"When the Lamb" opened the first seal, "one of the four living creatures" called out: "Come and see!" (Schl 2000). [1] In response, a rider, possibly the Antichrist, appeared holding "a bow." He came on a white "horse"—"conquering, and to conquer." This could represent what is known today as the "Cold War." The "bow" is a threat of war, but no arrow is mentioned. It might even refer to a missile war, as the bow is a long-range weapon. This rider does not initiate the war itself, as peace is only taken from the earth with the second seal.
Footnote
[1] NA and Majority Text omit "and see" (cf. e.g., Elb 2003).
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-07-01 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
The First Four Seals
Before we start with Revelation 6 I will give you a brief summary of the upcoming chapters. Then you will have a rough idea of what is going to happen.
1. In Revelation 6 the first six seals are broken. Those six seals describe the first six trials that will come over the earth after the rapture of the church.
2. Revelation 7 is a parenthesis between the sixth and the seventh seal, in which God shows that a great number of believers are preserved through the judgments until the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth. They enter the kingdom of peace as the living.
3. In Revelation 8:1-5 the seventh seal is opened. That causes a silence of half an hour in heaven, after which seven trumpets, blown by angels, give the sign for new judgments.
4. In Revelation 8:6-9:21 six trumpet judgments are described.
5. The section of Revelation 10:1-11:13 forms a new parenthesis.
6. Then in Revelation 11:14-18 the seventh trumpet is blown.
7. In Revelation 12-14 some events of the forgoing period are more precisely described.
8. In Revelation 15-16 you read about the seven angels with seven bowl judgments. These are the concluding and also most severe judgments.
9. The Revelation 17-18 are specially dedicated to the judgment over the great Babylon, the false church.
10. Then in Revelation 19 the wedding of the Lamb with the true church takes place.
11. Up till Revelation 21:8 it is described in chronological order what still more is to happen until eternity begins.
12. From Revelation 21:9 you have a description of the new Jerusalem in the kingdom of peace.
13. The book ends with information on the coming of Christ and His promise that He will come soon.
[Verse 1]. Here you see, with John, the Lord Jesus as the Lamb, opening the first seal. As it is said, it is one of the seals of the book in which God has written His counsels and judgments regarding the earth. You can call the judgments that come on the earth with the opening of each of the seals, the preliminary judgments. They are not yet the actual, ultimate judgments with the effect of the purification of the earth and the redemption of it, but they prepare the way to it. The seal judgments announce the beginning of the end, that is, that God will fulfill His will by preparing the earth for the reign of Christ.
The command “come” is not addressed to John and still less to Christ. It comes from one of the living creatures that are connected to the execution of judgment and is addressed to the horse as a symbol of the judgment. Here it is still about judgments in providence. That means that those are judgments which by unbelievers are ascribed to natural elements or to political or other circumstances, while in reality they are directed by God. They still do not recognize God’s hand in these plagues.
[Verse 2]. Here horses represent authorities that God in His providence uses for judgment (cf. [Zech 1:8-10]; [Rev 19:11-14]. The colors of the horses associated with the first four seals represent successively: white for victory, fiery red for blood, black for mourning and ashen as the corpse color of death (cf. [Zech 1:8]; [Zech 6:2-8]).
The white horse with its rider who goes out conquering is not a representation of the coming of Christ. Christ will come down from heaven only in Revelation 19. It has been suggested that this is a prince who works and maintains the cohesion of the Roman empire. I remind you that we have here the first events on earth that will take place right after the rapture of the church.
When the church has been caught up it will for a moment seem that all human efforts have been successful in order to achieve a sustainable peace. It is a short period of apparent peace and prosperity with a sense of security. God will allow it, while man in his arrogance will see it as his own success [1Thess 5:3]. About peace with God and about what He considers righteous, he does not think about that.
The “bow”, without an arrow, may probably indicate that there is no arms race at that very moment, but that the disarmament regarding the mass destruction which could be effected at a great distance, has been realized for a great deal. It is also possible that there is such an amount of long distance weapons that the threat is enough to win people over without direct bloodshed. That this process will probably be taking place peacefully can be derived from the white color.
“A crown was given” to the conqueror. That indicates that he conquers under the approval of God because it fits into His plans. It does not mean that God approves of all his acts and motives, but that He allows the performance.
[Verse 3-4]. When “the second seal” is opened by the Lamb, John hears the second living creature saying: “Come!” Because in [Verse 1] it is not said ‘the first living creature’, but “one of the four living creatures”, the order of speaking of the living creatures cannot be determined on the basis of Revelation 4 [Rev 4:7]. The horse that goes out has a red color. Shortly after the rider of the white horse had established a peaceful period, the rider of the red horse brutally makes an end to it.
After a period of peace during the first seal, a spirit of discontentment is now working which instigates war, possibly a civil war. Here you do not see a bow, like with the first seal, but “a great sword” for the fight of man against man. It is a ‘great sword’, which indicates that the slaughter is great. Here it becomes apparent that the disarmament is not complete. People remain deceitful. Peace wrought by men does not last. Only God can give lasting peace [Ps 147:14]. Peace is a result of the subjection of man to the government of God.
[Verse 5]. When the Lamb opens “the third seal” the “the third living creature” says: “Come!” John sees “a black horse” and ”he who sits on it”. He also sees that the rider has “a pair of scales in his hand”. We don’t need to guess what the black color represents. Black doesn’t evoke pleasant thoughts, but has to do with mourning and lamenting [Ps 38:7]; [Ps 42:10]; [Ps 43:2]; [Jer 8:21]; [Lam 4:8]; [Mal 3:14]. The pair of scales indicates an accurate measurement of what is available. The general prosperity is over and done with.
[Verse 6]. You can imagine that because of the war under the second seal, an economic chaos arises. The most necessary provisions will be enormously scarce and therefore expensive. This situation is emphatically associated with a judgment that comes from God. It says for a reason that something “like a voice in the center of the four living creatures” announces this scarcity.
Especially the common population will suffer under this crisis. “A quart of wheat” will cost “a denarius”, which is equal to a day’s pay [Matt 20:2]. Common man can only have one meal a day. The word ‘quart’ doesn’t evoke the thought that there is much choice. It is scarce, just enough to stay alive. All the money that has been earned will be used for that. There is no more money to spend on anything else.
“The oil and the wine” must be spared. These products are presented as affluent goods, for which we are warned not to put our heart on them [Prov 21:17]. If these things must be spared it may indicate that the rich people are still prospering. They can always maintain themselves for a longer period of time. But they will surely have to face the shortage. Maybe not in material sense, but surely in spiritual sense [Verse 15]. It is also possible when considering oil and wine to think of medicines [Luke 10:34]. Then we see in the sparing of oil and wine God’s compassion, which despite the severe trials which come over the earth, will not be completely taken away.
[Verse 7-8]. When the Lamb breaks “the fourth seal” John hears “the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.”” Now all four living creatures have spoken. The horse you see now is “ashen”. The rider of this horse has a name called “Death” and his follower is called “Hades”. Here you can find no trace of compassion. It is all darkness. That cannot be otherwise, for wherever God is denied as the source of life, death enters.
The territory where this judgment takes place is “a fourth of the earth”. That is a smaller part than ‘a third’, which embraces the Roman empire [Rev 12:4]. The judgment is therefore still of a relatively small size.
The famine under the previous seal will be followed by death which makes its victims in various ways. Hades follows death because hades is the place where the victims of death end up. Death deals with the living and hades with the dead. Together they make victims with “sword” (wars), “famine” (hunger), “pestilence” and “the wild beasts of the earth” [Jer 14:12]; [Jer 15:2]; [Ezek 5:12-17]; [Ezek 14:21];[Ezek 33:27]. Wild beasts probably represent unscrupulous people who terrorize their fellow men.
1. In Revelation 6 the first six seals are broken. Those six seals describe the first six trials that will come over the earth after the rapture of the church.
2. Revelation 7 is a parenthesis between the sixth and the seventh seal, in which God shows that a great number of believers are preserved through the judgments until the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth. They enter the kingdom of peace as the living.
3. In Revelation 8:1-5 the seventh seal is opened. That causes a silence of half an hour in heaven, after which seven trumpets, blown by angels, give the sign for new judgments.
4. In Revelation 8:6-9:21 six trumpet judgments are described.
5. The section of Revelation 10:1-11:13 forms a new parenthesis.
6. Then in Revelation 11:14-18 the seventh trumpet is blown.
7. In Revelation 12-14 some events of the forgoing period are more precisely described.
8. In Revelation 15-16 you read about the seven angels with seven bowl judgments. These are the concluding and also most severe judgments.
9. The Revelation 17-18 are specially dedicated to the judgment over the great Babylon, the false church.
10. Then in Revelation 19 the wedding of the Lamb with the true church takes place.
11. Up till Revelation 21:8 it is described in chronological order what still more is to happen until eternity begins.
12. From Revelation 21:9 you have a description of the new Jerusalem in the kingdom of peace.
13. The book ends with information on the coming of Christ and His promise that He will come soon.
[Verse 1]. Here you see, with John, the Lord Jesus as the Lamb, opening the first seal. As it is said, it is one of the seals of the book in which God has written His counsels and judgments regarding the earth. You can call the judgments that come on the earth with the opening of each of the seals, the preliminary judgments. They are not yet the actual, ultimate judgments with the effect of the purification of the earth and the redemption of it, but they prepare the way to it. The seal judgments announce the beginning of the end, that is, that God will fulfill His will by preparing the earth for the reign of Christ.
The command “come” is not addressed to John and still less to Christ. It comes from one of the living creatures that are connected to the execution of judgment and is addressed to the horse as a symbol of the judgment. Here it is still about judgments in providence. That means that those are judgments which by unbelievers are ascribed to natural elements or to political or other circumstances, while in reality they are directed by God. They still do not recognize God’s hand in these plagues.
[Verse 2]. Here horses represent authorities that God in His providence uses for judgment (cf. [Zech 1:8-10]; [Rev 19:11-14]. The colors of the horses associated with the first four seals represent successively: white for victory, fiery red for blood, black for mourning and ashen as the corpse color of death (cf. [Zech 1:8]; [Zech 6:2-8]).
The white horse with its rider who goes out conquering is not a representation of the coming of Christ. Christ will come down from heaven only in Revelation 19. It has been suggested that this is a prince who works and maintains the cohesion of the Roman empire. I remind you that we have here the first events on earth that will take place right after the rapture of the church.
When the church has been caught up it will for a moment seem that all human efforts have been successful in order to achieve a sustainable peace. It is a short period of apparent peace and prosperity with a sense of security. God will allow it, while man in his arrogance will see it as his own success [1Thess 5:3]. About peace with God and about what He considers righteous, he does not think about that.
The “bow”, without an arrow, may probably indicate that there is no arms race at that very moment, but that the disarmament regarding the mass destruction which could be effected at a great distance, has been realized for a great deal. It is also possible that there is such an amount of long distance weapons that the threat is enough to win people over without direct bloodshed. That this process will probably be taking place peacefully can be derived from the white color.
“A crown was given” to the conqueror. That indicates that he conquers under the approval of God because it fits into His plans. It does not mean that God approves of all his acts and motives, but that He allows the performance.
[Verse 3-4]. When “the second seal” is opened by the Lamb, John hears the second living creature saying: “Come!” Because in [Verse 1] it is not said ‘the first living creature’, but “one of the four living creatures”, the order of speaking of the living creatures cannot be determined on the basis of Revelation 4 [Rev 4:7]. The horse that goes out has a red color. Shortly after the rider of the white horse had established a peaceful period, the rider of the red horse brutally makes an end to it.
After a period of peace during the first seal, a spirit of discontentment is now working which instigates war, possibly a civil war. Here you do not see a bow, like with the first seal, but “a great sword” for the fight of man against man. It is a ‘great sword’, which indicates that the slaughter is great. Here it becomes apparent that the disarmament is not complete. People remain deceitful. Peace wrought by men does not last. Only God can give lasting peace [Ps 147:14]. Peace is a result of the subjection of man to the government of God.
[Verse 5]. When the Lamb opens “the third seal” the “the third living creature” says: “Come!” John sees “a black horse” and ”he who sits on it”. He also sees that the rider has “a pair of scales in his hand”. We don’t need to guess what the black color represents. Black doesn’t evoke pleasant thoughts, but has to do with mourning and lamenting [Ps 38:7]; [Ps 42:10]; [Ps 43:2]; [Jer 8:21]; [Lam 4:8]; [Mal 3:14]. The pair of scales indicates an accurate measurement of what is available. The general prosperity is over and done with.
[Verse 6]. You can imagine that because of the war under the second seal, an economic chaos arises. The most necessary provisions will be enormously scarce and therefore expensive. This situation is emphatically associated with a judgment that comes from God. It says for a reason that something “like a voice in the center of the four living creatures” announces this scarcity.
Especially the common population will suffer under this crisis. “A quart of wheat” will cost “a denarius”, which is equal to a day’s pay [Matt 20:2]. Common man can only have one meal a day. The word ‘quart’ doesn’t evoke the thought that there is much choice. It is scarce, just enough to stay alive. All the money that has been earned will be used for that. There is no more money to spend on anything else.
“The oil and the wine” must be spared. These products are presented as affluent goods, for which we are warned not to put our heart on them [Prov 21:17]. If these things must be spared it may indicate that the rich people are still prospering. They can always maintain themselves for a longer period of time. But they will surely have to face the shortage. Maybe not in material sense, but surely in spiritual sense [Verse 15]. It is also possible when considering oil and wine to think of medicines [Luke 10:34]. Then we see in the sparing of oil and wine God’s compassion, which despite the severe trials which come over the earth, will not be completely taken away.
[Verse 7-8]. When the Lamb breaks “the fourth seal” John hears “the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.”” Now all four living creatures have spoken. The horse you see now is “ashen”. The rider of this horse has a name called “Death” and his follower is called “Hades”. Here you can find no trace of compassion. It is all darkness. That cannot be otherwise, for wherever God is denied as the source of life, death enters.
The territory where this judgment takes place is “a fourth of the earth”. That is a smaller part than ‘a third’, which embraces the Roman empire [Rev 12:4]. The judgment is therefore still of a relatively small size.
The famine under the previous seal will be followed by death which makes its victims in various ways. Hades follows death because hades is the place where the victims of death end up. Death deals with the living and hades with the dead. Together they make victims with “sword” (wars), “famine” (hunger), “pestilence” and “the wild beasts of the earth” [Jer 14:12]; [Jer 15:2]; [Ezek 5:12-17]; [Ezek 14:21];[Ezek 33:27]. Wild beasts probably represent unscrupulous people who terrorize their fellow men.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-01-28 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what appeared. A rider on a white horse. By the going forth of this white horse, a time of peace, or the early progress of the Christian religion, seems to be intended; its going forth in purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent his apostles to teach all nations, adding, Lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. The Divine religion goes out crowned, having the Divine favor resting upon it, armed spiritually against its foes, and destined to be victorious in the end. On opening the second seal, a red horse appeared; this signifies desolating judgments. The sword of war and persecution is a dreadful judgment; it takes away peace from the earth, one of the greatest blessings; and men who should love one another, and help one another, are set upon killing one another. Such scenes also followed the pure age of early Christianity, when, neglectful of charity and the bond of peace, the Christian leaders, divided among themselves, appealed to the sword, and entangled themselves in guilt. On opening the third seal, a black horse appeared; a color denoting mourning and woe, darkness and ignorance. He that sat on it had a yoke in his hand. Attempts were made to put a yoke of superstitious observances on the disciples. As the stream of Christianity flowed further from its pure fountain, it became more and more corrupt. During the progress of this black horse, the necessaries of life should be at excessive prices, and the more costly things should not be hurt. According to prophetic language, these articles signified that food of religious knowledge, by which the souls of men are sustained unto everlasting life; such we are invited to buy, [Isa 55:1]. But when the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, denoted by the black horse, spread over the Christian world, the knowledge and practice of true religion became scarce. When a people loathe their spiritual food, God may justly deprive them of their daily bread. The famine of bread is a terrible judgment; but the famine of the word is more so. Upon opening the fourth seal, another horse appeared, of a pale color. The rider was Death, the king of terrors. The attendants, or followers of this king of terrors, hell, a state of eternal misery to all who die in their sins; and in times of general destruction, multitudes go down unprepared into the pit. The period of the fourth seal is one of great slaughter and devastation, destroying whatever may tend to make life happy, making ravages on the spiritual lives of men. Thus the mystery of iniquity was completed, and its power extended both over the lives and consciences of men. The exact times of these four seals cannot be ascertained, for the changes were gradual. God gave them power, that is, those instruments of his anger, or those judgments: all public calamities are at his command; they only go forth when God sends them, and no further than he permits.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals, or the first seal. The interpreters are much divided in expounding what is to be understood by the sealed up contents, and in applying them to such and such persecutions, persons, and events, by all which it appears that there is no certainty as to such applications and expositions, even of particular ancient fathers; though at the same time it is both certain and evident that many pretended interpretations, (that is, arbitrary inventions, from the private spirit of heretics) are both false and groundless, contradictory to the unexceptionable authority (to use Dr. W.’s words) of the primitive fathers, and inconsistent with the doctrine and belief of the Catholic Church, as I may have occasion to shew that the ridiculous fable is of this number, of so many popes being antichrist, and the beast of this Apocalypse. I shall, for the satisfaction of the Christian reader, as I hinted in the preface of this book, give a short account of those expositions that are not improbable. (Witham)
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
The Lord, Groom of the Church, saw three horsemen going out to oppose His bride. Hence the modest Lamb; the victorious Lion appears as a conquering horseman and to conquer...
When He sees Satan as a lion, He goes out towards him as a Lion, likewise when He sees him as a horseman, He goes out towards him as a cavalier to fight him.
The Groom opened the first seal, and the Apostle heard the first Living Creature who is like a lion, roaring as thunder saying, "Come and see. (1)” The Lamb Himself came out as a horseman sitting on a white horse, "conquering" by nature, for He bears no defeat at all.
And to conquer, for... He conquers by Himself in His Church and in His children. For through Him we conquer Satan, and Christ conquers through us. Any of our victories is related to Him, for it is fulfilled by Him and on His account.
The Lord came out sitting on a white horse. The two martyrs Ignatius and Polycarb, Pope Dionysius and Irenaeus agreed that the white horse is the group of prophets and preachers of the Good News, carrying the Person of the Lord, conquering over the forces of darkness through Him.
They compare the horse to their courage, their fearlessness of death [Zech 10:3], and their total obedience to their horseman. By their fast movement their voices go to the ends of the earth [Ps 18:5].
They are compared to a white horse for it is pleasant to see. As well, they are pleasant to see, for they are full of happiness and joy. They call to rejoice in the Savior, in moments of their most weakness, and He accompanies them with joy even with their tears of repentance. They are filled with inner peace, in times of tribulations. The secret of all this is God's promise to us, "but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
This conqueror has a "bow," which is preaching of the word of the Gospel which the preacher aims at the heart of the listeners, that it might destroy the power of evil, and cut from him all that is from Satan.
"And a crown was given to him,” as He is king of kings He does not cease to reign over every heart and granting crowns to the human race who is victorious through Him.
When He sees Satan as a lion, He goes out towards him as a Lion, likewise when He sees him as a horseman, He goes out towards him as a cavalier to fight him.
The Groom opened the first seal, and the Apostle heard the first Living Creature who is like a lion, roaring as thunder saying, "Come and see. (1)” The Lamb Himself came out as a horseman sitting on a white horse, "conquering" by nature, for He bears no defeat at all.
And to conquer, for... He conquers by Himself in His Church and in His children. For through Him we conquer Satan, and Christ conquers through us. Any of our victories is related to Him, for it is fulfilled by Him and on His account.
The Lord came out sitting on a white horse. The two martyrs Ignatius and Polycarb, Pope Dionysius and Irenaeus agreed that the white horse is the group of prophets and preachers of the Good News, carrying the Person of the Lord, conquering over the forces of darkness through Him.
They compare the horse to their courage, their fearlessness of death [Zech 10:3], and their total obedience to their horseman. By their fast movement their voices go to the ends of the earth [Ps 18:5].
They are compared to a white horse for it is pleasant to see. As well, they are pleasant to see, for they are full of happiness and joy. They call to rejoice in the Savior, in moments of their most weakness, and He accompanies them with joy even with their tears of repentance. They are filled with inner peace, in times of tribulations. The secret of all this is God's promise to us, "but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
This conqueror has a "bow," which is preaching of the word of the Gospel which the preacher aims at the heart of the listeners, that it might destroy the power of evil, and cut from him all that is from Satan.
"And a crown was given to him,” as He is king of kings He does not cease to reign over every heart and granting crowns to the human race who is victorious through Him.
Footnote
(1) In the Sinai script, “Come and see,” is addressed to John, to see and comprehend what happens, while in the Alexandrian script, “Come,” refers to the horse man to come out.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-12 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
The first seal being opened, he says that he saw a white horse, and a crowned horseman having a bow. For this was at first done by Himself. For after the Lord ascended into heaven and opened all things, He sent the Holy Spirit, whose words the preachers sent forth as arrows reaching to the human heart, that they might overcome unbelief. And the crown on the head is promised to the preachers by the Holy Spirit. The other three horses very plainly signify the wars, famines, and pestilences announced by our Lord in the Gospel. And thus he says that one of the four living creatures said (because all four are one), Come and see. Come is said to him that is invited to faith; see is said to him who saw not. Therefore the white horse is the word of preaching with the Holy Spirit sent into the world. For the Lord says, This Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world for a testimony to all nations, and then shall come the end.
 | Author: Victorinus of Pettau AD: 303 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
