Page 45 - BV17

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse 45

The Bow

He that sat on the white horse had a bow. The bow is a familiar weapon of war -- its
peculiarity being that it can strike at a distance. It is used figuratively for power to make war,
whether in a material or spiritual sense. Thus we find Jacob prophesying about Joseph, saying: “But
his bow remained in strength” (Genesis 49:24). The bow is employed figuratively as a weapon used
by YEHOVAH God. Job speaks of “the arrows of the Almighty” (6:4), and similar mentions can be
found in Deuteronomy 32:23, 42; Lamentations 2:4; Psalms 18:14; 45:4; 77:17 and various other
places in the Bible. Then we read of “the arrow of the Lord’s [YEHOVAH’s] deliverance” in 2
Kings 13:17. This is sufficient to show that the BOW is a symbol of that which discharges the
messages of YEHOVAH God towards the mark they are intended to reach. In other words, it
symbolizes the preaching of the true gospel in general and the individual gospel teacher in
particular.

In Habakkuk’s prophecy is a highly figurative passage in which the prophet sees a vision,
and in describing it he speaks of YEHOVAH God as riding upon horses and chariots of salvation.
In this connection he says: “Your BOW was made quite ready; oaths were sworn over Your
arrows....The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; at the light of Your arrows they went, at
the shining of Your glittering spear....You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation
with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked...” (Habakkuk 3:8-13; cf.
Psalm 110:6). From this scripture we can clearly see that the BOW is a SYMBOL OF YEHOVAH
GOD’S WORD in the day when He goes forth into all the world for the “salvation” of men -- as
pictured in Revelation 19:11.

Another passage that sheds clear light upon the symbol of the bow is Psalm 45 -- notice!

Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One [YEHOVAH], with Your glory and
Your majesty. And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and
righteousness; and Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. Your arrows are
sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; the peoples fall under You (verses 3-5).

In these verses the mention of arrows implies that the royal Warrior had a bow, since in the
other scriptures the mention of the bow implies the arrows. Also, in the Septuagint version of the
Old Testament, verse 4 of this psalm reads as follows: “And in Thy majesty ride, and bend Thy bow,
and prosper and reign, because of truth,” etc.

The Bible -- figuratively speaking -- puts a BOW and ARROWS into the hands of
YEHOVAH God and sends Him forth on a white horse -- in the “day of salvation.” However, the
Bible DOES NOT say a word of false religion or any Antichrist going forth on a white horse (or any
other), or of his carrying a bow. And since we must interpret scripture only by scripture, we have in
this case no choice but to be guided by scripture and take this passage as referring to YEHOVAH
God in the book of Revelation -- or else abandon the Bible entirely.

The Berean Voice September-October 2002