Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 19:11

"And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war." — Revelation 19:11 (ASV)

The great vision that begins here reminds us of the first vision of the book (l:12ff.), though its function is entirely different. The whole scene looks alternately to the OT and to the previous references in Revelation to Christ, especially in the seven letters (chs. 2–3). A white horse with a rider has appeared at 6:1 (see comment). Both white horses represent conquest or victory, but with that the similarity ends. The rider here is “faithful and true” (cf. 1:5; 3:7, 14), in contrast to the forces of Antichrist with their empty promises and lies. Christ will keep his word to the churches. In contrast to those who pervert justice and wage unjust war, John says of Christ, “With justice he judges and makes war [GK 4482],” an allusion to the messianic character described in Isa 11:3ff. The questions in 13:4, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war [GK 4482] against him?” anticipate the answer that Christ alone can do this, while in 17:14 the beast and the ten kings “make war” (GK 4482) against the Lamb.

Though John uses OT language descriptive of a warrior-Messiah, he does not depict Christ as a great military warrior battling against earth’s sovereigns. The close proximity in v.11 of “justice” and “war” shows us that the kind of warfare Christ engages in is more the execution of “justice” (lit., “righteousness”; GK 1466) than a military conflict. He who is the faithful and true witness will judge the rebellious nations.