Steve Coerper (2 July 2023) 'The Rider on the White Horse'

I found your letter about the identity of the Rider on the White Horse quite interesting. I thought you presented the traditional view well, but then you seem to have gone off the boil about that, and by the end of your letter you decided that the first seal has not been opened yet, saying…

‘I think if the rider on the white horse had already impacted history, we would all see the fulfilment with clarity…’

Since I think your conclusion is debateable, and you say you welcome any feedback, I will write about some of my research. First off, I will say that the Rider on the While Horse presents a very dense and multifaceted image, and I don’t believe there is any ‘single’ identifying name that we can attach to it. So, this will take a while to write about, but I hope it is helpful.

The identity of the four Riders have engaged my mind for almost 20 years, and I have written part of a (still unfinished, difficult to write) book on the subject; however, as you point out, in spite of all the scholarly commentary written about this topic, there are still differences of opinion between the preterist and historicist view, regarding the identity of the male rider on the white horse, who had a bow, who earned a crown, and went out conquering and to conquer! Thus:

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Rev. 6:1–2)

When reading those verses, we cannot help but notice the similarities between this scene and the later imagery in Revelation 19:11–16, which depicts the all-conquering KING who wears multiple crowns and rides a white horse, whose robe had been dipped in blood (i.e., the blood of His enemies in the day of vengeance and salvation, cf. Isaiah 34:5–8 –>; 63:1–6), who is called The Word of God. However, the similarities are far outweighed here by the majestic magnificence of the latter being who is undoubtedly the glorified Jesus Christ—depicted as and when He returns to earth—as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! He also rides out on a white horse accompanied by His heavenly armies: to receive His bride who has made herself ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–9). Furthermore, He comes to claim His earthly kingdom, judge the people in righteousness and truth and makes war with his enemies (Rev. 19:11, 18–21). He thenceforth rules over the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15) after binding Satan (Rev. 20:1–3) during the one thousand year millennial period of His earthly kingdom rule (Rev. 20:4–6).

Interestingly, there is a parallel description of a suitably attired and majestic Hebrew warrior-King in the Old Testament in Psalm 45:1–9 [esp. vs. 4–5], showing the King receiving His foreign bride (vs. 10–17). I suggest that you read it. This passage has been described as a Royal wedding song, where the writer is bubbling over with enthusiasm as he skilfully describes the Royal Court. I see in this song, particular references or omissions that could be relevant to the scenario in Revelation 6:2 above...

Notably in verse 5, His arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; whereby the people fall under Him. In this picturesque Psalm there is no mention of a bow being the instrument that fires the arrows… instead it is taken as read that a bow is the firing device! Alternatively, in Rev. 6:2 the word bow is mentioned, but not arrows? However, many other scriptures depict a bow as an offensive weapon used in ancient warfare (cf. Gen. 27:3; 49:24; Josh. 24:12; 2 Sam. 1:18, 22; 1 Kings 22:34; 2 Kings 9:24; 13:15; 1 Chron. 5:18; Hos.7:16; Zech. 9:13). Note: in all of the bolded references, arrows are not mentioned; so I cannot see any reason why arrows are not deduced to exist in Rev. 6:2!

I think your other explanations for bow have no relevance to this particular verse because it clearly depicts the rider on the white horse intentionally going out to conquer/overcome, and continue conquering/overcoming carring a bow (obviously a weapon, battle-bow), used to metaphorically fire arrows (possibly into the heart of the King’s enemies, as above). So, although we can see multiple connections to this particular verse, in other scriptures, none of them seem to wholly satisfy us as far as the combination of features listed in Revelation 6:2 are concerned. Nevertheless, there are many other references about arrow/s in scripture that might give us some clarity as to why an arrow or arrows are not mentioned in this Rev. 6:2 scene.

The book of Revelation is full of Old and New Testament references, and scenarios. Revelation 6:2 (above) seems to draw on details from Zechariah’s visions that describe coloured horses (Zech. 1:8–11 and 6:1–9). [1] In agreement with Revelation 6:2–8, Zechariah’s horses also walk to-and-fro throughout the earth (however, Zechariah’s horses probably relate to the time of war and peace when his book was written), and his horses are said to be four spirits of heaven (Zech. 6:5). Notably, the colour of these horses does not exactly match those in Rev. 6:2–8, and it appears there was only one man who rode a red horse in the first scene, while riders are not mentioned in the second scene where the strong steeds drawing the chariots were eager to get going!

Deut. 32:23–27, paints a picture of God’s judgments on Israel for their perverse sinfulness. He sends disasters on them in the form of arrows, hunger/famine, pestilence, beasts, and the sword (quite similar to the entities in Rev. 6:2–8). However, in Deut. 32:42 the arrows and sword are directed at Israel’s enemies. God says… I kill and I make alive; I wound and l heal…

In 2 Kings 13:14–19, there is an interesting picture of arrows being used and named as, The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and as the arrow of deliverance from Syria…

Similarly in Psalm 7:13 God sends the sword, bow and arrows in fiery shafts against the wicked, while in Psalm 11:1–2 it is the wicked who bend their bow and make ready their arrow on the string. In Psalm 64:7 it is once again God who shoots at the wicked enemy with an arrow.

However, I believe it is Zechariah who gives us the most useful information, enabling us to understand the metaphor of the horse and the bow depicted in Revelation 6:2.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zech. 9:9–11)

In this passage Zechariah portrays the first advent of a King (Jesus Christ as we now know), coming in peace to the Jews in Judah (i.e., the daughters of Zion, and Jerusalem), riding on a colt the foal of a donkey. (Mark 11:7 –>) Thus, because the King comes in peace, God decides that all the chariots, horses and battle bows belonging to Ephraim (chief of the Tribes), will be cut off (made redundant). The King’s peaceful message will go out to all the nations, to the ends of the earth. Subsequently, Zechariah sees beyond that time:

As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted [filled KJV] the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, [Gentiles] and made you like the sword of a mighty man. Then the LORD will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south… (Zech. 9:11–14)

Amazingly, in these short passages Zechariah points to several of the most important features relating to the Rev. 6:2 picture of the rider on the white horse (as I will show further down in this letter):

1. He mentions the blood of the covenant that sets prisoners free, which returns them to God their stronghold! (See Ex. 24:8; [cf. Dan. 9:24, 26a, 27a]; a prediction of Matt. 26:27–28)

2. The means, by which this deliverance is accomplished here, is through the bow—representing the House of Judah—the southern tribes. N.B. In Rev. 5:5 it is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, [who, in His role as Jesus, The Lamb] has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. Therefore, the rider in Rev. 6:2 (whoever He is) could possibly be holding Judah the bow in his hand as he rides forth!

3. Accordingly, Ephraim (the major Tribe that represents the northern House of Israel), which was positioned on the West side of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, is the arrow that fills the bow of Judah! Thus, your sons, O Zion, (i.e., the whole house of Jacob/Israel), are united in this scene where they are arrayed like the sword of a mighty man against the Gentiles [i.e., the sons of Greece] cf. Ezek. 37:15–22 where both houses of Jacob are united (as two sticks become one) in their land, and they are spiritually restored when they are living in peace because of the everlasting covenant God makes with them during the millennium, when David is made their King.

4. The remainder of Zechariah’s description (above) has implications for the 2^nd Advent of the conquering King, i.e., the Second Coming of Christ who comes with the sound of trumpets, when His arrow will go forth like lightning as He appears over the nations! (Psalm 18:14, Matt. 24:27; Luke 17:24)

However, there is a further passage in Zechariah that throws even more light on this topic:

My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame. (Zech. 10:3–5)

So, according to these scriptures, Judah is the royal horse in battle, and Judah is God’s battle bow!

I will apply some of these characteristics to the (admittedly difficult to define) scene in Rev. 6:2 later on in my letter, but meantime let’s look at the scroll.

The Christians in the seven Churches in Asia to whom the seven letters and book were sent during the latter half of the 1^st Century, would have recognised that the scroll with seven seals was actually someone’s ‘last will’ or ‘testament’ that was to be read—only after the death of the one who wrote it (cf. Heb. 9:15–17). This scroll was unusual in that it was in two parts, and written on both sides.

First of all, let’s examine this passage of scripture about the scroll in its correct context…

Thus, in the majestic heavenly scenario visualised by John in Revelation 5, we note firstly, that the scroll is held in the right hand of God. The right hand is where the power of God lies! [2] Secondly, the only One found worthy to open the scroll was the resurrected lamb that had been slain, who is now seen to be standing in the midst of the heavenly creatures and elders who surrounded the throne. So, the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) is standing in pride of place, right where the Power of God is centred. Thirdly, the Lamb took the scroll out of God’s right hand (he was not given it), He took it, because it rightfully belonged to Him! (My thoughts are that the scroll (his testament) had been preserved in safe-keeping in the right hand of God until The Lamb had achieved His earthly mission!)

Earlier, when Jesus was still on the earth teaching His disciples, He had alluded to His sacrificial and redemptive mission and death as: going away (cf. John 13:33; 14:1–4, 16–17, 25–26); this going away was a prerequisite for the New Covenant for salvation to be made operational (Matt. 26:26–28, cf. Dan. 9:24, 26a, 27a). So, it was only after Jesus’ death that his will or testament (i.e., the New Covenant in His blood) could become effective, and the Holy Spirit Power could be released. Consequent to that, Jesus had promised His disciples that (after He ascended back into heaven) He would send the Holy Spirit of truth (from the Father) who would testify to Christ, via His disciples’ witness (John 14:16–18, 25–26; 15:26–27; 16:7–8, 13–14). N.B. The Holy Spirit is always referred to as He or Him!

Therefore, it was The Lamb’s redemptive actions—by being slain—that allowed Him to take up the scroll again after He ascended into heaven. What he had accomplished on earth was described in a new song that was sung by the living creatures and elders in heaven:

You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:9–10)

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever. (Rev. 5:12, 13b)

But the redemptive facts of the ‘complete Gospel, (i.e., Messiah’s death, resurrection, and His ascension to heaven as High Priest), had not been broadcast to the nations on the earth as yet!

Consequently, I believe the scroll with the seven seals contained the will or testament that had previously been written in the eternal counsel of the Godhead, by The Lamb. (Cf. Jesus’ words in Matt. 26:42, 54, 56.) Written in the scroll were things kept secret from the foundation of the world… In it were written prophetic things about God’s plan of salvation for mankind; it contained details about the saints, the enemies of God, future events on earth leading to the millennial Kingdom of Christ; in it there was information about a still future new heaven and earth, all written in a blueprint that had been prepared before the foundations of the earth were laid down! (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Matt. 13:35; 25:31–34; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1). Now these marvellous hidden things were about to be revealed…

(My ideas about the arrangement of the scroll are contained in a rather long end note. [3]

Thus, the slain Lamb—who had been resurrected into the heavenly realm to stand in the midst of the throne—was the only One who was worthy (and He was the only One who could take the scroll and break the seals on the scroll), because He is the Word of God, the One who wrote it!

He had died and had been resurrected, so He had every right to open His own will and testament!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We could safely say that the Gospel witness—initiated and propelled by the Holy Spirit—was the legacy that Jesus Christ left to His disciples and followers. It was the voice of Alpha-Omega, who instructed the Book of Revelation to be written for his disciples (Rev. 1:11) to reveal the things which must take place in the future (Rev. 4:1), so they (and future believers) would be warned of what lay ahead, and what they would experience as followers of Jesus Christ.

It is for this reason that I believe the Rider on the White Horse, represents the Holy Spirit and The Gospel that witnesses to the New Covenant of Salvation from the sins revealed by the old Covenant of Law, (cf. Hebrews 9:15–17). Thus, the Holy Spirit’s witness to Christ and the Gospel, was the promised first entity to be released from the heavenly Court when the first seal on the scroll was broken.

I also believe this first seal was opened in AD 30, because it depicts the Gospel via the Holy Spirit, being released on the Day of Pentecost… So, He [the Holy Spirit] went out conquering and to conquer the world! This occurred after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven. There are also aspects within the first rider’s description that can be applied to the Church and the personal witness of its members, because the rider is given a ‘stephanos’ crown, which is only received by overcomers who persevere to the end. (This is the principal challenge and priority for every member in the seven Churches in Asia, (cf. Rev. 2:7b, 11b, 17b, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). [4]

He that overcomes (nikau) shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and He shall be My son. (Rev. 21:7)

Note: The same Greek word nikau is used for conquering and to conquer, and for overcame, overcome, and overcometh (as in the references above) which shows the close relationship between the rider on the white horse, and the challenge given to those in the seven churches, to overcome the evils of this world.

Therefore, we should note the very last words that Jesus spoke to His disciples, recorded in Acts.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:5, 8–9)

[Incidentally: What happened on the other side of that cloud—after Jesus was taken up into the heavenly realm—had actually been visualised and recorded (hundreds of years earlier by Daniel), when, in a pre-incarnate visionary panorama, he watched as the victorious Messiah received His kingdom reward for His redemptive work (that had been set out in Dan. 9:24) which he had accomplished during His tenure on earth.] Thus:

I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13–14, cf. Rev. 5:9–10)

To continue… The fact that the Gospel witness was released in harmony with the Holy Spirit is well established: both became a reality when Peter (after receiving the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus from the Father) first preached the complete Gospel on the Day of Pentecost in AD 30, when three thousand Jews were saved. Thus, Jesus indicated that those who ‘endure to the end will be saved’ meaning that those who overcome the opposition to the Gospel and continue in the faith will be duly rewarded in Christ’s Kingdom. Peter said on the Day of Pentecost:

David… Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:29–33)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:13–14)

The release of the gospel of the kingdom via the Holy Spirit rider on the white horse initiates one of the major themes of spiritual warfare recorded in the book of Revelation from chapter six onward: i.e., the continuing conquering progress of the Holy Spirit activated Gospel—via white robed angelic beings and the white robed ‘overcoming’ servants of God—is hindered and opposed by the multiple enemies of God. Those who oppose the Gospel are marked (in contrast) as being clad in red and scarlet: i.e., overseen from above by the red dragon (Satan), who sends his spirit into the nations (via the second seal rider on the fiery red horse to take peace from the earth with the great sword he was given. Satan’s power accrues in a destroyer who emerges from the bottomless pit below, called Abaddon/Apollyon; Satan’s military prowess is imposed on the people by his earthly agents, the Beast and the False Prophet, and Satan’s spiritual power is enthroned in Babylon, the great city that rules over the imposter scarlet religion, which dwells in the midst of the eighth scarlet beast/kingdom! (See end note [5] showing how Revelation is colour-coded.)

Thus, it is the Holy Spirit (He) who is the rider on the white horse (from Judah) carrying the battle bow of the Gospel (also from Judah), going forth to the nations of the world—conquering and to conquer—God’s enemies, in company with the saints of God (His arrows), who are called to be overcomers, whose reward is to be clad in white robes and become citizens in the millennial Kingdom of God.

The result of the Gospel’s conquering power throughout the world is shown in a final vision that shows the one called Faithful and True, who is called by an additional name, The Word of God.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:11–16)

There is undoubtedly a very powerful association between the Holy Spirit rider on the white horse, and this latter scenario showing the conquering King, but I don’t think they should be combined.

Notice that Jesus own words—recorded at the beginning of Revelation—were addressed to His followers:

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father of His throne. (Rev. 3:21) [6]

We are to emulate His example! We should all be riding out in harmony with the Holy Spirit Rider on the White Horse, as He has continued to gallop triumphantly across the pages of history since AD 30—conquering, and continuing to conquer—through His powerful witness to the Gospel of Salvation and The Word of God. The Holy Spirit who was given first to Judah (Jews in Jerusalem), holds the battle bow of Judah in His hand; He uses believers as His arrows, (Israel being the first to carry the Gospel message) to strike at the hearts of mankind, until the consummation!

Steve, I hope, after reading this rather long letter, that you can see how the rider on the white horse has impacted history, and you can see it with greater clarity! It is simply a picture of the Gospel, impelled by the Holy Spirit, going forth to the world from Jerusalem in Judah, where it originated.

[1] In the Old Testament vision in Zechariah 6:9–15 the four chariots (drawn by different coloured horses), go forth from between the two strong mountains of brass (symbolising the two pillars standing in the porch of the Temple, named Boaz and Jachin), and they ride out via the four spirits/winds of heaven, to encompass the earth.

[2] The right hand of God is where the Power of the throne lies: Isaiah 41:10; 48:13; 62:8; Matt. 22:44 [Ps. 110:1]; 26:64; Mark 14:62; Ephesians 1:19–23; 1 Peter 3:22.

One like the Son of Man holds the seven starts in His right hand: Rev. 1:16; 2:1.

Jesus is either sitting or standing at the right hand of God: Mark 16:19; Acts 2:25, 34; 7:55–56; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2.

When Jesus returns, the faithful servants of God are invited to assemble at His right hand, to inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Matt. 25:31–40

[3] I have a rather unusual view of what the symbolic double-sided scroll actually represents: I see the scroll as containing the eternal history and future pertaining to God’s plan for the salvation of mankind, and the establishment of His kingdom on earth, which has been written on both sides of the parchment and attached to two rods or holding reels. All of this information has been in existence since the beginning of time.

So, as I picture the scroll… The name ‘Alpha’ has been written on the rod at one end of the scroll, and the bulk of the writing on the facing side of the scroll is hidden because it is wound around that rod that contains it all. As the beginning of the scroll is unwound from the rod called ‘Alpha’ it is simultaneously being wound onto the rod on the other end of the parchment. The writing facing the reader is thus being gradually exposed; this writing comprises all of the Old Testament prophetic utterances made by God in the past (via his heavenly messengers and earthly servants), from Adam [Gen.3:15] to Malachi [Mal. 3:1], particularly concerning the future Messenger of the Covenant, God’s promised Messiah. Notably, most of this information had been hidden or closed up, even to the minds of those who wrote it and read it, until that era was ended (cf. Daniel 12:4, 9). However, after Malachi—as the history of Israel unfolded—until John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, there was a 400 year hiatus in prophetic utterance from heaven. As a result, there was a big blank on the facing side of the scroll when it reached its end.

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However, after reading the prophetic side of the parchment, by rolling it away from ‘Alpha’ and loading it onto the now full second rod, we find that this Rod has a name too; it is called ‘The Word of God.’ As described in John 1:14 ‘And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’ This is called the Parousia, the appearing of Christ, which ended the Old Testament prophetic side of the scroll, as well as that era, and where the New Testament side of the scroll began, as recorded in the Gospels, and Acts, up to the Day of Pentecost. This is the point where I believe the whole scroll was bound and sealed with seven seals, and given into the right hand of God for safe-keeping.

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Consequently, the seven seals had hidden what had been recorded and written from the beginning of time—on the reverse side of the scroll—about the future of the world and the coming consummation. The seals were about to be broken…This is when John is told ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this. (Rev. 4:1) Hence there is tension in the heavenly realm while a search was carried out to find someone who was worthy to open the seals, so John could begin writing what was about to be revealed to him.

So, having wound the scroll in one direction to expose Old Testament prophecies, and after reaching the rod called ‘The Word,’ the scroll is now turned around, and rolled back in the other direction, toward the original rod called ‘Alpha’ gradually revealing the fulfilment of everything that had been written on the first side. As each seal was broken open, this transfer in direction gradually encompassed everything that had been written on the scroll from the very beginning. The writing on the second side particularly concerns the fulfilment of all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, as well as the multiple events recorded for the future history of the world outlined in Old and New Testament scriptures. The writing continues until the scroll has been completely rewound around the rod called ‘Alpha’ only to find that it now has an additional name, ‘Omega.’

The rod called ‘The Word of God’ is now empty of parchment, it has all been fulfilled, but written on it in very large letters are two more names… Faithful and True. (Rev. 1:11; 19:13; 22:13)

And so we return to the original imagery of Christ returning to claim His kingdom…

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on his thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:15–16)

[4] The English words Conquer and conquering used in Rev. 6:2 are derived from Strong’s Greek word No. 3528 nikau meaning: to overcome, to overpower; to conquer, triumph. Nikau is used in Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:11 and 21:7 as an exhortation to the Christians in the seven Churches in Asia to overcome. The word used for conquerors in Romans 8:37 i.e., ‘more than conquerors’ is Strong’s Greek word No. 5245 hypernikau meaning: to thoroughly conquer, go beyond conquest!

[5] The colour WHITE in scripture—and particularly in Revelation—is always associated with God (Ancient of Days), Christ, Christians, Heavenly beings, Saints, and the sinless and righteous believers - NOT Evil. References: Strongs concordance:

Rev. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow… (Cf. Daniel 7:9–10)

Rev. 2:17 …and will give him a white stone…

Rev. 3:4 …and they shall walk with me in white

Rev. 3:5 …the same shall be clothed in white raiment;

Rev. 3:18 … and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed…

Rev. 4:4 … twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment…

Rev. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse; and…

Rev. 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of…

Rev. 7:9 …clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…

Rev. 7:13 What are these which are arrayed in white…

Rev. 7:14 …made them white in the blood of the Lamb…

Rev. 14:14 …and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud…

Rev. 15:6 …clothed in pure and white linen…

Rev. 19:8 …be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white…

Rev. 19:11 …saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse;

Rev. 19:14 …in heaven followed him upon white horses…

Rev. 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that….

2. In Revelation the colour RED or SCARLET is always associated with evil. References:

Rev. 6:4 …there went out another horse that was red…

Rev. 12:3 …and behold a great red dragon, having seven…

Rev. 17:3 I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast…

Rev. 17:4 … woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour,

Rev. 18:12 (Babylon’s merchandise) … and silk, and scarlet…

Rev. 18:16 … Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

RED is related to the composite SCARLET beast of Rev. 17, and the RED dragon who empowers the Beast with the 7 heads and 10 horns. It is the RED Horse's rider (descendant of EDOM) who is given the great SWORD (Islam) and it is this rider who takes peace from the earth.

The woman clothed in SCARLET is associated with, (i.e. sitting on) the SCARLET Beast kingdom, until she is finally attacked by the Beast and its 10 horns who become “of one mind” to destroy her.

All of these references to “Red” are associated with the Devil, the Anti-Christ Beast and his “kingdom”, and Mystery Babylon, the Great City.

[6] This verse makes one wonder where Jesus’ throne is situated—obviously His throne is distinguished here as being separate from His Father’s throne in heaven? Is Jesus referring to the earthly throne of David (centred in Jerusalem the beloved city, and the Camp of the Saints) which He will share with His fellow-Christian overcomers during the millennium period? (Rev. 20:4b, 9) This would precede the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth containing the holy city, New Jerusalem, where the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, as depicted in Rev. 21:1—22:3–4.