What does the word ‘white’ symbolize to you? To most folks, ‘white’, means ‘good’, ‘pure’, or ‘untainted’. When my daughter was young, she would see a nurse dressed in white and say ‘Daddy, there goes a good person.’ At age 4, she had formed her opinion about the adjective ‘white’. In Scripture, God has never uses the term ‘white’ to describe anything other than purity and righteousness.
What about the word ‘horse’? What thoughts come to mind? I think of powerful, fast, steadfast, etc. In the reading from Job 39, we see God’s description of the horse to Job. God tells Job that the horse goes to war, unafraid. It charges and is unafraid of the sword!
As my daughter grew older she told me her prince would come - riding a ‘white horse’ - to carry her away. Likewise, the Jewish people were looking for a ‘savior’, the Messiah to come ‘rescue’ them from the Roman oppression. They believed the Messiah come riding in on a powerful horse, accompanied by legions of angels. They were looking for their "Prince Charming". They were anticipating the Messiah to come in riding on a strong steed, physically overturn the Roman Empire, and set them ‘free’.
One can only imagine how stunned the Jewish people were when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey in lieu of a horse. Some folks saw this as a sign that Jesus was not the Christ. How wrong they were! In the times of Jesus, the donkey was a symbol of meekness and peace. It was not a symbol of power like the horse. Additionally, the donkey was considered an ‘unclean’ animal as a donkey doesn’t chew the cud. So how could the Messiah come into His "kingdom" on a donkey? The people simply didn’t understand. Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah, the King, would come to them riding on a donkey. The Scriptures were being fulfilled before their eyes and then didn’t even recognize it. Jesus rode a donkey to confirm His messianic royalty and humility. He came to die for them (die for all of us!) and in humility and meekness, He died - it was His mission - and the people couldn’t see it because they lacked faith. The Truth had come to them but they would not accept it.
But in Revelation 19:11, we read about the One called "Faithful and True" (Jesus) riding in on a white horse to set all right in the world. Revelation tells of the culmination of all the prophecies! This one verse is filled with Old Testament terminology and symbolic meanings! The Jewish people were very familiar with the color ‘white’. As discussed above, ‘white’ indicates purity, etc. however there are other Old Testament scriptures using the term ‘white’ that hold important places in the Jewish history. A few of these are: holiness, the clothes of the priest, snow (sins washed as white as snow), hair as the whiteness of wool (book of Daniel), manna (Exodus), marble used in the Temple (1 Chronicles) and the choir robes (2 Chronicles). As mentioned above, the horse was symbolic of power and courage! "Faithful" is used in Old Testament verses over 100 times. It appears over 50 times in the book of Psalms alone and is almost always used to describe God! The term ‘true’ shows up in Old Testament scriptures over 150 times! The terms, ‘faithful’, ‘true’, ‘white’ and ‘horse’ were all important to the Jewish people. To have that many terms introducing Jesus as He returns to conquer evil for all time is an extremely powerful message to the Jewish community and for the Gentiles, it is powerful as well.
The ‘white horse’ symbolizes "victory". When this white horse comes forth, with Christ as its master, the final battle will be won. Earlier in Revelation, John refers to Jesus as the ‘faithful and true witness’. There are thirteen (13) names for Jesus sprinkled throughout the book of Revelation. The "One called Faithful and True" is my favorite. Faith and Truth are key to Christianity and I personally feel it is very appropriate that Christ appear on a white horse to gather up those whose Faith was placed in Him as those who have recognized the Truth and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. What a great day! Jesus’ being faithful and true releases all who are bounded by lies and deceit!
When Christ appears on that white horse, all the games will be over. All of the pains inflicted upon mankind by mankind will have come to an end. Hatred will come to an end. Crimes will cease. Wars will cease. Jesus will have come to judge! Christ will reveal Himself in all His Glory and Majesty! The Christ will vindicate His people and destroy His enemies and the churches’ enemies! What a contrast....from a donkey to a white horse!
My friends, salvation is so easy to obtain most can’t see the ‘way’. Jesus has done the work. Nothing you can do yourself can save you. Only by confessing your sins and calling on the name of Jesus can you be His. Please do it today. No man knows the hour when the Father will tell the Son, "go and bring you church home". Be prepared so that when Jesus mounts that great white steed and appears poised over the earth, you will be going home with Him!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
What does the word ‘white’ symbolize to you? To most folks, ‘white’, means ‘good’, ‘pure’, or ‘untainted’. When my daughter was young, she would see a nurse dressed in white and say ‘Daddy, there goes a good person.’ At age 4, she had formed her opinion about the adjective ‘white’. In Scripture, God has never uses the term ‘white’ to describe anything other than purity and righteousness.
What about the word ‘horse’? What thoughts come to mind? I think of powerful, fast, steadfast, etc. In the reading from Job 39, we see God’s description of the horse to Job. God tells Job that the horse goes to war, unafraid. It charges and is unafraid of the sword!
As my daughter grew older she told me her prince would come - riding a ‘white horse’ - to carry her away. Likewise, the Jewish people were looking for a ‘savior’, the Messiah to come ‘rescue’ them from the Roman oppression. They believed the Messiah come riding in on a powerful horse, accompanied by legions of angels. They were looking for their "Prince Charming". They were anticipating the Messiah to come in riding on a strong steed, physically overturn the Roman Empire, and set them ‘free’.
One can only imagine how stunned the Jewish people were when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey in lieu of a horse. Some folks saw this as a sign that Jesus was not the Christ. How wrong they were! In the times of Jesus, the donkey was a symbol of meekness and peace. It was not a symbol of power like the horse. Additionally, the donkey was considered an ‘unclean’ animal as a donkey doesn’t chew the cud. So how could the Messiah come into His "kingdom" on a donkey? The people simply didn’t understand. Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah, the King, would come to them riding on a donkey. The Scriptures were being fulfilled before their eyes and then didn’t even recognize it. Jesus rode a donkey to confirm His messianic royalty and humility. He came to die for them (die for all of us!) and in humility and meekness, He died - it was His mission - and the people couldn’t see it because they lacked faith. The Truth had come to them but they would not accept it.
But in Revelation 19:11, we read about the One called "Faithful and True" (Jesus) riding in on a white horse to set all right in the world. Revelation tells of the culmination of all the prophecies! This one verse is filled with Old Testament terminology and symbolic meanings! The Jewish people were very familiar with the color ‘white’. As discussed above, ‘white’ indicates purity, etc. however there are other Old Testament scriptures using the term ‘white’ that hold important places in the Jewish history. A few of these are: holiness, the clothes of the priest, snow (sins washed as white as snow), hair as the whiteness of wool (book of Daniel), manna (Exodus), marble used in the Temple (1 Chronicles) and the choir robes (2 Chronicles). As mentioned above, the horse was symbolic of power and courage! "Faithful" is used in Old Testament verses over 100 times. It appears over 50 times in the book of Psalms alone and is almost always used to describe God! The term ‘true’ shows up in Old Testament scriptures over 150 times! The terms, ‘faithful’, ‘true’, ‘white’ and ‘horse’ were all important to the Jewish people. To have that many terms introducing Jesus as He returns to conquer evil for all time is an extremely powerful message to the Jewish community and for the Gentiles, it is powerful as well.
The ‘white horse’ symbolizes "victory". When this white horse comes forth, with Christ as its master, the final battle will be won. Earlier in Revelation, John refers to Jesus as the ‘faithful and true witness’. There are thirteen (13) names for Jesus sprinkled throughout the book of Revelation. The "One called Faithful and True" is my favorite. Faith and Truth are key to Christianity and I personally feel it is very appropriate that Christ appear on a white horse to gather up those whose Faith was placed in Him as those who have recognized the Truth and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. What a great day! Jesus’ being faithful and true releases all who are bounded by lies and deceit!
When Christ appears on that white horse, all the games will be over. All of the pains inflicted upon mankind by mankind will have come to an end. Hatred will come to an end. Crimes will cease. Wars will cease. Jesus will have come to judge! Christ will reveal Himself in all His Glory and Majesty! The Christ will vindicate His people and destroy His enemies and the churches’ enemies! What a contrast....from a donkey to a white horse!
My friends, salvation is so easy to obtain most can’t see the ‘way’. Jesus has done the work. Nothing you can do yourself can save you. Only by confessing your sins and calling on the name of Jesus can you be His. Please do it today. No man knows the hour when the Father will tell the Son, "go and bring you church home". Be prepared so that when Jesus mounts that great white steed and appears poised over the earth, you will be going home with Him!