White Horse Of The Apocalypse X

Christ The Archer

"the Son of God goes forth to war" 
 "he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors."

Wrote Dr. Henry M. Morris:

"At this tremendous moment in history, "the Son of God goes forth to war," as the Lamb breaks the First Seal. The seven seal judgments follow, then the seven trumpets , then the seven bowls. However the seventh seal includes all of the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet leads into the seven bowls. The entire series thus represents the Lamb's successive forays into the invader's strongholds until finally the enemy is driven out completely. The climax comes at the battle of Armageddon, when the great Rider appears once again on His white horse to win the final victory (Revelation 19:11, 19)." (As cited here)

This is good commentary on what the appearance of the Son of God, or Lamb, in his first appearance as the white horse rider, signifies. His first appearance in vision signals the beginning of that "war" of all wars, or "war to end all wars," while his second appearance (Rev. 19) signals the end of it.

As each seal is opened things happen on earth that fulfill what the scriptures describe relating to the day of judgment, the day of wrath and tribulation, and the day of redemption. Each act and each scene are scenes of just retribution and vengeance upon wicked inhabitants who refuse to acknowledge God and his righteous judgments.

Commenting on Revelation 6:2, Dr. Henry M. Morris says the following:

"he that sat on him. Many futurist commentators take the rider on the white horse to be the Antichrist, who they say is seeking to imitate Christ, who is certainly the conquering Rider on the white horse in Revelation 19:11. This interpretation seems inappropriate. The coming Antichrist is not a “false Christ,” pretending to be Christ, but is the ultimate Antichrist, openly opposing Christ and seeking to destroy all Christian believers and everything for which Christ stands. The Antichrist, or Beast, will receive his power and authority from Satan (Revelation 11:7; 13:7), not Christ."

I think I have shown how the Antichrist view of Rev. 6:2 is not sound interpretation. The arguments made to supposedly prove it have all been shown to be untenable.

Morris continued:

"The proper interpretation is to view Christ as the rider; remember also that each judgment of the seven seals is sent forth by Christ, not Satan. Furthermore, it is eminently fitting that the conquering Christ should be seen as riding forth both at the beginning of His cleansing judgments on the earth, and then again at their climactic completion (Revelation 6:2; 19:11). Throughout the events of Revelation 6 through 19, as the successive seal judgments are sent forth, He is gradually “conquering” and is destined finally “to conquer” completely." (see here)

Though I once leaned towards the Antichrist view, yet after nearly fifty years of meditation and research on the text, I have come to see just exactly what Dr. Morris has here stated as being the most obvious interpretation of the passage. What he here says is exactly what I have been trying to demonstrate throughout this series.

In Rev. 19: 11 it is said that Christ, as the white horse rider, "in righteousness (or justice) judges and makes war." When did this righteous war begin? Who began it? Did it first start in Rev. 19 when the last seal has been broken and all of its seven woe trumpets have been blown and their effects realized? Surely not. Surely it began with the opening of the very first seal! And as each seal is opened, there is more victory by the heroic warrior prince who continues going forth "conquering," overcoming and gaining victory after victory. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse of Christ show the initial attack of this mighty warrior who has his name "the Word of God."

Notice how both "judging" and "making war" are connected together in the words "in righteousness he judges and makes war." The one judging is also the one leading military action. This signifies that the "day of judgment" runs along with the "war" being described.

Christ, in his apocalypse, fulfills several roles (or we might say "wears many hats"), such as being a judge, warrior or combatant, redeemer, savior, etc. As judge he gives sentence. As Governor and Lord he executes that sentence.

God's Poisoned Arrows

"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me." (Job 6: 4 KJV)

"The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me." (NIV)

Job was a righteous man. None of the afflictions and sufferings that he experienced were the result of his sin. They did not show that he was God's enemy, as his friends supposed. No, he was God's close friend. But, he indeed was treated by God as if he were an enemy (to a large degree). Job was an enemy in appearance, judging by his circumstances. After all, "the arrows of the Almighty" with its "terrors" and "poison" are intended for the wicked, not for the righteous, as Job was.

Job's case is unique. God has a purpose for Job suffering some of these arrows of judgment and destruction from God's bow of justice. It is in some respects the same with these same arrows that were shot at the Lord Jesus by divine justice in his sacrificial death. In the case of Jesus it was justice meted out, not against him personally, for he was sinless, but against him as the bearer of the sins of the world. In the case of Job, God makes use of Job to demonstrate the truth of God and the falsehood of Satan the accuser.

Notice what God says to Satan about why Job experiences arrows of judgment, that are intended for the wicked only, but nevertheless experienced by this righteous man:

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you move me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2: 3)

God was moved to be "against" righteous Job, to "destroy" or "undo" him, but it was "without cause," meaning it was not what was due Job because of his sin, but in order for God to accomplish his purpose in 1) Sanctifying Job (by the fires of his trials, purging him) and 2) demonstrating both the Deity's character and that of Satan the accuser.

The main point in citing these words of Job is to show that God has from the morning of time been viewed as an Archer shooting deadly arrows at his foes. It is also to show how the metaphor of God shooting arrows denotes his sending of evils upon a man in just retribution for his rebellion against his Maker. In the Book of Revelation we may see each scene of destruction as the result of the shooting of these arrows of justice.

Notice that Job speaks of God's arrows as connected with "terrors" being "marshaled" or "arrayed" against him. These words are of a military nature denoting the assembling or arranging in order and rank, the various weapons and ordinance intended for use in conflict. The Hebrew verb means "to set in battle array." "The figure in the end of the verse is that of a beleaguering army; this host is composed of “terrors” from God. The reference is again not to Job’s mere physical pains, but to the perplexing thoughts and fears which they occasioned." (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

Is this not what we see as each seal of the scroll is unbroken? Do we not see a "marshaling" of heavenly forces against the evil world and its wicked inhabitants? Are not the red, black, and pale horses a "marshaling" of terrors and punishments?

"The “arrows” of God are the plagues, diseases and pains with which He assails men, ch. Job 16:12 seq.; cf. Psalm 38:2 seq.; Deut. 32:23. So Hamlet, 'The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.'"

Jeremiah, like Job, also spoke of Lord God having bow and arrows and of having had some of those arrows shot at him.

“He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.” (Lamentations 3:12-14)

Many Christians have seen the experience of being under deep conviction of sin as the result of having become "wounded" in spirit by the word and Spirit of God. This seems to be the meaning of the prophet in this passage. Still, the primary "mark" for God's arrows are for the wretched guilty world in the day of judgment.

Is the figure of being shot by God's arrow a type of being convicted of sin? Of being saved? Is God like Cupid?

Moses' Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them. They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs." (Deut. 32: 21-25)

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." (Duet. 32:39-43)

Ezekiel's Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread: So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken." (Ezekiel 5:16-17)

"Even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord God, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." For thus says the Lord God: "How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it?"  (Ezek 14:20-21)

Psalms Prophecy of Judgment Arrows

"God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." (Psa. 7: 11-13)

"He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them." (Psalm 18: 14)

"For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces." (Psalm 21: 12)

"Your arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King's enemies." (Psalm 45: 5)

"But God will shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they will be wounded. So they will make him stumble; Their own tongue is against them; All who see them will shake the head. Then all men will fear, And they will declare the work of God, And will consider what He has done." (Psalm 64: 7-10)

"The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook." (Psalm 77: 17-18)

"Then the LORD will appear over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of the south." (Zechariah 9: 14)

"Sun and moon stood in their places; They went away at the light of Your arrows, At the radiance of Your gleaming spear." (Habakkuk 3: 11)

God's Arsenal

"They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land." (Isa. 13: 5)

"The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans." (Jer. 50: 25)

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence." (Isaiah 59: 16-18)

"Thou Cyrus, art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms." (Jer. 51: 20)