Revelation 6:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal. He is now beginning the great work of carrying out God’s purposes for the church and the world. One of the church’s ministers calls the apostle, John, with a voice like thunder, to come near and watch what appears.

Then comes the vision itself (Revelation 6:2). The Lord Jesus appears riding on a white horse. White horses were usually avoided in war because they made the rider an easy target, but our Lord was sure of victory and a glorious triumph. He rides on the white horse of a pure, though often despised, gospel, moving quickly through the world.

He had a bow in his hand. The conviction brought by the word of God is like sharp arrows, reaching people even at a distance. Ministers may draw the bow without knowing exactly where the arrow will land, but God can guide it to its mark. In Christ’s hand, this bow remains strong, and like Jonathan’s bow, it never returns empty.

A crown was given to him. This shows that all who receive the gospel must receive Christ as King, and become his loyal and obedient subjects. He will be honored in the success of the gospel. When Christ goes out to war, one might expect a helmet instead of a crown, but the crown is given as a sign and guarantee of victory.

He went out conquering and to conquer. As long as the church remains in this world and still fights, Christ will keep conquering. When he defeats his enemies in one age, he meets new ones in the next. People keep opposing him, and Christ keeps winning, and his earlier victories are promises of more to come.

He conquers his enemies in his people. Their sins are his enemies as well as theirs. When Christ comes with power into a person’s soul, he begins to overcome these enemies. He goes on conquering in the growing work of sanctification, that is, the making of believers holy, until he brings the victory to completion. He also conquers his enemies in the world, meaning wicked people, some by bringing them to bow before him, others by making them serve his purposes.

From this seal opened, we should observe four things. The spread of Christ’s gospel in the world is a glorious sight, worth watching, and the most pleasing and welcome thing a good person can see in this life. No matter what upheavals and changes happen in the kingdoms of the world, Christ’s kingdom will stand and grow despite all resistance. A morning of opportunity usually comes before a night of trouble, and the gospel is preached before the plagues are poured out. Christ does not finish all his work at once. We may expect the gospel to sweep everything before it, but often it meets resistance and seems slow. Still, Christ will complete his work fully, in his own time and in his own way.