WHO IS THIS CHILD – RETURN OF THE KING (REVELATION 19-22)
It’s with great awe and humility that I’m going to speak to you today on Revelation 19-22 – the climax of Scripture, the return of Christ the king. That’s not least because plagues and death are promised to those who add or take away from it! It’s the end of Essential 100, and as we’ll see it wraps up the whole Bible; it foresees a return to the paradise we saw in Genesis, an intimate relation again of mankind with God, a restored creation and no shadow of evil or a curse on mankind.
Furthermore, today we shall find out finally and eternally the answer to the question “Who is this child” we’ve been asking in this Christmas series on Revelation, as we trace his second coming. Have you ever thought that Jesus’s return will also be Christmas, which means festival or celebration of Christ? But there’s another question we shall have to answer “Whose is this Lord?” “Whose is this Lord”. Bear it in mind as I speak.
Simon told us last week that he turns to Narnia when his imagination fails. I turn to Lord of the Rings. There’s a scene in “The Two Towers” when the hordes of evil goblins have been attacking the last stronghold of the men of Rohan all night. Many brave men have fallen, the wall is taken, the castle is threatened…...just like the church under siege from Satan in Revelation. Aragorn and King Theoden rally their men for a last hopeless charge….if only the wizard Gandalf could return to resolve the situation….
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So we saw that Gandalf returned on his white horse and evil was conquered. Listen to the return of Christ as the warrior in 19:11-16 and you’ll see the parallels.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
It’s Jesus’s own blood that stains his robe, the blood he shed on the cross that saves all who trust in him; it’s his word of truth which is his sword, that dispels darkness and defeats evil. His might, as King of Kings makes laughable the pomp and pride of earthly rulers. And see how Satan is defeated in the wake of his return! After a time, Satan gathers a vast army in a desperate last attempt to defeat Christ and the church (20:8-10):
“In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
So Jesus crushes Satan’s evil power, finally and forever as God promised to Eve in Genesis, the only one who could. What can anyone say to this mighty warrior but Jesus is Lord? Let’s say it JESUS IS LORD. Evil is defeated forever and even the demons, the atheists, must bow to him.
So this child is a warrior. And then after his final victory, there is Jesus as judge of all mankind in 20:11-15. Picture now to this awesome scene!
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
See how the dead have all been resurrected as Paul had prophesied in 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 “the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” And all those people who have ever lived will stand there before Jesus the judge, in a mighty throng, as Paul foresaw in 2 Corinthians 5:10 “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”.
For Jesus will judge, as Lord of all, as he himself promised. John 5:27 says God “has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” And Jesus will enact his own teaching of the division of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25 as he says to those on his right: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” and those on his left “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Alas, alas, on that day all will say “Jesus is Lord”, in fear and trembling, let’s whisper it together “JESUS IS LORD”. But not all will be saved. For everyone in that crowd is under the curse of Eden, as we are here, all have sinned and cannot stand in the holy presence of God. Revelation lists their sins, our sins - “the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars” - is that not us too at times? We all, in Paul’s words from Romans 3, “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” And a dreadful fate will await many on that day.
Friends, this is the Last Judgement we are speaking about. Our faith is a serious matter, it’s not a lifestyle option, it’s not a convenient moral philosophy, it’s not a fashion, it’s not something to be mixed with other beliefs, other loyalties, something to be lukewarm about. We will all be there. The mighty warrior has conquered evil – Jesus is Lord; and the mighty judge will take eternal decisions with perfect justice – Jesus is Lord. Everyone, will say that, even those who when alive, scoffed at the cross. Richard Dawkins will be there clutching his book “The God Delusion”. Nietzsche will be there, who proudly proclaimed “God is dead”. Jesus is Lord.
None will stand unafraid on that day – and yet, and yet, some will not be dismissed from Jesus’ lifegiving presence, if, if, only if, they can say “Jesus is MY Lord” Jesus is my Lord. For despite their guilt, the judge will look up with a smile and say, acquitted, by your faith in my precious blood! Your name is written in the lamb’s book of life. Well done, good and faithful servant!
Yes. If we can say in our hearts, Jesus is MY Lord, now in this life, we shall not just see him as the warrior and judge when he returns. That child has become the bridegroom. He comes to his faithful church, to invite her to the wedding feast, to be his bride! The bride he was willing to die for, on the cross, as Song of Songs 8 reminds us a love “as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” We the church shall be a bride who thanks to Jesus’ blood is indeed pure, and not like God’s faithless bride Israel as recorded in Old Testament books of Hosea and Isaiah. Listen to 19:5-9:
“Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ " And he added, "These are the true words of God."”
The bells in heaven will ring out, angels will sing and the faithful, among that great multitude will worship God! Jesus is my Lord, we, the church, the bride will say, in wonder and adoration, Jesus is my Lord, let’s say it JESUS IS MY LORD. And they will enjoy a wonderful banquet. Even today, before that final hour, remember the bells of heaven ring when a single lost soul is saved, by the only way, by saying truly in their heart “Jesus is my Lord”. We, if we have faith in him, are already Christ’s bride – and we shall be with him for eternity.
And finally, as well as the warrior, the judge, the bridegroom, we shall see him as the king. Jesus, the child of Bethlehem, is the King of Heaven, come to earth. We shall walk with him in a city beyond imagination, the New Jerusalem! Listen now to what John saw in 21:1-7:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"….To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
See how there will be no more death, or sorrow, for us as eternal children of God. We shall meet those who were faithful to him. I know I shall meet my mother and father, who died so many years ago, in 1985 and 1960. We shall meet the heroes of scripture, Mary and Ruth and Isaiah and David, Paul and John and James, and great people of faith like Mother Teresa, St Francis, Augustine and Calvin. There will be many there we don’t expect – only God knows a person’s heart at the moment they die, whether their last breath, their last thought, was truly “Jesus is my Lord”. Think of your joy if you meet someone whom you led to faith!
The City of God comes to the renewed earth, like no city ever conceived. You must read for yourself the detail of rich and precious stones that decorate that edifice – but I think the key is that it’s not just a structure, it’s also itself the bride, it shows the restoration of God’s people to relationship with him as in Eden, the transformation of us the church, as the wedding of the Lamb has shown. Listen to 22:1-5:
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
See! We return to Eden, to Genesis 2, the river and the tree of life from which Adam and Eve were banished; and the curse of earth from mankind’s disobedience is no more. Death, the consequence of the fall, is no more, we walk in immortal resurrection bodies. Creation and not just mankind is redeemed and renewed. God will dwell with us, as he did in Eden. The light of the city is Jesus the lamb and the Father, there is no darkness, so evil – Satan has been defeated forever. Remember that lovely song they sang at the carol service “Light of the world”. Jesus, we shall say every day “is my Lord”. Let’s repeat JESUS IS MY LORD, the heavenly king, come back to earth to reign forever over his faithful people, his bride.
So who is this child, now, as we end Essential 100? The Old Testament showed us how God’s good creation was put under a curse due to mankind’s disobedience, when they were tempted by Satan. The prophets told us that God would send a servant to save mankind from that curse, as Isaiah memorably wrote he would bear “the sin of many”, and make “intercession for the transgressors”. And all of prophecy began to come true as the New Testament that Christmas day long ago, as Jesus, God’s own son, came to earth. And then he died on the cross, ensuring the defeat of evil as Satan was banished from heaven, and by taking punishment for our sin, ending our separation from God.
And all of that now comes to fruition as Jesus the warrior crushes Satan on earth, even as Eve was promised – Jesus is Lord. all will say. We shall see the mighty righteous judge of each individual and every nation, of every good and evil spirit and of death itself – Jesus is Lord, all will say. But also the loving bridegroom of those who trust in the saving power of his blood – Jesus is my Lord, his faithful people will sing; and the heavenly king, returned to earth to rule in his own heavenly light – Jesus is my Lord, his holy bride will proclaim. Do you see how it’s the Lord’s prayer coming true “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Do you realise we are calling for Christ’s return every time we say that prayer?
For Jesus is coming, he who is the way and the truth and the life. In 22:12 he says "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” It could be right now, it could be tomorrow.
Is he your Lord? Can you say so in your heart? You will be with him. “Blessed are those who wash their robes” says the holy scripture “that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” He will wipe every tear from your eye. Come to him now, that he may comfort you for the troubles of your life! Be prayed for, receive prayers of reassurance, of his faithful love. Yours is his eternal promise.
But if he is your Lord, there is also an awesome responsibility to you, to call, in the Spirit’s power, our friends, our loved ones, our neighbours, our work colleagues who don’t know Jesus to come to faith. By discussion, by prayer, inviting them to church, to Alpha. As the text says, “the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" We the church, the bride of Christ are co-workers with God’s Holy Spirit, we must invite them to the wedding feast, away from the deceptions of the world, saying with Isaiah “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
Is he not your Lord today? Do you feel a block to saying in your heart “Jesus is my Lord”? Is something else ruling your life? Don’t wait to find your name not written in the book of life! While there is life, it is not too late! But remember, although our lives seem so permanent, we are a mist, that appears for a little while and then vanishes as James says. Tomorrow could be too late. Don’t wait! Jesus invites you with these words: “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” You can still be refreshed by that water! You can still stand secure before the judgement seat – if you can say in your heart, Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Lord. You can make this the Christmas of your eternity and the bells of heaven will ring out!
Let’s pray, close our eyes and bow our heads. Can the ministry team come make themselves available.
There may be some here who have never in their lives said in their heart to Jesus, the warrior, the judge, the bridegroom and the king “you are my Lord”, but today you have heard his call. You know you have to surrender your life to him. Jesus is calling you, by his Holy Spirit. If that’s you, raise your hand. Say in your heart, or aloud, even as the rest of us say out “Jesus is my Lord” JESUS IS MY LORD. Now come to the ministry team, or turn to someone you trust, and we shall pray for you, as Christ receives you into his eternal family.
There may be others who are not sure today of their faith. Maybe your love for his was once passionate but now it’s lukewarm, like the church in Ephesus you have “forgotten your first love”. Maybe something else has taken the place he once had in your life? Do you want to recommit your life to him, to proclaim again “Jesus is my Lord”. Now is the time for you too. Raise your hand, and we will pray for you.
