Revelation Chapter 19 (part2)

THE RETURN OF THE KING

The oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet in the Bible is about the second coming. It was given before the flood of Noah!

Jude 14–16 “14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”

The Rider on a White Horse

Revelation 19:11 “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”

What did John See?

Heaven Opened

This will be an unveiling (Revelation) unlike ever in history

Not just a literal opening - but a dimensional opening as related to the time and space continuum we know as humans

Not just literal and physical but extra literal and extra physical

There are 7 “openings” in the book of Revelation:

Rev 3:7 What Jesus opens can’t be shut; Rev 3:8 An open door on Earth;

Rev 4:1 A door in Heaven; Rev 5 The Seals are opened;

Rev 11 The temple is opened; Rev 15 The Ark of the Covenant is opened;

Behold, A White Horse

Jewish Kings only rode horses when at war - 2nd coming

In times of peace or domesticly they rode donkeys - 1st coming

5 White items in Revelation

Rev 1:14 Jesus’ Hair; Rev 2:17 Stones of Identification;

Rev 14:14 Clouds; Rev 19:8 Our robes of fine linen

The Rider on a White Horse

Revelation 19:11 “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”

John’s Description of the Rider

Faithful and True

Faithful to delivery the truth - always

John 16:17 “17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?””

John 16:22 “22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

John 17:17–19 “17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

The World defines truth as relative opinion

John 18:37–38 “37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”

Seven times in Revelation “true” is paired in a descriptive manner

Re 3:7 Jesus described as Holy & True; Re 3:14 Faithful & True;

Re 6:10 Holy & True; Re 15:3 Just & True are His ways;

Re 19:2 His judgments are True & Just

“In righteousness He judges and makes war”

Seven battles / wars mentioned in the book of Revelation

Re 12:7; Re 12:17; Re 13:4; Re 13:7; Re 17:14; Re 19:11; Re 19:19

John’s Description Continues

Revelation 19:12–13 “12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.”

His Eyes like flames of fire - Purifying Judgment

His Head crowned with many Crowns - earned by great deeds and sacrifice

His Written Name - unknown

His Robe - dipped in bood

Isaiah 63:2 “2 Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?”

This is a reference to the winepress from Chapter 14

His Called Name - The Word of God! John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John sees more than Just the King

Revelation 19:14–16 “14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Who are the armies of heaven?

Remember the pattern in scripture - garments serve as identification

Isaiah 61:10 “10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

More evidence this is the Church \ Bride

Revelation 17:14 “14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.””

John 18:36 “36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.””

His Weapon - Our Weapon

The “Sword” out of his mouth is an idiom for the Word of God (Isa 11:4; 2 Thess 2:8; Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17; Rev 1:16; 2:16; 19:15, 21; Ps 149:6; Isa 49:2). The Word is “living and powerful” (Heb 4:12) and fulfills His purposes on earth (Rev 17:7; 6:11; 10:7; 15:1). His enemies are consumed with the spirit of His mouth (2 Thess 2:8; Isa 11:4).

There is no battle in modern terms once Jesus engages - it’s over

2 Thessalonians 2:8 “8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

Isaiah 11:4 “4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.”

The Rod of Iron

The “Rod of Iron” is an identity of Christ and occurs four times in Scripture (Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). “When I begin I will also make an end” (1 Sam 3:12). • This is NOT the Rapture, but the Revelation! • He is NOT coming to the air, but He is coming to the earth!

• Not FOR the saints, but WITH the saints! • Not to comfort, but to conquer! • Not to protect us in heaven but to rule with us on earth!

“King of kings and Lord of lords”

It was customary in horseback warfare to wear weapons on the thigh as part of the armor. Often there was a banner on the horse just forward of the rider’s thigh. There are other references to the “thigh” throughout Scripture (Gen 24:2, 9; 32:25, 31, 32; 47:29). He is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Dan 2:47; Deut 10:17; 1 Tim 6:15).

John briefly describes the final battle

Revelation 19:17–21 “17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”

Battle Events:

The call to the birds of prey to eat the flesh of the dead - gruesome

The beast and the kings of the Earth gathered for battle v 19

The beast captured and the false prophet who deceived along with him were both thrown into the lake of fire v20

The rest of the armies of men were slain by the sword of Jesus - The Word

Then they were eaten by the birds v21

The Process of the Second Coming