Revelation: The White Horse

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

The White Horse

[It is recommended to read this study first]

Revelation 6:1–2 (ESV):

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

The first attack of the Kingdom of God against the spiritual kingdom of Satan is that of a white horse that was given a crown.
He went out and conquered, and was set to conquer even more.
The rider had a bow.
The creature speaking here is the first living creature. In the second seal, we will see it is the second creature, in the third the third, and in the fourth the fourth.
The first living creature surrounding the throne in Revelation 4 is the lion—a fitting image for this rider.
So, Satan’s kingdom ran into trouble. His territory was taken bit by bit, and he was losing people left and right.
God’s Kingdom expanded with spiritual weapons, and nothing could stop Him.
He did this, of course, through His people, through whom He also works.

Habakkuk gives us a description of this, where God goes to battle:

Habakkuk 3:8–15 (ESV):

Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?
Was your anger against the rivers,
or your indignation against the sea,
when you rode on your horses,
on your chariot of salvation?
You stripped the sheath from your bow,
calling for many arrows. Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw you and writhed;
the raging waters swept on;
the deep gave forth its voice;
it lifted its hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still in their place
at the light of your arrows as they sped,
at the flash of your glittering spear.
You marched through the earth in fury;
you threshed the nations in anger.
You went out for the salvation of your people,
for the salvation of your anointed.
You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,
laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah
You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,
who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,
rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.
You trampled the sea with your horses,
the surging of mighty waters.

So it was.
This horse was depicted as pure white. The white reminds us of purity, as Isaiah 1 also shows.
The reason why God’s kingdom expanded so greatly, and why God’s people conquered under His leadership, had much to do with their purity.
God blesses those who love Him and keep His commandments. Their work will be for God’s glory, and God will honor their work.
It is written:

Matthew 5:16 (ESV):

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

John 12:26 (ESV):

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

James 1:25–27 (ESV):

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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