Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Revelation 19:11-16

Theme: At our Lord’s first Advent he came as a child, but At our Lord’s second Advent he is coming as a conqueror – Jesus is the Warrior-Messiah

A century ago most people believed that history was progressing inexorably toward a man-made utopia.

The Industrial Revolution, the march of scientific discovery, and the increasing pace of social reform seemed to promise nothing but brighter days ahead.

Today, however, two world wars; innumerable regional, civil, and national wars; countless acts of terrorism and senseless violence; and the nearly complete collapse of moral values make such rosy optimism seem quaintly naive.

The Bible teaches that things will be wonderfully better, but only after they become unimaginably worse.

There is only one solution for the world’s problems: the return of its true King, the Lord Jesus Christ, to establish absolute monarchy and unilateral authority in His earthly kingdom.

Only under His rule will there be peace instead of war, justice instead of inequity, and righteousness instead of wickedness.

But that glorious event will not occur without fierce opposition from Satan, his demon hordes, and the world of wicked sinners.

The Tribulation, the seven-year period immediately before Christ’s return, will witness a world united under the leadership of an evil megalomaniac known as Antichrist — in Revelation, the Apostle John refers to him simply as the Beast.

The Tribulation will be a time of escalating human defiance toward God, despite the unprecedented outpouring of God’s wrath in an ever increasing series of judgments.

Stubbornly hardening their hearts against the truth of the gospel, people will obstinately refuse to repent (9:20–21; 16:9, 11).

Even the destruction of Antichrist’s magnificent capital city in the waning months of the great tribulation; a city which the apostle refers to as The Great Babylon (chaps.

17–18) will provoke loud laments, but no repentance.

Where is the church during this period?

It is here, but I have no doubt it has gone underground.

This has been true throughout the ages.

Whether it’s the Christians at Rome meeting in the catacombs, or the Christians of North Korea secretly meeting in homes, God’s people have frequently been forced underground because of persecution.

The Book of Revelation makes it clear that many Christians will be martyred during this cataclysmic period of earth history.

But throughout 2000 years of history the church has repeatedly survived the persecution of despots who have boldly claimed that they would rid the earth of a people called Christian.

The prayer of God’s people during these times has always been the same; “Lord Jesus come quickly.”

Revelation 19:11-21 is the answer to that prayer.

This passage tells us three things about the 2nd Advent of Christ.

Jesus is returning in glory and in power

Jesus is returning to judge all who reject him

Jesus is returning to defeat the enemy who oppose him

I. JESUS IS RETURNING IN GLORY AND IN POWER vs. 11-16

1.

I have four things to tell you about Christ coming in glory and power

a. this will be the longest part of the message, with the last two points rather brief

2. the Apostle John gives us for glimpses of Jesus in these five verses

a. 1st, Jesus is the Warrior-Messiah

b. 2nd, Jesus is the Many-Crowned Conqueror

c. 3rd, Jesus is the Righteous Judge

d. 4th, Jesus is the Lord of lords and King of kings

A. JESUS IS THE WARRIOR-MESSIAH

“ 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.”

(Revelation 19:11, ESV)

“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.”

(Revelation 19:15, ESV)

1. the apostle paints a vivid prophetic picture of an unnamed conqueror who strides forth in crimson-stained garments riding a great white war-horse

a. he comes avenging his people, and vindicating his Father’s will

b. he will strike down the nations with a sword that comes from his mouth

c. he will rule those nations with a rod of iron

d.

He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty

2. this is the Messiah we most often see in the writings of the Old Testament prophets

a. it’s the Messiah the Jews were hoping for and expecting, and is one of the reasons why the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus — he did not meet their messianic expectations

3. at his 1st Advent Jesus came in grace, but at his 2nd Advent Jesus comes in glory

a. when Jesus comes a second time he will destroy all hostile and opposing powers

b. in his cross and resurrection Christ won a great victory over the powers of evil and by his second coming he will execute that victory

4. the Christ who comes forth from heaven is the Warrior-Messiah foretold in the Old Testament

a. this was the Savior who slew Pharaoh’s army after parting the Red Sea for Israel to pass through

1) at that victory Moses sang, “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name” (Ex.

15:3)

b. this is the battle captain who appeared to Joshua “with his drawn sword in his hand” (Josh.

5:13)

1) Jesus tells Joshua, “I am the commander of the army of the LORD,” and Joshua worshiped him (5:14)

5. in his first coming, Jesus dealt with sin by offering his own blood in sacrifice, but now he returns in glory, “and in righteousness he judges and makes war” (Rev.

19:11).

a. we are told that this warrior-Messiah is called Faithful and True

1) he will be faithful and true to the mission of the Father — he will judge in righteousness

2) God perfectly knows the hearts of both his righteous followers, and his unrighteous enemies

3) when Christ makes war upon The Beast, and the Beast’s followers there will be no ‘collateral damage’— no saint of God will accidentally be caught up in Christ’s judgment

B. JESUS IS A MANY-CROWNED CONQUEROR

“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.”

(Revelation 19:12, ESV)

1. in vs. 12 John continues to describe a Jesus who comes in power and glory

a. John describes him with ‘eyes like flames of fire,’ he wears ‘many crowns,’ and he ‘has a name known only to himself’

2. his ‘eyes like flames of fire’ depicts the penetrating sight of God that discovers all sin

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

(Hebrews 4:13, NIV84)

a. on the one hand, that ought to bless you

b. on the other hand, that ought to terrify you

c. Jesus sees every action, he knows every thought, he is aware of every emotion of your heat that you’ve ever had

1) there is nothing about you that escapes his knowledge

ILLUS.