Is The White Horseman of the Apocalypse Here?

The Four Horsemane of the Apocalypse by Victor Vasnetsov, 1887

In Revelation chapter 5 we read of a special scroll, one which I believe (opinion alert) is the title deed to earth.  In Revelation 6:2, we read of the first of the four horseman, four spirits God releases on the earth.  As each seal on the scroll that I believe is the title deed to the earth itself is broken, another horseman is released.  (Rev. 5:1-7, 6:1)  And the horsemen do not bring good tidings to men.

The first horseman is characterized as the white horseman and horse, who wears a conquering crown, and goes out conquering.  The Greek word nikao used in Rev. 6:2 means to subdue, or conquer.  Conquer what?  Conquer kingdoms.  Nations.  The White Horseman overthrows existing governments preparing the way for a new ruler.  I wish this coming new ruler was the true Christ, Jesus the Messiah.  However, before Jesus returns, the Antichrist will come, and temporarily establish his false kingdom.  (2 Thes. 2:1-4, Dan. 11:36, Rev. 13:6-7) 

The Conqueror is setting the table for the coming Antichrist to establish his rule over all the world.  It won't last long, but neither will the Christian presence before the vicious onslaught the Antichrist will release.  (Matt. 24:22, Mk. 13:20, Lk. 18:8)  I'm getting ahead of the purpose of this article though.  The question is, has the White Horseman been released?  Let's examine the evidence.

Bambergs White Horseman, circa 1000 A.D.

In 2011 we witnessed the overthrow of long-time leaders in relatively stable political conditions.  These seemed to be focused around the Mediterranean nations.  Let's take a head count:  Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Algeria, comprising almost the entire North African coast.  Spain, Italy and Greece, comprising most of the coastline of Southern Europe.  And on the Arab peninsula, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.  Now some of these nations have not been overthrown (Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia) but are under intense pressure as I write this.  And looking just north in the heart of the middle east, Syria's current government hangs by a thread, with NATO forces apparently ready to invade if necessary to finish them off. Jordan also is under intense pressure to give the people a voice in politics for the first time ever.  As I write this just prior to Christmas 2011, Iraq, with the majority of U.S. troops having pulled out, may not survive the political chaos that is erupting within.

To add to this, Northeast African nations like Eritrea and Somalia are also in danger of collapsing (not that there is much to collapse in Somalia) quickly.  The Sudan was split into Northern (Muslim) and Southern (Christian) sections earlier this year.  And we can add the political change through election in Great Britain, by death of North Korea's long-time ruler, as well as the continuing move to socialism/marxism in South American nations. Large protests have also taken place in Russia for the first time since the overthrow of the last Czar.

Now, this could simply be a statistical anomaly, but there is one way we might confirm that this is indeed the white horseman.  That is if the red horseman follows soon.  The red horseman brings war, the kind of war that will envelop all nations.  (Rev. 6:3-4, Matt. 24:7)

Durer woodcut of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

A primary theme of examining prophecy here is that the Lord communicated to "whosoever will" His truth's in a simple, straightforward manner.  When prophecies are symbolic, they are stated as such.  Most of the last days prophecies are presented in a very direct manner, and even presented in sequence as they will occur.  (Compare Matthew 24 to Revelation 6.  The same Author communicated both in the same sequence with the same results.) 

Therefore, before the Rapture which occurs at Jesus Second Coming, there must be a covenant signed (or renewed) by the State of Israel (Dan. 9:27, Is. 28:14-18), which will be followed by the sequence of events listed in Matt. 24:1-13, Rev. 6) leading up to the Day of the Lord (Rev. 6:12-17, Is. 13:9-10, Ezek. 32:7-8, Joel 2:10, 30-31, 3:15, Amos 8:9, Matt. 24:29-30, and many more). 

The signing or renewal of the covenant may not be a public event, as many today are done privately, especially in politically sensitive areas like Israel.  The release of the Horsemen however, will not be a private event.  It will be seen and experienced by the whole world. 

So two things to look for if the White Horseman is indeed loose.  The continuing overthrow of governments to prepare the way for the Antichrist, and the soon coming of the Red Horseman, who will bring war to the whole world.  Now more than ever, we must "watch and pray"...(Matt. 26:41).