Revelation Chapter 6

As was stated in our previous post there are two views held by the brethren as to the meaning of the four horsemen of the apocalypses specifically in regards to the first horse and rider. Here we present the two views and those who support them.

The First Seal

In support of the first view we note the following:

As explained by Brother Anton C. Frey in his, Notes on the Revelation of Jesus Christ:

“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

The “horse” would symbolize a doctrine; the fact that it was a “white horse” – pure doctrine! The “rider” seems to represent the early church; the “bow” indicates him to have been a warrior sent forth to conquer; the “crown,” the divinely accredited kingship of those who go forth in the fullness of consecration against the forces of evil!

As explained by Brother R.E. Streeter, The Revelation of Jesus Christ

“… the warrior upon the white horse is manifestly a representation of the true and faithful servants of Christ of the early Church, as in obedience to His command they went forth on their mission of proclaiming the pure Truth – the word, causing eventually the overthrow of Pagan idolatry, and bringing many of its adherents to yield willing and glad submission to Christ, their King. It evidently has reference to the rapid spread of Gospel Truth in the first and second centuries during the ‘Ephesus’ and the beginning of the ‘Smyrna’ period. The horse being ‘white’ symbolizes purity – pure doctrines, and victory.”

As explained by Brother C.A. Sundbom in his discourse, The TRUMPETS and SEALS of the REVELATION

“The first horse was white and represented the purity of the original truth delivered from God to the Apostles by Jesus. Most religious writers have claimed that this pictured Jesus conquering the world, the beginning of the Kingdom of God on the earth. This cannot be true because after two thousand years the world is still far from conquered. In what way then did it conquer?

It did however accomplish what God designed should be accomplished in the Gospel Age, namely the selection of a Little Flock of joint-heirs with Jesus.

The rider of a horse directs it and is brought by it to his destination. The rider of the white horse seems to picture Jesus and his body members, the Church. They espouse the truths of God. They are given a bow, most likely for the purpose of propelling arrows of truth. “Thine arrows are sharp in the hearts of the king’s enemies” (Psa. 45:5). While this Scripture probably refers to the work of the Millennial Age, it shows that this use of the word arrow is correct. The work of the Gospel Age is an individual work, to those whom the Lord draws and calls (John 6:44; Acts 2:39). The arrows of truth reach the hearts of these and they consecrate. Thus the Rider conquers them as predicted. This conquering goes on during the entire Gospel Age, even though some of the truths are lost sight of during the Dark Ages.”

Brother David Doran (New Albany Notes on Revelation) appears to support this first view likewise, which of course we will go into more detail shortly.

In support of the second view we have the following:

Brother Shallieu has this to say on the issue in The Keys of Revelation:

“The breaking of the seals and the ensuing events relate to the Lord’s permission (but not His sanction) of evil in the Church. In a spiritual sense a “horse” represents a doctrine or a teaching. Since the color white usually denotes purity, truth, or righteousness, the first impression rendered is that in some manner the white horse indicates a satisfactory state of affairs—whatever the interpretation given. Yet there are extenuating circumstances connected with the vision which teach otherwise. It is to be observed that the next three horses (Verses 3 to 8) are of obvious evil import. Does this not suggest the possibility that all four, including the first horse, are of a foreboding and threatening nature?”

 Brother Eugene Burns in Revelation Interpreted interprets Rev 6:2 as follows:

“And I [the John Class] saw, and behold a white horse [pure doctrine of Ephesus period–the first or principle, covering from A.D. 33-70, pictured as white in pureness of the early church]: and he that sat on him had a bow [the ambitious class that had pure teachings had evil devices to forward their conquests]; and a crown [authority] was given unto him [the apostate element]: and he [the apostate element in the church] went forth conquering, and to conquer [using many of the pure doctrines while at the same time bringing in many errors].”

We have one more in support of the second view which we will present subsequently, but first let us in our next post examine the first view as interpreted in the New Albany Notes on Revelation.