Revelation 6:1 Commentary - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary
The Opening of the Seals. | A. D. 95. |
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 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.
Here, 1. Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal; he now enters upon the great work of opening and accomplishing the purposes of God towards the church and the world. 2. One of the ministers of the church calls upon the apostle, with a voice like thunder, to come near, and observe what then appeared. 3. We have the vision itself, v. 2. (1.) The Lord Jesus appears riding on a white horse. White horses are generally refused in war, because they make the rider a mark for the enemy; but our Lord Redeemer was sure of the victory and a glorious triumph, and he rides on the white horse of a pure but despised gospel, with great swiftness through the world. (2.) He had a bow in his hand. The convictions impressed by the word of God are sharp arrows, they reach at a distance; and, though the ministers of the word draw the bow at a venture, God can and will direct it to the joints of the harness. This bow, in the hand of Christ, abides in strength, and, like that of Jonathan, never returns empty. (3.) A crown was given him, importing that all who receive the gospel must receive Christ as a king, and must be his loyal and obedient subjects; he will be glorified in the success of the gospel. When Christ was going to war, one would think a helmet had been more proper than a crown; but a crown is given him as the earnest and emblem of victory. (4.) He went forth conquering, and to conquer. As long as the church continues militant Christ will be conquering; when he has conquered his enemies in one age he meets with new ones in another age; men go on opposing, and Christ goes on conquering, and his former victories are pledges of future victories. He conquers his enemies in his people; their sins are their enemies and his enemies; when Christ comes with power into their soul he begins to conquer these enemies, and he goes on conquering, in the progressive work of sanctification, till he has gained us a complete victory. And he conquers his enemies in the world, wicked men, some by bringing them to his foot, others by making them his footstool. Observe, From this seal opened, [1.] The successful progress of the gospel of Christ in the world is a glorious sight, worth beholding, the most pleasant and welcome sight that a good man can see in this world. [2.] Whatever convulsions and revolutions happen in the states and kingdoms of the world, the kingdom of Christ shall be established and enlarged in spite of all opposition. [3.] A morning of opportunity usually goes before a night of calamity; the gospel is preached before the plagues are poured forth. [4.] Christ's work is not all done at once. We are ready to think, when the gospel goes forth, it should carry all the world before it, but it often meets with opposition, and moves slowly; however, Christ will do his own work effectually, in his own time and way.
Consult other comments:
Revelation 6:1 - The Greek Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Barclay Daily Study Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Revelation 6:1 - Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Revelation 6:1 - B.H. Carroll's An Interpretation of the English Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Through the Bible Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Adam Clarke's Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Revelation 6:1 - College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Revelation 6:1 - Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Revelation 6:1 - Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Revelation 6:1 - John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Expositors Bible Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Revelation 6:1 - Everett's Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Revelation 6:1 - The Expositor’s Greek Testament by Robertson
Revelation 6:1 - Expositor's Dictionary of Text by Robertson
Revelation 6:1 - F. B. Hole's Old and New Testaments Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - F.B. Meyer's Through the Bible Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Gaebelein's Annotated Bible (Commentary)
Revelation 6:1 - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Revelation 6:1 - Geneva Bible Notes
Revelation 6:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Gnomon of the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Grant's Commentary on the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Henry Alford's Greek Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Smith's Writings on 24 Books of the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Revelation 6:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Revelation 6:1 - Commentaries on the New Testament and Prophets
Revelation 6:1 - William Kelly Major Works (New Testament)
Revelation 6:1 - The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Revelation 6:1 - A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Revelation 6:1 - Neighbour's Wells of Living Water
Revelation 6:1 - Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer's New Testament Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - An Exposition on the Whole Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Grant's Numerical Bible Notes and Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Peake's Commentary on the Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Revelation 6:1 - English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Revelation 6:1 - The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Revelation 6:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Revelation 6:1 - The Bible of the Expositor and the Evangelist by Riley
Revelation 6:1 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 6:1 - The Sermon Bible
Revelation 6:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Revelation 6:1 - John Trapp's Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Revelation 6:1 - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Revelation 6:1 - You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Revelation 6:1 - Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament
Revelation 6:1 - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714) was a Presbyterian minister in England who began his commentary on the Bible in 1704. He completed his work up to the end of Acts before his death. Afterwards, his ministerial friends completed the work from Henry’s notes and writings.