Chariots and Horsemen

Now let’s take a look at the chariots and horsemen.

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Daniel 11:40

From the text itself, we know we are speaking about “the time of the end.” So we know this has to be in more modern days. So will a king literally come with chariots and horsemen? No. Obviously, this is symbolic language.

So what do chariots and horsemen represent in Scripture? Take a look at this verse from Isaiah.

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
Isaiah 66:15

Here we see the actual Second Coming of Jesus described with chariots. Will Jesus come with chariots? Or is it symbolic?

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place.
Psalm 68:17 KJV

The chariots of God are His angels.

Other translations do not use the word angels, such as NKJV:

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.

But compare with:

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
Daniel 7:10

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
Revelation 5:11 KJV

Who are the “thousands of thousands” that are before God? Angels! The language is so clear that I think we can be sure that Psalm 68:17 is implying angels, even if all versions don’t say it outright.

The Bible elsewhere associates God’s heavenly chariots with angelic beings:

6 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6

The chariots of God, his angels, are the armies of Heaven—a military force.

And horsemen? Are these the angels too?

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2 Kings 2:11-12

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:14

Who are the horsemen that come riding from Heaven with Jesus?

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.
Matthew 25:31

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels…
Revelation 12:7

The armies of heaven are angels.

When the king of the north comes, he comes with angels just as Christ will come. The masquerade will be more perfect that we are prepared for.