"A Lot of People Riding"

"A Lot of People Riding"

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." (Rev. 17:3)  John's vision depicts the punishment of the great prostitute, with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery.  She was an image of great wealth with a name written on her forehead, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."  Her adulteries are compared to wine, with which the inhabitants of earth were drunk.  She was also drunk, but not with wine and adulteries, but with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus Christ.  The vision's target is the deception of planet earth, and her evil against the people of Almighty God.  This vision was indicative of the Nations who will make war with the Lamb, Jesus Christ, but the Lamb will overcome them.  Nobody "rides" against the Lamb and succeeds!

There were "riders" throughout the Bible, mounting horses and donkeys, and some heading to where they were going with good news and some not so good.  Some were "riders" in visions, some were reality, but for most of them, it wasn't the broncos that knocked them out of their saddles; it was God!

                                            

"And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way,

and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside

out of the way and went into the field: and Balaam smote

the ass to turn her into the way.  But the angel of the Lord

stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side,

and a wall on that side."

(Numbers 22:23-24)

Balaam was "riding" with an evil intent.  The angel of the Lord continued to block the way of Balaam and his donkey, and finally the donkey fell down under Balaam, and he smote her with his staff for the third time.  Balaam loved money, prostitution and worldly fame.  He spoke with the power of God at times, and other times spoke with demonic influence; he was a corrrupt prophet.  He was on his way to pronounce curses upon Israel for money or honors.  He ends up blessing Israel three times.  But, the Lord stopped his original intentions with an angel, and Balaam was told to speak only what the Lord wanted him to speak.  This was another "rider" bucked out of the saddle by God. 

"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:

and suddenly there shined round about him a light 

from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice 

saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

(Acts 9:3-4)

Paul, at this time was Saul, and he was "riding" to Damascus to bring more evil against the disciples of the Lord.  He was known for his threatenings and slaughter of God's people.  But, this time, God blinded him with a bright light and knocked him off his horse.  Paul was converted, but it took a throw to the ground, profound illumination and the voice of God.  One more "rider" bites the dust! 

If you're gonna' ride, you best be ridin' with the Lord, rather than against Him; otherwise, be prepared to hit the ground!  Nobody's ever battled with the God of the universe and won.  It's like the song says, "Your arms are too short to box with God." 

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

"And I saw, and behold a white horse  ..."  "And 

there went out another horse that was red ..."  And I 

beheld, and lo a black horse  ..."  "And I looked, and 

behold a pale horse  ..."

(Revelation 6:2-8)



When the "Lord" sends "riders," it's time to fall on your face.  The four horses represent conquest, war, famine and death.  This is the opening of the seals in the Book of Revelation; the beginning of judgment in the earth.  We already see a lot of this, but not like it will be then!  It will be a time such as the earth has never seen.  What should we do?  Escape!  The way of escape is to be ready when the Rapture of the Church occurs. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)  The Lord Jesus Christ will "remove" the saved from the earth before the great and terrible tribulation period begins.  This is the "hope" for the Christian. 

The Lord Jesus Christ knows how to knock us off our horse; it's all about getting our attention.  The signs of the times "should be" getting our attention.  The Angel is tuning up his trumpet  ...  can't you hear the sound?  Don't you feel the ground vibrating with the pawing of Apocalypse hooves?  There's an impatient whinny that can be heard echoing through the galaxies, and the horses for the Saints are anxiously pacing heaven's corral. 

Be sure you're following the right horse, because we've entered the dispensation when there are "A Lot of People Riding." 

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)