and a white horse, and a red horse.
The importance of adhering to the meaning of words in respect of what the New Testament applies them to cannot be overstated because:
IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SAY IT IS
BUT IT'S ALWAYS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IT IS
A WHITE HORSE
In the Revelation everything that's associated with the color white is pure:
- Jesus' head and hair appear white like wool (Rev 1:14).
- A white stone with a saint's name written on it (Rev 2:17).
- The white raiment of the saints (Rev.3:5 & 18; 6:11; 7:9, 13 & 14).
- The white clothing of the 24 elders (Rev 4:4).
- The white clothing of angels (Rev 15:6).
- The white raiment of the bride of Christ (Rev 19:8).
- The Great White Throne (Rev 20:11).
- Christ seated on a white cloud (Rev 14:14).
- Christ returns on a white horse, leading His armies (Rev 19:11 & 14).
- Christ's armies are riding white horses (Rev 19:14).
- The first horseman of the first seal in the Apocalypse is riding a white horse (Revelation 6:2). He is given a stéphanos (crown).
The two types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament are:-
(a) stéphanos (crown) [Strongs Greek Dictionary] 04735 στέφανος stéphanos
from an apparently primary στέφω stéphō, (to twine or wreathe).
(b) diádēma (crown) [StrongsGreek Dictionary] 01238 διάδημα diádēma
from a compound of 1223 and 1210; a "diadem" (as bound about the head):--crown.
Strong's Greek Dictionary defines the stéphanos as: A chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, 1238), literally or figuratively:--crown.
The Wikipedia article about the diadem as a crown states that "The head regalia worn by Roman emperors, from the time of Diocletian onwards, is described as a diadem in the original sources.
THIS IS WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT ASSOCIATES
WITH A stéphanos, AND WHAT IT ASSOCIATES WITH A diádēma:-
The locusts of the fifth trumpet that come out of the bottomless pit are also wearing something that has the appearance of stéphanos crowns, but though they look like the real thing, they are not the real thing.
When it comes to the Bible and Christian doctrine, there are two categories of Christians:
(a) Those who adhere to a belief in the authority of biblical scripture above the doctrines and theologies of men; and
(b) Those who do not.
Many believe they fall into the first category (or claim to fall into the first category), but when their claim is tested, they prove the opposite. Only if our appreciation of biblical scripture and its authority is complete will we ensure that our interpretation of scripture remains true, both to the context of a passage or verse, and the meaning of the words used in that context.
In the case of all those who have believed that the first horseman of the first seal of the Revelation refers to "the Antichrist", probably very few of them will ever change their minds.
Jesus is seen crowned with a stéphanos crown in Revelation 14:14, where He is being called one like the Son of man, and is seen gathering His harvest at the close of the Age.
Philippians 2:6-9:
" (Jesus) being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
In Acts 17:31 we read that God "has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.".
In Revelation 19:12 Jesus is seen crowned with MANY diádēma: In this passage He is being called "King of (all) kings and Lord of (all) Lords", and is coming with His armies, who are seated on white horses, to defeat the beast, destroy him in the lake of fire, and to take up His Kingly rule to reign alone over all kings and all lords.
- Jesus is the only one seen wearing both types of crown in the Revelation.
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a stephanos crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Revelation 6:1-2).
No arrows are mentioned with his bow. How does he conquer?
"Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6) .
"And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:3).
"And when they complete their testimony, the beast coming up out of the abyss will make war against [My two witnesses] and will overcome them and kill them." (Rev.11:7).
The first horse of the first seal does not suggest or imply an "Antichrist spirit", but the second one does:
THE SECOND SEAL: A RED HORSE AND NO CROWN
In contrast to the first one, the second horseman is riding a red (Greek: pyrrhós) horse (which is the exact same color of the dragon in Revelation 12:3).
These two verses (Revelation 6:4: The red horse of the second seal, and Revelation 12:3: The red dragon) are the only two verses in the entire New Testament where the word pyrrhós is used.
The rider on the red horse is given a great sword and "power was given to him sitting on it, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another" (Revelation 6:4) *
* Revelation 13:2 tells us that the red dragon of Revelation 12:3 will give the beast his seat, his power, and great authority.
- The rider of the red horse is not given a crown. He is given a "sword" (it's a metaphorical sword) and he uses it to take peace from the earth and to cause people to kill one another.
but the rider of a horse that's the same color as the dragon being given a great sword and taking peace from the earth, and causing people to kill one another, does speak of an Antichrist spirit or of a beast.
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