Revelation 19:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"The armies of heaven followed after Him." These are the heavenly powers, distinguished by the brightness of virtues and the height of understanding, and deemed worthy of firm and close union with Christ.

The armies of heaven are the Bride herself, of whom it was said above that she was prepared for the marriage of the Lamb. By the white horses John either means purity of faith, or he has in mind the members of bodies renewed in the resurrection. The white and pure fine linen is, as he said above, the righteous deeds of the saints.

Christ is the supreme commander of the heavenly powers, and the Lord Himself so named Himself when He was called Joshua. It is said: "I, the commander of the army of the Lord, have now come" (cf. Josh 5:14). The horses of the holy angels are white, since the angels too delight in the pure works of men. They themselves are pure by nature and have no admixture of any defilement. The garment of white and pure fine linen shows this.

In the heavens all the churches, "beholding the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, as in a mirror" (2 Cor 3:18), follow Christ. They are pure in heart and made whiter than snow by grace. They always go forth on white horses, that is, with pure bodies and minds, following in the footsteps of Christ who goes before. Of Him it is said in the Song of Songs: "We will run after you because of the fragrance of your ointments" (Song 1:2-3).

That is, the Church imitated Him with white bodies, since, having been tested in battle, she rightly came to be called an army.

By the armies of heaven are meant the angels of God, who accompany Him and serve Him. They shine with the subtlety of their nature, the height of their thoughts, and the brightness of virtues. According to some interpreters, one may also understand here by the armies of heaven the martyrs of Christ. They stood before the throne of God in white robes, with palm branches in their hands (cf. Rev 7:9, 14). They accompany their heavenly Leader in victory over the ungodliness of sin, against which they fought during their life.