The referent for "the bow" as well as "arrows" metaphorically represents how God deals with people and nations. For instance:Did you know that chapter 1 is showing a bow is linked to the rise and fall of a kingdom?
1:4
"...I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel."
v6
"And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel."
cause to cease the kingdom
break the bow of Israel
v6 "...I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel..."
The bow can also be used to show the rise and fall of other nations, such as Elam.
I think the key is in the statement "a crown was given him".Hi ebedmelech,
One reason that I have not seen the rider as being Jesus Christ for the time of the first seal is because John does not seem to tie the crown in Rev. 14 to the same one seen at the time of the first seal.
a crown- did not become - the crown
Instead, chapter 14 seems to show John a new type of crown on the One that reaps the earth.
There are many who hold that the white horse rider of Rev 6:1, 2 to be antichrist.who else could it be?
LOL!they need to watch LORD OF THE RINGS more often