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The First Seal
Brian Culliton
"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)
"Some believe this rider on the white horse is Jesus Christ! But, as we examine the passage, we see that it's followed by war, famine, bloodshed, and a fourth of the people being killed. That doesn't sound like the Kingdom of God and the glorious coming of the Lord! I believe it is the Antichrist." (Chuck Smith; Calvary Chapel Distinctives, Chapter 8)
There is no historical basis for implying that those who believe the rider to be Christ believe the vision refers to His second coming. If there are people who believe that, they are a fringe of Christianity that remains well hidden. It is difficult to believe that Pastor Chuck Smith doesn't know this. Nevertheless this is what he uses to establish the basis for his believing that the rider is antichrist. And his bases is the foundation for many who draw a comparison between Jesus riding a white horse in chapter 19 and the rider of the white horse in the opening of the first seal.
The real opposing belief to this rider being antichrist is that the rider represents the going forth of the Gospel beginning at Pentecost. Christ received a crown (stephanos) as He gained the victory over sin and death. Jesus set out to conquer souls for the kingdom of heaven via the Holy Spirit, which continues to this day and will continue until He comes again. The white horse and its rider can more accurately be thought of as the church, whose mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth.
The three horsemen that follow the white horse represent the destruction of Jerusalem (the time of Jacob's trouble), persecutions of Christians, and the plague of false doctrines that inundated the early church and continue to corrupt the church to this day. In addition, they represent wars and famines in general that have been a part of world history ever since the church was established. The primary emphasis of the four horsemen is the reality of spiritual warfare with both spiritual and physical consequences.
Because Bible teachers like Chuck Smith and many others defend their belief by comparing the rider to Christ's second coming, many are lead to support the antichrist theory with little or no biblical study. Even though the vision of the first seal has nothing to do with Christ's second coming, it can still be shown that by comparing the rider to Christ appearing in chapter 19, and applying a little biblical research, this rider cannot be antichrist.
Most antichrist theorists focus on two distinct differences between this rider and Christ's return in chapter 19. They point out that this rider is carrying a bow with no arrows while Christ comes armed with a sword; and Christ is adorned with many royal crowns (diadems) while the rider in the first seal is given a victors crown (stephanos). Those two points alone are enough to convince many that the rider of this white horse is antichrist.
Why does the rider carry a bow?
Why is the rider carrying a bow? Most who believe he is antichrist say it is because he will conquer by peace. Some justify the claim by pointing out the fact that no arrows are mentioned. But no one, as far as I know, has provided biblical-based rationale for claiming the rider is antichrist.
About the closest thing I can find to a biblical explanation for the antichrist theory is in the comparison that some make between the seven seals and Mathew 24. Those who see the similarities between the Olivet discourse and the seven seals are certainly on the right track. The problem is their preconceived notions get in the way of fully understanding the thing they are noticing. Still, there doesn't seem to be anything in the Olivet discourse that can tell us what the bow means.
If we take our study into the prophecies of the Old Testament, however, there are a couple of thought provoking references that might explain the bow in the rider's hand. Perhaps the best reference is found in Zechariah, chapter 9.
"For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man." (V.13)
Those who are familiar with the history will know that the prophecy was fulfilled in Judah's victory over Antiochus Epiphanes. But the prophecy is a clear example of God using His people as the instrument by which He accomplishes His will. Judah was the bow in the hand of God, and likewise, the apostles were the bow in the hand of Christ. They were bent as Christ's bow and filled with the Good News of salvation. To this day their words shoot forth and continue to conquer for the kingdom of God.
The passage in Zechariah does not conclusively explain the bow in the rider's hand, but it is probably the best biblical explanation for why he carries a bow one could find.
He was given a crown (stephanos)
It may be difficult to positively identify the rider by explaining the bow in his hand, but we can say with relative certainty who he is not by the crown he wears. There are two types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament - diadem and stephanos. A diadem is a royal crown worn by kings and rulers; and a stephanos is a garland, the type of crown an athlete would receive for winning an event.
Even though many bible teachers say that the rider of the white horse cannot be Christ because he wears a stephanos instead of a diadem, the logic of that premise is simply nonexistent.
There could not be better proof-texts for denying the antichrist claim than Revelation 13:1 and 14:14. In Revelation 13:1 John sees a vision of the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and upon the horns were ten diadems. In Revelation 14:14 John sees a vision of Christ standing on a cloud with a sharp sickle and upon His head is a golden stephanos. Understanding these two references alone should be enough to at least consider the possibility that rider of the white horse is not antichrist.
All but three instances where the word stephanos is used is a reference to Christ's victory imputed to us.
"Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown [stephanos], so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." (Phl. 4:1)
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown [stephanos] of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" (1Thes. 2:19)
"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown [stephanos] of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2Tim. 4:8)
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown [stephanos] of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (Jam. 1:12)
"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown [stephanos] of glory that does not fade away." (1Pet 5:4)
Also see Rev. 2:10, 3:11, 4:4, and 12:1.
The other three references are found in 1Cor. 9:25, Rev. 9:7, and three Gospel accounts of Christ's crucifixion (Mat. 27:29, Mar. 15:17, and John 19:2-5).
I could have included 1Cor. 9:25 in with the other references but might have drawn fire for not mentioning that the reference here is of a corruptible stephanos. Paul compared the corruptible stephanos an athlete wins to the incorruptible stephanos of the saved.
Revelation 9:7 is particularly interesting because it is the only instance where to word stephanos is used in reference to something violent:
"The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns [stephanos] of gold, and their faces resembled human faces."
Although the word for crown used here is stephanos, another Greek word, hos, is used just before it which separates this reference from the rest. The word hos is translated above as "something like." It means the things they were wearing on their heads were not stephanos, but something that, for the lack of a better description, resembled stephanos. The same word is used in Revelation 4:1 where John describes the voice that beckoned him into heaven; he said it was something like a trumpet. John did not say a trumpet spoke with him, but a voice something like a trumpet.
Finally, the Gospel references, which are all accounts of the same event, refer to the crown (stephanos) of thorns Christ was given before going to the cross. There is perhaps no reference for stephanos more closely related to the rider in the first seal than this one.
After being scourged, the Roman solders draped Jesus with a purple robe and place a crown of thorns on His head. Then they began to mock Him by pretending to worship Him by saying, "Hail, king of the Jews." The irony is in the truth of the very words they mockingly stated. In truth they called Jesus "King of the Jews," and as if by prophetic fulfillment, they placed the crown of thorns upon His head.
The thorns the crown was made of are the product of the curse that was placed upon the earth as a result of Adam's sin. The act of placing the crown on Jesus' head was done by the solders, but the reality of why it was put there lies within the promise in Genesis 3:15.
God, not the solders, placed the crown of thorns on Jesus' head. The thorns represent the curse all mankind is under. That curse, along with the consequences of it, were taken to the cross and put to death for all who believe. The rider in the first seal was given a stephanos, a stephanos of thorns given to Him by His Father. He took the stephanos to the cross and obtained the victory, thus, exchanging the curse for righteousness for those who believe on Him.
By nature we are enemies of God, but by the grace of God many are conquered for the kingdom. He goes out conquering and to conquer.
The only question that remains then is why is Jesus wearing many diadems in chapter 19? The answer is really very simple; the diadems on His head are the crowns of every king on earth. The vision represents the fulfillment of Christ subduing all kings and kingdoms (Rev. 12:5). The vision itself declares Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Conclusion
The counterview to the rider of the white horse in the opening of the first seal being antichrist is largely misrepresented by dispensationalists. The fact is not many Christians believe the opening of the first seal represents the second coming, not presently and certainly not historically. If that were the case, it would be fair to contrast the rider in the first seal to Christ in chapter 19. But since so many people who support the antichrist theory choose to make the comparison, it was worthwhile to illustrate the folly of their conclusions.
My hope is that Christians will learn to trust Christ for their understanding and realize that it is okay to not take a theological position until they are sure they understand from a Gospel perspective what the theological positions are. Pastors are people with human passions and theological positions. If we hang solely on their words, we will be their disciples instead of Jesus' disciples. I prefer to be a disciple of Christ!
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