Time of Distress (2) - White Horse

The White Horse is released first.

Before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest (Rev 6:2).

The rider looks like Jesus, because he rides on a white horse, but Jesus is armed with a sword, so this is not him. This horseman represents a false messiah or a false religion making a powerful advance (Ps 46:9).

Several Old Testament nations are described as bowmen. Elam, which was situated in the western part of modern Iran, is described as armed with a bow (Jer 49:34-39, Is 22:6). The Persian army which came from the same area is described as being armed with bows (Jer 50:14,29,42). Ishmael, was an archer (Gen 21:20). He was the father of the Arab nations, so there are bowmen in Arabia (Is 21:13-16).

The people of Libya are also described as bowmen (Isaiah 66:19). In fact the Hebrew word for Libya, "Put", could come from an Egyptian word meaning bowman. In Jeremiah 46:9, men of Lydia are said to be bowmen. Lydia was situated in modern Turkey. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Turkey are all countries in which the religion of Islam is strong.

Islam claims to be based on the Bible. Mohammed is a false prophet who claimed to be a successor to Jesus, so a bowman on a white horse is a good description of the Islamic religion. The white horse going forth "conquering and to conquer" represents the revival of Islamic fervour and political power that has been sweeping the world since the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1978.

The Islamic revival has touched the entire Moslem world is one of the most powerful movements in the world today. It is very powerful at a grass roots level, and even secular rulers are coming under its influence. Islam is even gaining influence in the west. This ties in with Zechariah, who saw the white horse advancing to the west (Zech 6:6).