QUESTION: Thanks for your work on your site. I appreciate the stimulating topics. Recently in my own study of the events of Revelation, and in harmony with your comments as posted on your site, I’ve come to question the identity of the white horseman in the ride of the four horsemen. Question: If the horsemen haven’t yet ridden in quick succession after the opening of the second seal, do you think the white rider can be simply governments who go off to ‘conquest’ which leads the rides of the other horsemen? Or do you think that the white horsemen can still apply to future coming of Jesus when he manifests himself in the future? If he did ride as a conqueror in 1914….what did that rider really conquer? He’s still waiting for the green light from Jehovah to go subduing in the midst of his enemies. So who was the white rider? I’ve recently come to question this because it doesn’t make sense that Jesus rides the white horse 2 times. Once during the second seal, and then again at Armageddon. The differences between the 2 white horsemen as described in the scriptures is interesting: Rev 6:2 White horse, bow, crown was given him, went forth conquering. Rev 9:11 White horse, called “Faithful and True”, judges and carries on war in righteousness, head has many diadems (crowns), has rod of iron, has sharp long sword coming out of mouth. Since Jesus is technically given all authority and kingship before his ride, why would he only have one crown to start with, and then many afterwards? Isn’t he already king of kings? Are the extra crowns in Rev 9:11 from the conquered kings? Anyway, you get the idea. The w86 1/1 commented that others thought the horseman was ‘victory of the gospel or imperialism’, but the refuting argument was weak. There is also the line of reasoning that the Lamb (Jesus) was with John when opening the seals. Seems unlikely he was asking John to visualize Jesus again when John already associated the Lamb with Jesus. He wouldn’t try to identify the rider as a person when the other riders were all highly symbolic. Would be interested to hear your reasoning on the matter.
ANSWER: Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords – and contrary to the Watchtower’s present teaching, he also bears the title Prince of princes. However, there are competing kings within Jesus’ domain who do not at present recognize his authority. Therefore, as the sixth chapter of Revelation states Jesus goes “forth conquering and to complete his conquest.” It is, then, at the completion of his conquest that Jesus will be the sole king ruling the world – along with his 144,000 associate kings, of course.
Jesus is the son of David. And David provided a pattern, of sorts. First he was anointed as a boy before he even slew Goliath. That may correspond to Jesus when he was on earth being anointed and conquering Satan by his faith. Then David fought a series of wars against the Philistines and Ammonites and other warring nations. When he captured the Ammonite city of Rabbah he took the golden crown off the head of their idol, Malcam. David also captured Jerusalem and made that his capitol city. Finally, he was crowned king over all Israel. That may correspond to Jesus in his heavenly position, as he rides forth to conquer all of his enemies, including Babylon the Great.
The 45th Psalm depicts Christ riding forth with both a sword and a bow. It reads: “Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, with your dignity and your splendor. And in your splendor go on to success; ride in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness, and your right hand will instruct you in fear-inspiring things. Your arrows are sharp—under you peoples keep falling— In the heart of the enemies of the king.”
A bow is used to fight from some distance, whereas a sword can only be effective in close-up warfare. So, the symbolism in Revelation first depicts Christ riding forth with a bow to engage the enemy from a distance. Then in the 19th chapter he is pictured bearing a sword, not in his hand, but in his mouth. In other words, his very word can slay the enemy. And just as David acquired the crown of Malcam through conquest Jesus has many diadems as he goes forth for the final war – symbolizing that no one among the enemies of God will have any authority at that point.
