Seals · Future - early Tribulation
First Seal: The White Horse
The First Seal
From the teaching of Apostle Mary Banks
The first seal reveals a white horse with a rider who carries a bow and is given a crown, going forth conquering and to conquer. This seal does not execute events but reveals what is contained within the book in God's hand, serving as a preview of what will be fully developed once the book is opened.
The rider of the white horse is identified as the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the first seal is opened, a crown is given to the rider, which is highly significant as it signals that within the book there will be a transfer of power to the Great Conqueror. The crown points to kingship, revealing that Christ is about to take His place as King of the earth, displacing the rule of the antichrist.
The phrase "conquering, and to conquer" communicates two distinct truths. Going forth conquering indicates that once the book is opened, Christ will be seen actively engaged in battle, overcoming His opponents. Going forth to conquer declares that the final outcome has already been determined - victory is not in question.
The white horse rider stands apart from the other horsemen. While the red horse rider causes war, the black horse rider brings famine, and the pale horse rider oversees death, the white horse rider does not cause conquest for others but is Himself the conqueror. He is an active force operating in both spiritual and physical realms and will be directly present once the book is opened.
The first seal reveals a conquering rider, armed with divine power, crowned for kingship, and advancing toward victory already decreed. Every detail - the horse, the bow, the crown, and the conquest - points forward to what the opened book will reveal in fullness.
The scriptures
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 crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.