Revelation 19:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The opened heaven signifies the coming of Christ, which follows from heaven. It is like earthly kings, before whom the lifting of curtains precedes the sentence and condemnation of the guilty. The white horse indicates the brightness of the saints. Seated upon them, He will judge the nations, sending forth a fiery flame from His fiery-flaming eyes. That is, by His all-seeing power He illumines the righteous without burning them, and consumes sinners. The many crowns indicate either His authority over all things earthly and heavenly, however many ranks of angels there are in heaven and assemblies and thrones of saints on earth.

As flame penetrates every body it embraces and leaves untouched no part that it has not scorched with its heat, so the eyes of God cannot be turned away. They are everywhere and in all things. Foreseeing all human deeds, they examine them with holy persistence. There are many diadems because He brings all the glory of the saints and all the honor of the blessed to God Himself, who gathers all things. None of the saints and blessed ones is silent, but each offers praises and blessings.

In the sixth chapter of Exodus, God says to the divine Moses: "I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the name 'God Almighty,' but by My name 'Lord' I was not known to them" (Ex 6:2-3). He shows that this name is greater than human hearing can contain. Therefore, when the Lord instructed the apostles how to perform Baptism for those converted to the knowledge of God, He said: "baptizing them in the name." Having said "name," He did not communicate the names in their true sound. It was not possible for Him to make their sound accessible. Instead of the true names, He communicated names indicating relations and persons. He used the former when He said: "in the name of the Father and of the Son." He added the personal name when He said: "and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). For this reason, most fittingly, in the book of Revelation He does not allow the true name of the Only-begotten to be known to all.

Perfect knowledge of the Word of God is revealed to those who are worthy to be the body of Christ and His members. For the Head first gives knowledge of Himself to the body, and He knows that the Church is worthy to know Him. The Apostle says: "He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with the Lord," for "the two shall be one flesh" (1 Cor 6:16-17). Neither Jews, nor foreigners, nor heretics will ever know this name. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8), and because "the world has not known Thee" (Jn 17:25). Again the Lord said to the disciples: "You will see Me, because I live, and you will live. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you" (Jn 14:19-20).

Sometimes the commandments are spoken of as the eyes of God, and sometimes the Spirit is. The psalmist cries: "Your word, O Lord, is a lamp to my feet" (Ps 118:105). And concerning the Spirit: "I came to cast fire upon the earth" (Lk 12:49).

John sees the Lord in a martial form, as the conqueror of the devil and the King of kings. For the horse is a symbol of war, while the white horse signifies victorious war. He judges the world righteously concerning sin, wars against it, and conquers it as God. The Word of God became the flesh of the Son of Man, and by His blood all who believed in Him and repented were washed from sin. His garments are stained with the blood of those who did not believe.