Are We Living In The Last Days ?

"Look out that you are not misled,
for many will come on the basis of my name saying, I am he (his appointed slave class) and The due time (1914) has approached.
Do not go after them." (Luke 21:7)

This page contains my personal thoughts to the last days along with some thoughts and statements that I have taken or summarized from the authors of the book entitled "The Sign Of The Last Days-When?" by Carl Olof Jonsson and Wolfgang Herbst. This page touches on the scriptural evidence of the "last days" and not the detailed secular evidence, including statements made by leading authorities, as to hunger, earthquakes, wars, pestilence and crime, that can be found in the above publication. It would certainly be best to read this entire publication to get the most information and insight on this subject. In the meantime, this web page can be helpful in giving a simplified answer to the above question and a brief overview of the subject. Please see this publication for a much more thorough and detailed explanation, along with many references, of what is presented on this web page. There are also two links at the end of this page which contain some of the secular evidence from this publication.

The Term "Last Days" - When ?

Beginning In The 20th Century
or In The Days Of Christ?

The term "last days" to many refers to the days we are living in, starting in the 20th century. Yet is that what the bible writers meant? Were they speaking of some time period in the distant future? Notice what Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-7: "But know this that in the last days .... men will be lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, with out love of goodness .....from these stay away..." Notice the words "from these stay away." Apparently the the men spoken of were already in existence for Timothy was warned to stay away from these men.

To further support that these men were already in existence, practicing the very things Paul spoke about, are Paul's other words found at Romans Chapter 1 verses 24-32. Here Paul speaks about men currently existing stating: "Therefore that is why God in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness ..... And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting, filled as they were with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventory of injurious things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless ...." Notice that the same exact expressions are used in Romans chapter 1 and 2 Timothy chapter 3. And Romans shows that these happenings were already occurring.

This can be further proven in Apostle Peter's words found at Acts 2:17-21. Here Peter quotes the prophecy from the book of Joel and applies it to Pentecost 33 CE. "And in the last days, God says, I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and yours sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream things ....." Many will limit Peter's above words to the last days of the Jewish system, ending in the year 70 CE. Nowhere does this scripture imply this, instead Peter uses the term "last days" in a context which includes "the great and illustrious day of the Lord arrives", which only would occur at the second coming of Christ at judgement day, not in the year 70 CE. (Acts 2:20; 2:17-21)

Apostle Peter also tells us: "For you know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying 'Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep {in death}, all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning." - 2 Peter 3:3-4

When does this occur? Notice Jude 16-19 which helps answer this: "These men are murmurers, complainers, about their lot in life, proceeding according to their own desires, and their mouths speak swelling things, while they are admiring personalities for the sake of benefit. As for you beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how they used to say to you: In the last time there will be ridiculers, proceeding according to their own desires, for ungodly things. These are the ones that make separations, animalistic, not having spirituality." Jude, quoting from Apostles Peter's words at 2 Peter 3:3-4, clearly shows that these men were already in existence, fulfilling Peter's words, thus showing that the last days had already begun in his day.

This shows that the "last days" began in the first century and not in our time, the 20th century. To make the claim that this page is "ridicule" in fulfillment of 2 Peter 3:3-4, is to miss the context and meaning of Peter's words, for Peter was not speaking about persons doubting the coming of Christ and his destruction of this ungodly system in their time period or lifetime, rather the context shows it would indicate persons who would doubt and unbelieve that Christ would ever come at all, doubting that he even had the power and authority by God to do so. This is confirmed in the context of chapter 3, for Peter compares this ridcule to the persons in Noah's day. Here they did not doubt about the time period of the flood, rather they doubted whether the flood would ever come at all.  And, if the facts show that the scriptures are speaking of a "last days" that had already had begun in the first century, then certainly persons are certainly not "proceeding to their own desires", when they speak of the 20th century as the same as previous time periods, not fulfilling the prophesies of the "last days." Instead, they are researching the true facts. This would also apply if earthquakes, hunger, crime rate and pestilences are not as severe or unique in our century compared to others, which as his article will further state, are not part of the sign Jesus gave to identify his coming..

Again this can be confirmed in Paul's words at Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1-2. "God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at he end of the last days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things ..." Rather then the "last days" being a unique time period distant in the future, this certainly shows that the "last days" had already begun with Jesus Christ and could still be continuing in our day, up until the conclusion or end of the system of things.

So in conclusion: (1) If the last days began in Jesus day, as the scriptures indicate, then yes, we are living in the last days. (2) However, to put a modern day meaning into the last days and state that they began in the 19th or 20th century with a "short period of time", defining it to a "generation" , is to miss the term's true definition, and in that sense, no, we are not living in the last days. (Rev 12:12; Matthew 24:34)

What About The Signs ?

Earthquakes, Food Shortages, Disease, Wars . . .

Many will point to Jesus words at Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21. They will point to the wars, earthquakes, hunger, disease, increasing of lawlessness or crime. They will argue that these events have increased in the 20th century and are part of a "composite" sign in fulfillment of Jesus words. Do the scriptures support this interpretation? What do they say about signs of Jesus coming?

In Luke 21:5-7, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem Afterwards his apostles ask him "Teacher, when will these things actually be and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?" In Matthew 24:3, the same question is worded with an added part, "the conclusion."  "Tell us, When will these things be and what will be the sign of your presence and the conclusion of the system of things? Jesus answers first with saying "Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name saying, I am he and The due time has approached. Do not go after them." (Luke 21:7)

Notice that Jesus is warning them to not be misled, for there will be many religious groups who will come on the basis of Jesus name and either claim to be him or to be his only direct representative or "slave" and these false religious prophets will teach that "the end time or due time has approached" or is very near. He warns them, "Do not go after them." And this is exactly what is been happening throughout the centuries down to this day. Certainly any group that claims they are the "faithful and discreet slave class" as God's only representative with a unique appointment in the year 1914 beginning the end times, is clearly a group that we "Do not go after."

He then states in Luke 21:9, "Furthermore, when you hear of wars and disorders, do not be terrified. For these things must occur first, but the end does not occur immediately." Here Jesus further says, there will also be "wars and disorders" and we should not be terrified and take this as the "sign" of the end times. Rather this "must occur" as it has always occurred from the beginning of man's existence. To take the occurrences of warfare and include them as part of a sign to identify the times that we are living in, is to miss the entire purpose of Jesus words. Clearly, the emergence of wars and the teaching of being in the end times, are not the sign of Christ presence, for they "must occur" as they have always had since man's existence.

Then he went on to say in verses 10-11, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages, and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs." Again he mentions there will be wars and also adds earthquakes, diseases, food shortages and fearful sights and great signs, however these events and great signs are still not the sign of Jesus coming, as Jesus warned, rather he specifically said that we are not to let these happenings mislead us that the end times are near. For this "must occur" as they have always occurred.

There is also a possibility that the apostles may have had in mind some of the earlier Jewish writings that speak about the coming of the messiah. It is in these writings, that speak of earthquakes, wars and disease as a sign of the coming of the messiah, making it appropriate for Jesus to warn his apostles not to look for such signs. The above publication has direct quotes from some of these writings.

There is also detailed information scrupuously explaining the amount of wars, diseases, famines, earthquakes and their affects on human society which shows the 20th century not to be of any greater intensity of these occurences. Not only are these happenings not a part of Jesus sign, but they are no more unparrelled in greatness or strength then previous centuries as much research of history has shown. The above publication can confirm this.

"Ridiculers .... In The Last Days"

Also as shown in 2 Peter 3:3-4, it shows "that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridiculing proceeding according to their own desires and saying 'Where is this promised presence of his" Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning." The point is, all things will be "continuing exactly as from creation's beginning." There will be no recognizable sign of wars, earthquakes, food shortages, diseases, that have not happened in previous time periods, rather "all things will be continuing exactly the same." This again shows, when Christ comes, it will be a completely unexpected occurrence, surprising all of mankind.
 

" This" Good News To Be Preached

Jesus then states in Matthew 24 verse 14, "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth, a witness to all the nations and then the end will come." Notice Jesus words, "THIS good news." "This" same exact "good news" that was preached by Jesus and his Apostles in the first century would be "preached in all the inhabited earth and a witness to all the nations and then the end would come." It would not be a different message of good news, but exactly the same. As Apostle Paul brought out in Galatians 1:8 "Even if we are or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed." And "this" same message of the "good news" of the first century was, to "exercise faith in Christ" by showing love to God and neighbor which takes in "works" of "mercy" and "loving kindness" to others. And the prize would be gaining entrance into the "kingdom of the heavens" and rule with Christ Jesus. It did not take in a composite sign to look for to identify Christ's coming.  There are many groups that teach a "different sort of good news." One of them is Jehovah's witnesses, who teach that the "good news" is to preach about a literal government of God that was established in the heavens in the year 1914 and will soon bring the earth to a paradise for the "other sheep" class. Certainly this is a "different sort of good news" from the first century version. To what extent "this" "good news" of the first century version has been preached, is up to God and not any individual.

Persecution

Then in verses 12 to 19, Jesus brings out that "before all these things people will lay their hands upon you and persecute you , delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, you being haled before kings and governors for the sake of may name .... ", so Jesus' deciples will be under tribulation and be persecuted.  This appears to have happened many times over in the centuries to follow and is still happening today,  for any person who genuinely endeavors to follow Jesus words, apart from a religious organization, is branded an "apostate" or "heretic" and is severely persecuted, either physically or emotionally.

A Great Tribulation

In verses 20 to 24, Jesus then brings out the coming destruction and "great tribulation" on Jerusalem. He tells them, when they "see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, the disgusting thing that causes desolation, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her." Many religions try to read into this and interpret the "disgusting thing that causes desolation" as having a modern day fulfillment, such as the United Nations or other. However, the context shows this scripture to have been the Roman armies, which is documented by secular history and the Jewish historian Josephus. To put a meaning into these words that are not there, is certainly "going beyond the things written."

" The Sign"

 As stated, the previous events of false prophets claiming to be the Christ or his only appointed slave representative, claiming that "the due time or end time is near", along with the earthquakes, pestilences, hunger, wars, increasing of lawlessness were all happenings that "must occur" and were not to be taken as some composite sign of Christ's coming, rather Jesus specifically warned, "Do not to be misled" by these very things.

Finally, in verse 25 of Luke chapter 21, and Matthew chapter 24 verse 29, Jesus gives the sign of his coming. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming on a cloud with power and great glory."

This sign appears to be a very distinct, unusual occurrence, that can not be ignored, for "men will become faint out of fear and expectation " of what is about to happen on the
inhabited earth and it will be too late to hide or run. They will "beat themselves in lamentation" when they see the "Son of man coming on a cloud with power and great glory." Whether this is a literal sight of Jesus on the clouds or a celestial occurrence or both, is up to each individual to decide. But one thing is for sure, all men on the inhabited earth will know that this is a divine happening and be be faint out of fear. On the other hand Christ's deciples are told to "raise their heads up, because your deliverance is getting near."

This sign was to be compared to a bud on a tree, as brought out by the next verses 29 to 31. "Note the fig tree and all the other trees. When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near. In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God in near. Likewise also you, when you see all these things know that he is near at the doors." Just as the visible bud on a tree, persons can visibly see that summer is near or right upon them, so when men visibly see the sign of the Son of man, it will signify the coming of Christ is upon them. Certainly this would not be some invisible presence, rather it will be very clear to all that he is coming, bringing fear and lamentation. Certainly, this sign can not be interpreted as a "season" to recognize and prepare for, for this celestial occurrence is the only sign that men will see, alerting them that it is too late to do anything, just as a "thief in the night" has sprung up upon them. Instead the season or the last days could take in the entire time period from the first century up our common era to the conclusion or end of the system of things.

There will be absolutely no need for anyone to have someone interpret for them the coming of Christ. No chronological detailed explanation by some appointed "slave class" or bible scholar will be needed, for all men on the earth will know exactly what is happening. Just as a bud on on tree, all will know that the summer is near and upon them.

This is also confirmed in Jesus words at Matthew 24:27 and Luke 17:24, "For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. "Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together." "For even as the lightning by its flashing, shines from one part under heaven to another part under heaven, so the Son of man will be." The sign of Jesus coming will not be some invisible presence, only known to his followers. For just as lightning is clearly visible and can be seen from all parts of the earth, so will Jesus sign, "coming with the clouds with great glory" will be clearly seen by "all those on the inhabited earth."

Some scholars will claim that this sign and coming will only happen in Jerusalem or Palestine. Yet this verse of eagles being gathered together wherever the carcass is,  has been suggested to mean that, just as the scavenger birds, the eagles, can gather together and find carcasses where ever they are located, from the eastern parts to the western parts, so would the sign of the coming of Christ be wherever persons are located. So this would show that the sign and coming of Christ is not limited to some geographical location, rather the "entire inhabited earth" will unmistakably see the sign of Christ and witness his coming.

Much of the signs in the sun, moon, stars and sea can also be interpreted as political unrest, warfare and other occurrences within mankind, as these words were also symbolic in much of the Hebrew scriptures. (Joel 2:30-32) But to interpret all of the sign to be symbolic, would not allow for the "entire inhabited earth to become faint out of fear of seeing the Son of man on the clouds with power and great glory." So how much is symbolic and how much is literal remains to be seen. 

What does Jesus mean by his words "Immediately after the tribulation of those days?" Some limit their interpretation of the word "tribulation" to include only the destruction of Jerusalem and that Jesus parousia or presence came at 70 CE, suggesting an invisible presence. One way of reasoning this not to be the case, is that the tribulation Jesus is speaking about, is not just the destruction of Jerusalem, but rather, the tribulation takes in all of the wars, earthquakes, diseases, crime rate and persecution of Jesus deciples, which would take many centuries to occur. It would then be immediately after all these things occur, then the sign of the Son of man will occur.

Amos 3:7

Some like to quote Amos 3:7 which states, "For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets." Here they claim that God must reveal the season of Christ's coming. But this is not in harmony with God's dealings with his servants. For God always reveals what his purpose and actions will be, but does not always reveal when the exact time or season is. Yes, the future coming of Christ is revealed to us, but no, his day, hour or particular season is not revealed ot us.
"For it does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction" (Acts 1:7)  Instead the sign of the times and seasons that we are to see, shows the last days have already occurred in first century and are continuing up until the conclusion of the system of things and are not something to look for some other type of sign for the coming of Christ. For when the sign does come, it will be too late to make any changes or preparations.

We Are To Look At Our Own Actions
Not For A Sign

Rather then looking for any sign to determine the days we are living in we are to follow Jesus works in Luke 21 verses 34 to 37, "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur and in standing before the Son of Man." We are not told to look for a certain sign and prepare for it, for it will come as a "snare." For the only way to escape this is to "Pay attention" and "keep awake" by "seeking  the kingdom first" in our lives, imitating Christ in mercy and kindness, showing love of God and neighbor, and doing this at all times, every day our entire lives right up to the conclusion of the system of things. (Matthew 6:33,  22:35-39)

To further support that Christ's parousia, coming or presence, is not some event that we can expect in a certain time period are Jesus further words in Matthew 24:37-51 and Luke 17:26-36. "For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. for as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." Likewise, just as it occurred in the days of Lot, they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling they were planting, they were building. But on the day that Lot came out of Sodom it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed them all. The same way it will be on that day when the Son of man is to be revealed." Here Jesus compares his parousia with the "days of Noah" and "days of Lot", implying the sudden, unexpected destruction. Jesus coming or presence will be at the one and the same time as his being revealed, not some invisible presence many years before, rather it will be just as visible, unexpected and sudden with no time to escape as the flood was of Noah's day.  When all men on earth see the unmistakable sign of Christ they will know it is too late. Certainly this could not be an invisible presence, relying on some "slave class" or bible scholar to interpret the signs of the times, no it will be the same as the "days of Noah" and the "days of Lot." It is only then, and not before, that all Christians who have acted both "faithful and discreet" will enter into the "kingdom of the heavens."

In all of the earliest writings of the New Testament, such as the Latin Vulgate version of the 4th century, 20 out of the 24 occurrences of parousia, were translated as adventus, the Latin word for "coming." In the Syriac Peshitta version from the 5th century, the word used in Matthew 24:3 was methitha, which literally means "coming."
 
The greek word used at Matthew 24 verse 3 and many other verses is parousia and its primary meaning is "presence." Yet why do most bibles translate this word as coming?
Interestingly, this word was always rendered as "coming" when it referred to the parousia of Jesus Christ, but as "presence" when it referred to the parousia of others, such as Apostle Paul. For centuries this remained a mystery, until the late 19th century with its new discoveries through excavations.

These new discoveries showed that the Greek language used in the New Testament was not a different biblical Greek, but koine Greek, the common language of daily life. This gave new insight as to the meaning of many Greek words. One of them was parousia.
Professor Deissmann and his colleagues published their findings in 1908 in the work entitled Light From The East. "We now may say that the best interpretation of the of the Primitive Christian hope of the Parousia is the old Advent text, Behold, they King cometh unto thee. (Matthew 21:5) From the Ptolemaic period down into the 2nd century A.D. we are able to trace the word in the East as a technical expression for the arrival or the visit of the king or the emperor."

The technical definition was determined to be an official, royal visit such as a Roman emperor making a parousia or visit in the provinces in the east, "the roads were repaired, crowds flocked to do homage, there were processions and much more." When Emperor Nero of had visited the cities of Corinth and Patras. The cities made "advent coins" showing the royal visit of the king. The Latin adventus was used in equivalent to the Greek term parousia at those occasions, according to Professor Deissmann.

Since then, there have been additional research by numerous scholars all confirming the conclusions of Deissmann, who first demonstrated this technical use of parousia, which is a royal visit of a king. Greek lexicons and dictionaries today all point out this sense of the word in addition to its primary meaning "presence," and there is a general consensus among modern scholars that parousia in the New Testament, when used of the second coming of Christ, is used in this technical sense of a royal visitation. As Bauer's lexicon is quoted as saying that parousia became the official term for a visit of a person of high rank, especially of kings and emperors visiting a province.

Even with these new findings there have been some that still translate parousia, "presence." One of them is W.E. Vine Expository Dictionary. His definition of an invisible presence sounds very much like the Watch Tower Society's translation of the word. The reason for this is Vine was one of the very strong supporters of the "secret rapture" doctrine in our century. However, this only served to bring him in conflict with the results of the late 19th century excavations and the findings of Professor Deissmann and  modern scholars.

In addition to W.E. Vine, the Watch Tower Society in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures with References , pages 1576 and 1577, cites four Bible translations that render parousia as "presence." One of them is their own 1950 translation! The other three are all from dates earlier then the discovery of Professor Deissmann and his colleagues.

What about the context of the word parousia? Certainly this shows his apostles to have absolutely no thought of  an invisible presence when they asked Christ for a sign of his coming. They clearly thought of it as a visible occurrence. This alone shows that Matthew cannot have used parousia in the sense of an invisible "presence."

And the fact that Jesus described a tree with a bud saying "you know that the summer is near." He did not say "you know that the summer will be present." Clearly this shows that the sign of Christ shows he is near, not invisibly present. This can also be put with his further words comparing his coming and presence to the days of Noah and Lot. It is obvious that Jesus in not comparing his presence or parousia to the days proceeding the Flood or destruction of Sodom, but to the surprise coming of the Flood and destruction of Sodom. And a comparison of Matthew 24:39 with Luke 17:30 shows the word parousia or presence to be interchanged with the word revealed.

@ Another interesting point is at 1Thessalonians 3:13. "Moreover, may the Lord cause you to increase, yes, make you abound, in love to one another and to all, even as we also do to you to the end that he may make your hearts firm, unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the presence (parousia) of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones." Here is shows Christ's presence along with his angels to be the same as Matthew 16:27 which shows Christ's coming to be with his angels. "For the Son of man is destined to come (erchomai) in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he will recompense each one according to his behavior." Additionally, Jude 1:14 also shows the Lord's  coming to be with his angels. It is clear that all of these texts refer to the one and the same occasion, the Lord's coming with all his holy ones for executing judgment.

The evidence certainly supports, not a "secret rapture" or two stage coming with the first being invisible, but rather Christ's future coming and judgment as King, along with his holy angels.

For Additonal Information on Christ's Coming and Parousia - Click Here

The Four Horsemen of Revelation

In Revelation chapter 6, a vision is described of four horsemen, each riding a different color horse, representing a different action or happening. There is no mention of any specific time period for this to occur, so put a time period into these words written, is purely speculation and without support. Some, such as the Watchtower Society, will apply Revelation chapter 1 verse 10 which states, "By inspiration I came to be in the Lord's
day ..." and apply this to the twentieth century, particularly after the year 1914. Yet the next two chapters of Revelation speak of events that were presently occurring in the first century within seven different congregations of persons. This shows that the "Lords day" could have began in the first century.

The second, third and fourth horsemen, with their different color horses, have been agreed by most bible scholars, to be symbolic and represent, war, hunger, pestilence and death. However, there are major differences in the interpretation of the first horse and it's rider and the time period it occurs. This identity of the first horse and it's rider, is where the major difference occurs in the teaching of the four horsemen. As Revelation chapter 6 verse 2 reads, "And I saw, and, look! a white horse, and the one seated upon it had a bow, and a crown was given him, and he went forth conquering and to complete his conquest."

The majority of the book of Revelation was written in symbols. This certainly applies to the vision of the four riders and their different color horses that they ride, for most bible scholars and religions, including the Watchtower Society, agree that the second, third and fourth riders and their horses are symbolic. Certainly if the last three riders and the horses they ride are considered to be symbolic, then the context shows the first rider and his horse are also symbolic and not literal. It can be also noted that in Zechariah 6:1-8, a similar symbolic vision is mentioned, although containing differences from the vision in Revelation.

Some have suggested that the rider of the first horse represents Christianity, or the triumphal progress of the Christian gospel. Others believe it to mean a military conquest. Others such as Dr Billy Graham, believe it to mean deception and greedy conquest. Still others, such as the Watch Tower Society, believe it to be Jesus Christ, riding the white horse in the year 1914, and relating the entire vision with Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21.

In trying to support their interpretation of the first horsemen as Jesus Christ, the Watchtower of May 15, 1983 states, "The rider of this speedy means of travel signifies a newly installed king, for a royal crown was given him. . . Inescapably, then, the rider of the white horse who rides on victoriously must be Jesus Christ at his coronation in heaven at the close of the Gentile Times in 1914." And in the Watchtower publication Revelation It's Grand Climax At Hand!, on page 90, states "The only righteous ones seen wearing crowns during the Lord's day are Jesus and the class represented by the 24 elders. It is unlikely that a member of the group of 24 elders would be pictured as receiving a crown on his own merit. Hence, this lone horseman must be Jesus Christ and no other." Two of the scriptural references, then given do not even mention a "crown" and the following contain the Greek word stephanos and not diadema. They are Daniel 7:13-14,27; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 4:4,10; 14:14.

The problem here is that this interpretation is founded on a serious linguistic mistake. For the Greek language has two different words for "crown", stephanos and diadema. The Greek word used here is stephanos. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary stephanos is defined as follows: STEPHANOS . . . denotes (a) the victor's crown, the symbol of triumph in the games or some such contest; hence, by metonymy, a reward or prize; (b) a token of public honor for distinguished service, military prowess, etc., or of nuptial joy, or festal gladness, especially at the parousia of kings. This is not the same type of crown as that of a King, nor does it ever represent a coronation of any type. For this type of crown, stephanos, was used for the sign of victory in winning a contest or in military conquest, as well as festive occasions, worn by all, such as the coming or royal visit of a King visiting town.

To support the above definition of this type of crown, stephanos, there are numerous scriptures showing the use of stephanos in connection with athletic contests. "Moreover, every man taking part in a contest exercises self-control in all things. Now they, of course, do it that they may get a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one." Stephanos is also used in speaking of the crown that all Christians receive as their divine reward for conquering the world with their faith. "For this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord , the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not only to me, but also to all those who have love his manifestation." and "Because everything that has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith." Clearly, as each Christian conquers the world with his faith and gets a stephanos, so does the rider of the first horse do a conquering work and wear a stephanos, relating the type of crown it is, a victory crown and not a crown of coronation of kingship.  ( 1 John 5:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy2:5; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12)

Not only was a stephanos used as a sign of victory in battle, but it was not uncommon for Roman Generals to also ride a white horse. As noted in William Barclay, the Revelation of John Vol 2 2nd ed., Philadelphia 1960, p.4, "When a Roman general celebrated a triumph, that is when he paraded through the streets of Rome with his armies and his captives and his spoils after some great victory, his chariot was drawn by white horses, for they were the symbols of victory. In in many cases, as in this vision, the riders wore their stephanos, before the battle, as a symbol of victory. For instance, Nike, the goddess of victory, was depicted as coming with a crown of victory in her hand.

The Watchtower also uses the vision of the white horse and rider in Revelation chapter 19 to further support their claim of the first horsemen in Revelation chapter 6 being Jesus Christ. The problem here, is that the this is an entirely different vision and is not connected at all with Revelation chapter 6. The rider of the white horse in chapter six, wears a stephanos and carries a bow for conquest. The rider of the white horse in Revelation chapter 19 wears a diadema and carries a sword for judgment and is clearly identified as Jesus Christ, for he is called "faithful and true", "the word of God", and "King of kings and Lord of lords."

A further claim of the first rider's white horse, of Revelation chapter 6, is made in the Watchtower Society's pulication Revelation, Its Grand Climax at Hand!, on page 90 and states the following, "This horse, likely a beautiful stallion, gleams with a whiteness that indicates unblemished holiness. How appropriate this is, for it portrays warfare that is clean and righteous in Jehovah's holy eyes!" References are then made to Revelation chapter 19. It certainly is true that Jesus in Revelation chapter 19 rides a white horse and most likely to represent righeous warfare, yet this does not prove that the white color horse of Revelation chapter 6 is righteous warfare, for in Zechariah chapter 6, it was the black horses, not the white ones, "that were to going forth to the land of the north" and "caused the spirit of Jehovah to rest in the land of the north.

Instead, the type of crown worn in the vision in Revelation chapter 19 is a diadema. The definition given for this Greek word in Vine's Expository Dictionary is, "DIADEMA . . . is never used as stephanos is: it is always the symbol of the kingly or imperial dignity, and is translated 'diadem' instead of 'crown' in the R.V., of the claims of the Dragon, Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 19:12." From this definition, it is clear that diadema cannot be used as stephanos and is only used in connection with a king. This confirms that the rider of the white horse carrying a sword and wearing a diadema Revelation chapter 19, can not be the same rider of the white horse carrying a bow and wearing a stephanos  in Revelation chapter 6
 
 As stated, the riders of the second, third and fourth horses in Revelation chapter 6 are all symbols of calamities and not literal individuals. It would be both logical and consistent to go along with the context and understand the first rider in a similar way, possibly picturing the concept of military conquest. This is the conclusion of the majority of well-known commentators. For instance, Dr. Otto Miche, explains the first two riders as follows: "The white horse represents the conqueror who comes from without , with an alien host and oppresses the kingdom. It is followed by the fiery red horse which takes away peace and unleashes civil strife."

This also shows that the four riders cannot have any more connection with 1914, or for that matter, with this twentieth century, than any previous time period in history and does not support our time as the "last days" or in fulfillment of Jesus  words at Matthew chapter 24, Luke chapter 21 and Revelation chapter 6.
 

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