Sermon on Mount: Matthew 6:7-13

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:7-13

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days of [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16

[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Ephesians 1:17-19

For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:14-21

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aide and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought,, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groaning's to deep for utterance. Romans 8:26

Our Father Knows What He Is Doing

And they said to Him, Grant that we may sit, one at Your right hand and one at [Your] left hand, in Your glory (Your majesty and splendor). But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism [of affliction] with which I am baptized? And they replied to Him, We are able. And Jesus told them, The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized, But to sit at My right hand or at My left hand is not Mine to give; but [it will be given to those] for whom it is ordained and prepared. Mark 10:37-40

The Holy Spirit clearly tells us that our Father has already ordained and prepared someone to be seated at Jesus’ right hand and at His left hand in His Kingdom. The Spirit clearly reveals, through the scriptures, the glorious Truth that we are predestined to carry out our Father’s will. I don’t know why predestination is a problem for anyone to believe? Our Father predestined Jesus to carry out His will, Luke 2:31. Our Father also predestined Paul to carry out His will, Galatians 1:15. Every Christian I have ever met boldly confesses that our Father is in complete control. They confess that He is Omnipotent and Omniscient. They glory in Him being the Shepherd, the Potter, the Vine, and the Head. So why should they freak out that He knew what He was doing and had a plan and a purpose to carry out His will?

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 3:10

For me predestination takes away all of the fear of eternity. Our Father knew who I was and how I was, before I ever was, Psalm 139:16. Even with all of this knowledge, He still chose me and He still had a plan and a purpose for me. I greatly rejoice in the Truth that we have absolutely no ability to override our Father's will. God is our Shepherd, He is our Head, He is our Vine, our Potter, our Lord, and our Master. Jesus purchased us, we are now His possession, 1 Corinthians 6:20. That makes Him responsible to keep us and guide us. We do not lead our Father, He leads us. Our Father is not reactive to our abilities, He is proactive in causing us to be who He wants us to be. That just brings me so much peace. I have no fear whatsoever in the Truth that our Father knows what He is doing and that He has all of our best interests at heart.

Faith and hope in predestination takes away all of our pride and ego. If our Father gives us one talent or five talents, doesn’t matter. What matters is the Truth that our Father chooses what He wills and the benefit is glory for all of us. Just as the vine determines when and what fruit that the branch will bear, so does our Father determine the things that are to be in our life's.

Philippians 3:13-15

13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

You ever wonder why we are able to have this attitude of not worrying about messing up?

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Colossians 2:13

The reason that we are able to not take thought for falling short is that our Father doesn’t take thought for it. Because of Jesus our sins have been removed from us as far as the East is from the West. Jesus was extremely successful and now we are freely forgiven of all of our trespasses, all of them: past, present, and future, all of them! So if our Father isn’t remembering them, why should we?

14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

If a person is all concerned and overly focused on sin then we are told that they are immature. Mature Christians know that it is all Grace. We have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit to fully understand that it is not our works, it is Jesus’ works. Our Father has caused us to know that He will lead us and guide us into all Truth and that He has a time and a plan for each of us. There is peace with this Truth and it passes all human understanding. Now here is the cool thing, if you don’t believe this way and you do concern yourself with sin, then our Father will make the Truth clear to you as well. There is never any condemnation for us, Romans 8:1.

Galatians 6:6-8

6 Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].

7 Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

What is so great about these verses is that our Father will cause us to sow exactly what we need to reap. We are His body and His flesh, Ephesians 5:30-32, so our Father is using us to sow what He needs to reap! I have heard this verse preached my whole life. The sermons however usually placed all of the responsibility on us and not on Jesus where it belongs. The Truth is that Jesus will lead us into the paths of righteousness for His Name’s Sake, Psalm 23:3. The Truth is that our Father provides our seed to be sown, 2 Corinthians 9:10. We can do nothing without Jesus first empowering us to do it, John 15:5. The clay cannot form itself. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. The body cannot function without the head first directing it. Neither can we sow anything without our Father being the One Who provides it, directs it, and accomplishes it. 

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

If we had to sow things on our own we would fail. If we would somehow first do it, then we would boast about how we did, and if we didn’t, then we would condemn ourselves and others for failing. This is why our Father gave us His Holy Spirit and He will not allow us to see decay. 

And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Corinthians 1:8

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6

Galatians 1:10

10 Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).

If our Father is leading you as He was Paul to understand and have faith in the glorious Truth that it is His power and His will acting in our lives, then you will not be liked by men, especially so called religious men. You won’t be liked because Jesus is a Stumbling Stone and He is a Rock of Offense. He is these things to many people because man wants to earn our Father’s favor through their own efforts and powers. Many want to glory in their acceptance or denial of God. It takes all of the the fun away for these people when they hear that if we believe, we only believe because Jesus caused us to. 

And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do. 1 Peter 2:8

How awesome is that verse: people disobey because they were destined to disobey! Ask yourself, who set’s destiny? Our Father does, Psalm 139:16. So if the disobedient were destined to do so, they will also one day be destined to understand the Truth that will set them free.

Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth. 1 Timothy 2:4

These people may have never been destined to understand the Truth now, while they are on the earth, but they will one day. One day our Father will allow them to see the Truth and they will be set free by it. Some people may have to go through the fire of Hades first, and they may not be chosen to be the Bride of Christ, but they will be saved from the Lake of Fire.

But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

Our Father tells us that those who were disobedient will one day come to us and not only acknowledge that we were actually being used, or loved by God, but they will also learn from us. People don’t learn in the Lake of Fire, they are destroyed in the Lake of Fire. These disobedient people now will be our guests at the Wedding Feast and they will learn the Truth that will set them free. They will understand the Truth that it is all our Father and that it always has been Him. They will come to know that it is and has always been His free will and not ours. They will know that He controls and controlled everything all of the time. They will be set free by this Truth and they will eternally be our guests in eternity! 

Ephesians 5:1 Part 1

1 THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

We are told by the Holy Spirit here that we are to be imitators of God, now how cool is that command? While this may be a very cool command, in all reality this could be a pretty big challenge for us. I mean our Father has set the bar pretty high. Once again, the Truth comes to our rescue. The Truth for us is that our yoke is easy and our burden is light, Matthew 11:30. So while this is a huge command, Jesus told us that it has to be easy and light. 

Think about what we are told to be like here, actually think about how our Father is for a minute, and then think that we are told to imitate it. Then remember that it has to be easy. Think about how our Father came from nowhere, stood on nothing, spoke, and here it all is. Our Father took clay, molded it into the form of a man, breathed into the dirts nose, and Adam was born. Our Father birthed Himself from a virgin, allowed Himself to be killed by those who He created, and then raised Himself up from the dead, so that now we can be one with Him. When our Father was here as a man, He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed thousands from table scraps, told the weather to do what He wanted, and never required anyone to bow before Him and acknowledge Him as God. This is just some of what we know about our Father, now think of imitating it!

We also know that God has removed our sins from us as far as the East is from the West into the sea of His forgetfulness, Psalm 103:12. We know that He would that all men be saved, 1 Timothy 2:4. We know that He is in control of everything. We know that He knows the beginning and the end. We know that He cannot lie and that He is love, now imitate it. 

Honestly, how can we ever really imitate God and how could it be easy? Well, through Christ we will and it is easy. We will imitate God because we are now one with Him. Through Christ we have been perfectly united with our Father and now He can do all of this through us, John 17:19-22. Because our Father allowed Himself to be sacrificed for us, He can now use us just as He uses Himself, John 14:12. We are now one with Him, just as Jesus is one with Him. The two of us are now one flesh, Ephesians 5:30-32. So we should expect Christians to be walking as our Father walks. We should have His faith, His hope, His love, His confidence, His compassion, His forgiveness, His wisdom, and His knowledge. The Truth is that as He is, so are we in this world.

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

Ephesians 1:4-6

⁴ Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

⁵ For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

⁶ [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

An awful lot of people shy away from predestination and for the life of me I don’t know why? The same people will tell you that our Father knows the beginning and the end. They will also tell you that He is the Potter and that He is the Head. So why is there all of this shyness with predestination? Our Father controls everything, Colossians 1:16. He knows everything and He has a purpose and a plan for everything, so of course He had to predestine everything. But to help people along with this glorious and absolutely freeing Truth, here are some other scriptures.

 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10

Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose, Isaiah 46:10

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased. To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. Galatians 1:15-16

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. Romans 8:29-30

Revelation 17:7-8

7 But the angel said to me, Why do you wonder? I will explain to you the [secret symbolic meaning of the] mystery of the woman, as well as of the beast having the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 

8 The beast that you saw [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is going to come up out of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and proceed to go to perdition. And the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been recorded in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they look at the beast, because he [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is [yet] to come.

Before I begin with this verse, notice that our names were written or not written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world. Paul wrote that our Father called him before he was born, Galatians 1:15. King David wrote that all of his days were recorded before the world was, Psalm 139:16. Many are called, but only a few are chosen, and we were chosen to be the Bride of Christ before the world ever was! The Truth sets us free! Our Father knew exactly who He was going to have serve with Jesus for all of eternity.  

The Pope once was the most powerful man on Earth, from 538-1798, then our Father empowered Napoleon to end the Catholic churches reign in 1798. But here we are shown that during the last days, the Pope will come back into being the most powerful ruler on the earth. And it will astonish the world. Just think if right now, the Pope, became the leader of the world, and the President of the United States was second to him. The world would be greatly astonished! 

Notice something here that is very neat as well, Jesus tells us that the beast is loosed from the Abyss. Let me ask you a question, does the Word of our Father tell us that the anti-christ will actually be a man? We have seen that he has a number of a man, 666, but the Word does not tell us that he is a man. Now we see that he is loosed from the Abyss. The Bible teaches us that we can entertain angels unaware, Hebrews 13:2. I have always wondered why Jesus told John that the anti-christ would have the number of a man? Why would Jesus need to say this, was there a doubt that the anti-christ would be a man? It always just stuck out to me. 

Later we will study about the Lake of Fire and it will further bring this point up, that the Bible seems to show us that the anti-christ will be a spiritual being posing as a man. Don’t freak out about this, because it really doesn’t matter all of that much if the anti-christ is a man or a spiritual being. The Truth is that he will be allowed by our Father to attempt to destroy the earth, he will be a vessel of our Father’s wrath on the ungodly. The Truth is that he will exist and that he will come into power.

The lost will marvel at how this Pope, the anti-christ, seems to unite the world, even the muslim world. They will marvel at how religion seemed so passe and unrefined in the Western World, yet this Pope is the answer and has come into power. Think of how in America right now, that the President is placing in power and bringing in laws that are angering the Catholic Church. Then think of the Pope being the more powerful leader, the lost will marvel at it all. And as the lost have always done, they will follow after who they believe is the most powerful, bragging about how wise they are. 

Notice that we are also shown in verse 8 that the inhabitants of the earth, not the people of the earth marvel at the anti-christ. We were shown in Revelation 12:13 that satan and those angels that followed him were cast to the earth. Clearly these fallen angels names are not in the Book of Life and clearly they would marvel if satan once again seemed to have power on the earth after Jesus took it all away from him at the Cross. Satan was powerful, then Jesus came and he wasn’t, then he will be again.  

Revelation 14:11 Part 2

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no respite (no pause, no intermission, no rest, no peace) day or night--these who pay homage to the beast and to his image and whoever receives the stamp of his name upon him.

This is a great place to go and study the Truth about Hell. Many will use verse 11 to teach that people who are sent to Hell will suffer for all of eternity, because our Father had it written that “the smoke of their torment ascends forever.” This teaching is false and once our Father teaches you the Truth about Hell, it will remove a great deal of fear and dread that so many in religion try and place on us. 

Hell is very real. In Revelation it is called the Lake of Fire. Death and Hades will be thrown into it, Revelation 20:14. The angels that rebelled will be thrown into it, 2 Peter 2:4. The anti-christ and the false prophet will be thrown into it and those who take the mark of the beast will be thrown into it. The Bible is very clear about these. But here is the thing, just because the smoke rises forever, does that mean that the people who are thrown into it suffer forever? Here are some verses that address it.

Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. Revelation 21:1-4

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke] and as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away. Psalm 37:20

FOR BEHOLD, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1

And you shall tread down the lawless and wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 4:3

Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them. They cannot even deliver themselves from the power of the flame [much less deliver the nation]. There is no coal for warming or fire before which to sit! Isaiah 47:14

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (the place of the dead) shall come up no more. Job 7:9

Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so does Sheol (the place of the dead) those who have sinned. Job 24:19

Such people will pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of everlasting ruin (destruction and perdition) and eternal exclusion and banishment from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 2 Thessalonians 1:9

There is a Hell and our Father tells us that some people will be thrown into it. My hope is that it is only one person as Jesus alluded to in His parable of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Matthew 22:11 and John 17:12. The things and people that are thrown into the Lake of Fire cannot suffer forever because our Father does away with all suffering when He comes. Their punishment is eternal, these people can not come back into being, that is why the smoke of Hell is eternal. Those who are cast into the Lake of Fire are eternally cast out of the presence of the Lord, Who is omnipotent, so they have to just cease to be, or our Lord would not be omnipotent. So there is a Hell and the punishment is eternal, but the idea of the people who are thrown into it being eternally aware and tormented does not fit with the scriptures about Hell. Nor does it fit with what we have ever seen from our Lord, Who alone holds the Keys of Hell, Revelation 1:18, and Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Hebrews 13:8.  

Revelation 6:1-2

1 THEN I saw as the Lamb broke open one of the seven seals, and as if in a voice of thunder I heard one of the four living creatures call out, Come! 

2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.

In the Bible a horse is often used by our Father in prophesy to show power and great strength for battle. Job 39:19, Psalm 137:10. Jesus shows John here that this rider has been given great power by our Father; power to conquer. Jesus also shows John that he has been given a bow to do it with. A bow is a weapon that is used to wage war from a distance, and as we will study, all of the plagues, wars, and catastrophes in the Book of Revelation are first ordered and released from Heaven. Not until Jesus returns to the earth do we see that our Father has Him use a sword, the weapon of close range warfare, Revelation 19:5. 

A crown is used in prophesy to represent a ruler or kingship. Now I want you to take notice that this horseman is the only one of the four Apocalyptic Horsemen in the Book of Revelation that has been given a crown. We will study about three other Riders, but we are never told that the other three are given crowns. This Rider is given his power from our Father in Heaven to conquer and He has been given a crown. Our Father allows this ruler to successfully conquer nations from afar. His authority to rule is solely given by our Father and his power to conquer is solely given to him by our Father. He was given all of this power and ability to carry out our Father’s wrath on His disobedient children. Ask yourself this, does a loving father seek revenge and destruction or does he seek the correction of his children?  

I find it really powerful that the color of the horse that this Rider is given is white. White in prophesy represents purity. We don’t often think of conquerors as being pure, but this Rider’s horse, or his power to wage war, is pure. This shows us that our Father is in total control of the conquering and His judgments are righteous and they are true! Are you seeing anything developing here with the definition of this Rider? Who is now the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s, 1 Timothy 6:15? Who is now more than a conqueror, Romans 8:37? (This verse tells us that we are more than conquerors, but we are, only because Jesus is!) Who has now had all things placed under His feet, Ephesians 1:22? Who now holds the keys of death and Hades, Revelation 1:18? And Who rides on a white horse in Revelation 19:11? The answer to all of the questions is Jesus and only Jesus! 

Who better than Jesus to go and rage righteous and pure warfare on the disobedient? Who has our Father placed in charge of His judgments? Jesus is the One Who has been raised up to sit in complete power in Heavenly places. 

And in Your majesty ride on triumphantly for the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); and let Your right hand guide You to tremendous things. Your arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under You; Your darts pierce the hearts of the King's enemies. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with God and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.  Psalm 45:4-7

The First Horseman has a crown, because the first Horseman is Jesus! Jesus begins to pour out our Father’s wrath from Heaven, or in other word’s our Father’s correction. He has not returned to the earth when He begins to pour out our Father’s wrath. We know this because the seventh Trumpet, the final trumpet, has not yet sounded. 

The great peace for us in knowing this Truth, is that our Father is in total control of His wrath and He is pouring it out through our Lord and our Friend, Jesus, John 15:15. So why would we need raptured from the wrath of our Father, when the Rider of the White Horse, is our Lord and Savior, Who is also our Groom? Jesus’ Blood has been applied to our lives and just as it was with the Israelites in Egypt, the wrath of our Father will pass us by! We are now being shown the Great Tribulation, finally after 5 chapters and the first thing that we are shown about the end times is that Jesus is in control of everything happening! 

But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:19