![]() The most obvious interpretation is, undoubtedly, that what John proceeds to describe was in some way represented in the volume and the idea of a succession of pictures or drawings better accords with the whole representation, than the idea that it was a mere written description. What would be the use of a sealed volume in that case? What the use of the writing within and without? On this supposition the representation would be that, as the successive seals were broken, nothing was disclosed in the volume but a succession of blank portions, and that the mystery or the difficulty was not in anything in the volume, but in the want of ability to summon forth these successive scenic representations. (4) the supposition that the pictorial representation was not in the volume, but that the opening of the seal was the occasion merely of causing a scenic representation to pass before his mind, is unnatural and forced. (3) the language used is not such as would have been employed if he had merely read the description, or had heard it read. (2) each one of the things under the first five seals, where John uses the word "saw," is capable of being represented by a picture or painting. (1) that, according to the interpretation of Revelation 6:1, it was something in or on the volume - since he was invited to draw nearer, in order that he might contemplate it. Nothing is indeed said by which this can be determined with certainty but the most probable supposition would seem to be that there was some pictorial representation in form and appearance, such as he describes in the opening of the six seals. His arrows are ordained against the persecutors.īarnes' Notes on the BibleAnd I saw, and behold - A question has arisen as to the mode of representation here: whether what John saw in these visions was a series of pictures, drawn on successive portions of the volume as one seal was broken after another or whether the description of the horses and of the events was written on the volume, so that John read it himself, or heard it read by another or whether the opening of the seal was merely the occasion of a scenic representation, in which a succession of horses was introduced, with a written statement of the events which are referred to. ![]() For those who will not turn He hath bent His bow and made it ready. The arrows of His judgments (war, famine) would be sharp among those who refused the sword of His word. It is, perhaps, significant of this intervening period of trouble and suffering that the rider is armed with a bow. It was through these that the conqueror would be proved more than conqueror. Wrong in their expectation: the visions of war, famine, death must intervene. Right in their faith: He went forth conquering, and He would conquer. They were right in their faith, and wrong in their expectation. It was thus their hopes saw Christ: though ascended He went forth in spiritual power conquering. Is not the vision the reflex of the hopes of early Christian thought? It is the symbol of Christian victory. No picture of mere Roman conquests or world-victory would have conveyed this. The vision, moreover, was surely designed to convey an assured happy feeling to the mind of the seer. The description, however, seems to demand something more: the expression, “that he might conquer,” carries our thoughts beyond a mere transient conqueror. There is then a harmony of interpretation: the horsemen reveal to the seer that the after-history will be marked by conquests, wars, famines, pestilences. But who or what is here represented? Some take it to be a mere emblem of conquest, or victory, as the next rider represents war. On the white horse of triumph the crowned rider goes forth conquering, and that he might conquer. The horses used in Roman triumphs were white. The crown (stephanos) is the crown of triumph. The emblems -the crown and white horse-are obviously those of victory. One version has, “and he conquered.” All commentators seem to be agreed that this rider represents victory. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Conquering, and to conquer.-Better, conquering, and that he might conquer.
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