Revelation 19:11-21
Notes
Transcript
Please stand as I read this section of scripture. We read of Jesus second advent, and the defeat of the enemies who oppose him.
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”
Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
Pray with me, slide
The whole work of Revelation has been leading to these chapters we are in. The beginning of the end began last week, and we continue now. Where each of the seven judgements, the seals, the trumpets, and the seals - seem to crescendo right up to the edge, but never fully resolve - now we get the resolution to all of them.
This section, this arrival of Jesus, has been the foundation for Christian hope for millennia. Our King is coming again soon - and he will defeat the enemy - and we will be with him. It’s spectacular, and leads to worship, and hope, and great confidence!
And, like many passages in scripture has been twisted by some to justify some just horrendous actions. Some have taken passages like this as a green light to take vengence into their own hands - instead of becoming like Christ as a suffering servant and trusting him with the justice.
If our theology, if our understanding of Scripture, if our life and practices do not in the power of God grow in us the fruit of the Spirit, then something is wrong. And the issue isn’t with God! Let’s have Scripture speak to us, inform us, and through the power of the Holy Spirit transform us - and I pray fill us with an overwhelming sense of hope.
I get that sense from some that in our culture, in our world, in our town, in our church - there is a shortage of a lived and vibrant hope. We have a theology of hope - we have a theology of joy - we have a theology of the goodness of God. But a lived hope, abundant joy, and realized goodness are often missing.
Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ this morning my friend. He is so good, he is so worthy.
I truly believe this - friend if we can just have an encounter with the Living Christ today, however brief - how ever slight - if we can in faith have an encounter with Christ today, he will change us for the better. He will encourage. He will bless. He will heal.
That’s why we are here! We are here this morning to fully focus on God and his Word. I want to see Jesus today! Don’t you? I want to hear from my God today! I NEED HIM! Do you feel the desperation in your bones?
There are mornings and Evenings where my prayer is psalm 42.
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”
There are days where that is where I am! Desperate for God! and I, even with people call out WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
God do you not see my broken heart? Do you not see my enemies taunting me and lying about me? Lord why do the wicked prevail? Why do the innocents die? Why does my flesh still torment me!
Lord I am so thirsty for you! Will you come? Will you speak? Will you reveal yourself?
Friend - this morning we see that Jesus is not only present now - but he is coming again. And I pray that we will in faith have eyes to see Christ and that he will transform us in hope and joy.
Let’s start working our way through this passage. Let’s look at verses 11-13
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.
Out of the vision of the marriage feast of the lamb - John now sees a new vision - which is indicated by “Then I saw.” Heaven opens, a new revelation - and this time he sees a white horse.
White generally refers to purity and righteousness.
And where Christ’s first entry - that on Palm Sunday was on a donkey - like king during peacetime - this time he is on a horse. Craig Keener indicates in his commentary that during this time period it was normal for conquerors to ride into the city on a horse to demonstrate triumph.
The rider is called faithful and true. with justice he judges and makes war.
Faithful and True was how Christ introduced himself to the Church in Revelation 3:14. That he is the faithful and true witness the originator of God’s creation.
This heavenly rider not only is true - but with justice he judges and makes war.
This is so important - he’s not just a rampaging force - but justice. And out of that faithful and true justice acts with judgment and war.
His eyes like a fiery flame. Another descriptor that goes back to the beginning of the book. The fiery eyes show that Jesus sees through all the exterior. It pierces through the veils and the weeds and burns away all things but the truth. There is no hiding or manipulating. He sees it fully and truly.
Many crowns were on his head. How many? Many. Where in the other passages that talk about the crowns on the beast - it was a limited number - here there are undefined multiplicity. All authority and dominion is his.
And it says he had a name written that no one knows except himself. This is not in contradiction to literally names of Christ coming in the next verses.
No, for in the Old Testament, the idea of knowing someones name had much greater implications than just nametag. Beale writes that to know a name in the OT meant to have control over the one who as the name, or to share in the character of that one. So the idea of a hidden name has nothing to do with not understanding the name in a cognitive or mental level, but the idea that Christ is so profound, so holy, so much bigger than us - that he is completely sovereign, uncontrollable and unlike anything else.
Much to the horror of the enemies of God - his robe is dipped in blood. It seems like this isn’t supposed to indicate his own blood - but the blood of those who oppose him. He’s unstoppable.
and his name is the Word of God. the logos of God. This goes back to John 1.
Here is how the gospel of John starts: John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The Logos, the word of God, God Incarnate - is now on the scene. He is riding from heaven unto earth. All authority is his.
And in this scene he’s not alone - verse 14 of Revelation
The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen.
This is fascinating - the armies that were heaven, which is usually thought of as angels - here it says that they are also on white horses wearing pure white linen - friends that’s the people of God! Those are the redeemed. This is Christ returning to earth and he’s bringing ALL the saints with him.
This is important to remember, heaven is not the final home of God and humans. Those in Christ will not dwell in heaven forever.
No As we will see over the final chapters here - heaven will come to earth, creation remade, and we will live in new creation - on remade earth with God. This is the parade of the people of God with God leading them, headed into the promised land.
How does Christ make war? Look at 15-16
A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The sword comes from his mouth - the word of God is sharper than a two edge sword. And When John saw christ at beginning of Revelation - he saw a sword emerging from the mouth.
Friend - This isn’t a battle as many would try to understand battle.
This is the almighty God pronouncing judgement on those who hate him and his people. There is no contest. There is no fight. He is justice and judge and truth. He speaks, and creation is made, or in this case unmade.
He has come enforce his rule - that’s whjat that means an Iron rod. His law, his rule is now in effect.
And all those who slaughtered his people - who used and abused his people and the least of these - who in their wickedness tried to scheme and get ahead. They will be trampled in the winepress of his Anger.
That is a vivid image, a sobering one. We need to remember again the context in which this book was originally received. When believers had witnessed the war in Jerusalem and thousands slaughtered. Where the apostles were brutally martyred.
And through it all, the christian ethic was always non-violence, non-retaliation, instead trust that vengeance is the Lords.
Well here - we see that God will avenge his people.
Through it all - the people of God pray, endure, are faithful unto death - and now stand as witnesses as God judges the unrepentant.
I think it’s really important to point out - that the people of God here, those behind the king, and not the ones waging war. Christ rides ahead and by his spoken word brings the world to their knees. The church as it were is present in Christ.
I say that because at times this passage has been used to justify holy war. In fact I read one unhinged conspiracy theory propagating pastor suggesting that Christians should save ammo here and now, so that when Christ comes back they have ammo to shoot the unrepentant. To finally be able to strike back.
There is just so much wrong with that - and what was most disturbing to me was the joy that the man had when talking about shooting others.
Jesus preached that we should pray and bless our enemies. Turn the other cheek. He’s the one who while he was on the cross prayed that the Father for would forgive the ones who were piercing him.
This passage isn’t a call for us to have armed resistance, but to radically love. We can love even our greatest enemies - even if they are harsh and cruel - for we know that we will be protected and vindicated and with God forever! GOD is the judge. GOD will see too it that justice is perfect.
OUR job is to radically love - even those who hate us.
Justice isn’t ours - it’s his.
And because of that - our goal is to preach the gospel to ALL peoples - even those who wish us death. For what if God will use our witness to save many? What if there are some whom God would rescue from death and darkness?
Let’s lay down our weapons and put our trust in the word of Jesus Christ. Let’s follow HIM - and for right now in the likeness of his first advent - that of incarnational love and sacrifice. And trust in his justice and judgement in his second advent. For he is the King of all King and Lord of All lords.
Now look at the last part of that ver DON:T FLIP SLIDE
And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
This isn’t saying it’s Jesus Tatoo (I treid that when I was a kid).
This word, thigh, can also be translated as side. It was the traditional place where a warrior would carry his weapon AND it was the symbolic place a hand was placed to make an oath - according to Genesis 24:2.
So it’s as if the name of God is his weapon and his guarantee. There is no need for another weapon or oath - Christ being who he is, is the guarantee for salvation, justice, and peace.
Let’s read on - verses 17-18
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”
This section is a allusion back to Ezekiel 39, with the fall of Gog and Magog, where birds are also called to feast on the enemies of God in a rather macabre image.
There is, perhaps, here an irony here at play. Where Babylon and other empires are used to exploiting not just people, and believers - but creation itself. And now, not just the people of God coming to ride with Christ - but creation will now feast on those who exploited it.
Remember - the call of humanity in the very beginning was to be fruitful and multiply over the earth - to subdue to earth, to expand the garden presence of God around the globe.
But due to sin creation itself was fractured, and humans now exploit and pollute the world too.
Here - creation seems to start it’s triumph over sin through Christ.
And ultimately this is all about the beast and the prophecy and the dragon. Look at 19-21
Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
We’ve read of the allusions to this earlier in the book (in 16:14 and we will read it again in 20:8),
And there is great irony especially in the context of the 6th bowl in 16:14, where the armies may feel like this is there plan - it’s all in God’s sovereign plan. They feel like they are going to wage war - them will all those who worship the beast - instead they are struck down by the word of Jesus Christ.
The False prophet and the beast are then thrown into the lake of fire - which is said to burn with sulfur.
This is a description of Hell. Satan doesn’t own hell - hell was prepared FOR satan.
The enemies of God have been stopped - Jesus is on the scene. And we will continue next week as the scene plays out.
But for now, let’s ask our question:
So What?
So What?
Y’all - Jesus is coming back.
And that is the greatest news in the world. Like truly. Nothing gives me greater hope in life and in death than the promised arrival of our coming king.
As we look at this section how can this impact our lives?
Because Jesus is coming back, we can live with great hope.
He is coming soon. He will punish the unrepentant, and will recreate the world. Those who have perished and gone will be reunited with us. Good. Wins.
There is that one song, I think it’s by Shane and Shane - the bridge says: “I know how the story ends, we will be with you again.” I love that. And it’s so true.
Because of me knowing the triumph and victory of Christ - I know can tell my flesh and my sin to get in line. Sometimes evil like to pretend it’s winning - but I know Christ is coming again. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, and I feel deep sadness - but I look forward with great hope because Jesus is coming again.
Because he is coming back - we can live with great hope.
AND
2. Because Jesus is coming back, we can live with great confidence.
Death has been defeated! And the saints are the ones lined up behind the great White Rider! IF that’s true, being with JEsus is the safest and secure place to be, and therefore I can live with great confidence.
A lot of times in our society people will try to pretend they are confident. They psyche themselves up, yell a lot, pretend to be something they are not.
Well - because of Jesus’ greatness - I don’t need to pretend. I’m with him so I can live with great hope and great confidence. I can be secure.
Good will triumph evil because JEsus is coming back, we can live with great confidence.
AND
3. Because Jesus is coming back, we can live with great compassion.
This passage isn’t permission for holy war, or for violence, or for hatred. In fact, It’s one of the ways we can live with compassion that doesn’t make sense.
My job is not to judge the souls of people. My job is to radically love them and tell them about Jesus. Even (and especially) my enemies. When people are vicious to me I can now be unbelievably generous and forgiving. Jesus with his blazing eyes who is faithful and true will avenge me. I don’t need to get offended - for there is no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
I don’t have to play or pretend to be the savior of the world - we’ve got one of those - his name is Jesus - and he’s coming again soon.
SO I will trust HIM as the rider on the horse, as the king of kings and lord of lords - and I will count myself as his sheep - his person - who has been called on a mission and agent of reconcillation.
Our hearts should be so for love and grace and the gospel - he’s the judge and he’s coming back so - so we can live with great compassion
AND
4. Because Jesus is coming back, we need to tell everyone.
The alliance, along with a lot of evangelical and Christian traditions uses this word when describing the return of Jesus: imminent. Meaning - it’s gonna happen soon. Rapidly. Suddenly. and that should be motivating.
Friends - the beast, satan, sin, have deceived many people into hating Jesus and loving the flesh. But - the name of JEsus is more powerful than any deception - amen? We need to be motivated to love God, love others, and make disciples. We need to reach the lost people!
There is no more time for any more procrastination! The time for the harvest is now.
What if we were bold in our obedience to God, in our love for our neighbors and friend, and bold in telling people the truth of JEsus?
How might the lives of those around us change? how might our lives change? Eternally is the answer.
Because Jesus is coming back, we need to tell everyone.
Beacuse JEsus is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except though him.
He is the one who is faithful and true. He is the one with eyes like a fiery flame, crowned with many crowns. He is called the word fo God. He judges the nations with a sword from his lips and rules over them with an iron rod. He is the king of kings and the lord of Lords
It is Crhist and Christ alone that is our salvation, our hope, our confidence, and our king.
Let’s worship him
Pray
