Apocalypse Revealed # 298
298. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. (6:2) This symbolizes an understanding of truth and goodness from the Word among those people.
A horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word, and a white horse an understanding of truth from the Word. For the color white is predicated of truths (no. 167).
That a horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word is something we showed in a separate short work titled The White Horse. But because we cited only some passages there, we will present more here by way of confirmation. The reality of it is clearly apparent from the fact that horses were seen to go forth from the book which the Lamb opened, and that the living creatures said, "Come and see." For the living creatures symbolize the Word (nos. 239, 275, 286). So, too, does the book (no. 256). And the Son of Man, who here is the Lamb, is the Lord in relation to the Word (no. 44).
It is apparent from this, first, that nothing else is meant here by the horse than an understanding of the Word. This can be still more clearly seen from this later description in the book of Revelation:
I saw heaven opened, when behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called... The Word of God... And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS... And His armies in heaven... followed Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11, 13-14, 16)
[2] That a horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word can be further seen from the following passages:
O Jehovah..., is Your wrath against the sea, that You ride on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? ...You trampled the sea with your horses, the mud of many waters. (Habakkuk 3:8, 15)
The hooves of Jehovah's horses are regarded as rocks... (Isaiah 5:28)
On that day... I will strike every horse with stupor, and its rider with madness...; and I will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. (Zechariah 12:4)
On that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, "Holiness to Jehovah." (Zechariah 14:20)
Because God has made her forget wisdom, and did not impart to her understanding. When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider. (Job 39:17-18, and following verses)
I will cut off... the horse from Jerusalem... Rather He shall speak peace to the nations. (Zechariah 9:10)
At Your rebuke, (O Jehovah,) both the chariot and horse fell asleep. (Psalms 76:6)
I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms... and I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down... (Haggai 2:22)
With you I will disperse... kingdoms; with you I will disperse the horse and its rider. (Jeremiah 51:20-21)
Assemble yourselves... from round about to My sacrifice... You will be satisfied at My table with horses and riders... (Thus) I will set My glory among the nations. (Ezekiel 39:17, 20-21)
...gather together for the great supper of God, (and) you (will) eat... the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them... (Revelation 19:17-18)
Dan shall be... a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that its rider falls backward. I have waited for your salvation, O Jehovah! (Genesis 49:17-18)
Gird Your sword..., O Mighty One... Mount up..., ride upon the Word of truth... (Psalms 45:3-4)
Sing to God...; extol Him who rides on the clouds... (Psalms 68:4)
Behold, Jehovah is riding on a... cloud... (Isaiah 19:1)
Sing praises to the Lord..., to Him who rides on the heaven of the heaven of old...! (Psalms 68:32-33)
(God) rode upon a cherub... (Psalms 18:10)
Then you shall delight yourself in Jehovah; and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the earth... (Isaiah 58:14)
Jehovah alone led him... (And) He made him ride in the heights of the earth... (Deuteronomy 32:12-13)
I will make Ephraim ride. (Hosea 10:11)
Ephraim also symbolizes an understanding of the Word.
[3] Since Elijah and Elisha represented the Lord in relation to the Word, therefore they were called the chariot of Israel and his horsemen. Elisha said to Elijah,
"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" (2 Kings 2:12)
And Joash said to Elisha,
"O my father..., the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" (2 Kings 13:14)
Jehovah opened the eyes of (Elisha's) servant, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)
A chariot symbolizes doctrine from the Word, and a horseman one who is wise as a result of it.
The following have similar symbolic meanings: The four chariots coming from between the bronze mountains in Zechariah, and the four horses harnessed to them, which were red, black, white, and dappled, called also four spirits, and said to go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth (Zechariah 6:1-8, 15). Horses in these places symbolize an understanding of the Word, or an understanding of truth from the Word. So, too, in other places.
[4] This can be further seen from horses mentioned in an opposite sense, in which they symbolize an understanding of the Word or of truth falsified by reasonings, and also extinguished, and likewise a person's own intelligence, as in the following passages:
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses..., and do not look to the Holy One of Israel... Egypt is man and not God, and its horses are flesh and not spirit. (Isaiah 31:1, 3)
You shall... set a king over (Israel) whom Jehovah... chooses... Only let him not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses. (Deuteronomy 17:15-16)
These statements are made because Egypt symbolizes knowledge and reasoning springing from a person's own intelligence, the result of which is a falsification of the Word's truth, which is the meaning of horses here.
Assyria shall not save us. We will not ride on a horse... (Hosea 14:3)
Some glory in chariots, and some in horses; but we will glory in the name of... our God. (Psalms 20:7)
A horse is a false means for safety. (Psalms 33:17)
(Jehovah) does not delight in the strength of the horse. (Psalms 147:10)
...thus says... the Holy One of Israel: ."..In... confidence shall be your strength." But... you said, "No..., ...we will flee on a horse...." And, "We will ride on a swift horse." (Isaiah 30:15-16)
...Jehovah... will make (Judah) as a glorious horse... ...the riders on horses shall be put to shame. (Zechariah 10:3, 5)
Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies... ...and the neighing horse, and the jolting chariot... The horseman causing to ascend... (Nahum 3:1-4)
...I will bring against Tyre... the king of Babylon..., with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen... Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen... and the chariots... With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets. (Ezekiel 26:7-11)
Tyre symbolizes the church in respect to its concepts of truth, in this case these concepts falsified in it, which are the horses of Babylon. And so on in other places, as in Isaiah 5:28; Ezekiel 17:15; 23:6, 20; Habakkuk 1:6, 8-10; Psalms 66:12.
An understanding of the Word extinguished is symbolized also by the horses, fiery red, black and pale, in the verses that now follow.
To be shown that a horse symbolizes an understanding of truth from the Word owing to appearances in the spiritual world, see my small book titled The White Horse.
Psalms 69
1
Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
2
I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3
I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4
Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn't take away.
5
God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.
6
Don't let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don't let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.
7
Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.
8
I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's children.
9
For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10
When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.
11
When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12
Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.
13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
14
Deliver me out of the mire, and don't let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15
Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me.
16
Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.
17
Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!
18
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.
19
You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.
20
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.
21
They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22
Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.
23
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see. Let their backs be continually bent.
24
Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
25
Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.
26
For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
27
Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness.
28
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
29
But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.
30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31
It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
32
The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
33
For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.
34
Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!
35
For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.
36
The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein. For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.
