Who is the mysterious First Horseman of the Apocalypse?

Who or what is the mysterious rider on the white horse mentioned as the First Horseman of the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation in Chapter 6? Not much is mentioned about this character which leaves this character wide open to all sorts of interpretation. There are just a few distinguishing signs but not much else. There are answers out there but none seem to nail this character.

This article will take an in depth look at the First Horseman of the Apocalypse which is the First Seal of Revelation to see who it is (if anybody), or what it is (maybe not a person). Also what does it represent and what does it bring. This is the First Horseman that is part of the other three that make up the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. Has the First Seal of Revelation been opened, or is it in the process of being opened, or is the seal still closed. Has it been opened recently or has it been opened in the past as in nearly 2000 years ago. Some say this First Seal was opened when the very beginnings of the Institutional Church was created?

The relevant Bible verse mentioned in Revelation Chapter 6 is as below

Revelation 6:1-2
1. 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.
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.

This video from The Twelve Gates You Tube Channel goes into great detail on this character using Bible Software performing a Bible Study and Bible Prophecy Analysis.




This picture I think sums up who his character is. This rider rides on a White Horse and carries a bow and he uses this bow but without any arrows. He wears a crown and the picture seems to depict people at his feet seemingly in adoration?


The current theories on the First Horseman of the Apocalypse?
Some have the theory that this rider on the White Horse is Jesus because Jesus rides on a White Horse in Chapter 19 when he arrives as the Second Coming or The Return of the Messiah moments before the Battle of Armageddon and before the creation of the Millennial Kingdom. Others say it is the Anti Christ also known as The Beast. Others say it represents the Spirit or Force of the Anti Christ as in not him in person but the force or spirit of Anti Christ instead.

Yet others think it is something else completely different maybe the rise of False Prophets and False Preachers we are experiencing in our modern times. Some say it could be the False Prophet himself. Some say it could be the Institutional Church . Some say this rider comes in the name of peace, some others say he comes in the name of war, signified by the bow and the words conquer and conquering. Others say he comes in the name of deception and falseness. This article will take a look at all these possible theories, to see which theory ties in with scripture.

All these questions are tackled to see what the Bible says about this mysterious character and how this First Horseman of the Apocalypse represented by The First Seal of Revelation plays a crucial role in the Revelation Prophecy penned by St John the Divine and how it possibly relates to the Second Horseman of the Apocalypse and the rider on the Red Horse.

Who is the Rider on the White Horse?
There are many interpretations on the Book of Revelation out there on the web and in book and video form, each comes up with a convincing argument. Whether this is correct remains to be seen?

Very limited information is given about this rider on the White Horse which means it is open to all sorts of interpretation:

1. he has a bow but no arrows are mentioned?
2. He comes conquering and to conquer but there is no mention of war or killing.
3. He wears a single crown which suggests he has or is given authority over many people.
4. He rides on a White Horse which is very similar to the one that Jesus rides ,on his return or Second Coming mentioned in Revelation 19.

The key elements with this character are the "bow with no arrows" and the "single crown", the white horse and he comes "conquering and to conquer". Unlike the second horseman on the red horse which comes to remove peace and releases forces where "they shall kill one another", this rider on the white horse there is no mention of killings, war or anything associated but he does conquer but it appears not with war or force. This one I think uses a different kind of weapon which if you watch the video you will realise that it is deceit, lies and falseness.

The weapon he uses is the "Bow" which is mentioned many times in the Bible but the Bow always seems to have negative connotations rather than positive, whereas the sword is associated with war, God's judgement and righteousness. Here are a couple of examples below of the bow mentioned as a weapon as "a deceitful bow":

Psalms 78:57
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

Hosea 7:16
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

See the video for 5 more examples.

PART 1. Is the First Seal of Revelation Jesus?
Many say that this First Horseman could be Jesus but many Bible verses say otherwise.

During the Return of Jesus or the Second Coming, Jesus is described as below.

Revelation 19:11-12
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Revelation 19:14-15
14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

In contrast the Rider on the White Horse that is the First Horseman of the Apocalypse comes on his own, with no army, no sharp sword but instead a bow and no arrows and wears one crown instead of multiple crowns. Jesus comes to judge and make a righteous war. This First Horseman of the Apocalypse comes conquering and to conquer and no war is mentioned and he has no army. This rider on the white horse is also part of the other 3 riders that make up the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. These Four Horseman are not actual events but demonic forces unleashed onto the earth. Would Jesus be riding or leading these 3 other Horseman?

This is a first major indicator that this First Horseman of the Apocalypse is not Jesus.

The second indicators are mentioned below:

Revelation 5:1-3 & 6-7 before the opening of the Seven Seals
1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Who was worthy to Open the Seals?

Revelation 5:6-7
6. 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.
7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

The Lamb (Jesus) is the only one worthy that can open the Seven Seals and he opens the First Seal and releases the First Horseman of the Apocalypse and the three others onto the earth, he does this whilst in heaven. If the First Horseman of the Apocalypse is Jesus how can be going forth conquering and to conquer here down on earth if he is opening the other six seals in heaven?

The First Horseman of the Apocalypse quite clearly is not Jesus in any shape or form, but possibly could be a misleading or counterfeit representation of him.

PART 2: Is the First Seal of Revelation The Anti Christ?
There is no mention of the Anti Christ often referred to as "The Beast" until Revelation 13. The opening of the Seals of Revelation takes place in Chapter 6.

Here are two Bible verses that give a good indicator of the character of the Beast or Anti Christ.

Revelation 13:6-7
6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The Beast blasphemes God and makes war with the Saints and he achieves global power through what sounds like force. Power was given unto him.

In contrast here is The First Horseman of the Apocalypse Bible Verse

Revelation 6: 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.

In contrast this character on the White Horse above that appears after the opening of the First Seal of Revelation comes conquering and to conquer, but no force or power is mentioned possibly signified by the Bow with no arrow. This character seems to either conquer via peaceful methods or by some other means but force and war and certainly power are not mentioned here.

There is mentioned something about Peace in connection with the Second Horseman of the Apocalypse below.

Revelation 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to 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.

There is mention of a "Peace" that this Second Horseman takes by unleashing the forces of war which possibly suggests that the First Horseman does in fact come in "Peace" and Conquers via peaceful methods?

So is this First Horseman of the Apocalypse the Anti Christ? It certainly bears no relation to the Beast mentioned in Revelation 13 but it could be the Anti Christ arriving with a Christ like appearance to fool and deceive many?

PART 3 Is the First Seal of Revelation the Spirit or Force of Anti Christ
This is a third theory that is out there in Prophecy Circles at present and that is The First Horseman of the Apocalypse is the Spirit of Anti Christ. If you subscribe to the theory that the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse are dark forces released onto the earth that are creeping in nature and are not actual events then this First Horseman the Rider on the White Horse could be the dark forces of Deception going forth conquering not with force or war but with more peaceful methods such as falseness, lies and deceit signified by the weapon he is carrying......the Bow.

Two Bible Verses from the New Testament focusing on Matthew 24 which form part of the Olivet Discourse give a possible hint as to who this character could be. These are the words of Jesus answering his disciples when they asked him when they would know of his return


Matthew 24:5 & 11
5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Both verses contain the word "and shall deceive many". Could it be that this rider on the White Horse actually comes in the name of Jesus, but is not Jesus but a false representation of him. Is this a Force of deception rather than a bodily person as in The Anti Christ?

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Some are saying that this First Rider on the White Horse represents falseness, lies, deceit and could indeed be "the man of sin" but does not reveal himself until Chapter 13 in Revelation. Some say that he is the Dark Force or Spirit of Anti Christ and not the Anti Christ himself and is represented by False Prophets, False Preachers and False Teachings which we see in abundance today which will cause a falling away in the Christian faith. Some even say it could be "THE False Prophet" that is also mentioned in Revelation 13.

Second Thessalonians further on in the same Chapter goes onto say this

2 Thessalonians 2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Conclusions:
The Book of Revelation has many interpretations and you can spend a lifetime trying to understand it(many do and still don't understand it). Many have written books that claim to have the "correct interpretation" but in reality the only entities that have the correct interpretation are St John the Divine who received the vision and wrote the Book of Revelation and The Lord who gave him the Vision in the first place.

Above are just my views, opinions and interpretation of what I think the First Horseman of the Apocalypse could be. It can be safely said that Jesus is not The First Horseman of the Apocalypse. Too much in the way of scripture as noted above says otherwise, but that notion cannot be dismissed entirely.

It could be The Anti Christ, but in my opinion (and it is just an opinion) this First Horseman of the Apocalypse represents the Force or Spirit of Anti Christ, which is deceit, falseness and lies represented by False Prophets, False Preachers and False Teachings. The conquering that takes place is by peaceful means but again the peace is deceitful. The weapon is deceit and I think it is aimed at Non Believers and Christians alike but especially focused on breaking up "The Church" and causing either a "falling away" or "believing a lie". The warfare that he brings his spiritual warfare. There are no physical deaths but instead "spiritual deaths" where people end up as stated in 2 Thes 2:11 above "that they should believe a lie".

This I think paves the way for the Anti Christ who appears later in Chapter 13 as "The Beast" and makes his job easier to achieve is ultimate aim and that is to declare himself as God (abomination of desolation) so everybody worships him and he takes control of the earth. In some ways the arrival of this mysterious First Horseman Character could be likened to a False Second Coming. The White Horse gives the appearance of Righteousness but the absence of the sword and the weapon of choice being a Bow, is the giveaway that something is amiss.

Has this First Seal of Revelation been opened? I would say it most definitely has!

Catch the video below on the First Horseman which goes into great detail using Bible Software. See the other related videos also.



The Twelve Gates You Tube Channel Related Videos:

Who is the First Horseman of the Apocalypse? The First Seal of Revelation Explained


War and The Second Seal of Revelation Prophecy


Famine and The Third Seal of Revelation Prophecy


The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse The Fourth Seal of Revelation Bible Prophecy Explained


The Sixth Seal of Revelation and Bible Prophecy Explained