299. And he that sat upon him had a bow, signifies that they had the doctrine of truth and good from the Word, from which they fought against the falsities and evils which are from hell, thus against hell. By "Him that sat upon the white horse," as mentioned in Revelation 19:13, is meant the Lord as to the Word; but by him that sat upon this white horse, is meant a man-angel as to the doctrine of truth and good from the Word, thus from the Lord; in like manner as by:
The Lord's army in heaven, which followed the Lord upon white horses (Rev. 19:14).
Of Him that sat on the white horse (Revelation 19), it is said that:
Out of His mouth went forth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations (Rev. 19:15).
And by "the sword out of His mouth," is signified the Divine truth of the Word fighting against falsities and evils (n. 52, 108, 117); but here it is said that he who sat on this white horse had "a bow," and by "a bow" is signified the doctrine of truth and good from the Word fighting against evils and falsities. To fight against falsities and evils is also to fight against the hells, because evils and falsities are from thence, therefore this also is signified.
[2] That "a bow," in the Word, signifies doctrine combating, in both senses, may appear from these passages:
The arrows of Jehovah are sharp, and all His bows bent, the hoofs of His horses shall be counted like flints (Isa. 5:28).
The Lord bent His bow like an enemy (Lam. 2:4).
Thou, O Jehovah, ridest upon Thy horses, Thy bow shall be made naked (Hab. 3:8-9).
He gave the nations before Him and made Him rule over kings. He gave them as dust to His sword, and as stubble to His bow (Isa. 41:2).
In these places "a bow," because it is applied to Jehovah or the Lord, signifies the Word, from which the Lord fights with man against evils and falsities.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace to the nations (Zech. 9:10).
They bend their tongue, their bow is a lie, and not the truth (Jer. 9:3).
Behold the wicked bend their bow, they make ready the arrows upon the string, to shoot in the darkness the upright in heart (Ps. 11:2).
They shall sorely grieve Joseph, and shoot, the archers hold him in hatred; but he shall sit in the strength of his bow, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (Gen. 49:23-24).
Put yourselves in array against Babylon, all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare not the arrow, for she hath sinned against Jehovah (Jer. 50:14, 29).
David lamented over Saul to teach the sons of Judah the bow (2 Sam. 1:17-18).
In that lamentation the combat of truth against falsities is treated of.
[3] Thus saith Jehovah of Hosts; Behold I break the bow of Elam, the beginning of his might (Jer. 49:35).
Jehovah hath made me a polished shaft, in His quiver hath He hidden me (Isa. 49:2).
Behold, sons are an heritage of Jehovah, happy is he that hath filled his quiver with them (Ps. 127:3-5).
"Sons" here, as in other places, signify truths of doctrine.
In Salem shall be the tabernacle of Jehovah, there broke He the string of the bow, the shield, the sword, and war (Ps. 76:2-3).
Jehovah will make wars to cease, He will break the bow, He will cut the spear in sunder, He will burn the chariot in the fire (Ps. 46:9; Ezek. 39:8-9; Hos. 2:18).
In these passages "a bow" signifies the doctrine of truth combating against falsities, and in the opposite sense, the doctrine of falsity combating against truths; therefore "arrows" and "darts" signify truths or falsities. As "war" in the Word signifies spiritual war, therefore the arms of war, such as the sword, spear, shield, buckler, bow and arrows, signify such things as belong to that war.