Behold the conquering King

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

BEHOLD THE CONQUERING KING

Rev 6:1-2

6:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

NIV

Volumes and volumes have been written by scholars and theologians on all that is written on this scroll sealed with the seven seals. It is revealing that many of them have differing opinions as to what the writing on the scroll represents. It does seem somewhat odd that many think these are actually events which are happening in heaven, but by the text it appears we are being told that as Jesus broke open the first of the seven seals a portion of the scroll that had writing on both sides was about to be read. John was summoned by one of the living creatures to come up and see that portion of the scroll that was opened. What he saw was that which was on the scroll. Was it in word form or picture form? Perhaps we may only know once we reach heaven ourselves, but it would seem as John describes what he saw, as behold before me was a white horse, it may well have been a pictorial scroll. The actions or events pictured on the scroll are representations of real events that have or will take place, but at this time it would seem they are only being shown to John as what will happen. Of course we know that the white horse means purity and Jesus riding on it with his bow and having been given a crown. Jesus rides out with the gospel message as a conqueror. He first fired his arrows, the gospel message to the Jews and then to the rest of the world. The Gospel will conquer men’s souls. This should once again give us a clue as to how we, who have been conquered by the gospel, should live. Although the scripture tells us that Jesus, the gospel, as set us free, it is free from sin that we have been freed, not free to be free to live as we please. We still have to see ourselves as being conquered by the King of kings. We are his bondservants, his to command. We have been conquered by the gospel and thus we are under his authority. This means we cannot live our lives simply making Jesus or God a part of our lives. If we truly live as conquered servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, then he is the only focus of our lives. We live for his pleasure. We live by his word. We live for his purpose. Who we are, what we do, is completely under his authority. We cannot live self-centered, but we must live God-centered. Jesus cannot be a part of our lives, we are a part of his. He is our conquering King. The other truth we must also see here is that the gospel message will conquer. Although it seems at times mankind has rejected this gospel message and there is evil abounding all around us, in the end, the gospel message, Jesus Christ will conquer, he will prevail over all evil.