Texts in Conversation
Revelation 19 depicts a rider on a white horse leading a heavenly army, an image that recalls 2 Maccabees where a radiant horse and rider armed with gold strike down Heliodorus. Both use the figure of a divine horseman to symbolize divine intervention.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
2 Maccabees 3:25
Deuterocanon
20 All, stretching out their hands toward heaven, made their solemn supplication. 21 Then it was pitiful to see the multitude prostrating themselves all mixed together, and the anxiety of the high priest in his great distress. 22 While therefore they called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things entrusted to them safe and secure for those who had entrusted them, 23 Heliodorus went on to execute that which had been decreed. 24 But when he was already present there with his guards near the treasury, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused a great manifestation, so that all who had presumed to come with him, stricken with dismay at the power of God, fainted in terror. 25 For they saw a horse with a frightening rider, adorned with beautiful trappings, and he rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodorus with his forefeet. It seemed like he who sat on the horse had complete armor of gold. 26 Two others also appeared to him, young men notable in their strength, and beautiful in their glory, and splendid in their apparel, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him unceasingly, inflicting on him many severe stripes.
Date: 160–63 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Revelation 19:11
New Testament
11 Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war. 12 His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth extends a sharp sword so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. 16 He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” 17 Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: “Come, gather around for the great banquet of God, 18 to eat your fill of the flesh of kings, the flesh of generals, the flesh of powerful people, the flesh of horses and those who ride them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!”
Date: 92–96 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Roman princes customarily rode white horses in military triumphs; the emperor Domitian had himself ridden one behind his father and brother in their Judean triumph after the Jewish war of 66–70. But the image of Jesus returning on a white horse, conjoined with the title “King of kings” (19:16), may mean that Jesus is portrayed like the Parthian king (compare 6:2; 17:14), his whole army coming on white horses (19:14). That is, Revelation again employs the most feared imagery of the day to communicate its point. The pretentious claims of the emperor and all who were like him would be nothing before the true divine king from heaven. The image may allude to God going forth as a warrior on behalf of his people (e.g., Isaiah 31:4; 42:13; 59:16-18; Habakkuk 3:11-13; Zechariah 14:3; compare Exodus 15:3). This is the ultimate “holy war,” anticipated in the Old Testament, in the Dead Sea Scrolls, by the Zealots and by many other Jewish people, although not all these sources expected the deliverance and armies to come directly from heaven ..."
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2014), 768.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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