The Rider on the White Horse
Heaven erupts in the Alleluia chorus. Christ returns as the Word of God on a white horse, conquering all opposition — his sword is the Word that converts.
After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: "Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
[1,3,4,6] Alleluia: found only here in the New Testament, this frequent exclamation of praise in the Hebrew psalms was important in Jewish liturgy.
Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said: "Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, (our) God, the almighty.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready.
[7] The wedding day of the Lamb: symbol of God's reign about to begin (⇒ Rev 21:1-⇒ 22:5); see the note on ⇒ Rev 10:7. His bride: the church; cf ⇒ 2 Cor 11:2; ⇒ Eph 5:22-27. Marriage is one of the biblical metaphors used to describe the covenant relationship between God and his people; cf ⇒ Hosea 2:16-22; ⇒ Isaiah 54:5-6; ⇒ 62:5; ⇒ Ezekiel 16:6-14. Hence, idolatry and apostasy are viewed as adultery and harlotry (⇒ Hosea 2:4-13; ⇒ Ezekiel 16:15-63); see the note on ⇒ Rev 14:4.
{7} The Church can only be made pure if its members begin confessing their resentments to one another, as well as their sins to priests. The Catholic Steps will light the Way to Paradise.
Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was (called) "Faithful and True." He judges and wages war in righteousness.
[11-16] Symbolic description of the exalted Christ (cf ⇒ Rev 1:13-16) who together with the armies of heaven overcomes the beast and its followers; cf ⇒ Rev 17:14.
He wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God.
[13] Had been dipped in: other Greek manuscripts and versions read "had been sprinkled with"; cf ⇒ Rev 19:15. The Word of God: Christ is the revelation of the Father; cf ⇒ John 1:1, ⇒ 14; ⇒ 1 John 2:14.
Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty.
[15] The treading of the wine press is a prophetic symbol used to describe the destruction of God's enemies; cf ⇒ Isaiah 63:1-6; Joel 3:13.
The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
{21} Killed by the sword = converted by the Word of God. The flesh is destroyed by the Spirit.