The First Seal (Rev. 6:1–2)
Intro to the Seven Seals
The
vision of the scroll, introduced in chapters 4 and 5, begins here. Christ
received the scroll sealed with seven seals from God (Rev. 5:1–7). The first
four seals reveal four horses and their riders. These are commonly called “The
Horses of the Apocalypse” (Rev. 6:1–8).
Many
commentators assume the Horses of the Apocalypse represent the work of the
Antichrist, who will soon unleash a series of end-time devastations. Thus, some
commentators have exchanged the passage’s Christ-centered view for a demonic
one over the last century! On the other
hand, many Christians believe the white horse (the first rider) symbolizes the
Lord Jesus Christ.
It would
make no sense that opening the scroll would bring destruction and calamity to
God’s people. The bitter weeping of John as he was looking for someone worthy
to open the sealed scroll would also make no sense if disaster followed the
opening of the scroll (Rev. 5:4). Likewise, the praises in heaven would also
make no sense if unlocking the news would bring horror and destruction (Rev.
5:8–14).
The
message of the Bible is that “He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), not famine
and earthquakes. Therefore, the Book of Revelation has the good news of God, like
the other books of the Bible.
Since we
live in the end times, we must know what God reveals to us. Therefore, our view
of the four horses will determine how we will view the other visions of the
Book of Revelation.
As we go
deeper in our journey of discovering the “Revelation of God through Christ,”
the vision of opening the seals and releasing the four horses with their riders,
in (Rev. 6:1–8), along with the other visions, unveil the excellent news of God
for His people.
The Four Horses
Scriptures
often mentioned Horses. Some kings used swift horses rather than camels to
carry messages (Esther 8:10, 14). Hebrews thought of horses in terms of power
during a time of war. Pharaoh’s horses and chariots pursued Moses the
Israelites out of Egypt (Ex. 14:9). Israel’s Canaanite enemies met the Hebrews
with many horses and chariots, which were very powerful and equipped (Josh.
11:4–9).
The
vision of the four horses of the Apocalypse derives its roots from (Zech. 6).
He saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. The first
chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses, the third by
white horses, and the fourth by powerful dappled-gray horses.
Zechariah
asked the angel who was talking to him, “And what are these, my lord?” The
angel replied, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing
in the presence of the Lord of the whole world” (Zech. 6:1–5, NIV). “They are
going out to do his work,” the work of God (6:5, NLT).
Zechariah’s
vision symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s power, which appeared like swift, powerful
horses coming out of the presence of God prepared for a battle. This battle is
not against flesh and blood but the kingdom of Satan and His evil powers (Eph.
6:12).
According
to God’s will, these horses of the vision appeared to have the lead. Thus, the Spirit
of God filled the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh, empowered Him, and led Him to
do God’s will. Thus, the Holy Spirit played a significant role in the coming of
Christ and His ministry:
1.
The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was by the Holy
Spirit (Luke 1:35–36; Matt. 1:18).
2.
The Holy Spirit anointed the Lord Jesus Christ during
His baptism (Matt. 3:16–17; John 1:32–34)
3.
The Holy Spirit led Christ into the wilderness to be
tested by the devil, and He returns in the power of the Spirit (Matt. 4:1–2).
4.
The Lord Jesus Christ begins His ministry by the Holy
Spirit’s power (Luke 4:14–22). The prophets declared that the Holy Spirit would
abide and lead Him (Isa. 11:1–2, 59:21, 61:14).
5.
The Lord Jesus Christ cast out devils and did good
deeds by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20; Acts 10:37–38).
6.
the Lord Jesus Christ instructed His disciples by the
Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2).
7.
The Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself a sinless
sacrifice by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:13–14).
8.
the Lord Jesus Christ went to Hades (1 Pet. 3:19) and
rose from the dead by the Holy Spirit’s power (Rom. 8:11).
9.
the Lord Jesus Christ breathed the Holy Spirit into
His disciples (John 20:22–23)
10. the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes in the Holy
Spirit (Luke 3:16)
The Seven Seals
When the
Lamb of God broke each of the scroll’s seven seals (Rev. 5:1), God reveals a
specific aspect of His plan of redemption and the coming of His kingdom. Going
further to study the future visions, we must be aware that they do not depict events
chronologically. The seventh seal contains the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:1–11:19),
and the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15) includes the seven vials (Rev. 16:1–21).
Therefore, in our minds, we must not separate the seven seals, the seven
trumpets, the seven bowls, and the scenes in between from each other.
As we go
further, we experience more depth in the word of God. I found out that studying
Revelation is like peeling an onion. When you finish peeling a layer, you find
another one, and so on until you reach the core of the onion. So likewise, God
reveals to us His word “precept upon
precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
there a little” (Isa. 28:10, ESV). David said, I have seen a limit to all
perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad” (Ps.119:96, ESV).
Through
the visions of the seven seals and the following images, God reveals the entire
divine plan of redemption, foretold in the law and the prophets, leading us to
New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, the dwelling of God and His Son among
the redeemed (Rev. 21:3).
The First Seal (Rev. 6:1–2)
6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I
heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come
and see.”
As the
Lamb opened each of the first four seals, one of the four living beings cried
out, “Come and see.” John drew near and paid attention to what God would
reveal.
A Horse Went
Out
6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it
had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The
beginning of the Gospel of John is about the incarnation of the “Word, ο λόγος;
Logos.” John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God,”
and “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John
1:1,14). So likewise, the beginning of the four horses’ visions is about the
manifestation of the incarnation of the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
The Greek
word “ἐξῆλθεν exeélthen” translated “went out” is the same
term used in John 16:28. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I came out from the Father, and am come into the world:
again, I leave the world and go unto the Father” John 16:28, ASV). He also said, “I proceeded forth
[exeélthen] and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me”
(John 8:42, KJV).
With the
opening of the first seal, God manifested Christ riding on a white horse. The
white color represents holiness and purity. Daniel also saw the
garment of God white as snow and His head and hair like pure wool (Dan. 7:9). The Lord Jesus Christ
is also the Holy One of God (Luke 1:35), and He appeared as riding on a white
horse (Rev. 6:2; 19:11). Thus, in the vision of the first seal, God manifested
His work by His Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of holiness” (Rom. 1:4), in the birth and life of
the Holy Son of God (Luke 1:35). Thus, St. Mary gave birth to Jesus by the Holy
Spirit (Matt. 1:18).
Christ’ Sinless Life
The Lord
Jesus Christ lived a sinless and perfect life in His flesh by the Spirit of
holiness. The Scriptures testified for His righteousness. Isaiah said of Him, “He
had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (Isa. 53:9). Peter
said, “He was guilty of no sin; neither
was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips” (1 Pet. 2:22, AMP). Satan, who was the ruler of this world,
had nothing in Him.
Therefore, through Christ’s
death, He destroyed the power of Satan him who holds the power of death, that
is, the devil (Heb. 2:14).
The Lord
Jesus Christ came down from heaven, not to do His own will, but the will of the
Father who sent Him (John 6:38; Heb. 10:5–7), and His food
was to do the will of
His Father to finish His work (John 4:34). So He obeyed His Father to
the point of death (Phil.
2:8), and God made many righteous for the sake of His obedience (Rom. 5:19).
Christ
became the Lamb of God, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:19). He carried the sins of the world (John 1:29) and the
fitting High priest for us, “who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Heb. 7:26).
The Description of the Rider
Had a Bow
The Lord
Jesus Christ, the rider of the white horse, had a bow but no arrow. The rainbow
is a sign of the convent God made with the living creatures in Gen. 9:13. The
Lord Jesus Christ came with the new covenant of God. So, He is “the messenger
of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1) and “the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb.
12:24), for He offered His blood. After the last supper, He took a cup and said
to His disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for
you” (Luke 22:20).
A Crown Was Given to Him
The horse
rider has a crown on his head (Rev. 6:2), a picture of Christ’s victory.
Because Christ is victorious and has defeated all evil forces, God crowned Him
with a crown of gold (Rev. 14:14; 19:12).
He Went Out Conquering
In Revelation, the verb “to conquer,” with two exceptions (Rev. 11:7; 13:7), always points to either the Lord Jesus Christ or His followers. First, he overcame the world by the power of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Second, Satan could not take hold of Him, for he had nothing in Him (John 14:30).
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