Usually, I work my way step-by-step into a topic, especially if the topic is controversial. However, this time I think I’ll work backwards. The topic is whether or not Donald J. Trump, if re-elected, might represent the First Horseman of the apocalypse. The leader. Our leader.

I’ve reached a point to where I am entertaining the notion that Donald J, Trump might be the First Horseman of the Apocalypse. The Apostle John received the series of visions in the book of Revelation (i.e., the Apocalypse) near the end of the first century. Roman emperor Domitian, son of the Roman emperor Vespasion and brother to the emperor Titus had sentenced John to work the salt mines on the Mediterranean island of Patmos. While there, John had visions containing messages for seven churches in the country that is currently known as Turkey (officially spelled Türkiye.) Much of the rest of the book prophesizes the future using similes and metaphors. While some people might claim to have an absolute understanding of everything John saw and as someone who once shared this opinion myself, I now personally find it doubtful. Yet, Revelation is nonetheless part of God’s Word. While God has not revealed everything about the Last Days, He apparently wants us to understand as much as possible. The devil, on the other hand, is in the details as they say.

So, here is my support in suggesting (but not concluding) that Donald J. Trump might be the First Horseman of the Apocalypse. Not all of the AI images in this post match the descriptions in Revelation in every detail. Nor do I intend them to do so. And, of course, Mr. Trump would have to be re-elected to the Presidency so he could act as the First Horseman does.

John writes from the vantage point of Heaven in Revelation Chapter Six, verses 1-8:

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.

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages,^[b] and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.“

Each of the four horses and horsemen are identified by their purpose. When they are named, the proper noun in Greek is once again anchored to their purpose (e.g. The First Horseman representing conquest, glory, jealousy and envy is called Zelus; war is called Ares after the god of war; Famine (Limos) and Death (Thanatos.) Note that there is a logical progression here when you compare what Jesus said in the Gospels to what John saw. It’s not a perfect progression, but the logic cannot be denied. Ian Boxall agrees:

In other words, the theme of false messiahship and false prophecy capable of deceiving many (which will become increasingly explicit as the narrative unfolds) emerges on the scene as a possibility in Rev. 6, but in a covert way which might deceive even John’s audiences.”

Boxall, Ian “Who Rides the White Horse? Truth and Deception in the Book of Revelation.” Scripture Bulletin Vol. XLI No. 2; p. 84.

The glorious or envious plan by Russia (Zelus) to conquer Ukraine leads to war. From war comes famine as crops are destroyed, dams demolished and so on and death from disease follows as we are starting to see (for example) in Gaza where the Palestinian infrastructure has been destroyed (including access to pure water, hospital care and so on.)

We can better visualize progression this in a table format doing a side-by-side comparison.

Characterization	Matthew	Mark	Luke	Revelation
Deception	Matthew 24;3	Mark 13:5	Luke 21:8	Revelation 6:1
War	Matthew 24:6	Mark 13:7	Luke 21:9	Revelation 6:4
Famine and/or earthquakes	Matthew 24:7	Mark 13:8	Luke 21:11	Revelation 6:5
Disease and/or death	Matthew 24:9	Mark 13:20	Luke 21:24	Revelation 6:8

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Note that deception precedes the other three events (war, famine/earthquakes and disease/death.) There appears to be someone that arrives on the stage that is thought by the masses to be the Messiah, or at least one sent by God or chosen by God to rule with absolute authority. Considine agrees:

There is no doubt about the signification of this horse; it signifies war civil and international strife, although some as Andrew have confined it to the persecution of Christians.” (415)

War (the Second Horseman) follows. It is not directly implied that the elect (i.e., God’s people) will actually be deceived, though in the more than half century that I’ve been a Christian, I’ve seen Christians go on a number of wild goose chases and embrace unorthodox doctrine and dogma. Here is what Jesus says in Matthew 24:24, 25:

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you ahead of time.”

The Greek Expositors Testament says of this passage:

“Desperate situations require a full use of all possible powers of persuasion: signs and wonders, or the pretense of them: easily accepted as such by a fanaticized multitude, and sometimes so clever and plausible as to tempt the wise to credence.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible adds:

Christians may be sometimes led far astray; they may be in doubt about some great doctrines of religion; they may be perplexed by the cavils and cunning craftiness of those who do not love the truth, but they cannot be entirely deceived and seduced from the Savior. Our Savior says that if this “were possible,” it would be done then; but it was not possible.”

Because my posts hardly have the authority and inspiration of Scripture, I must have a bit of leeway in what I write.  Most commentators today believe that the First Horseman is Jesus, Himself, but for several reasons I noted above, I have to wonder whether the First Horseman of the Apocalypse isn’t Donald J. Trump, instead.  He appears to be a man of peace, but strife and conflict follow him.  God’s people believe he is heaven-sent to save our country and–I believe–are in error.  Of course, no one can serve in power except that God permit it. But what I am saying is that God’s purposes for us and Mr. Trump’s purposes are at polar extremes. False prophecies about Mr. Trump reinforce this error, convince ordinary people and confuse the elect.  He does not reflect the fruits of the Spirit and Christian character, but rather boastfully, proudly and arrogantly promotes himself.  He proclaims:

 

I am your voice . . .  I am your warrior. I am your justice . . . And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.” 

Who speaks like that?  Certainly not Jesus.  Not the Shepherd and not the sheep.  Yet, pastors in America have been blinded by his appearance and have been bewitched by his rhetoric.

To summarize

It is very possible that the classic interpretations of the First Horseman are correct and I am way off base. I readily admit to that possibility. In that case, the First Horseman is a benign rather than nefarious man of peace. And, Donald J. Trump had some success with the Abraham Accords. Sometimes, there are multiple interpretations possile within reason. And if my hypothesis is correct, what does the First Horseman conquer? Public opinion? The U.S. political system? Democracy in America? That is the question. And it worth considering or debating by greater minds than mine.

Afterward

Deena and I have seen more turmoil and trouble in our country in the past eight years than in our entire lives.  Americans are calling other Americans communists, traitors, and enemies of the people.  Families are “defriending” each other on social media over politics.  Church attendance is plunging as more and more congregations are focusing on partisan campaigns at the expense of the Gospel. Echoes calling for the dissolution of the Republic are starting to be heard in the very halls of Congress.  Frenzied felons wearing red hats viciously attacked capitol police and smashed windows and doors to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in the nation after the last presidential election are now being lionized as patriots and political prisoners.  We’re being assured that while the next president intents to assume dictatorial power, it will only be for “one day.”  That may bring a sigh of relief to undecided voters, but it sends chills up the spines of others.  Spirits of fear and madness are tormenting citizens as never before.  We are told being told our blood is being poisoned by vermin crossing our border in search of a better life, like my once parents once did.  There is a maelstrom sweeping this nation, and at the heart of this disaster is one man.  The Leader.

Why are so many public officials being cowered by him?  Some have privately said that they are afraid they’d be voted out of office.  They’d lose their job.  Fortunately, Deena and I are both retired, so that card can’t be used against us.  Others have said that they fear for the physical safety of themselves and their families as a deluge of death threats follow any governor, attorney general, prosecutor or judge that investigates or tries a criminal case that deals with The Leader.

I recalled the other day a trilogy performed Irish musician Chris de Burgh. His three songs (“The Leader,” “The Vision” and “What About Me”) on his Into the Light album seem very relevant, even prophetic to what we face today. I would encourage the reader to listen to them in order (available on Spotify or Amazon.com.)

Chris de Burgh wrote this trilogy approximatey forty years ago and explains:

What this is really about is today’s leaders; Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbachov, Gadaffi – anybody like that who claims to be the leader who will bring peace. What they are, people like that, are the ones who say ‘We’ll win the battle’. What this humble man in the song sees is his own land totally destroyed in the fight – and the leader comes along and says ‘OK, I can look after things’. There’s this absolute, seering cry at the end of the piece – when you hear it, you’ll feel the emotion. It’s to do with ‘Why? – why? So we’ve got a strong leader, but why does our country have to be destroyed?’“

If, in fact, Donald J. Trump is the First Horseman, what does that mean. It means were are entering the beginning of the Great Tribulation once he takes power.

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Objection: But isn’t the Rapture supposed to occur first?

Answer: This is a relatively new interpretation (less than a few centuries old.) Contemporary commentators such as Hal Lindsey and movies such as the “Tribulation series” most likely reinforce this notion. But it is not the only possibility. My Christian brothers and sisters can show me verses that suggest that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation begins, but I can counter with other verses that suggest otherwise. Hoping for what is called a “pre-tribulation” rapture may be nothing more than wishful thinking. And, it might require two more arrivals of Jesus instead of one.

Objection: Why now?

Almost every Biblical prophecy about the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming has been fulfilled. But I don’t want to go into prophecy here.

Question: Where can I find more information on this?

Answer: Here is a good place to start: American Caesar.

Here is a good place to start on the topic of false prophecy.