Revelation 6:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the first seal was opened, John says that he saw a white horse and a rider with a crown, having a bow. This is what was done first. After this our Lord ascended into heaven, opened all things, and sent the Holy Spirit. His words, through the prophets, pierced the hearts of men like arrows and won victory over unbelief. The crown on the head was promised by the prophets through the Holy Spirit. Therefore the white horse is the word of prophecy with the Holy Spirit sent into the world. The Lord says: "This Gospel will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come" (Mt 24:14).

Some referred the opening of this seal, and of all the others, to the divine economy of the Incarnation of God the Word. They referred the first to the Nativity, the second to the Baptism, the third to the divine signs after the Baptism, the fourth to the condemnation before Pilate, the fifth to the Crucifixion, the sixth to the laying in the tomb, and the seventh to the destruction and captivity of Hades. We, however, fully agree with Methodius that there is no need to refer this to Christ's birth. The mystery of the Incarnation of God the Word took place long before this revelation. John speaks only of the present and the future. Here he narrates the victory over the fiery serpent. Therefore, by the opening of the first seal, we should understand the company of the Apostles.

The horse is the Church, and the rider is Christ. This horse of the Lord with a battle bow was previously promised by Zechariah in this way: "The Lord Sabaoth will visit His flock, the house of Israel, and will make them like His glorious horse in battle. From Him He will watch, and from Him He will order the battle. From Him will come the bow for wrath, and from Him all the persecutors that follow will go forth" (Zech 10:3-4). In the biblical text, it is the house of Judah. We consider the white horse to be the prophets and Apostles. We allow that the horse with a crown, having a bow, is not only Christ, but also the Holy Spirit. After the Lord ascended into heaven and opened all things, He sent the Holy Spirit. Through the preachers, the Spirit's words pierced human hearts like arrows and conquered unbelief. The crown on His head is the promises through the Holy Spirit. This is how it should be understood.

The white horse signifies the Gospel, since through it good works will be done for men. The crown, of course, signifies power and victory. It goes forth to bring the crown to Christ, as the author of victory over the devil who enslaved our race. It is said: he went out conquering, and to conquer. Christ was the conqueror, so that this horse might win complete victory. Therefore it brought Him the crown, the sign of victory.

By this horse, among the apostles and prophets of truth, one may understand the Church, made whiter than snow by grace. Her rider is Christ. Therefore it is said to her through the prophet: You rode upon Your horses, Your chariots of salvation (Hab 3:8). Therefore she is said to hold an arrow, in which we should see the preaching of the Word of God. For it can pierce a man’s soul and bring forth the fruit of faith. Therefore it is written: Your arrows are sharp and mighty; peoples shall fall under You (Ps 44:6). In these words is the victor’s crown for the preachers.

There is no doubt that the command to crown this bow with a golden crown was not given in vain. The Son of God appeared in the flesh for the redemption of the human race. He was, of course, awaiting the time and hour when He would overcome the death He assumed for us, together with the author of death, and ascend victoriously to the Father in heaven. The Apostle speaks of this crown: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death" (Heb 2:9). John says the same in the Apocalypse: "I looked, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to Him. He went out conquering, and to conquer." Of course, the white horse is the Church.

The color white signifies victory. Therefore the one sitting on the white horse depicts a conqueror: "He made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He hid Me. He made Me a polished arrow; in His quiver He kept Me" (Is 49:2). Elsewhere the prophet Isaiah says: "He made them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow" (Is 41:2). This rider uses His arrows for the conversion of the Gentiles. The history of the first centuries of Christianity tells how this Conqueror scattered arrows from His bow. It also shows by what the persecuted Christians conquered the Gentiles: "Its arrows are arrows of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man offered all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly despised" (Song 8:6-7).

"Behold, a white horse, and he who sat upon it had a bow." In this rider, it is customary to recognize Jesus Christ, as Bossuet, Calmet, and others do. He came victoriously with His flesh and by His Resurrection conquered the devil. Yet, by comparison with the other riders, who brought various calamities to the earth, it is better, with Rosenmuller in Scholia in Apoc., to see in the rider on the white horse the calamity of war. In the prophecy of Jesus Christ, war also appears everywhere in first place (Mt 24:6-10). This rider may be understood as the Roman army advancing against Judea. It should be noted that this rider on the white horse must not be confused with the similar rider who appears at the end of Revelation for judgment (Rev 19:11).

In accordance with this understanding, St. Andrew explains the opening of the seals of the book in this way. The opening of the first seal is the apostles’ mission into the world. They aimed the Gospel preaching against the demons like a bow, and brought to Christ those wounded by saving arrows.