to
the number 2, we see the vast scope of its force through ever-increasing
division of the people - even in the name of God our Savior! Although
that is not the ideal, neither the perfect will of God, yet we know that
He shall bring about reunity.
Did not Christ say:
"I came not to bring peace, but a sword"? (Mtt 10:34). Although division,
strife and war flourished before the Christian era, we cannot help but
perceive how intensely and extensively division and strife was stepped
up following the advent of Christianity.... Does God want unrest and strife
to rule the earth? Hardly! Yet evil cannot abide in the presence of good!
Hence strife is engendered, leading to division. As wheat separates from
the chaff, so must good be segregated from evil. Then the latter intensifies
until it becomes like unto a purging fire for the elements of good, to
the end that good may develop and multiply in profusion.
And today we behold
the vision repeating itself in the political ideologies of the nations.
For, surely the second beast has roared its fury, that division might
enter every nation and family where unity is not an established fact....
Lurid and long has been the era of its spawning, while grimly now approaches
the dread harvest....
All readers are aware
how we have in our midst a great nation whose banner is "red" and its
avowed objective: "World Revolution" (division)!
The sword is the
symbol of division; it is the emblem of Strife rather than that of war.
Of course, division, and fomented strife usually lead to blood-shed, which,
between nations we call war. Therein then we see the absolute symbology
fulfilled in the basic doctrine of Communism: not war as an objective
in itself, but infiltration and division - fomenting unrest which leads
to strife, and ultimately, war between the nations in order that all may
become "one" in that Godless concept of an oceanic philosophy.
"And power was given
him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth: and that they should
kill one another."
Could anyone not
indoctrinated with hell's effervescence fail to realize how tragically
this prophecy has already been fulfilled? The voice of the Living God
has declared it that "they should take peace from the earth"! Yet stupid,
gullible man labors and expends himself, hoping to maintain peace with
the very offscouring from the Pit, when His Holy Word declares boldly
that he (the Red rider) shall succeed in fully eliminating peace from
the earth! "And that they should kill one another" - that becomes prophetically
a declaration of war!
We have seen how
the regal nobility attributed to the Lion, symbolized through the "first"
beast (Rev 4:7), has seen its fulfilment through the noble, self-sacrifice
by people in the cause of the spiritual ideal. But what of the second
beast which was like unto a calf?
In the ancient eras,
and even unto more modern times, the bull was the animal of prodigious
strength to bear the brunt of man's labor. And after the beast had toiled
his span of time, his flesh could be eaten and its hide utilized. Thus,
in the eras of darkness he was worshipped (because of his strength and
value). Even in the days of Moses and Aaron, a golden calf was brought
forth for an idolatrous people. Even so today, though the times have changed
and man is too intelligent to kneel before a "golden" calf, yet in spirit
he worships the symbolic bull!... But why did Aaron plate that calf with
gold? Because of that metal being so precious? Partly! Yet as we look
further back we find that the amount of cattle represented a man's wealth.
Yes, even to its celestial counterpart in the starry heaven, the constellation
of the Bull - in the lore - is associated with "money"!
With all these factors
in mind we look once more at Soviet Russia. Is she not the greatest "agrarian"
nation on the face of the earth? And is not her subversive philosophy
founded in money? Think, and think hard: can one iota of faulty symbology
be shown in this majestic vision-prophecy beheld under the rainbow tints?
Yet that is not all!
It has already been
shown how the first rider's going forth was fulfilled for the end-time
in Mussolini's massacre of Ethiopia. And, since this is the "End-time",
we should logically look for the 2nd rider going forth. And that too we
have seen. Its first subtle manifestation was in Spain, but there the
Catholic Church was too strong for his retention of power. Then came his
more forthright venture in an unprovoked attack on defenceless Finland.
The 2nd seal was then fully broken!
"A GREAT SWORD"
"And a great sword
was given unto him." Symbolically, this portrays the vast scope and far-reaching
power of their subversive philosophy. But that we have already been told
in that the Voice said "he should take peace from the earth", and men
should kill one another. Symbolically, the sword is but a repetition of
the words; yet not without a purpose! For, in World War II, after the
successful defence of Leningrad, the Head of the world's greatest Empire,
decreed that a sword should be presented unto Russia for her heroic stand
against the attackers! As a result, "A Great Sword", ranking among the
costliest ever fashioned for a gift, was furbished and ceremoniously presented
to Stalin by Winston Churchill at the Teheran Conferance in November,
1943. No doubt it is the costliest and most magnificent sword ever given
by one nation unto another. And all this that the prophecy might be minutely
fulfilled, in that a 'great sword' should be given unto him, to the end
that we might "know positively who is the red horse rider"! Yet the blinded
Christian Democracies stumble on, thinking that they can maintain the
peace.... "And power was given unto him that sat thereon to take peace
from the earth"....
But why was the beast
like unto a calf instead of a Bull? Compared to nations of great age like
the Romans, Russia is but as an immature calf!
"And when he had
opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say: come and see. And
I beheld and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances
in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say,
A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of bar ley for a penny,
and see that thou hurt not the oil and the wine." Rev 6:5-6.
The Third Beast and the Third Seal!
"And when he had opened
the third seal, I heard the third beast say: come and see. And I beheld
and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in
his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure
of wheat for a penny, and three measures of bar ley for a penny, and see
that thou hurt not the oil and the wine." Rev 6:5-6.
The number 3 links
with the spoken or written word; we might say: the word transmitted. Hence
it becomes the number of the Priest and the Teacher - whether true or
false. But here - as with the three other riders, we have a "cloaked"
figure, denoting that which is under cover: that which is not fully in
the open. Unto Nicodemus Christ said, that he who is of the Light, comes
unto (or into) the Light, that his works might be discerned to have emanated
from the Light. Thus, in no instance of the riders can we attribute unto
them that which is fully true and upright! Hence, instead of the 3rd rider
being the messenger of God in Truth as he ought to be, he becomes a false
teacher; the foister of a specious 'ism' upon people through the might
of the sword. His banner is black and he bears a balance....
As we review the
pages of history from a general perspective, we find this prophecy supported
by the record back through the ages. Perhaps the most outstanding illustration
is that of the Islamic faith which set up its temples after the sword
had cut a path. And in that as in so many another instance, scarcity and
want became the common aftermath. Not only through the destruction wrot
by war, but the inspired record states clearly, that the heavens are black
and the earth does not yield its increase because of idolatry, false teachings
and bloodshed.
Yet again to pursue
the blazed path of the riders in these "end - time" days, we find that
simultaneous with the sawdust Caesar and Russia's 'Man of Steel', that
an ego-maniac found his tongue like Balaam's ass, and commenced to indoctrinate
a people with his "nationalistic" and race-supremacy ideas. No sooner
had he begun than he hoisted a 'black" ensign which was to terrorize the
world for almost a decade. Not only did he set up a national "balance"
to mete out the bare necessitles for his own people that he might give
them cannons instead of bread, but after his panzer divisions overran
the weaker, then regimentation and "rationing" went into effect that every
spare morsel might be wrenched from that nation's economy and channeled
into war. lf ever a prophecy saw detailed fulfilment, then surely Hitler
and his Nazi legions fulfilled every letter of the 3rd horse Rider!
We might stop to
ponder that the third beast had the face of a man. The other three beasts
were bestial throughout, but the third was a beast with a man's face.
Momentarily we might wonder why the bestial power behind Hitler was portrayed
with a human countenance! Was he more humane than the others? Hardly!
Yet the quality of humaneness lies within the heart rather than in the
head.... Was he more intelligent? Possibly. But when we view his rantings
of racial supremacy, we perceive the human "head" of this Beast above
the bestial heads of the other animals. For that was the Nazi doctrine
that they were the "head" of all peoples and races, while other nations
and races ranked only from inferior and decadent humans, rating downwards
to semi-humans, sub humans and animal races! Thus did he indisputably
identify himself as the "beast" with a human head!
"A measure of wheat
for a penny." Briefly we shall consider this and then come back to it
again at the close of our study. Many of the readers are aware how 'a
penny' was the standard day's wage in the Roman era, and thus is prophetic
of 'one' day, or any period which 'one' day may prophetically represent.
And the word translated 'measure' is a 'choenix', or a scant quart measure,
supposed to be sufficient for one day's nourishment. Thus in the symbolic
language, one day's wage should only provide sufficient for the day's
meagre sustenance! Although we cannot here enter into exhaustive data
in an effort to establish wages and cost of food, yet it is generally
recognized that under the Nazi occupation, a man's strenuous toil would
net but a scant subsistence for the day!
"And when he had
opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say: come
and see. And I looked and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on
him was death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them
over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger,
and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Rev 6:7-8
The Fourth Beast and the Fourth Seal!
"And when he had opened
the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say: come and see.
And I looked and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was
death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over
the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger, and
with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Rev 6:7-8
The number 4 is that
of the earth and its fruitfulness. And the rider is also given power over
1/4th of the earth.
We cannot help but
see how the 4th rider brings to fruition the forces of the other riders
as well. For, they kill with the sword, and with hunger and with death
and with the beasts of the earth.
From a general perspective,
this rider can be linked with Famine and with Pestilence - through the
ghastly palor of the 4th horse. But nowhere, nor at any time can we find
the perfect symbology filled to the Nth degree until we look upon the
tragic drama in the East under the Imperialistic war-lords of Japan, and
in the days of the other three riders.
On July 7th, 1937,
Japanese forces entered Chinese territory in an unprovoked, aggressive
war. And the daily reports were but of loss and retreat by the defenders
of their homeland....
The 4th seal was
breaking! But by what right can we say that this was Rev 6:7-8? Through
revelation? Yes, partly. But so many people today claim 'revelation' as
their authority, and many of these give out conflicting 'revelations'
and claims which are not entirely in harmony with the overall Revealed
Word! Therefore the thinking person becomes very skeptical of such claims.
But here is the 'Key'; the answer and the lifting of the dilemma: whosoever
has a 'revelation', the matter revealed, or unveiled, must prove itself;
it must be subject to irrefutable demonstration "coming into the Light,
making manifest that it has been wrot in the light."
"And power was given
unto them over l/4th part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger
and with death and with the beasts of the earth."
As we study the world
atlas we find no geographical division which comprises 1/4th of the earth.
But wait! Which is the more important, the land or the people living thereon?
You know the answer.... With this thought in mind, let us look again.
Running through the population figures as given in the 1938 World Almanac
(pop. figures for 1937), we find that the 'old' world population stood
at 1,831,000,000. While 1/4th of this amount would be:
457,750,000. And
the same compilers placed China's at 457,835,000. This figure shows an
excess discrepancy of 85,000, which is a negligible amount when we consider
that no exact figure, or official census was available for China at the
time. In other words, a very considerable portion of both the world population
as well as that of China was - in part - based on estimates. Although
we may justly believe such estimates to be close, nevertheless, when an
element of uncertainty enters both sums, then the 85,000 difference as
just noted becomes but a minor trifle. In fact, it is only one part over
5,400 (1/5400) of the Chinese population.
To understand one
prophecy it is often essential to have a proper grasp of the over-all
strategy of God. Assuredly, to understand prophecy we must be intimately
acquainted with the entirety of God's Word.
In the days of Israel's
sojourn in Egypt, and as the time readied that they should be delivered,
God severed that portion of land wherein Israel lived, from the rest of
Egypt. It was known as Goshen. But "come now, let us reason together"
says His Word.... Was that act of God but a fleeting whim for the moment?
Or was it part and parcel of The Great Plan: the central pattern? Does
God change? Is He tempermental? Or do you know Him well enough to realize
that the perfection of detail was worked out to the Nth
degree and perfected, ages before the Creative Fiat was uttered? Very
well then, you will also know that He conformed unto the pattern,
even as He commanded Moses to so do. Hence His severing Goshen from the
rest of Egypt was but a part of The Pattern: it is a type of that
which should also be thereafter in even a far greater degree. Thus, as
Israel in Egypt was a type of the believer in
this Egypt of bondage and suffering, so likewise in the latter eras, God
severed from the rest of the world (symbolic Egypt), a New Goshen - a
New World - wherein lives the New Covenant Israel! This modern Goshen
is known as the New World, or the American Continent. And herein we have
the true Israel, who are Israel according to Faith, but not necessarily
according to the flesh. (See Rom 2:28-29; 9:6-8; Gal 4:22-31)
Although all of us
are not true Christian believers, yet that is in perfect harmony
with the situation obtaining within Israel in the days of Goshen. They
had backsliders and they had rebels, and so have we! Then again His Word
declares: "...lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned
among the nations" (Numb 23:9). As Israel of old was not
to be numbered among
the Gentile nations, no more can modern Israel - dwelling in the New Goshen
- be counted among the nations! Yet this great and staggering Truth is
not realized today by those who would be prophets - therefore are their
conclusions in tragic error.
Then coming back
to the 4th horse Rider, we see how in 1937, China's teeming millions made
up an even one fourth of the world population according to God's standard
of reckoning the nations! And the prophecy declares that the 4th horse
rider's name was death, and he was given power over the 1/4th allotted
him.
As we look at the
record we see that the powers of Death and of Hell (which followed him)
went forward, steadily conquering unto the end of 1941, by which time
their portion of success had gone to their heads. Then they struck at
Pearl Harbor in the hour of their sheer madness, invoking powers against
themselves which it wasn't in them to withstand. Then gradually did China
find a measure of relief, and final freedom from the invading soldiers
in 1945.
The Rider s name
was "death". Symbolically, as death is the end of life, so was Japan's
invasion of China the end of
the ancient and venerable China known to history. (Stop and re-read that
until you grasp its full import). Her era had closed! She is now in transition
and shall never be the same again! But what of the prophecy? Was not the
invader to be given power over them?... Let us look again.
"...his (singular)
name was death (the 4th horse rider), and Hell followed with him (singular).
And power was given unto them (plural) ---." That is, the Death-forces
vested in Japan were joined, or followed by another named "hell", (or,
the unseen). And for your information, the unseen forces (Hell) which
followed Death, were none but the vested powers of the Red Horse Rider:
the effervescing scum out of the Pit hurling defiance in the face of the
Living God: we call it communism!
Now is the prophecy
clear; now we see the situation in its true light: now we know what the
future shall be! Had it not been for the invasion and destruction caused
by the Death-rider, the devastation and suffering of Nationalist China
would not have been greater than Chiang Kai Shek, could, with the help
of Western Powers have stemmed the Red tide. But now it is too late! Death
wrot its work and Hell has taken over! We may spend our billions, and
undergird Nationalist China, but the Word of God shall stand unmoved unto
the very end - when we shall also behold a Communist China! For, the authority
granted by God unto Death and Hell was unreserved in that territory and
complete! Well might we pray....
THE 'MEASURES' FOR A PENNY
And now for another
brief glance at the "measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of
barley for a penny---." We have already seen how from the casual perspective,
this was fulfilled through rationing; through small wages and the inflated
price of food. Yet that is but the husk; within awaits the kernel and
its exposing to Light.
"I Am The Bread Of
Life." And the full measure of His ministry was 21 years, as "being about
His Father's business." Symbolically, then, as the wheat is the "staff
of life", so does that refer to the full Gospel of Christ being measured
unto the multitude. While the barley as the early grain, corresponds to
a 'firstfruits'. We have therefore, two measures running simultaneously:
one is the measure of wheat which must continue unto the end of the present
dispensation; while the other measure consists of "three measures of barley".
These three measures of the early grain speak to us of three 21-year periods
of a preliminary work; - a preparatory work at the conclusion of which
the New Age dawns. While the Wheat's full era was 331/2yrs.
"- - a voice in the
midst of the four beasts say: a measure of wheat - -." It may be difficult
for us to pin-point that day which would be the true central date in the
going forth of the four Riders, yet that may not be essential. But we
should have no difficulty in arriving at an approximate date which will
yield a near-true prophetic answer.
First the white-horse
Rider took off in late 1935, while the other seals snapped in rapid succession
until the fall of 1939 when the Great war opened. The interim was but
four years, centering in late 1937, to which we add the era of that "grain
of wheat" which "falling into the ground -died." Its Initial period of
12.5 years measured to ear ly 1950; while its final 'measure' of 21 years
runs well into 1971. It becomes that full "measure of wheat..." As for
the barley measures, they too must commence late in 1937, running 1937
- 1958, 1958 -1979 and 1979 - 2000 AD. Yet the "midst" of the Riders'
era is not likely to be intended for a day, but rather a period covering
half a year or more. Or, if the Riders' era was to be reckoned up to Japan's
attack on Pearl Harbor, that would advance its mid-point a full year,
running the final Barley - measure into the fall of 2001 A D (which closes
this 'eon' according to the Great Pyramid).
Thus we see it is
quite immaterial which epoch we use; the difference of a year or two in
the final consummation being of no importance to us now. And furthermore,
even thoough we think we can place the mid-point as an epoch, yet the
'midst', or central point-in the sight of God - might vary considerably
from our perspective which beholds only the outer course of events.
As to
the wherefore of the three barley measures, readers morefamiliar
with the writer's teachings, know that we have an eraof
preparation previous to the inauguration of the true goldenKingdom
in or about the fall of 2001 A.D.
Right now we have
in progression the teaching and the preparation for a firstfruits unto
Christ, which, as "a firstfruits of the harvest" is to be taken out of
the world ahead of time! Although the vast bulk of believing Christians
ridicule this teaching, it is nevertheless A Truth
in God's Plan - His Master - stratagem - which shall bring the Church
to its knees ere many more years have passed. That is not merely what
the writer 'believes', but a forthright and positive statement of a factual
portion of His Plan - soon to force its stark realism upon the Christian
church like a staggering blow from God Almighty!
Secondly, the writer
visions a Firstfruits unto Immortality here
on earth and in the flesh. That shall see its inception - through teachings
in power - almost immediately following the "Firstfruits" unto Christ
having taken to a higher realm. Finally for the third measure of a 'firstfruits'
nature, The Kingdom must be set up in embryo form in Jerusalem and functioning
previous to the Golden Era being introduced by Christ our King as approximating
2001 A.D.
"Hurt not the oil
and the wine." It may be that we would be justified in linking this -
materially - with the fact that the vast oil field of Iraq and Iran were
not injured by the war, neither was Palestine affected (by actual warfare).
Yet in its truer sense it appears to link with a spiritual injunction
which raised a hedge about those within the 100-fold (oil), and the 60-fold
(wine) categories.
Once more have we
seen the inerrant Word of God stand vindicated by the relentless march
of events as The Four specified Riders did go forth "as with the Noise
of Thunder. "
And now - in these days - are being fulfilled, consummated and completed
the drama of the Death-rider, with hell as his secret ally. For the end
is as yet not discerned (unseen = hell) by those who know not the Word
of God.
Take stock of this
moment for the 'seals' are broken; now is fulfilling His end-time word.
Look to the scenes of battle and hear - "as it were" - the thunder's peel....
Look back to the white of the militant church while the black of the swastika
swayed. Yes, look to the red of the rivers of blood -
Let loose by the
sword we gave to Christ's foe - look to the palor of fear etched deep
by the demons of hell in their siege on man. Yes, look to the
Palor of death by
hunger wrot, and war with its staggering toll - strewn in the wake of
the Riders Cloaked!
TAKE STOCK THEN -
BELOVED - OF WHERE YOU STAND, FOR NOW FULFILLS UNTO JUDGMENT HIS WORD!
"PREPARE, OH ISRAEL
TO MEET YOUR GOD!" - Amos 4:12
- M.D.
Toronto, Canada
April 23rd, 1953
