Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 6:2

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 .

Some, by this white Horse, understand the Gospel, others, the Roman Empire.

And by him that sat thereon with a Bow, some understand Christ going forth with Power to convert the Nations▪ others (and in my Opinion more probably) the Roman Emperors armed with Power.

And having the Imperial Crown,

carrying all before them. So as that which God intended by this to reveal to St. Iohn, was, That the Roman Emperors should yet continue, and use their Power against his Church. Those that understand by the white Horse, the Gospel, or God's Dispensations to his Church under the first Period, and by the Rider, Christ, (amongst whom is our famous Mede) think, that hereby all the time is signified from Christ's Ascens[illegible: 1 letter]on, which was in the 34th year after his Incarnation, till the time that all the Apostles were dead, that is, the first 100 years after Christ (for so long Histories tell us Iohn lived. It was the Age then current, and so may make up part of the Vision of things that were to come. The History of all but 40 of those years we have in the Acts, till Paul was carried Prisoner to Rome. In this Period ruled▪ Augustus Cesar, (in whose time Christ was born, Luke 2.1.) Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero, Galba, Otho, F. Vespasianus, Titus, and Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan, 10, or 11 in all. They went on conqu[illegible: 1 letter]ring, and to conquer the World. But till Nero's time, about the year 66, they did not begin to persecure the Christians; nor did Vespasian and Titus much rage, nor Domitian, till he had reigned 8 years; so as I leave it indifferent to the Reader, whether to understand by the white Horse and its Rider, God's dispensations of Providence to his Church these first years, causing his Gospel to prevail much, and conquering many to the Profession of it, or the Roman Empire with those that Ruled it: what is said is true of both.

Marginal references: Chap. 19.11▪