1-2: This verse begins with one of the voices of thunder calling out in a loud voice, showing that the command “comes from God’s throne.” John states he saw, signaling the opening of the seven seals of God, the seals that will judge the nations for their wrongdoing. The white horse with a bow and a crown is seen by some “to represent Christ, mainly because he is associated with white, a color used in Revelation fourteen times to represent purity.” There is not a woe connected with this horseman, and in Rev 19:11-16 Christ rides in on a white horse and defeats his enemies, much like the rider on a white horse. However, many others think this represents the Antichrist, partially because the antichrist will “resemble the Christ, because Antichrist
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It is important to note that the saints have full memory of their persecution here on earth, and are fully “conscious, rational, and aware of each other, God, and the situation on Earth”, signifying that in heaven, believers will remember their deeds on earth, even if they suffered gruesomely for the gospel’s sake. This also mean that “those in heaven are free to ask God questions” and that they can continue to learn upon entering heaven. The fact that they are wearing white robes seems to suggest “the possibility of actual physical forms”, and while these robes have an obvious symbolic meaning, this does not discredit the fact that it also could be physical. The fact that God requests that the martyrs’ wait a little longer for judgment may indicate an intermediate heaven, where the saints are kept under God’s protection until the eternal Heaven is brought into place. When God tells them they must wait also indicates, “waiting requires a passing of time”, which then would refute instantaneous resurrection and soul sleep. To wait a little while longer, however, poses potential problems, because earthly time and heavenly time obviously have major discrepancies, and because this alludes to the imminent end of history. Considering that God’s time and our time may be dramatically different, the saints should be ready for his arrival at any time, trusting that God will wait patiently until the full number of martyrs is
It is important to note that the saints have full memory of their persecution here on earth, and are fully “conscious, rational, and aware of each other, God, and the situation on Earth”, signifying that in heaven, believers will remember their deeds on earth, even if they suffered gruesomely for the gospel’s sake. This also mean that “those in heaven are free to ask God questions” and that they can continue to learn upon entering heaven. The fact that they are wearing white robes seems to suggest “the possibility of actual physical forms”, and while these robes have an obvious symbolic meaning, this does not discredit the fact that it also could be physical. The fact that God requests that the martyrs’ wait a little longer for judgment may indicate an intermediate heaven, where the saints are kept under God’s protection until the eternal Heaven is brought into place. When God tells them they must wait also indicates, “waiting requires a passing of time”, which then would refute instantaneous resurrection and soul sleep. To wait a little while longer, however, poses potential problems, because earthly time and heavenly time obviously have major discrepancies, and because this alludes to the imminent end of history. Considering that God’s time and our time may be dramatically different, the saints should be ready for his arrival at any time, trusting that God will wait patiently until the full number of martyrs is