1. CONCERNING THE WHITE HORSE
in
THE APOCALYPSE
Chapter XIX
The Word as to its spiritual or internal sense is described by John in Revelation in these words:
I saw heaven opened; and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in justice [A.V. righteousness] He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev. xix 11, 12, 13, 14, 16.
It is not possible for any one to have a clear idea of what each of these particular things implies, except from the internal sense. It is clear that each single thing is something representative and significative as heaven being opened; a horse which was white; He that sat upon him, in justice judging and making war; His eyes being as a flame of fire; many crowns being on his head; that He had a name that no man knew but He Himself; His being clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and that the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses; that they were clothed in fine linen, white and clean; and that on His vesture and on His thigh He had a name written. It is stated openly that He is the Word, and that it is the Lord Who is THE WORD; for it is said, "His name is called THE WORD OF GOD," and later, "He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." From the meaning of each particular expression, it is evident that in this passage the Word is described as to its spiritual or internal sense. Heaven being opened represents and signifies that the internal sense of the Word can be seen in heaven and thence by those in the world to whom heaven is opened. The horse which was white represents and signifies the understanding of the Word as to interior things. It will be evident from what follows that this is the meaning of a white horse. That He that sat upon him is the Lord as to the Word, and thus the Word, is established, for it is stated, "His name is called the Word of God." He is called Faithful, and is said to judge in justice, from Good. And He is called True, and is said to make war in justice, from Truth, for the Lord Himself is justice. His eyes being as a flame of fire denote the Divine Truth from the Divine Good of His Divine Love. The many crowns upon His head signify all goods and truths of faith. His having a Name written that no man knew but He Himself, means that no one but Himself, and he to whom He reveals it, sees that the Word is of such a quality in the internal sense. Clothed in a vesture dipped in blood signifies the Word in the letter to which violence has been offered. The armies in the heavens which followed Him upon white horses denote those who are in the understanding of the Word as to its interiors. Clothed in fine linen clean and white signifies the same persons in truth from good. A Name written on His vesture and on His thigh signifies truth and good and their quality. From these things, as from those which precede and those which follow, it is evident that therein it is foretold, that about the last time of the Church the spiritual or internal sense of the Word will be disclosed. And what will come to pass at that time is even described there, verses 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. It is unnecessary to show here that such things are signified by these words, seeing that they are shown in detail in ARCANA CAELESTIA, as for example that: The Lord is the Word because He is the Divine Truth, (n. 2533, 2803, 2894, 5272, 7835): The Word is Divine Truth, (n. 4692, 5075, 9987). He is described as sitting upon the horse, judging and making war in justice, because the Lord is Justice; the Lord is called Justice by reason of His having of His own proper power saved the human race, (n. 1813, 2025, 2026, 2027, 9715, 9809, 10019, 10152). And justice is merit which belongs to the Lord alone, (n. 9715, 9979). His eyes as a flame of fire signify Divine Truth from the Divine Good of the Divine Love; this is because eyes signify the understanding and the truth of faith, (n. 2701, 4403-4421, 4523-4534, 6923, 9051, 10569), and a flame of fire, the good of love, (n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832). The crowns which were on His head signify all goods and truths of faith, (n. 114, 3858, 6335, 6640, 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905). His having a Name written which no man knew but He Himself, means that no one but He Himself, and he to whom He reveals it, sees that the Word is of such a quality in the internal sense; this is because a name denotes a thing's quality, (n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3237, 3421, 6674, 9310). Being clothed in a vesture dipped in blood, signifies the Word in the letter to which violence has been done this is because vesture means truth, since truth clothes what is good, (n. 1073, 2576, 5248, 5319, 5954, 9212, 9216, 9952, 10536), especially truth in its most external form, and so the Word in the letter, (n. 5248, 6918, 9158, 9212) and because blood means the violence done to truth by what is false, (n. 374, 1005, 4735, 5476, 9127). The armies in the heavens which followed Him on white horses signify those who are in the understanding of the Word as to its interiors: this is because armies signify those who are in the truths and goods of heaven and the Church, (n. 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019) and a horse signifies the understanding, (n. 3217, 5321, 6125, 6400, 6531, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8381); and white means truth which is in the light of heaven, thus interior truth, (n. 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319). It is because linen or fine linen signifies truth from a celestial origin, which is truth from good, that being clothed in fine linen white and clean means these same persons in truth from good, (n. 5319, 9469). That a Name written on the vesture and on the thigh, means truth and good, and their quality, is because vesture means truth, and a name means quality, as above, and thigh signifies the good of love, (n. 3021, 4277, 4280, 9961, 10488). King of kings and Lord of lords is the Lord as to Divine Truth and as to Divine Good. The Lord is called King from Divine Truth, (n. 3009, 5068, 6148), and He is called Lord from Divine Good, (n. 4973, 9167, 9194). From these things the quality of the Word in its spiritual or internal sense is manifest, and that there is not a word in it that does not mean something spiritual relating to heaven and the Church.