King of Kings and Lord of Lords

The First Vision: The Captain of the Armies of Heaven (11-16)

“The questions in 13:4, ‘Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?’ anticipate the answer that Christ alone can to this” [Johnson, EBC, 574].

Heaven was opened to reveal the Faithful and True Witness

He was riding on a white horse

He judges and wages war in righteousness

His eyes are a flame of fire

His head is covered with “many diadems”

His name is written on Him and it is only known to Himself

Here we are reminded that there are hidden depths; Christ’s person can never be completely understood by his creation. It is possible that there is another thought. Those who practiced magic believed that to know the name gave power over him whose name it was. John may well be saying that no-one has power over Christ. He is supreme. His name is known only to himself. [Morris, TNTC]

His robe is dipped in blood

This is surely a reference to Calvary; Christ overcame by shedding his blood...He overcame, not by shedding the blood of others, but by shedding his own. [Morris, TNTC]

His name is called “The Word of God”

The armies which are in heaven are also revealed

They are following Christ on white horses

They are clothed in fine linen, white and clean

“These soldiers, like their leader, are riding white horses of victory…Their clothing of bright and clean linen is identical to the bride’s attire. Thus it is probably the victors who accompany Christ, either all of them or the company of the martyrs. Revelation 17:14 confirms this” [Johnson, EBC, 575].

Jesus has a sharp sword coming out of His mouth

He will strike down the nations with the sword of His mouth

He will rule them with a rod of iron

He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of Almighty God

The name “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” is written on His robe and on His thigh

If these chapters of Revelation are meant to have a time scheme into which this passage fits, it may be interpreted as the victorious Christ riding forth to his last battle. It should be pointed out, however, that the passage itself says nothing about a ‘last’ battle. Apart from the reference to Psalm 2 (‘he will rule them’), there is not even a verb in the future tense anywhere in these verses. They describe not what Christ is going to do but what he is: conquering King, righteous Judge, Captain of the armies of heaven. [Wilcock, The Message of Revelation]

The Second Vision: His Victory is Sure (17-18)

John devotes a small section to the final overthrow of the beast and his various helpers. They have had their little day and are now put in their rightful places. [Morris, TNTC]

John saw an angel standing in the sun

He cried out with a loud voice to all the birds which fly in midheaven

Come assemble for the great supper of God

Eat the flesh of kings and commanders

Eat the flesh of mighty men and horses

Eat the flesh of those who sit on horses

Eat the flesh of all men; free and slave; small and great

But the clear message of the ‘one angel’ is that the result of the war has already been decided by God. [Wilcock, The Message of Revelation]

The Third Vision: His Enemies are Doomed (19-21)

John saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled

They were preparing to make war against the rider on the white horse and His army

The beast and the false prophet were seized

The false prophet had performed signs in the presence of the beast

He deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image

They were both thrown alive in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone

The complex events of which John’s Vision is a simplified statement are not, however, a combination of things remote and near; they belong entirely to the last day. For the beast and the false prophet are the very principles of evil at work in this world, and when they are thrown into the lake of fire that will be the end of history. [Wilcock, The Message of Revelation]

Though the forces of evil appear mighty they are completely helpless when confronted by the Christ...Being cast into the lake of fire signifies utter destruction. All that the beast stood for is no more. [Morris, TNTC]

“The rest” were killed with the sword from the mouth of the rider of the white horse

All the birds were filled with their flesh

“In this scene of the overthrow of the beast and his kings and their armies, John is showing us the ultimate and swift downfall of these evil powers by the King of kings and Lord of lords. They have met their Master in this final and utterly real confrontation.” [Johnson, EBC, 576]