Crown Him with Many Crowns
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Do you know as a result of sin we have spent a lifetime resisting the rule of God. Generations upon generations have resisted His reign over them.
Even the most devoted in some capacity have kept back a part of their lives from God’s reign.
Over the centuries of human existence we have resisted God to the point that it has built defiance and arrogance in some, and more than we would like to admit in us.
This foolish pride will reach its crescendo in people and nations. We see this human pride in movies like Avengers and Endgame and other fictional shows from Marvel or DC, where human ingenuity overcomes insurmountable foes. Hey I love those shows, I’m a Marvel movie junky, but the fact remains that because of our continual resistance and the patience of God, we are swooned into thinking that we can face God, debate God, and some believe defeat God.
Revelation 19:11-21 is a stark reminder (no pun intended) that we are out our league and that embracing God’s rule is not only in our best interest but is liberating, healthy and good.
One day all resistance will end and it is surprising just how quickly. Look with me in Rev 19:11-21.
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
We have been hearing for centuries that Jesus is coming back and if not for His longsuffering and patience, I believe he already would have, but the day is coming that he will. The conditions have never declared it more clearly.
The day of His coming is an anticipated day of celebration for us who have believed the gospel, put down the resistance within us and are following the Lord.
But, it is a day to be feared by those in open defiance to the Lord. Those who have not embraced His Lordship and are persistent in worshipping themselves and this world.
What will the Day of the Lord be like?
What will the Day of the Lord be like?
It is a day of Fulfillment.
It is a day of Fulfillment.
Heaven is opened— the idea is that the door of heaven is standing open. Perfect, passive, participle in the Greek indicating the unchanging nature of what is about to happen.
There will be no stopping or slowing down the events of this day. It is the due time for it, it is set and no one will set it aside.
John gets a glimpse and their is one called Faithful and True sitting upon a white horse.
We know this is Jesus, but it is very important who He is called, Faithful and True.
Jesus promised the Pharisees in Matthew 26:64 that He would return and they would see Him not as a lamb but in His power and glory.
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
He promised the disciples and us that He would return and where He was we would be in John 14:1-3
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Israel was promised a reigning King forever and ever Psalm 110:1-2
1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
The New Testament promises a glorious return of Jesus Christ Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Every chapter of 1 Thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of Jesus.
Peter speaks of it in 2 Peter 3:9-13
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
What we see described in Revelation 19 is a fulfillment of the promises of God. Why?
Because He is faithful and true. God will do what He says He will do.
This will be a glorious day for us who have put our hope in Him, but a dreadful day for those who haven’t.
It is a day of Discovery.
It is a day of Discovery.
When we were in St. Louis someone pulled into our parking lot, got out, slid under our church van, and cut the catalytic converter. The van was right in front of one of our surveillance cameras with night vision. I scanned hours of footage within the known time of the crime and all you could catch was a millisecond, a blur of when the guy came out from under the van. Honestly it was so quick that I wasn’t even sure that is what I was seeing. This was one smooth criminal.
Even with the volumes of cameras and witnesses in the world today, people still get away with crimes and sometimes we have no idea what their motives are. There are countless cold cases and unsolved crimes in our world.
The day of the Lord will be a day of discovery. Notice the description of Jesus. “Eyes like a flaming fire.” What does that mean.
Some have attributed this description to the anger of the Lord, but that is not correct. The idea is the discernment of the Lord! His eyes will burn through us.
Have you ever had someone lie and say they are a friend only to find later that they are not? Jesus sees through all of the falsehood, fake, misrepresentation, excuses, and lies. No one can deceive Him.
Everyone will stand before Him without excuse. There’s an interesting statement in John 2:23-25
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
In the next chapter He reads the heart of Nicodemus, and then in chapter 4 He tells the woman at the well everything that she had done. Listen to 1 Corinthians 3:13
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
The Gospels also teach about the revelation of the day of the Lord: Mark 4:22
22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
In Romans 2 Paul is talking about how inescapable our sin is, and how people treasure up sin against the day of wrath, how people will be inexcusable and in Romans 2:16 this statement is made.
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
This day is a day of discovery, nothing will hide from His piercing stare.
I think we have covered this well already, but this discovery will reveal wrath for those who persisted in unbelief and rebellion. His robe is dipped in blood from the winepress of God’s wrath.
The sharp sword coming from His mouth will devour the rebellious and the birds of the air will feast on the flesh of the unrepentant.
The beast and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
No one will run or hide the earth will be brought under the perfect subjection of this faithful, true, righteous king.
It is a Day or Coronation and Celebration.
It is a Day or Coronation and Celebration.
This isn’t much of a fight. I remember when I was in school and two guys were gonna fight. The build up to the fight was the best part because the two guys were trash talking. One of the two would always say, “This won’t be much of a fight, just two hits. I hit you and you hit the ground.”
This battle will be decided before anyone has a chance to swing a sword, shoot a gun, or push a button.
The Living Word of God, Jesus, will speak and the battle will be over.
I want to remind us of the power of His word. Genesis 1:3
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Listen to Psalm 29:1-11
1 Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
The Lord Jesus with the sound of His voice will defeat every foe and take His seat as King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. He will be crowned with many crowns, and He will rule with a scepter of iron meaning no one will usurp his reign.
For the first time since the fall of man, there will peace on earth. What a reason to celebrate.
Response
Response
Sometimes I think we forget that God knows everything about us. Every thought, every motive, every sin, every failure, every fear, every lust, and every mistake, yet He loves us, has provided redemption for us and willing forgives us when we repent. Repentance is our surrender to His Lordship. His grace abounds but our hearts are not always receptive. God also knows when our heart have become calloused.
The best way to prepare for the coronation of Jesus is to crown Him Lord now.