白马上的骑士“拿着弓，”是什么意思？它会令我们想像到一个被训练射杀敌人的弓箭手吗？又或者我们会设想一个猎人拿着弓，看着一只被射中的鹿倒下去的情景。
我们很容易便会这样去解读神的故事。假如我们果真持此观点，我们便会认为第一个骑士是代表死亡和毁灭的来临。这样来看这个故事，会使我们不明白其中出人意外的好消息，这个好消息就是，那擅长弯弓的骑士就是神。神很久以前便已经在手中弯弓了。
在圣经第一卷书创世记中，洪水退去后，我们看到神赐给挪亚的应许。神说：“我把（bow弓）虹放在云彩中，这就可作我与地立约的记号了”（创世记 9:13）。我们通常认为创世记故事中的bow，仅仅是指“彩虹”。而启示录的故事中恰好也用了同一个字。
换一种说法，第一个骑士耶稣，是以神立约所发出的应许来作武器的。衪的目的是要带来神复兴整个受造世界的应许。
主，我们的主，因你应许并定意要把生命和医治赐给你所造的世界，我们大大欢喜。你如此爱世人，甚至赐下你的独生子，好叫我们得生命，我们向你献上感谢。阿们。
启示录 6:2
2我就观看，见有一匹白马。骑在马上的拿着弓，并有冠冕赐给他，他便出来，胜了又要胜。
"There before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow. . . ." - Revelation 6:2
What does it mean that the rider on a white horse "held a bow"? Are we to imagine a soldier who has the training to kill with a bow and arrow? Or perhaps we picture a hunter, with bow in hand, standing over a downed deer.
It is tempting to read God’s story that way. But if we did, we would think the first rider is all about bringing death and destruction. To read the story that way would miss the surprising good news that the One who is skilled with a bow is God. He has worked with a bow for a long time.
In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we find a promise that God gave to Noah after the great flood. "I have set my bow in the clouds" God said, "and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth" (Genesis 9:13, NRSV). We usually understand the bow in the Genesis story as being a "rainbow." But it is the same word that is used in this story in Revelation.
In other words, the first horseman, Jesus, is armed with God’s covenant promise. His goal is to bring God’s promises for the renewal of creation to every part of creation.
Lord, our Lord, you surprise us with your promises and your determination to bring life and healing to your creation. Thank you for so loving this world that you gave your one and only Son to give us life. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
