Interesting theory, but I see a number of problems with it:
First of all, you refer to today being more violent than the past. I think it’s pretty simple to demonstrate this is not the case. While there are wars currently being fought - and with vastly superior technology - the day-to-day life of your average human is significantly LESS violent than at any point in our history.
In your piece you yourself point to “gladitorial sports” as being a harbinger of the Red Rider. Yet, by the very reference you point out that, in the past, gladiatorial combat was something that actually happened. Yes, Ultimate Fighting is violent, but it is several orders of magnitude LESS violent than watching slaves be actually murdered by professionals for entertainment.
Secondly you point out that children are exposed to violence on TV and in films. Well, it used to be that they were exposed to violence in their daily lives. Most children would lose at least one or two siblings to disease, starvation or violence while they were children. To say nothing of what they would have witnessed during an event such as plague or war. These are things that would have been common at the time the book of Revelations was set down, so if you’re going to use it as prophecy, it should be done relative to what would have been seen as just ordinary life at the time of its writing.
Also, it should be pointed out that we are not experiencing any kind of “crime wave”. Crime statistics are down almost universally in the western world, particularly violent crime. Nor, do I believe, are homosexuals, or homosexual acts written anywhere in the book of Revelation as a sign of any of the horsemen. It could easily be argued that it is sinful, but in Leviticus 11:10 we see exactly the same language used to describe eating shellfish as is used to describe a homosexual act “Abomination”, and the consumption of shellfish is VASTLY more prevalent and widespread than homosexuality, so that would probably be a better ‘sin’ to use to argue the point that sin is SO widespread that the Rapture is at hand.
I think that what has happened is that you are LOOKING for this prophecy to be fulfilled because you have, with good cause, a strong dislike for things like homosexuality, illegal immigration and non-constitutionally authorized wars. I would suggest that this is one of those times when the bible should be used as inspiration, not revelation. Find the passages that give you the strength to change that which you find repulsive instead of fearing that the Horseman War has been unleashed on Earth.
Vlad the Impaler once had approx 20,000 people impaled. Covering an entire valley so the enemy army would come across it before reaching his army.
Genghis Khan had a battle where bodies were strewn for 30 miles. He had entire cities slaughtered for failing to surrender fast enough.
IMO the end times are near but not yet started.
Thanks for your insights Behemoth. I agree with you that violence was as prevalent in the past,although with the phenomena of abortion (50 million in the USA since 1973) I know full well that there wasn’t violence on such a scale in the past, particularly such culturally suicidal violence.
My point is not to say that we are more violent than in the past, rather it is that in spite of our best efforts at creating a more advanced and humane (Humanistic) society, it seems to me that The Red Horse has been unleashed, “THere is no peace saith my God for the wicked!”If the Red Horse hasn’t been unleashed yet, I tremble for when he is, because we have certainly been inundated with an increase in violence already and it looks to be intensifying.
I am indeed looking for the fulfillment of prophecies and trying to interpret our situation in the light of them, I agree with that and appreciate your caveat, however, I believe that the relevance of these prophecies has been heightened by the prophesied rebirth of Israel, something which previous generations did not experience. That makes our own day unique as far as prophecy fulfillment goes. Thanks Behemoth I will think about your points- God bless
Thanks for your insights Behemoth. I agree with you that violence was as prevalent in the past,although with the phenomena of abortion (50 million in the USA since 1973) I know full well that there wasn’t violence on such a scale in the past, particularly such culturally suicidal violence.
My point is not to say that we are more violent than in the past, rather it is that in spite of our best efforts at creating a more advanced and humane (Humanistic) society, it seems to me that The Red Horse has been unleashed, “THere is no peace saith my God for the wicked!”If the Red Horse hasn’t been unleashed yet, I tremble for when he is, because we have certainly been inundated with an increase in violence already and it looks to be intensifying.
I am indeed looking for the fulfillment of prophecies and trying to interpret our situation in the light of them, I agree with that and appreciate your caveat, however, I believe that the relevance of these prophecies has been heightened by the prophesied rebirth of Israel, something which previous generations did not experience. That makes our own day unique as far as prophecy fulfillment goes. Thanks Behemoth I will think about your points- God bless