The White Horse Rider
“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.” (Rev 6:2 KJV)
The white horse rider is an intriguing mystery and there is a lot of speculation as to his identity.
There are several key points about the white horse rider:
- He rides a white horse
- He has a bow, but with no mention of arrows
- He wears a stephanos, or royal, crown that was given to him
- He is conquering
- He will continue to conquer
There are several possible explanations of the rider’s identity.
The first is the antichrist. The crown could represent authority. The bow without arrows could represent diplomacy. The antichrist could begin conquering diplomatically with an offering of peace.
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1Th 5:3 KJV)
” 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
(2Th 2:3-4 KJV)
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1Jo 2:18 KJV)
The second possibility is Jesus. The crown that is worn is a stephanos, which is a royal crown. We know that Jesus rides a white horse and will be the ultimate conqueror. The description parallels the second coming of Jesus at the battle of Armageddon.
“11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on”
(Rev 19:11-16 KJV)
If the rider is Jesus, it could be symbolic of the conquest that is about to come upon the earth. The other riders are symbolic of the events that will take place. It stands to reason that the white horse rider is also symbolic.
At the second coming Jesus is seen wearing a diadema, the crown of a king.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” (Rev 19:12 KJV)
It could be that Jesus was given a stephanos crown to wear in his humanity and he wears the diadema in his Deity, showing his dual nature as both Good and man, the lamb and Ancient of Days. This is just speculation as there is not enough information to be conclusive. The only thing we know for sure is that the rider is a warrior (seen by the use of a bow) and a ruler (as seen by the stephanos crown), and that he will conquer.
Crown – 4735 Στέφανος stephanos {stef’-an-os}
Meaning: 1) a crown 1a) a mark of royal or (in general) exalted rank 1a1) the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games 1b) metaph. the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God and Christ: the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteous 1c) that which is an ornament and honour to one
Crown – 1238 διάδημα diadema {dee-ad’-ay-mah}
Meaning: 1) a diadem 1a) a blue band marked with white which Persian kings used to bind on the turban or tiara 1b) the kingly ornament for the head, the crown