What does the first Seal and the white horse represent?
The first seal shows a white horse whose rider carries a bow, is given a crown, and goes forth conquering; one teaching says this rider is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, while another teaching says the four horses (including this one) are real angelic beings sent by God, and that this rider pictures a conquering spirit of deception used as judgment on those who reject the Gospel.
Revelation 6:1-2 records that when the Lamb opened the first seal, John was told to "come and see," and behold, a white horse appeared whose rider had a bow, was given a crown, and went forth conquering and to conquer. One line of teaching holds that this rider is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The crown given to him is tied to Revelation 14:14, where one like the Son of man wears a golden crown, and to Revelation 19:11-12, where Christ returns on a white horse wearing many crowns. On this view the seal is a preview of what the opened book will show in full: Christ taking His place as King, displacing the antichrist's rule, and overcoming His enemies by conquest, so that the rider of the white horse is called "the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Another line of teaching in this same body of material insists this is an error to make the white horse rider the literal coming of Jesus, because Christ's actual weapon at His return is described as "the sword of his mouth" (the Word of God), not a bow and arrow, and He comes only after first rapturing His saints. In this teaching, the four horses of the first four seals, including the white horse, are identified through Zechariah 1:8-11 and Zechariah 6:1-8 as real angelic beings, "the four spirits of the heavens," sent by the Lord to walk to and fro through the earth. They are not devils, nor nations, nor symbols, but heavenly agents already at work before the seals were ever opened, executing God's decreed judgments among men, as Daniel 4:17 and 4:35 affirm that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and sets over them whom He will.
Under this second teaching, the white horse rider represents a conquering force that goes forth "in the form of Christ," bringing judgment through deception, doctrines of devils, and false prophets, matching Jesus' own warning in Matthew 24:4-5 that many would come in His name saying, "I am Christ," and deceive many. This horseman is described as a judgment upon those who reject the true Gospel of Jesus Christ even though they know it to be true in their hearts, since eternity is placed in every soul.
Both explanations agree that the seals themselves do not cause events but reveal or preview what is written in the sealed book, functioning like a table of contents for what the trumpet and vial judgments will later bring to pass. The rider's bow signifies conflict, and the crown given to him signifies authority and the transfer of dominion that the rest of Revelation will unfold in fullness, whether that dominion is understood as Christ's own coming kingship or as the deceptive conquest permitted under divine judgment before His true kingdom is established.
The scriptures
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. 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.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth. The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.