Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! -Behold, the Fiery-Colored Horse ! - Continue

 Then, with his thirst for blood whetted, the rider of the red horse plunged into World War II. Instruments of slaughter became even more fiendish, and casualties skyrocketed to four times those World War I. In 1945 two atomic bombs burst over Japan, each one annihilating-in a flash-tens of thousands of victims. During the second world war, the rider of the red horse reaped a huge harvest of some 55 million lives, and even then he was not satisfied. It is reliably reported that at least 19 million souls have fallen under the "great sword" since World War II. 

Could we call this a triumph for military technology? It is, rather, a testimony that the merciless red horse is at the gallop. And where will that gallop end? Some scientists forecast mathematically that an accidental nuclear war is virtually certain to take place within the next 25 years-let alone a planned nuclear conflagration! But happily the conquering Rider of the White horse has other thoughts about this. 

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 There had been many wars before 1914, the year when the Rider of the white horse receive his crown. But now the rider of the red hors3e is given "a great sword." What does this imply? With the eruption of World War I, human warfare becomes more sanguinary, more destructive than ever before. During the 1914-1918 bloodbath, tanks, poison gas, airplanes, submarines, huge cannons and automatic weapons were used either for the first time or on an unprecedented scale. In some 28 nations, whole populations, not just professional soldiers, were pressed into the war effort. Casualties were horrendous. More than nine million soldiers were slaughtered, and civilian casualties were astronomical. Even with the end of the war, there was no return to p peace on earth. More than 50 years after that war. German statesman Konrad Adenauer commented: "Security and quiet have disappeared from the lives of men since 1914." It was indeed, granted to the rider of the fiery-colored horse to take peace away from the earth! 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - Behold the Fiery-Colored Horse! - Continue

 How, then, is this second summons to "Come!" answered? In this way: "And another came forth, a fiery-colored horse; and to take one seated upon it there was granted to take peace away from the earth so they should slaughter one another; and a great sword was given him." (Revelation 6:4) A grim vision indeed!  And there is no doubt as to what it pictures: war! Not the righteous, victorious warfare of Jehovah's conquering King but cruel, man-made, international warfare with needless bloodshed and pain.  How appropriate that this rider is mounted on a fire-red horse!

Certainly, John would want no part with this horseman and his headlong ride, for it has been prophesied concerning God's people. "Neither will they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4) Though still "in the world," John and, by extension, the John class and the great crowd today are "no part" of this bloodstained system. Our weapons are spiritual and "powerful by God" for actively proclaiming the truth, apart from the carnal warfare. - JOHN 17:11, 14; 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3, 4.

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! -Behold, the Fiery-Colored Horse!

 Toward the end of Jesus' ministry on earth, his disciples asked him privately: "What will the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" In reply: he foretold calamities that would be "a beginning of the pangs of distress." Said Jesus: "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." (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8; Luke 21:10, 11) The things John sees when the remaining seals of the scroll are opened provide a remarkable parallel to that prophecy. Watch now as the glorified Jesus opens the second seal! 

"And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say: Come!' " (Revelation 6:3) It is the second cherub, with the appearance of a bull, that issues the command. Power is the quality here symbolized, but power used righteously. In contrast, though, John is now to see a hideous, death-dealing display of power. 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - Going Forth Conquering - Conclusion

 How does Jesus "complete his conquest"? This he does, as we shall see, by disposing of false religion and then hurling every remaining segment of Satan's visible organization into a symbolic "fiery lake" of destruction, in vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty. Confidently, we now look forward to that day at Armageddon when our "King of kings" will gain the final victory over Satan's oppressive political organization! (Revelation 16:16; 17:14; 19:2, 14-21; Ezekiel 25:1-7) In the meantime, the invincible conqueror on the white horse continues to ride forth as Jehovah keeps adding honesthearted ones to His righteous nation on earth. (Isaiah26:2; 60:22) Are you sharing with the anointed John class in that joyful Kingdom expansion? In that event, what the apostle John sees next when the next seals are opened will no doubt stir you to have an even greater share in Jehovah's work for this day. 

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 Our conquering King has also blessed his zealous people by leading them to many victories "in defending and legally establishing of the good news" in courts of law and before rulers. (Philippians 1:7; Matthew 10:18; 24:9) This has been on an international scale-in Australia, Argentina, Canada, Greece, India, Swaziland, Switzerland, Turkey, and other lands. Among 23 legal victories gained by Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States Supreme Court have been those guaranteeing the right to declare the good news "publicly from house to house" and to desist from idolatrous patriotic ceremonies. (Acts5:42; 20:20; 1 Corinthians 10:14) Thus, the way has been kept open for an expanding global witness. 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! -Going Forth Conquering - Continue

 The global congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses has shared in many conquests under the guidance of its conquering King. Outstandingly, he protected these Bible Students from annihilation in 1918, when they themselves were 'conquered' temporarily by Satan's political organization. In 1919, however, he broke prison bars to rescue them to proclaim the good news 'to the most distant part of the earth." - REVELATION 13:7; ACT 1:8.

Before and during World War II, the dictatorial Axis powers tried to wipe out Jehovah's Witnesses in many lands where religious leaders particularly those of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, gave open or tacit support of oppressive dictators. But the 71,509 Witnesses who were preaching when the war started in 1939 became 141,606 by the end in 1945, even though upwards of 10,000 has spent long years in prisons and concentration camps and other thousands had been killed. The number of active Witnesses earth wide has expanded to well over100,000 active field ministers, - ISAIAH 54:17; JEREMIAH 1:17-19. 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! -Going Forth Conquering - Continue

 What other conquests has Jesus made in the past 70-and -more years of the Lord's day? Around the globe, individually and as a congregation, Jehovah's people have experienced many hardships, pressures, and persecutions, similar to those described by the apostle Paul in giving proof of his ministry. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) Jehovah's Witnesses have needed "power beyond what is normal," especially in theaters of war and violence, in order to endure. (2 Corinthians 4:7) But even in the most trying situations, faithful Witnesses have been able to say as did Paul: "The Lord stood near me and infused power into me, that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished." (2 Timothy 4:17) Yes, Jesus conquered on their behalf, as long as we are resolved to complete our conquest of faith. - 1 JOHN 5:4. 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! - Going Forth Conquering

 Why, though, must the newly crowned King ride forth to war? It is because his kingship is established in the face of bitter opposition from Jehovah's chief adversary, Satan the Devil, and those on earth who -knowingly or unknowingly-serve Satan's ends. The birth of the Kingdom itself calls for a major war in heaven. Fighting under the name Michael (meaning "Who Is Like God?"), Jesus overcomes Satan and his demons and hurls them down to the earth. (Revelation 12:7-12) Jesus' ride of conquest continues through the opening decades of the Lord's day while the nations and peoples of earth are being judged and sheeplike humans are being gathered to the King's side for salvation. Though the whole world still lies in the power of the wicked one, Jesus lovingly continues to shepherd his anointed brothers and sisters and their companions, helping each to achieve the conquest of faith. - 1 JOHN 5:19; MATTHEW 25:31-33. 

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Chapter Sixteen/Four Horsemen at the Gallop! -The White Horse and Its Illustrious Rider

 Who is the rider of this horse? He has a bow, and offensive weapon of war, but he is also given a crown. The only righteous ones seen wearing crowns during the Lord's day are Jesus and the class represented by the 24 elders. (Daniel 7:13, 14, 27; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 4:4, 10; 14:14) 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 and is Jesus Christ and no other. John sees him in heaven at the historic moment in 1914 when Jehovah declares, "I, even I, have installed my king," and tells him that this is for the purpose "that I may give nations as your inheritance." (Psalm 2:6-8) Thus, in opening the first seal Jesus reveals how he himself, as the newly crowned King, sallies forth to war at God's appointed time. 

This scene harmonizes beautifully with Psalm 45:4-7, addressed to the King enthroned by Jehovah: "And in your splendor go on to success and ride in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness, and your right hand will instruct you in fear-inspiring things. Your arrows are sharp-under you peoples keep falling-in the heart of the enemies of the king. God is your throne to time indefinite, even forever the scepter of your kingship is a scepter of righteousness. You have loved righteousness and you hate wickedness. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your partners." Being familiar with that prophetic description, John would appreciate that it applies to Jesus's activity as King. - Compare Hebrews 1:1, 2, 8, 9.

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