Friday
Friday
The Rider on the White Horse
There before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
Revelation 19:11
In contrast to the silence of burned-out Babylon, John now heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude shouting “Hallelujah!” Four times the word was repeated at the beginning of Revelation 19 like a heavenly hallelujah chorus, and the reason for this summons to praise God was the justice of his judgment and the supremacy of his reign. Further, in antithesis to the destruction of the prostitute Babylon, the wedding of the Lamb had come, and his bride had made herself ready (v. 7).
Next, John saw heaven standing open, and there before him was a white horse whose rider was wearing many crowns, symbolizing his universal authority. His robe is bloodstained, indicating that he carries with him the achievement of his sacrificial death. And he was given the sensational title King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There can be no possible doubt that this rider was the Lord Jesus Christ himself in the fullness of his divine majesty, riding forth in judgment, with the armies of heaven following him.
One expects the final battle to come next, for the two armies—divine and demonic—now stand in confrontation. But instead, nothing happens, for Jesus has already won the victory over evil by his death and resurrection. Instead, the forces of evil are now destroyed in the opposite order to that in which they were introduced. First came Babylon, which has already been destroyed. Next came the beast from the sea (the persecuting power) and the beast from the earth, also called “the false prophet,” the symbol of false religion, responsible for persuading people to worship the emperor or his statue (v. 20). Both were thrown into the lake of fire and so destroyed. This leaves the doom of the dragon until the next chapter, which we will consider tomorrow.
For further reading: Revelation 19:11–16