Revelation 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
A ‘horse’ is symbolic of a church. Zechariah prophesied of the Lord making the house of Juda as His ‘goodly horse’: “Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.” (Zechariah 10:3) Joel prophesied of the church of God as ‘a great people and a strong’ and likened their appearance to the ‘appearance of horses’: “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.” (Joel 2:2,4)
The colour ‘white’ is symbolic of righteousness. Such is indicated in the following verses: “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:4,5) “These are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
The ‘white horse’, therefore, is symbolic of the church of God.
The rider of the ‘white horse’, therefore, is the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the head of the church. Jesus taught His disciples that He alone was their master: “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” (Matthew 23:8-10)
The ‘bow’ signifies the word of God, for the only weapon in God’s arsenal is His word. When Paul described the armour of God, he pointed out the sword of the Spirit to be the word of God: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17) The word of God is spiritual and will bring about the pulling down of satanic strongholds. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The ‘crown’ that was given unto the rider, signifies ‘... power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing’. Jesus Christ was previously proclaimed worthy to receive such attributes in the redemption of the prophets and priests, “…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12)
Therefore, in the things revealed in the opening of the first seal, we see Jesus Christ going forth in His church conquering and to conquer, with power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing, to preach the word of the gospel to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan in the hearts of men.