Sinful Humanity Answers to the Conquering King

Introduction

The moment we’ve all been waiting for. While the spirit of the Antichrist has led multitudes of people astray and to live in rebellion against their Creator...against the One who offered redemption and peace...now He returns. This time He does not come as a baby in a dirty cattle stall, nor is He riding on a lowly donkey, but rather this time He comes riding a WHITE HORSE!

This time He does not come wrapped in swaddling clothes, but rather wearing a robe dipped in blood. This time He does not come as a recipient of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but rather having a sharp sword proceeding out of His mouth and a rod of iron in His hand.

Notice with me...

The Conquering King (19:11-21)

Revelation 19:11–21 NKJV

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. 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. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 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. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 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, 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.” 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. 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. 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.

The Names of This King

Faithful & True (v. 11)

His name “Faithful and True” stands in direct contrast to the Antichrist who has been anything but faithful and true. While the Antichrist would become known for being unfaithful by breaking the covenants he had made, and using deception and idolatry to promote his system, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is the EMBODIMENT of FAITHFULNESS and TRUTH!

He is FAITHFUL—He is totally reliable, completely dependable, and eternally trustworthy!

He is TRUE—The word that is used here conveys the message that He, not the Antichrist, is AUTHENTIC and GENUINE. He is the real thing!

A Mysterious Name (v. 12)

While Christ is referred to with many names, verse 12 reveals that there is a name that He has that NO ONE knows except Himself. Most likely, the idea here is that there is an inability to fully comprehend this name. Ladd says:

the human mind cannot grasp the depths of His being.”

While we may not know the name referred to in verse 12, we certainly do know much about some of the other names for Christ mentioned in this passage.

Verse 13 reminds us that His name is called...

The Word of God (v. 13)

The Lord Jesus Christ represents the FULL and FINAL revelation of the Father. Hebrews 1:1-2 notes:

Hebrews 1:1–2 NKJV

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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;

Maybe you recognize this from John 1:1-4

John 1:1–4 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John makes it clear...THE WORD IS GOD!

If there is any doubt who this is notice again Revelation 19:16

Revelation 19:16 NKJV

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

King of Kings and Lord of Lords (v. 16)

Remember Christ is sitting on a horse at this point, so the most visible part of His body, from the perspective of those on the ground are going to be His thighs. In these days, distinguished individuals would often wear their NAME or RANK on their outer garments.

What rank does Christ have?

HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

Gwyn Pugh notes:

There is no other king or lord comparable to Him. Ruling over the earth, with its kings and lords, rightfully belongs to Him as Creator, Redeemer, and Conqueror.

Not only do we notice His names, but we also notice...

The Appearance of this King

Revelation 19:12 NKJV

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.

As we think about Christ’s appearance in verse 12 we see that...

His Eyes Were Like a Flame of Fire (v. 12)

This is nothing new. We’ve seen this mentioned before:

Revelation 1:14 NKJV

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

Revelation 2:18 NKJV

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

This fiery glance reminds us of His penetrating insight.

We also see that...

He is Crowned with Many Crowns (v. 12)

He is the only worthy King because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. As a result He is crowned with many crowns. This reminds us of His sovereignty and rule of the universe!

He is Wearing a Robe Dipped in Blood (v. 13)

Verse 13 tells us that He is wearing a robe dipped in blood. Commentators suggests the idea of a victorious, mighty warrior, stained with the blood of His defeated enemies, as He prepares for the next battle on the agenda!

Out of His Mouth Comes a Sharp, Two-Edged Sword (v. 15)

We know from other and earlier texts that the sharp, two-edged sword is a reference to the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is with the “WORD” that all was created, and it is with the “WORD” that all will be judged. It is with the Word that Christ’s enemies will be defeated.

While the king doesn’t need armies to take care of business we do see them in verse 14...

The Armies of this King (v. 14)

Who do these armies consist of? While verse 14 doesn’t tell us there are other Scriptures that reveal that the armies will be made up of two groups...

Angels

Matthew 16:27 NKJV

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

2 Thessalonians 1:7–8 NKJV

and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saints

Zechariah 14:3–5 NKJV

Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV

so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Jude 14–15 NKJV

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

We also see in this text...

The Thousand Year Reign (20:1-10)

After the Battle of Armageddon and the defeat of the Antichrist we are told that...

Satan will be Bound (vv. 1-3)

Revelation 20:1–3 NKJV

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

His influence on this earth will come to a complete and abrupt end. He will be chained and cast into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years!

Can you imagine life on earth without the influence of the Devil? We can also assume that the influence of his minions will come to an end as well.

This does not mean that those alive during this time will be without a sinful nature, nor does it mean that their offspring will be without a sinful nature, but it does mean that during this thousand years there will be no satanic or demonic influence.

During this time...

The Saints will Reign (vv. 4-6)

Revelation 20:4–6 NKJV

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Gynn Pugh says this about this time:

Christ must use catastrophic force to wrench control of the earth from Satan and the pagan nations that control it, as revealed in the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments culminating in the Battle of Armageddon. Satan is then apprehended and bound in the abyss for the duration of Christ’s millennial rule.

Life on the millennial earth will therefore be free from satanic deception. It will be characterized by vastly different and improved conditions, though not absolutely perfect ones...Christ’s reign is thus a real one: the possibility of inward resistance remains. But sincere worship of Christ will be the norm. The meek will have inherited the earth (Ps. 37:11; Mt. 5:5), leaving the Lord and His saints in control of the government.

Notice WHO will be reigning with Christ during this time...THE TRIBULATION SAINTS WHO DID NOT WORSHIP THE BEAST NOR RECEIVED HIS MARK!

For ONE THOUSAND YEARS those born during this millennial reign have no idea about Satanic or demonic influence or deception. They have no idea what it’s like to live in a world governed by deceitful and prideful politicians.

But after a THOUSAND YEARS Satan will be unleashed for a short time, and he and his demonic horde will deceive many to try one last rebellion against the Creator and Sustainer of the universe only to fail miserably again!

The Final Rebellion & Doom (vv. 7-10)

Revelation 20:7–10 NKJV

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

I’m so thankful that there will be no parole after a 1,000 years. His doom, along with the horde of demons, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be forever sealed in the the Lake of Fire.

And that leads us to...

The Great White Throne Judgment by this King (20:11-15)

The Setting (v. 11)

We are told that John sees a “great” white throne. The idea of “great” here is a throne that is highly elevated. It stands above all other so-called thrones, kings, and kingdoms. It is the one true throne that stands above them all!

The idea of “white” here is the idea of a throne that is shining and splendid in appearance. Can you imagine the beauty? It also probably represents the holiness and purity of the throne.

There is only ONE who sits on the throne. It’s not going to be me and it’s not going to be you.

His presence will be so powerful that the universe will literally “uncreate” itself. This is most like a reference to

2 Peter 3:10–13 NKJV

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. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

We have the promise of a NEW heaven and a NEW earth and we will look at that in more detail as we get to Chapter 21...

As we move forward notice Revelation 20:12-13

Revelation 20:12–13 NKJV

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Notice

The Evidence Against the Lost (vv. 12-13)

All of humanity, whose name was not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life will stand before God. Every sin they have ever committed… everything that they ever thought, said, or did, that went against God’s Word and broke His heart will be rehearsed and they will be declared GUILTY!

All of humanity that has been waiting in the prison of hell since the beginning of creation will be brought before the judge and they will be declared guilty!

After this declaration of guilt we see...

The Sentence Against the Guilty (vv. 14-15)

Revelation 20:14–15 NKJV

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

The sentence is the SECOND DEATH.

While we all die ONCE, we don’t all have to die twice. The SECOND DEATH is for those who aren’t in the Lamb’s Book of Life...those who REFUSED to embrace the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf.

Someone said if we are BORN TWICE we die once, but if we are only born once we DIE TWICE.

This is why Jesus told Nicodemus....

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

Not you should be, or ought to be, but you MUST BE...

HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN? IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN THERE?!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH THOSE WHO HAVEN’T BEEN BORN AGAIN?

Story about Armon Jordan & DC