According to John: Yeshua's Return
Notes
Transcript
Conclusion
Conclusion
Today we are coming to the conclusion of our series on the Apocalypse of Yeshua. We began by covering the discussion that Yeshua had with his Talmidim on the Mount of Olives known as the Olivet Discourse. We then looked at the letters of Paul, Peter and John, and the visions of Daniel and John in the book of Revelation. Last week we briefly covered the vision of Mystery Babylon.
Today we will look at the actual apocalypse, or revealing of Yeshua to the world in Revelation 19:11 - 20:6
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One riding on it is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and many royal crowns are on His head. He has a name written that no one knows except Himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is “the Word of God.” And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword—so that with it He may strike down the nations—and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and He treads the winepress of the furious wrath of Elohei-Tzva’ot. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Then I saw a single angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he cried out to all the birds flying high in the sky, “Come, gather for the great banquet of God— to eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of generals and the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and those riding on them, the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great!” Also I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the One who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs before him by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, as well as those who had worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the One riding on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a great chain. He seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and satan—and bound him for a thousand years. He also threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed. After these things, he must be released for a short while. Then I saw thrones, and people sat upon them—those to whom authority to judge was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Yeshua and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image, nor had they received his mark on their forehead or on their hand. And they came to life and reigned with the Messiah for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. How fortunate and holy is the one who has a share in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no authority, but they shall be kohanim of God and the Messiah, and they shall reign with Him for a thousand years.
Riding a White Horse
Riding a White Horse
When Yeshua returns, he is coming to save his people from the destruction that the world is bringing down on their heads. This persecution will be against Israel specifically, but will also include all the followers of Yeshua around the world.
We see that Yeshua is returning after the destruction of Mystery Babylon, but that all the nations of the world will be stirred up to fight against him. And Yeshua will be fully justified to make war against all those who fight against him, because the final world empire, the beast will have killed so many followers of Yeshua, that as Yeshua said in Matt. 24:22
And unless those days were cut short, no one would be delivered. But for the sake of the chosen, those days will be cut short.
And Yeshua will be the one to war as it says in Isa. 63:1-6
“Who is this coming from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This One splendid in His apparel, pressing forward in His great might?” “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” “Why is Your apparel so red, and Your garments like one who treads in a wine press?” “I have trodden the winepress alone— from the peoples, no man was with Me. I trod them in My anger, and trampled them in My wrath. Their lifeblood spattered My garments, so I stained all My robes. For a day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help. I was amazed, but no one was assisting. So My own arm won victory for Me, and My wrath upheld Me. So I trod down the peoples in My anger, and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”
I think sometimes that we forget this side of Yeshua.
Another amazing Scripture that also describes this role of Messiah is Isa. 49:1-7
Listen, to Me, islands! Pay attention, peoples far away. Adonai called Me from the womb, from My mother’s belly He named Me. He made My mouth like a sharp sword. in the shadow of His hand He hid Me. He made Me a polished arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver. He said to Me, “You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility. Yet surely the justice due to me is with Adonai, and my reward with my God.” So now says Adonai, who formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, to gather Israel back to Him. For I am honored in the eyes of Adonai and My God has become my strength. So He says, “It is too trifling a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved ones of Israel. So I will give You as a light for the nations, that You should be My salvation to the end of the earth.” Thus says Adonai, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to the One despised, to the One the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and arise, princes will also bow down, because of Adonai who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
We could see how Yeshua cried out when he was executed, that his mission had failed, that he had laboured in vain. However Adonai reiterates that it is Yeshua’s role to bring the people of Israel back to Him, and not only that, Yeshua has become the light for the nations, and salvation to the ends of the earth.
But the part that we have not seen yet, the part the coincides with Revelation 19 is that Kings will bow down to him. The many crowns that Yeshua is wearing are from the many kingdoms that have submitted themselves to Yeshua, as Paul writes about Yeshua in Phil. 2:6-11
Who, though existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself— taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled Himself— becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue profess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord— to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee will bow either willingly or unwillingly. Yeshua points out that he is the chief cornerstone from Ps. 118:22 and that we will either choose to humble ourselves before him, or we will be humbled by him. Luke 20:17-18
Then Yeshua looked right at them and said, “Then what is this that has been written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered; but the one upon whom it falls, it will crush him.”
I know that this sermon is not going to win me Brownie points with people who are looking for a meek, mild lamb of a savior, who would not break a bruised reed. But at the same time, one of the biggest, most deadly, most damning sins in the world is Pride. Pride will blind us from our true condition, pride will cause the nations of the world to rise up against Yeshua.
And if you think that we are exempt, I want you to look at how quickly everybody wants to blame Israel for the way they are doing everything, while at the same time are not holding themselves to the same standard. That is pride, arrogance and haughtiness! When you find yourself quick to point the finger at others, but can not see the same error in yourself, it is pride.
Earthly & Heavenly Judgement
Earthly & Heavenly Judgement
The next thing that we see is that the judgement is in both the physical and the spiritual realms. Satan is judged and bound for 1000 years and thrown into hell.
And those who had not worshiped the end time world empire or the image that he set up are given authority to rule the world under Yeshua. All those who have followed Yeshua will be resurrected and will rule under Yeshua. This is the first resurrection, and we want to be a part of the first resurrection!
How will the followers of Yeshua rule exactly? I am not certain, the Scriptures do not tell us, but I am fairly certain that Yeshua will be able to explain it to us Himself.
This will be a time of Messiah on this earth, a time of prosperity and peace that the world truly has never known. This will be the revelation of Yeshua to the world!
Conclusion
Conclusion
I would like to close out by reminding ourselves of the questions that I asked at the begining of the series. And as we go through each of these questions we will see if we remember what we have learned over the last 9 months.
Questions to Consider:
Why did the Scribes and Pharisees miss Yeshua’s First Coming?
Could we also have faulty expectations of Yeshua’s Second Coming?
When do believers receive rest from tribulation?
When are the persecutors destroyed and/or judged?
Are there multiple Second Comings of Yeshua? Or Is the Second Coming of Yeshua divided into multiple parts?
Is there a difference between the “Day of the Lord” and “Our Gathering to Him”?
What is the distinction between Israel and the Church as it relates to the End Days teachings?
Does the passage we read today:
provide timeline milestones?
show specific events that will occur prior to Yeshua’s Return?
divide Yeshua’s return into multiple parts?
Show an actual reign of Yeshua over the world?
Give an exact date?
Provide us warnings?
Provide us encouragement?
To close I want to read 2 passages of Scripture.
I want to read Adonai’s words through Balam the pagan prophet, Num. 23:19-21
God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes his mind! Does He speak and then not do it, or promise and not fulfill it? Look, I received a command to bless. He has blessed—I cannot change it! No misfortune is to be seen in Jacob, and no misery in Israel! Adonai their God is with them —the King’s shout is among them!
And finally from the end of Revelation 22:6-7
He said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true! Adonai, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must happen soon. Behold, I am coming soon! How fortunate is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
