**First Seal (Revelation 6:1-2) – The Rise of the Papacy**
The opening of the first seal in Revelation 6:1-2 reveals a white horse, whose rider has a bow and a crown and goes forth conquering and to conquer. This symbolizes the early period of the church when Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, ultimately leading to its dominance over the empire itself. However, this period also saw the emergence of the apostate church, leading to the rise of the Papacy.
### **Revelation 6:1-2 (KJV)**
*"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."*
### **The Rider on the White Horse: The Bishop of Rome**
The imagery of a rider on a horse represents rulers and those who guide the destiny of nations, as seen in Zechariah 10:5:
*"And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded."*
Here, the rider symbolizes the Bishop of Rome, who would later become the Pope. This transformation took place over time, culminating in what Paul describes as the rise of the "Man of Sin":
**2 Thessalonians 2:3-4**
*"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."*
This apostasy began early in the church, as Paul warned the Ephesian elders:
**Acts 20:29-31**
*"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."*
### **The Day-for-a-Year Prophecy: 280 Years to the Birth of the Man of Sin**
The Man-Child of Sin was "revealed" at the end of a gestation period of 280 prophetic day-years, mirroring the typical human pregnancy of 280 days (nine months). This period began in 45 CE, when apostasy in the early church first emerged with the Judaizers (Acts 15:1-5). If we apply the prophetic day-for-a-year principle (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34), we arrive at the year 325 CE—when the First Council of Nicaea was convened by Emperor Constantine.
This council marked the birth of the apostate church and the establishment of clerical authority over the faithful. It was during this time that the Bishop of Rome gained preeminence, setting the stage for the Papacy’s ascendancy.
### **The Bow: The Influence of Christianity**
The rider on the white horse holds a bow, a symbol of authority and conquest. In biblical symbolism, a bow represents the power of God's word:
**Zechariah 9:13-14**
*"When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south."*
**Psalm 64:3**
*"Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words."*
The bow in this passage is arrowless, signifying that Christianity would conquer not through military might but through the influence of the gospel. This aligns with the events of 313 CE when Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, granting toleration to Christianity. Soon after, he declared himself a Christian, leading to the triumph of the church.
### **The Crown: Authority Given to the Bishop of Rome**
The rider was given a crown, representing great honor and authority within the church. This was fulfilled when Constantine, the Imperial Pontifex Maximus, elevated Christianity to a place of prominence and power.
Under Constantine, the church gained political influence, and the clergy was given special privileges. The First Council of Nicaea (325 CE) further solidified the authority of the Bishop of Rome, paving the way for the eventual rise of the Papacy.
### **The Transition from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome**
Constantine's embrace of Christianity was a turning point in history. Though he helped Christianity gain prominence, his influence also contributed to the corruption of the church. He combined Christian doctrine with pagan customs, leading to an apostate form of Christianity. The once-persecuted church now held the reins of power, replacing the Roman eagle with the cross on its banners.
However, this newfound authority came at a cost. The church, now aligned with the state, became more focused on power and control rather than true faith. As imperial authority weakened, the Bishop of Rome took on greater religious and political power, eventually becoming the supreme religious ruler—Pontifex Maximus.
This was the fulfillment of Paul's warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10:
*"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."*
### **Conclusion**
The first seal of Revelation marks a significant transformation in the history of Christianity. What began as a faith persecuted by Rome eventually gained victory over the empire. Yet, this triumph also led to apostasy, as the Bishop of Rome rose to power, fulfilling the prophecy of the Man of Sin.
The day-for-a-year principle reveals that from the early seeds of apostasy in 45 CE, a 280-year gestation led to the birth of the ecclesiastical system in 325 CE at the Council of Nicaea. From there, the Papacy grew into the dominant religious and political force in medieval Europe.
This prophetic timeline underscores the importance of staying true to the gospel, warning believers against the dangers of compromise and the pursuit of worldly power. The ultimate victory belongs not to the institutions of man, but to those who remain faithful to the teachings of Christ.
