In recent years, a popular claim has surfaced among some Christians and commentators: Donald Trump is the rider of the white horse mentioned in Revelation 6:2, often identified as the Antichrist. But is this claim biblically sound? A careful study of Scripture and prophecy reveals that this is not the case.
James Kaddis, a Bible teacher focused on prophetic understanding, addresses this claim directly: “We have to be very careful about bringing these leaders into this unfounded levels of speculation when we can actually be driving conclusions that are not biblically based.” He urges believers to anchor every claim “in the authority of scripture,” quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:21, which says, “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.”
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Understanding the Timeline in Revelation
The key to this question lies in properly understanding the timeline presented in the book of Revelation. Kaddis points out that Revelation 1:19 clearly divides the prophetic timeline into three parts:
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.
He explains: “The first category, the things which thou hast seen, would be all of Revelation chapter 1. The things which are refer to Revelation chapters 2 and 3, which correspond to the church age — the era we are living in right now. And then the things which shall be hereafter start in Revelation chapter 4 and continue to the end.”
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Importantly, the events starting in chapter 4 happen after the church is raptured: “The moment John is taking all of this, we’re in Revelation chapter 1. The timeline that Revelation 2 and 3 speaks about is the era we are in right now… And then when we get into the things which shall be hereafter, that actually starts in Revelation 4.”
The rider on the white horse appears in Revelation 6:2, which is after the rapture and the heavenly scene. “The first seal which speaks of the rider of the white horse cannot appear until after the heavenly scene,” Kaddis explains, “and the heavenly scene hasn’t happened yet.”
The Church as the Restrainer
The Bible teaches that the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the church is removed. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 states:
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed…
Kaddis emphasizes:
The Holy Spirit’s restraining work through the church is the very thing that keeps lawlessness from going crazy… When Christians are taken off this earth, lawlessness will abound in ways this world has never seen.
Geographical and Prophetic Details
Scripture indicates that the Antichrist emerges from a revived Roman Empire, a Mediterranean-centered confederation of ten kings. “Donald Trump is a Gentile. Check. But he doesn’t come from Rome,” Kaddis says. “No such ten-nation block presently rules, and Trump has only led one nation.”
Additionally, the Antichrist will confirm a seven-year covenant related to temple worship. But “the Abrahamic Accords don’t speak of that… We don’t have a rebuilt Jewish temple with sacrifices right now, which are necessary for the covenant’s midpoint desecration,” he notes.
The Antichrist will publicly claim deity inside this temple, demanding worship (2 Thess. 2:4), but Trump has “made no such claim nor stepped into any temple as God.”
Why Trump Does Not Fit the Rider of the White Horse
Trump’s political career and persona do not fit the biblical profile of the Antichrist. He has not claimed divine status, does not rule a global confederation and is active during the church age — before the rapture must occur.
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Kaddis summarizes, “Any leader already on the world stage prior to the rapture, Donald Trump included, likely isn’t going to be the Antichrist.” He calls believers to exercise discernment:
Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good… We want to cling to those things and we want to take our focus away from all of those things that aren’t real and aren’t true.
In short, the rider of the white horse in Revelation is a future figure who will only be revealed after the church has been raptured, ushering in the tribulation period—a time yet to come.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
This article merely refers to the “beast” in Revelation and not to the full counsel of Christ in the New Testament. As you know, the term “antichrist “ is not in the Bible. It’s a theological term. There are two other terms in the New Testament that can refer to what has been called the Antichrist. One is “false messiah.” Jesus used that term for those evil charlatans who try to lead others away from Christ Jesus and receive their worship. Matthew 24: 10-28 refers to those false messiahs or antichrists, and they do not appear after Christians are gone or else many of them would not be deceived to follow such ones. The Book of Revelation refers to the “beast.” Many consider him the so-called antichrist, but Jesus pointed out that there would be many false christs.
In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul describes a bridge character He’s certainly a false messiah, but he may be the quintessential false messiah. Paul calls him the man of lawlessness. It is my very considered and sincere conviction that Donald Trump is certainly a false messiah and fits the description of the lawless one. Most American Christians are deceived and have embraced him, but he is a false messiah, the lawless one and may be Antichrist. That remains to be seen. Beware!
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