Why do people believe in a Rapture?

[Fusion77]

Lamad's answers in dark red.

the AC will use Zechariah 14:16 by pointing out what the prophet Zechariah says. He'll claim to be the Lord when he sets up the AOD. He'll claim to be the Branch (Messiah), when he builds the tribulation temple. Zechariah 6:11-14 It won't be a fulfillment, because it will be lie, on his part.

The mention of the Spirit of God, was much less widespread in the OT. Do a search. He never made that covenant with Israel.

 

[Riberra]

Did a false Christ peacefully conquer in the first century? No. Was there worldwide war? No. Was there severe famine? No. Were 1/4 of the earth's population killed in the first century, before Stephen's martyrdom? No.

You seem to believe that the seals are limited to the first century...Plus , you are wrong to believe that the First seal is about the Antichrist...

The seals cover the whole history since 2,000 years until the opening of the 6th seal.
Seal 1 Is Jesus on a white horse with a crown (same as Revelation 19:11-13) and the preaching of the Gospel all over the World by the believers(Church) and continue to this day.

Seal 2 Is about the wars who have plagued the world since the Revelation to John and continue to this day.

Seal 3 Is about the famines wo have plagued different parts of the World since the Revelation to John and continue to this day.

Seal 4 is about WW1 and WW2 who have occured in Europe who have affected 1/4 of the Earth

Seal 5 is about the early Christians martyrs of the First Century ....who must rest before that God advenge their blood in the future .... the number of their brethrens who must be slain as they were have never ceased to grown since 2,000 years and continue to grow to this day ...

Seal 6 is yet to come....

Revelation 6

 

[Fusion77]

Not all martyrs are martyrs because of the Great Tribulation. Did a false Christ peacefully conquer in the first century? No. Was there worldwide war? No. Was there severe famine? No. Were 1/4 of the earth's population killed in the first century, before Stephen's martyrdom? No.

Seal 5
Revelation 6:9-11
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Revelation 7:9, 13-14
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,...
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

If you read these passages in a straightforward way, the multitude in the white robes (chapter 7) were killed in the great tribulation. The context doesn't suggest that all the martyrs of all time - just the martyrs of the tribulation. These white robes martyrs first appear in the fifth seal.

The reason they are slain is given here:

Revelation 14:15-17
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

And this also mentions those who were beheaded because they didn't take the mark of the beast:

Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Not every passage has to mention every detail. Ch 6 associates martyrdom with white robes. Ch 7 associates white robes and people who came out of the tribulation. (I think it's clear given that John knew their identity that we should think of Ch 6.) Ch. 14 introduces the mark of the beast. Ch 20. describes the beheaded, who refused to take the mark of the beast.

Again, it is my position that the seals, trumpets and vials are all in sequence. That there are interludes of past, present and future in between. Revelation 7 doesn't prove anything to me because that's an interlude.

Maybe your not understanding. Though Stephen was one of the first martyrs, there is martyrdom for Christ, occurring daily. The 5th seal could've happened at anytime. Considering there were an abundance of martyrs even in the 1st century, and continue until this day.


No one disputes that people will have refused the mark of the beast, and be martyrs because of it. I'm saying, I don't see evidence of it, in or before the 5th seal...not including one of the interludes that jumps from past, present and future according to revelation 1:19. I believe the seals, trumpets and vials are likely the only thing in sequential order.

 

[Fusion77]

You seem to believe that the seals are limited to the first century...Plus , you are wrong to believe that the First seal is about the Antichrist...

The seals cover the whole history since 2,000 years until the opening of the 6th seal.
Seal 1 Is Jesus on a white horse and the preaching of the Gospel all over the World by the believers(Church) and continue to this day.

Seal 2 Is about the wars who have plagued the world since the Revelation to John and continue to this day.

Seal 3 Is about the famines wo have plagued different parts of the World since the Revelation to John and continue to this day.

Seal 4 is about WW1 and WW2 who have occured in Europe who have affected 1/4 of the Earth

Seal 5 is about the early Christians martyrs of the First Century ....who must rest before that God advenge their blood in the future .... the number of their brethrens who must be slain as they were have never ceased to grown since 2,000 years and continue to grow to this day ...

Seal 6 is yet to come....

Revelation 6

I think this is a possibility. Though I couldn't say for sure, as I say, my opinion on Revelation is in process.

 

[iamlamad]

Then that mean that you have lot of work to do to correct your actual beheavior of preaching false doctrine.

That is your OPINION. I don't share it. it is my opinion backed up by the word of God that YOUR theories are what should be ignored.

 

[Postvieww]

This last sentence is a part of a parable. So finding faith on earth when He comes is related to the parable. But the parable is in the context of His coming. Jesus said, HERE or pay close attention to what the UNJUST Judge said.

"Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."

This unjust judge is not God, for he said he does not fear God, and he is not man because he said he does not regard man: therefore this unjust judge is Satan himself. And Satan himself can be forced to back off if we are persistent in our attack against him. For example, there was a man who had a child whose feet were backward, that is his toes pointed to the rear instead of to the front. But he TALKED to those feet, day after day, day after day for about a years, and slowly day after day those feet on his boy turned until they were normal. This is an example of forcing the devil to retreat. I could give several other examples.

Jesus then was saying, if the devil can be forced to avenge He, God will avenge SPEEDILY! But "speedily" to God may not seem speedily to us: "though he bare long with them!" Notice it says those that "cry unto Him day and night." This is consistent and persistent prayer.

I think the point is, this parable is to teach us NEVER TO GIVE UP! We should trust in God and pray day after day, night after night until God moves on our behalf.

His final thought, when He comes, will we His children or His elect have given up on God as if He would never answer - or are will we STILL be in faith trusting in Him? Some people cry day and night for a week and give up on God, thinking He does not hear or does not care. He DOES care, but I have found that God does not pay much attention to lackadaisical prayers.

Your thoughts on this parable?

You gave very good insight on the parable. I look at it differently now, thanks. Don’t worry we will get back to disagreeing later.

 

[iamlamad]

Question #1 Will all things be restored before the tribulation?


Question #2 If not, how can Jesus return before then?


Acts3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

IT will be TIME to begin the restoration when Jesus comes pretrib FOR His saints. The restoration will take some time: it will not in instant. It will not be complete until after the final battle after the millennial reign of Christ.

 

[iamlamad]

Well, the people are killed because they refuse to take the mark of the beast. The first mention of martyrs is Seal 5. But that doesn't agree with your perspective on Revelation so you might not consider it.

Those that are martyred by refusing the mark do not arrive in heaven until chapter 15. This is not "perspective," it is truth. The 5th seal are martyrs of the church age.

Stop and think: if there are 70th week martyrs, they would KNOW they have only to wait to the end of the 70th week. Stephen, for example, had no idea how long it would be before judgment time.

 

[iamlamad]

We've got to be past the 5th seal. Wasn't Stephen a martyr in acts 7:59? Did he refuse the mark of the beast? No! He was killed because he held the testimony of Jesus. There's been Martyrs for almost 2000 years. Martrys for the testimony of Jesus...and no mark. The 5th seal doesn't mention a Mark, simply martyrdom.

Please, tell me where the 5th seal mentions the mark of the beast. Maybe I've missed something.

Revelation 1:19 we're dealing with past, present and future. Everyone looks Revelation as primarily future. We need to distinguish between the 3.

VERY good thinking: as Stephen was among those John saw under the altar - not to mention all his fellow disciples. If he had gotten a close look at them, chances are good he would have recognized some of them. The 5th seal is for CHURCH AGE martyrs. You were RIGHT ON there!

 

[Luke17:37]

Again, it is my position that the seals, trumpets and vials are all in sequence. That there are interludes of past, present and future in between. Revelation 7 doesn't prove anything to me because that's an interlude.

Maybe your not understanding. Though Stephen was one of the first martyrs, there is martyrdom for Christ, occurring daily. The 5th seal could've happened at anytime. Considering there were an abundance of martyrs even in the 1st century, and continue until this day.


No one disputes that people will have refused the mark of the beast, and be martyrs because of it. I'm saying, I don't see evidence of it, in or before the 5th seal...not including one of the interludes that jumps from past, present and future according to revelation 1:19. I believe the seals, trumpets and vials are likely the only thing in sequential order.

I understand perfectly well that you won't see evidence at the 5th seal because you have decided that the 1st through 5th seals already happened and you won't consider the relationship between chapter 6 and 7 (or 14 and 20). It doesn't sound like you and I will ever agree unless the mark of the beast is being enforced.

 

[Fusion77]

Lamad's answers in dark red.

So, I believe after the AC breaks the covenant he'll come in, maybe on the Day of Atonement and say "hear o Israel I am the Branch, your Messiah, spoken of by Zechariah and your the prophets. I forgive your sins (and the worlds sin)on this Day of Atonement. As Zechariah said, I have built your temple. Then he will Set up AOD demand everyone bring a sacrifice or celebrate him (worship) in the feast of tabernacles Zechariah 14:16-17. He'll claim the rain the Lord is Actually holding back is because of the people's failure to worship him. He won't fulfill it, he'll use it as deception, to deceive Israel, that he is that King (Christ), which of course, he is not.

 

[iamlamad]

Not all martyrs are martyrs because of the Great Tribulation. Did a false Christ peacefully conquer in the first century? No. Was there worldwide war? No. Was there severe famine? No. Were 1/4 of the earth's population killed in the first century, before Stephen's martyrdom? No.

Seal 5
Revelation 6:9-11
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Revelation 7:9, 13-14
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,...
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

If you read these passages in a straightforward way, the multitude in the white robes (chapter 7) were killed in the great tribulation. The context doesn't suggest that all the martyrs of all time - just the martyrs of the tribulation. These white robes martyrs first appear in the fifth seal.

The reason they are slain is given here:

Revelation 14:15-17
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

And this also mentions those who were beheaded because they didn't take the mark of the beast:

Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Not every passage has to mention every detail. Ch 6 associates martyrdom with white robes. Ch 7 associates white robes and people who came out of the tribulation. (I think it's clear given that John knew their identity that we should think of Ch 6.) Ch. 14 introduces the mark of the beast. Ch 20. describes the beheaded, who refused to take the mark of the beast.

This really is not true. The group in chapter 7 too large to number is the raptured church. They were not martyred and there is not one word about them to even hint they were. Next, in John's narrative he has not yet even started the 70th week, MUCH LESS arrived at the midpoint of the week: that is in chapter 11. So these did NOT come out of the days of GT that Jesus spoke of: they will not even begin for another 3.5 years. Therefore John must have had something else in mind by the two words GT. Indeed, he mentioned those two words in one of the letters to the churches, which could not possibly be in reference to the days of GT Jesus spoke of.

What John was really telling us is that at the time of the rapture, it will be great tribulation, as in people being murdered around the world just because they believe in Jesus Christ. All we need do is open our eyes: it is HERE NOW.

Again notice that just those two words, G T were NOT ENOUGH for Jesus to describe the days He was talking about, but went on to add that there never was and never will be days so terrible.

 

[Fusion77]

I understand perfectly well that you won't see evidence at the 5th seal because you have decided that the 1st through 5th seals already happened and you won't consider the relationship between chapter 6 and 7 (or 14 and 20). It doesn't sound like you and I will ever agree unless the mark of the beast is being enforced.

I think we'll find common ground sooner than that.

 

[iamlamad]

The dragon will make war with Jews throughout the world, as well as Christians. The supernatural (or whatever way the protection comes) will be for the Jews in "their" (her) place Revelation 12:14 where is "Her" (Israels) place? The land of Israel. However, we do know that there will be tribulation for the people of Judea. Where is Judea? Currently West Bank, Palestinian controlled. I Expect the covenant the settle the borders, and make a "2 state solution", wherein, Judea is actually Palestinian controlled. For those who choose to stay after the covenant tribulation awaits.


So... The woman, Israel is protected in Her place ( inside Her borders, but not including what will likely be recognized at Palestine, The land of Judea).

No, the "her place" will probably be in Jordan, and many think it will be the ancient city of Petra. It will be the same as or close to "Bozrah."

 

[Luke17:37]

Those that are martyred by refusing the mark do not arrive in heaven until chapter 15. This is not "perspective," it is truth. The 5th seal are martyrs of the church age.

Stop and think: if there are 70th week martyrs, they would KNOW they have only to wait to the end of the 70th week. Stephen, for example, had no idea how long it would be before judgment time.

The martyrs of chapter 6 are clothed in white robes and told to wait a little longer till the rest of the martyrs-to-be are slain. The multitude in white robes (chapter 7) "came out the great tribulation." Just because every detail is not mentioned in every passage does not mean that the Bible is talking about different things.

You think the 5th seal is from Stephen on to the great tribulation. You believe the first (antichrist takes over), second (war), third (famine), and fourth (1/4 killed) seals are past (or allegorical). I believe all the seals, trumpets and bowls are future (and for the most part, literal). Like I said to Fusion77, it doesn't look like you and I are going to agree unless the mark of the beast is being enforced.

 

[Luke17:37]

I think we'll find common ground sooner than that.

We'll see

 

[Luke17:37]

Those killed because they refused the mark during the tribulation are clearly mentioned in Revelation 15:2

Revelation 15(KJV)

15 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

No issue there.

I just disagree with Fusion77, who thinks that the seal 5 martyrs are the martyrs of all time--starting with Stephen. I don't think any of the seals have opened yet (no antichrist - seal 1, war - seal 2, famine - seal 3, death to 1/4 of the earth - seal 4), etc.

I believe the martyrs of chapter 6 who are clothed in white robes are the same as the white robed multitude who came out of the tribulation in chapter 7. I think this is the most straightforward reading of Revelation. In chapter 14, 15, and 20, it tells us why they were killed (refusing to take the mark of the beast).

 

[iamlamad]

The martyrs of chapter 6 are clothed in white robes and told to wait a little longer till the rest of the martyrs-to-be are slain. The multitude in white robes (chapter 7) "came out the great tribulation." Just because every detail is not mentioned in every passage does not mean that the Bible talking about different things.

You think the 5th seal is from Stephen on to the great tribulation. You believe the first (antichrist takes over), second (war), third (famine), and fourth (1/4 killed) seals are past (or allegorical). I believe all the seals, trumpets and bowls are future (and for the most part, literal). Like I said to Fusion77, it doesn't look like you and I are going to agree unless the mark of the beast is being enforced.

First I must thank you for answering. I was beginning to feel left out!

It seems anyone who gets to heaven in any way get white robes. That is no proof at all. I understand about "every detail" but one MUST understand John's entire book at least to some extent to understand why these cannot be the same.

One group cannot be numbered for its size. Yet God has numbered "10,000 times 10,000. One group tells us they are martyrs. If the other group was, John would have told us. Next, I don't think you understand John's chronology. he begins with the first seal as the church sent out to start spreading the gospel, goes quickly through the church age, then spends from chapter 8 to chapter 16 on the 70th week, stepping us through each step in perfect order. We know that the mark has to be after chapter 14, for God would NEVER warn about the mark after it was established. We only see those martyrs from the days of GT starting in chapter 15. It is because the days of GT concerning the mark DON'T BEGIN until after chapter 14.

Next, John does not tell us that 1/4 of the earth is killed. Read it more closely: he tells us that the Red, the Black and the Paul are LIMITED in their theater of operation to 1/4 of the earth. Study the word "them" in reference to whom power was given over 1/4 of the earth.

No, I don't think these are history, I KNOW they are history. You simply don't understand what God is doing in chapters 4 & 5. These two chapters are the context of the first seals. If you think they are future, that is only because you pull them out of their context. I can only suggest you study those two chapters until you can accurate answer the questions God asked me.

1.“At the time John saw this vision, Jesus had been back in heaven for years. There are a dozen verses showing that He went to be at the right hand of the Father. The first question then, Why did John not immediately see Jesus at the right hand of the Father in chapter 4?”

2.“John watched a search to find one worthy to break the seals, end in failure, and that is the very reason John wept much: no man was found worthy. However, if you read ahead, you find that Jesus was found worthy to break the seals.. Why then was Jesus not found in that first search?”

3.“If you notice in chapter 4, the Holy Spirit was still in the throne room. Jesus told the disciples that as soon as He ascended, He would send Him down. Why was the Holy Spirit still in the throne room in chapter 4?”

Remember, these all are VERY MUCH related to the timing of the first seals. They are the CONTEXT.

These are NOT allegorical: remember, we are 2000 years later! The first readers would have been in 95 AD. The Gentile church was in its infancy and the Jewish churches were almost gone. God knew they would not last much longer so the letters to them were about overcoming to the end. Jews were hated everywhere they went. Indeed, they still are. I too take must of this book for literal. However, I am not sure there is a white horse with a rider riding. These horses may be only to represent something else. I think their description tells us what. You cannot find ANYTHING - not even one word - to hint of anything evil in the first seal. John used with 17 other times in Revelation - each time to represent righteousness. You can be absolutely sure, God would not choose white here to represent evil.

Again, thanks for answering.

 

[Luke17:37]

This last sentence is a part of a parable. So finding faith on earth when He comes is related to the parable. But the parable is in the context of His coming. Jesus said, HERE or pay close attention to what the UNJUST Judge said.

"Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."

The unjust judge avenges the persistent widow.

This unjust judge is not God, for he said he does not fear God, and he is not man because he said he does not regard man: therefore this unjust judge is Satan himself. And Satan himself can be forced to back off if we are persistent in our attack against him. For example, there was a man who had a child whose feet were backward, that is his toes pointed to the rear instead of to the front. But he TALKED to those feet, day after day, day after day for about a years, and slowly day after day those feet on his boy turned until they were normal. This is an example of forcing the devil to retreat. I could give several other examples.

Jesus then was saying, if the devil can be forced to avenge He, God will avenge SPEEDILY! But "speedily" to God may not seem speedily to us: "though he bare long with them!" Notice it says those that "cry unto Him day and night." This is consistent and persistent prayer.

The unjust judge cannot be Satan. Satan is neither judge nor just.

Consider Luke 11:11-13:
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Similarly, the Lord will avenge His children in a greater way than the unjust judge avenged the widow. He acknowledges that "he bears long with them," who cry to Him day and night. Jesus is expressing that His justice won't come fast enough for some and He lamented, "when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Jesus' implication here is that many will reject their faith since God doesn't answer their prayers for avenging them in the timeline they expect. Jesus has His reason for "delaying" His vengeance - so that everyone will have an opportunity for salvation (2 Peter 3:9).

I think the point is, this parable is to teach us NEVER TO GIVE UP! We should trust in God and pray day after day, night after night until God moves on our behalf.

His final thought, when He comes, will we His children or His elect have given up on God as if He would never answer - or are will we STILL be in faith trusting in Him? Some people cry day and night for a week and give up on God, thinking He does not hear or does not care. He DOES care, but I have found that God does not pay much attention to lackadaisical prayers.

Absolutely.

 

[Luke17:37]

First I must thank you for answering. I was beginning to feel left out!

It seems anyone who gets to heaven in any way get white robes. That is no proof at all. I understand about "every detail" but one MUST understand John's entire book at least to some extent to understand why these cannot be the same.

One group cannot be numbered for its size. Yet God has numbered "10,000 times 10,000. One group tells us they are martyrs. If the other group was, John would have told us. Next, I don't think you understand John's chronology. he begins with the first seal as the church sent out to start spreading the gospel, goes quickly through the church age, then spends from chapter 8 to chapter 16 on the 70th week, stepping us through each step in perfect order. We know that the mark has to be after chapter 14, for God would NEVER warn about the mark after it was established. We only see those martyrs from the days of GT starting in chapter 15. It is because the days of GT concerning the mark DON'T BEGIN until after chapter 14.

Next, John does not tell us that 1/4 of the earth is killed. Read it more closely: he tells us that the Red, the Black and the Paul are LIMITED in their theater of operation to 1/4 of the earth. Study the word "them" in reference to whom power was given over 1/4 of the earth.

No, I don't think these are history, I KNOW they are history. You simply don't understand what God is doing in chapters 4 & 5. These two chapters are the context of the first seals. If you think they are future, that is only because you pull them out of their context. I can only suggest you study those two chapters until you can accurate answer the questions God asked me.

1.“At the time John saw this vision, Jesus had been back in heaven for years. There are a dozen verses showing that He went to be at the right hand of the Father. The first question then, Why did John not immediately see Jesus at the right hand of the Father in chapter 4?”

2.“John watched a search to find one worthy to break the seals, end in failure, and that is the very reason John wept much: no man was found worthy. However, if you read ahead, you find that Jesus was found worthy to break the seals.. Why then was Jesus not found in that first search?”

3.“If you notice in chapter 4, the Holy Spirit was still in the throne room. Jesus told the disciples that as soon as He ascended, He would send Him down. Why was the Holy Spirit still in the throne room in chapter 4?”

Remember, these all are VERY MUCH related to the timing of the first seals. They are the CONTEXT.

These are NOT allegorical: remember, we are 2000 years later! The first readers would have been in 95 AD. The Gentile church was in its infancy and the Jewish churches were almost gone. God knew they would not last much longer so the letters to them were about overcoming to the end. Jews were hated everywhere they went. Indeed, they still are. I too take must of this book for literal. However, I am not sure there is a white horse with a rider riding. These horses may be only to represent something else. I think their description tells us what. You cannot find ANYTHING - not even one word - to hint of anything evil in the first seal. John used with 17 other times in Revelation - each time to represent righteousness. You can be absolutely sure, God would not choose white here to represent evil.

Again, thanks for answering.

I think search for the person worthy to open the seals just showed how important it is for this scroll to be opened and how Jesus is uniquely qualified. It magnifies Jesus.

Revelation 6:1–2 (NKJV)
6 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

The first rider comes out on a white horse "conquering and to conquer". Jesus also rides on a white horse (Revelation 19). I do not see how this can be Jesus, but I think "white horse" compares him to Jesus in some way. That is why I think he's the Antichrist, or the beast from the sea (chapter 13). Seal 1 and 2 are distinct, so he must conquer "peaceably." Then in seal 2, there is war. For example, when a new president is elected, some people have hope. After he becomes president, he can abuse his power, grasp more, and oppress the people, making decisions which negatively impact many lives (e.g., Hitler).

Revelation 6:8 (NKJV)
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

The fourth seal could mean 1/4 of the population of the earth dies, or it could mean that on 1/4 of the earth (geographically), people are being killed. I tend to lean towards the former, but we'll see.

You and I agree on so little about end times, therefore, it's hard to talk.