(1) a white
(2) horse, and he who sat on it
(3) had a bow;
(4) and a crown (stephanos - victor's wreath) was given to him;
(5) and he went out conquering (overcoming), and (inorder)to conquer (overcome). (literal rendering)

Read the "Principles of Scripture Study".
Consider Principles # 2, 3, 4, & 6. Let's take a close look at our symbols here in light of these principles.
Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heeds the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Let us read the words and heed (pay special attention) to what is written.

(1) White, throughout scripture when white is used as symbolic language it always denotes holiness, righteousness, purity, that which is sent from, or is of God. In Revelation white is mentioned 14 times:

Revelation:
1:14 Messiah's hair white as wool
2:17 Overcomers given a white stone
3:4 Jesus said, "they will walk with Me in white"
3:18 Jesus said, "buy from Me white garments...."
4:4 Heavenly elders clothed in white garments
6:2 A white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow
6:11 Souls underneath the alter given white robes
7:9 Great Multitude before the throne dressed in white robes
7:13 Robes made white in the blood of the Lamb
14:14 White cloud, one sitting on it like the Son of Man
19:11 A white horse, he who sat on it is called faithful and true
19:14 Jesus' armies in heaven wearing white linen riding white horses
20:11 The Great White Throne

13 times it refers to the white of righteousness of belonging to God, 2 times referring to Jesus riding on a white horse, another His armies riding white horses. Just using the principle of two or more witnesses we can establish this is a holy horse. No where in scripture is white used symbolically to represent deception or falseness. So why apply it to Revelation chapter six, verse two? If white represents righteousness and holiness in all these other scriptures it represents righteousness and holiness in this scripture also.

(2) Horse, and he who sat on it: this is the first of the four horses that come out from the scroll at the opening of the first four seals (we will come back and cover the relationship of Jesus and the scroll and the seals later.) the first mention of the four horses is in Zechariah 6:1-8:

"Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses. Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these, my lord?" And the angel answered and said to me, "These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth, with one of which the black horses are going forth to the north country; and the white ones go forth after them, while the dappled ones go forth to the south country. When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth." And He said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth. Then He cried out to me and spoke to me saying, "See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north."

Sixth Principle: The rule of first mention. When ever there is confusion or conflict over what a symbol or topical subject means, go to the place in the scriptures where it is first mentioned. You will find that in most cases the symbol or topic will be thoroughly explained and/or defined. You will also find that this explanation or definition will remain consistent throughout scripture.

Four chariots are pulled by red horses, black horses, white horses, and dappled horses (same colored horses as in revelation). They (the chariots) go forth to patrol the Earth. "What are these, my lord?" And the angel answered and said to me, "These are the four spirits of heaven" (Zechariah 6:1-8) (chariots of fire = four living creatures before the Throne of God. Rev. 4:6-8, read: Eze. 1:4-24, 10:1-22)
So, what have we seen here:

1. The four chariots are four heavenly spirits (messengers).
2. The four spirits go forth to patrol the earth.
3. The horses transport these heavenly spirits.

(3) a bow (without arrows).

The first mention of the bow is in Genesis 8:20-9:17.

Genesis 9:12-15 And God Said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Here we have a bow with out any arrows. God's bow. A bow is the sign (the symbol) of God's covenant.

(4) a crown (victor's wreath) was given to him. The Greek word is "stefanos" and is the golden laurel wreath that was presented to the winners in the Olympic Games. It is not a "diadem" "royal crown" that is present on the Beast (who, by the way, is the representation of the Antichrist). This Stefanos is an Overcomers reward and is used consistently in this manner throughout new covenant scriptures.

Matt. 27:29    Jesus victor's wreath of thorns
Mark  15:17    Jesus victor's wreath of thorns
John  19:2     Jesus victor's wreath of thorns
John  19:5     Jesus wearing the victor's wreath
               of thorns
1Cor.  9:25    to win a corruptible victor's wreath
Phil.  4:1     Paul's joy and victor's wreath
1Thes  2:19    victor's wreath of rejoicing
2Thes  4:8     victor's wreath of righteousness
Jas.   1:12    victor's wreath of life
1Pet.  5:4     victor's wreath of glory
Rev.   2:10    victor's wreath of life
       3:11    no man take your victor's wreath
       4:4     heavenly elder's victor's wreaths
               of gold
       4:10    cast victor's wreath before the
               Throne
       6:2     rider on white horse a victor's wreath 
               was given to him
      12:1     great sign, a woman, a victor's wreath
               of 12 stars
      14:14    one like the son of man, golden victor's
               wreath on his head.

John 16:33   "have overcome the world"
Rom.  3:4     might overcome
     12:12    overcome evil with good
1John 2:13    overcome the wicked one
      4:4     overcome them, because greater is he
              that is in you
      5:4     overcomes the world
Rev.  2:7,11,17,  to him who overcomes
      3:5,12,21,  to him who overcomes
     11:7     shall overcome them
     12:11    overcame him by the blood
     13:7     to overcome them
     17:14    the Lamb shall overcome them
     21:7     he that overcomes shall inherit
              all things

Rev. 22:18-19 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the Holy City, which are written in this book.

Let's recap what we have here:

(1) a white: = righteousness, Holy, separated unto God
(2) horse, and he who sat on it: = a Spirit going through out the Earth
(3) had a bow: = the sign of God's covenant Promise
(4) and a crown (stephanos) was given to him: = Victor's laurel wreath
(5) and he went out overcoming inorder to overcome. (literal rendering): = Overcoming power

Now we will go back to the Scroll and the events preceding it.

(1) Rev.4 "After these things"
(2) Rev. 5:1-14 the Scroll with the Seals

"After these things"

There is a teaching "Meta Tauta" (which is Greek for "after these things") that is a form of dispensationalism applied to the Revelation that says:

1. the things which you have seen = past events
2. the things which are = the present "Church" age
3. after these things = the future, after the "Rapture"

But like the old song says, "It ain't necessarily so." Actually I believe that Jesus is just referring to the sequence of events as John is experiencing them in the vision, not a specific timeline. On the other hand, if this is so, then everything after Chapter four would be in the future (after the "rapture").

Well let's just look at the word of God and see what He has to say on the subject. Remember the blessing is to those who read the words and pay special attention to what is written (Rev:1:3).

Revelation Chapter Four:

"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy art You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You did create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created."

Chapter four:

Revelation Chapter Five:

"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it. And I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the Ones set apart. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art You to take the book, and to break its seals; for You wast slain, and did purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshipped."

Chapter five:

Why not?!? If this is after the "rapture", where is Jesus??

John weeps.
Obviously something is very wrong here.

An Angel (heavenly messenger) tells John to wait and not to fear, that the Lion, the root of Jesse from the tribe of Judah is coming. A prophetic statement concerning Jesus first coming.
After this he sees Jesus as a Lamb slain appear in the midst of the Throne of God. So in one quick swoop we have the birth, death/sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension of the Messiah Jesus.
Who then immediately takes the scroll. At which time He is given Praise and Worship for He is worthy, and He opens the first seal.
If we look at this closely we see that John is given here a panoramic view of history and the plan of God.
So far this has all taken place in John's past. These are not future events that he has been shown.

Now we are back at Chapter 6 verse 1 & 2 of Revelation:

And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer.

But before we continue let's do a quick recap:

(1) John is taken into the heavenly realm.
(2) He is shown God on His throne with a scroll in His hand which no one can be found to receive it or to open it.
(3) John sees Jesus appear as a slain sacrificial Lamb in the midst of the Throne.
(4) The Lamb takes the scroll, receives praise and worship.
(5) Jesus then begins opening the seals.
(6) The first Seal opened:
a) white = righteousness
b) horse and rider = heavenly Spirit going through out the earth
c) a bow (with no arrows) = sign of Gods covenant promise
d) a victor's laurel wreath = given to Overcomers
e) going forth overcoming inorder to overcome = overcoming power
This is not a description of the antichrist - this is a description of the Holy Spirit.

Now let's look at some corresponding scripture to see what exactly is happening here.
We have two (2) scenarios to look at:

Scenario # 1

John 14:16-19

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also."
(Note: see the study - "The prepositional relationships of the Holy Spirit")

John 16:5-16

"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer behold Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. A little while, and you will no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

On the Morning and the evening of the first day of the week, the day of Jesus' resurrection:

John 20:14-23

When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him," Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers, and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. the disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit..... If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

Several points here: Jesus tells Mary not to hold him because he has not returned to the Father, but to go and tell His disciples that He is now going to His father.
(In John 14:16-18, on the night of the Passover Jesus told his disciples

1) He was going to return to His Father, that He would
2) send to them the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, Who was now with them but would be in them, and that
3) He Himself would return to them.

In John 16:5-16, Jesus says to His disciples that

1) He must go away so that He would be able to
2) send the Spirit of Truth, who would convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment but that He would guide them into all truth.)

On the day of the resurrection Jesus appears in the midst of His disciples:

1) tells them not to fear,
2) gives them a commission, "as the father sent me I also send you"
3) and breathes on them with the command to "receive the Holy Spirit".
4) Then He tells them they have the power to forgive and with hold forgiveness of sins.

Wait a minute, what happened here??
First Jesus says to His disciples He must leave them and go to His Father so He can send the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, which is with them now but will be in them.
Jesus is murdered, then resurrects, is seen by Mary whom He tells that He is going to His Father, then appears later on in the day in the midst of His Disciples and gives them His Holy Spirit as He promised - the in dwelling Spirit.
You think maybe they were born from above at this time? "Know you not that you are the temple of God that the Holy Spirit dwells within you!!"

Jesus the Messiah

1) Promises the Holy Spirit
2) Dies, resurrects, ascends to the father.
3) Takes the scroll
4) Opens 1st seal - sends forth, Spirit, righteousness/truth, covenant promise, victor's wreath, overcoming power.

Scenario # 2

Acts 1:3-11

To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days from now." And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

Acts 2:1-18

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine." But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words. "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

'And it shall be in the last days,' God says, 'That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy.'"

Forty days after Jesus resurrection and ascension to His father He tells His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to be immersed in the Holy Spirit and that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Then they see him for the last time as He rises up into the sky on a cloud. An angel (heavenly messenger) tells them they shall see Him return in just the same manner (in the clouds of the sky).
Ten days Later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples gathered together in the upper room, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues. The people who heard them thought they were drunk. Peter speaking out said that they were not drunk but that it was the last days and that the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon them - quoting Joel.

Jesus the Messiah

1) Promises the Holy Spirit
2) Dies, resurrects, ascends to the father.
3) Takes the scroll
4) Opens 1st seal - send, Spirit, righteousness/truth, covenant promise, victor's wreath, overcoming power.

Either and/or both of these scenarios testify better to what is revealed in the revelation than what we have been taught. Think about it. Read the words and pay attention to what is written. In the last days - Peter said over 1900 years ago. Jesus began opening the seal when He ascended to the father on the day He resurrected from the dead and took His rightful place on the Throne - "in the midst of the Throne". and took possession of the Scroll.

"For He is Worthy!!"

In conclusion:

The white horse and it's rider does not represent the Antichrist nor anti-anything. The white horse and it's rider is the Holy Spirit being sent out to give overcoming power to the Ones Called Out.