THE CONQUEROR OF THE REVELATION: Revelation 6:1-2
Revelation 6:2 is the shot in the arm you need when you lack confidence in Christ. Memorize this verse and all that it entails, because you and I do not need self-confidence to live the Christian life for God’s glory; we need Christ-confidence. Revelation 6:1 says, “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’” Henry writes of this, “Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal; he now enters upon the great work of opening and accomplishing the purposes of God towards the church and the world." So this is the beginning of the revelation of what the worthy lionlike-lamb will execute in history for God's glory. So much for the context, now for the doctrine.
DOCTRINE. Christ has gone out conquering and to conquer. Therefore the slaves of Christ can rest their souls as they labor their bodies for His glory with total confidence.
Now, I want to give you five points of doctrine from the text, and then application at the end.
I. CHRIST IS RIDING FORTH ON A WHITE HORSE. “And I looked, and behold, a white horse!” (Rev. 6:2a). John Gill noted, “That Christ is designed by him that sat on the white horse, and is thus described, is evident from Revelation 19:11, with which compare Psalm 45.” John Trapp said of this passage, “He that sat on him” is Christ (Rev. 19:11; Ps. 65:5). The conquerors entered into Rome carried on a white horse.“ Matthew Henry wrote, “In verse 2, the Lord Jesus appears riding on a white horse. White horses are generally refused in war, because they make the rider a mark for the enemy; but our Lord Redeemer was sure of the victory and a glorious triumph.“ Psalm 45:4a says, “In your majesty ride out victoriously.” This is also the picture of Christ revealed to us in Revelation 19:11-13. Christ is riding forth in history on a white horse, accomplishing God’s purposes in the world for the glory of the triune God.
Now many commentators take the white horse to be the church. The church is depicted as white for its purity of life and doctrine. We are depicted as a horse for our swift yet enduring progress in preaching the gospel and planting Churches throughout the world. Eusebius, an early church historian, said, “The apostles and preachers of apostolic doctrine ran through the world like a sunbeam, and were carried as on eagles’ or on angels’ wings.” Even the Apostles saw this. In Colossians 1:5-6 Paul writes, “The gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing.”
II. CHRIST IS RIDING FORTH WITH A BOW. “. . .And its rider had a bow” (Rev. 6:2b). Of Christ, Psalm 45:5 says, “Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.” John Trapp noted, “[This bow is] the doctrine of the gospel, whereby the people fall under him“ (Psalm 45:5). Henry wrote, “‘He had a bow in his hand.’ The convictions impressed by the word of God are sharp arrows, they reach at a distance; and, though the ministers of the word draw the bow at a venture, God can and will direct it to the joints of the harness. This bow, in the hand of Christ, abides in strength, and, like that of Jonathan, never returns empty.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, as He rides forth, fires arrows both of salvation, and arrows of judgement from His bow! God’s Prophet speaks of this kind of arrow attack. “You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers. . . .You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger. You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah” (Hab. 3:9, 12-13). In the Revelation, Christ fires arrows of judgement at his enemies, apostate Israel and the emperor-worshipping Roman empire. Yet He also fires arrows of salvation, because, as Habakkuk says, “He went out for the salvation of His people.” Christ is riding forth with a bow.
III. CHRIST IS RIDING FORTH WITH A CROWN. “. . .and a crown was given to him” (Rev. 6:2c). Psalm 45:6 says of Christ, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Revelation 6, observes, “A crown was given him, importing that all who receive the gospel must receive Christ as a king, and must be his loyal and obedient subjects; he will be glorified in the success of the gospel. When Christ was going to war, one would think a helmet had been more proper than a crown; but a crown is given him as the earnest and emblem of victory.” Paul writes in Philippians 2:8-11, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” As Peter said in his sermon at Pentecost, “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” Christ has been given the name above every name, a crown of glory and honor. He is King of kings and Lord of lords right now. Christ is riding forth with a crown.
IV. CHRIST IS RIDING FORTH CONQUERING. “. . .and he came out conquering” (Rev. 6:2e). In Psalm 45:4 the saints of old sang of Christ, “In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!” It was anticipated that he would ride out victoriously, and John sees Him riding indeed. Jerome said in 378, “From India to Britain, all nations resound with the death and resurrection of Christ.” John Trapp noted in his day, “Christ came and conquered this kingdom (Britain), which the Romans with all their power could not do.”
What does this conquering look like? It looks like what Christ promised: “He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’ And again he said, ‘To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened’” (Lk. 13:18-20). Christ’s conquering looks like a mustard seed growing into mustard tree, then slowly but surely taking over the whole garden. It looks also like a little bit of yeast that slowly but surely works its way through the entire loaf of bread. There were 120 believers the morning of Pentecost and now the Kingdom of Christ has advanced so much so that millions and millions of saints around the world are reconciled to God in Christ. Christ is riding forth conquering.
V. CHRIST IS RIDING FORTH WITH THE INTENTION TO CONQUER. “. . .and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2e). This is the same that is foretold in Psalm 45:4: “In your majesty ride out victoriously.” In Psalm 2:8, God the Father says to God the Son, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Consider these other passages of Scripture concerning the promised conquest of Christ throughout the nations: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). “Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” (Ps. 72:19). “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9). “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’” (Ps. 110:1). “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:24-26).
Matthew Henry, at the end of his commentary on this section of Scripture, wrote, “Observe, From this seal opened, The successful progress of the gospel of Christ in the world is a glorious sight, worth beholding, the most pleasant and welcome sight that a good man can see in this world. Whatever convulsions and revolutions happen in the states and kingdoms of the world, the kingdom of Christ shall be established and enlarged in spite of all opposition. . . Christ's work is not all done at once. We are ready to think, when the gospel goes forth, it should carry all the world before it, but it often meets with opposition, and moves slowly; however, Christ will do his own work effectually, in his own time and way.” Christ is riding forth with the intention to conquer.
APPLICATION. Do you belong to this Conquering Savior and King? Then see what confidence you should have every day.
In your private worship, you are worshipping and communing with the one riding forth conquering and to conquer. You con confidently commune with the triune God who has made peace with you through His triumphant Son. Worship the Lord confidently in private.
In your family worship, you are leading your families to pay tribute to the one Conquering Savior—you can confidently offer thanks to the one who has conquered you by His love. Worship the Lord confidently with your family.
In public worship, you are assembling with the saints to offer up sacrifices of praise to the victorious rider on the white horse, the lionlike lamb who was slain for us—you can confidently offer praise to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood. You can confident offer worship to Him who has made us a kingdom and priests to our God. Worship the Lord confidently in Public.
IV) In your vocation, you are serving the Lord Christ, who wears the crown—you can confidently work your job for His great name’s sake, remembering He has all authority in heaven and son earth. Serve the Lord confidently in your vocation.
In evangelism, you are declaring the good news of the one who is conquering and means to conquer—no one can stay His hand nor thwart His plan. He has people left to conquer in your city; you can go forth confidently and get them. Proclaim the Lord confidently in evangelism.
In discipleship, you are teaching the good commands of the one who is conquering and intends to conquer. You can confidently teach his Law and commands, as well as His promises and providences, to His people unashamedly. He makes his people willing in the day of His power (Ps. 110). Make disciples confidently in teaching and applying the Scriptures to the everyday lives of the saints.
When you are persecuted for righteousness sake, you are backed by the one who has a bow and many sharp arrows. Christ will either kill their sin or kill them in their sin. You can take every bit of your life captive for Christ, and confidently strive to obey Him, knowing He wears the crown and holds the bow. Endure persecution confidently for His name’s sake.
In Church Planting, you are taking part in great work of the rider on the white horse who came out conquering and to conquer. You can confidently risk money, possessions, comforts, and even your life, knowing He means to Conquer. He will use you, by His grace, as a means to that end for His glory and other’s good. Labor to plant churches confidently for His glory.
CONCLUSION. Let me say this one word of exhortation, which is the same thing we introduced this sermon with. Revelation 6:2 is the shot in the arm you need when you lack confidence in Christ. Read it again and go forth from this place in His triumphant procession. “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2).