Who is the White Horse Rider?

And I saw and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:2

The identity of the white horse rider can be argued as to who is the actual person. Is he past, present, or future?

But to identify him (a person) as the church, is inexcusable. Yet, I just heard a man make this claim. Not just any man, but a worldly wise, intelligent Christian. This person despises dispensationalism, which among other things, is a method of sorting the events of the Bible chronologically.

Calling the church "him" is without precedence, first of all. And to say that a crown has been given to the church, and that the church went forth "conquering and to conquer" is contrary to scripture as well. This mangles the Bible's message and reveals a strange view of the church's nature and role in the world.

One of the simplest ways to understand Bible prophecy is to reveal when things take place. In this case, the white horse and its rider appear after the church age, when the church is no longer mentioned in Revelation.

The church-militant, or militarily dominant church, is never in view anywhere in the Bible. This is a middle ages view--a Roman Catholic view. This was a time when popes mounted horses and led the Crusades, or were commanders of them.

The white horse rider is Antichrist. His ascent to power will begin a period when the events of the Great Tribulation take place.

The church on earth never has, or will, receive a crown. Rather, we are to submit to those with power, as did Jesus and Paul. Our crowns are given to us in heaven.

A "churchianity" view allows no room for proper interpretation of Revelation. After chapter 3, the church is in heaven as the Bride. Others are in view from then on. It is Antichrist Time, and the time for the remnant of Israel to be tested.

The man I mentioned has accepted his church's theology in place of honoring the Bible. Those listening to him, instead of studying themselves, will repeat his errors.

When you take your car to a skilled mechanic for work, do you also follow the mechanic's theology? Thomas Sowell has analyzed the problem. Experts in one area often think they are experts on other things as well.