REVELATION 6:1,2

Introduction: The Vision of the Seven Seals: The First Seal - The White Horse

"I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there 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."

The first part of this vision describes the four horsemen of the apocalypse -- that is, the four beings riding horses who are revealed to John in his vision. The horsemen that follow this one clearly represent war, famine and death. But what does this first rider represent? Although some think that this is the Antichrist, it makes more sense with the rest of the Bible if we see him as Jesus himself carrying the gospel into the world. The conquering Messiah is depicted with a bow in the Psalms: "Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet" (Psalm 45:5).

A picture like this one appears in another of the Bible's apocalypses, in Zechariah 6, where four chariots are sent from heaven. The horses pulling the chariots have the same coloring as the horses here in Revelation 6.

In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us that in the last days there will be wars, famines, earthquakes, false prophets, and a great falling away of many Christians -- but "the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

The gospel flows out like a conqueror bent on conquest -- and we can be thankful that the gospel has conquered each of us. Its power has defeated our sinful human nature, rescued us from the tyranny of sin, and delivered us from the devil's arms. In Jesus we are truly free. In Jesus we are truly saved. In Jesus we have eternal life.

In Jesus, each of us becomes an arrow shot by his bow into the world, carrying the gospel to every language, tribe, people, and culture. Don't wonder who you should carry the gospel to. An arrow doesn't wonder where it will penetrate. An arrow is shot, and it pierces whatever is in its path. Carry the gospel to whomever comes across your path. The gospel is simple: Jesus died for our sins.

That's the message that brings life. The end is coming -- but eternal life is already yours!