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IT'S TIME TO SADDLE UP |
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Nineteen chapters and several months ago we began a study of the Book of Revelation. As we have worked our way through the book, everything we have considered has been pointing us and bringing us to the moment we are about to consider.
In the opening chapter, Revelation 1:7-8 we read:
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
At the very beginning of the book the return of Jesus is established as one of the major themes and subjects of the book.
As we have moved our way through the book we have learned more about the purpose of His return. In Revelation 5 we were introduced to a “book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals” (Cp. 5:1). We saw that this book is actually the title deed to the earth. It is a book that declares the actual owner and ruler of the earth.
A search was made for one who is worthy to open the book. There was “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look upon” (cp. 5:4). In other words, their search for rightful owner of the earth was not found.
But then we read of the Lord Jesus coming forward and “took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne” (cp. 5:7). When He did so, all of heaven exploded in praise crying, “Worthy is the Lamb.” The Lord Jesus was identified and proclaimed as the rightful Lord and owner of this earth.
In the events that followed that heavenly scene we have seen the Lord Jesus taking steps to take back that which is rightfully His. At the present, Satan is called the “god of this world” (cp. 2 Cor 4:4). He may be the god of this world at the present, but he is not the rightful owner and lord of this world. There is coming a day when the Lord Jesus, the rightful Lord and owner, will take back that which rightfully belongs to Him.
Beginning in chapter 6 through chapter 18 we see what is called the Tribulation Period, a time when the Lord Jesus is taking the steps and preparing the stage for the hour when He would once again assume the position and title as the owner and rule of this earth.
As we come to our text (19:11-16) we see that moment arriving. We see the Lord Jesus returning to the earth to take back that which belongs to Him. What a majestic and glorious moment it is. The first time He came to this earth to be the Redeemer. This time He comes to be the Ruler. The first time He came to proclaim His kingdom. This time He comes to claim His kingdom. The first time He was nailed to a cross. This time He is wearing a crown.
The moment all of Revelation has been anticipating has now arrived. It is time to saddle up! It is time for the King of kings and Lord of lords to return to this earth. Let’s notice this return by first considering:
1. THE REALIZATION OF HIS PROMISE
We read in verse 1:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.”
In Revelation 19 John states that he “saw” three things (cp. Vs. 17, 19). The first thing that he sees is the Lord Jesus returning in power and glory.
He sees Him sitting upon a “white horse.” The white horse was the traditional white horse that a victorious Roman general rode in the triumphal procession through the streets of Rome. John sees the Lord Jesus returning as the victorious One. The first time He came to earth as a child. This time He returns as a conqueror. This time He is not coming to die on a cross, but to sit on a throne.
As John sees Him he is reminded of:
A) The Faithfulness of His Promise
John states that He was called “Faithful and True.” We saw that this description was given to Him earlier in Revelation 3:14:
“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness.”
It is a title that declares that He is faithful to His promise and that whatsoever He says is true. As we see Him returning in chapter 19, He is seen as “Faithful and True,” reminding us that He keeps His promises.
Jesus promised that He would come again. You can put it down, He will come again. As the old-timers used to say, “You can put it in your pipe and smoke it.” Jesus said He would return and He will return just as He promised.
Someone has come up with these statistics about the return of the Lord Jesus. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence. Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's Second Coming.
You can be certain that every promise He made about His return is true. He that is Faithful and True said He would come again, and He will come again as He promised.
The faithfulness of His promise is seen in:
B) The Fulfillment of His Promise
As I have already stated, in Revelation 19:11 we see the fulfillment of His promise. Here we see the realization or the fulfillment of His promise. As we look at verses 11-16 we are given a glimpse of the actual fulfillment of His promise and a reminder that He fulfills His promises.
In Revelation 1:7 we read that “all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” You will note in verse 11 that John saw how “in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” This indicates that He is coming to judge the earth.
I read a legend about a man who made a covenant with Death. The covenant was that Death should not come to him without warning and unannounced. The years rolled on, and at last, Death appeared before the man. The old man said, “Death, you have not been true to your promise. You have not kept your covenant. You promised you would not come unannounced. You never gave me any warning.” Death replied, “Not so! Every gray hair in your head is a warning. Everyone of your lost teeth is a warning. Your eyes growing dim and your natural power and vigor abated is a warning. Oh yes, I have warned you and warned you continually.” With those words Death swept the man into eternity.
Over and over again the Lord Jesus has promised that He will come again. With that promise He has also given warning that He will judge the world. This world goes on its merry way as if every promise Jesus made is nothing more than fairy tales or religious myths. But you can mark it down; this world is headed for judgment. He will come again and He will in righteousness judge and make war.
The return of the Lord is not fiction. It is not a fable. It is a fact! It may be only be at the present just a theological or prophetical fact. But one day it will be an historical fact.
Furthermore, we see not only the realization of His promise, but also:
2. THE REVELATION OF HIS PERSON
John first sees a white horse, but immediately his attention is turned to the One sitting upon the white horse. In Luke 21:27 the promise was given, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” John allows us to see the Lord Jesus returning in power and great glory.
What a glorious revelation of the person of the Lord Jesus we have in Revelation 19. Notice first:
A) His Description
In verse 12 we read:
“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns.”
John speaks of His eyes. Nothing escapes His penetrating gaze. He knows all and sees all. The eyes that had wept over Jerusalem and looked so tenderly upon others when He was on earth the first time, now flash with the fires of judgment.
On His head are “many crowns.” The word “crown” is diadema which refers to a ruler’s crown. That there are “many crowns” signifies that he collects the crowns of all rulers and establishes Himself as the ruler of all. Collecting the crown of a vanquished ruler was common in the ancient world.
An example is seen in 2 Samuel 12:30 when David defeated the Ammonites. We read:
“And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight there was a talent of gold with precious stones: and it was set on David’s head.”
The placing of the Ammonite king’s crown on David’s head signified that David was his conqueror. When the Lord Jesus returns He will wear on His head the crown of every king and national leader, signifying that He is conqueror of them all.
In verse 13 we read:
“And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood,”
Most likely, the blood upon His garment is the blood of His slain enemies, rather than representing the blood He shed on Calvary. He is seen as One emerging from battle, His garments stained with the blood of His enemies.
Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus in these blood-stained garments. We read in Isaiah 63:1-6:
(1) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? (3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (5) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. (6) And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
This sword seen coming out of His mouth speaks of the deadliness of His words. As we shall see in our next study, He defeats His enemies without a single weapon. He will conquer them with just His spoken word.
Having conquered His enemies, He will rule over them with absolute authority. As with a rod of iron He will quickly subdue them and put down any rebellion.
Then John gives is a vivid image of His conquering of His enemies. He uses the image of the winepress and walking over the grapes to get the juice out. The juice pouring out speaks of the blood of His enemies as it flows in rivers of blood.
In judgment swift, severe and sure, the Lord Jesus will conquer His foes. Yes, he will return in power and great glory.
Notice secondly:
B) His Designations
Three times John speaks of His name. First, there is His secret name. We read in verse 12:
“He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself.”
What this name is, no one knows but the Lord Jesus Himself. It is a secret name.
In verse 13 we see His special name. We read, “His name is called The Word of God.” He is the revelation of the mind, heart and will of God. By our words, our mind, heart and will are made known to others. The Lord Jesus is the revelation of God as the Word.
In verse 16 we read, “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” On His chest there is an inscription and on one of His upper legs another. Both declare Who He is. This is His sovereign name.
At this return Jesus will return in all His glory. How glorious will be the hour when Jesus returns to this earth to establish His rule and kingdom upon and over the earth. It's what we have been anticipating for nineteen chapters; yea, hundreds of years. Hallelujah, it will one day be a reality.
It will also be a glorious day for all who are saved as we see in:
3. THE RATIONALIZATION OF HIS PEOPLE
We read in verse 14, “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” The Lord will not return by Himself. There will accompany Him an army. As we look at John's description of this army we see that it is:
A) A Glorious Army
This is an army that was with the Lord in heaven. They were in heaven with the Lord and they accompany Him when he returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Who is this army? It is an army that consists of the saints of God. I am in this army. If you are saved you are in this army.
Think about it. We will be a part of one of history's most important events. There have been many great moments in history, but the hour Jesus returns has to rank above them all. Included in that moment are all who have been saved. We will be a part of a glorious army--the Lord's army.
We also see that this army is:
B) A Righteous Army
We read that this army is "clothed in fine linen, white and clean." The saints of God will have appeared before the Judgment Seat of Christ and all impurities will have been removed. The garments of fine linen, white and clean are symbolic of the righteousness of the saints.
We also see that this army is:
C) A Victorious Army
Like our Lord, we will be riding upon white horses. As we saw earlier, these white horses are symbolic of victory. The saints of God will share in Christ's victory. This is not a timid and weak army. They have at their head the King of Kings and Lord of all lords. They follow a commander that has never lost a battle. They ride in triumphant with Him, sharing in His glory and victory.
I referred to this army as an rationalization of His people. To rationalize is to "account or justify." Throughout history the saints of God have been ridiculed, mocked, harassed, with multiplied millions paying the ultimate cost for their faith. But on this day, they are justified in the eyes of history. They are no longer the butt of jokes or the target of a godless world. They are riding in victory.
Sometimes we feel like we are on the loosing end. Look up and look ahead. The end is assured and it is glorious for both Christ and each who know the Lord.
© 2006 by the Living Word |
