THE RETURN OF THE KING
REVELATION 19:1-21
INTRODUCTION:
WE ARE RE-VISITING THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE BECAUSE THE RETURN OF THE KING IS ACTUALLY THE CONCLUDING PART OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. JUST AT THE TIME WHEN IT SEEMS SATAN HAS WON THE DAY AND IS ABOUT TO DESTROY JERUSALEM WITH FAR SUPERIOR NUMBERS, THE GATES OF HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE KING OF KINGS WILL MAKE HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO CLAIM THAT WHICH WAS HIS ALL ALONG. WITH HIM SHALL COME THE GREAT ANGELIC ARMY, AND ALSO WITH THEM ON WHITE HORSES AND DRESSED IN FINE LINEN, ALL THE BELIEVERS WHO HAD DIED, OR WHO HAD BEEN TAKEN UP IN THE RAPTURE.
THIS WILL BE THE DAY LONG AWAITED BY THE TRIBULATION SAINTS WHO ASKED IN REVELATION 6:10,
REVELATION 6:9-11:
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
THIS DAY THEY EAGERLY AWAITED HAD FINALLY COME. THE DAY OF REJOICING WHEN THE KING WOULD TAKE HIS THRONE, NEVER AGAIN TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STENCH OF SIN. NEVER AGAIN WILL WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, DEATH, SADNESS, AND SEPARATION. ON THIS DAY SAINTS ROBED IN WHITE WILL WITNESS THE GREATEST VICTORY OF ALL TIME. AS THE SONG SAYS:
HE IS HIGHER THAN THE HIGHEST, GREATER THAN THE GREAT
NOONE WILL EVER TAKE HIS CROWN AWAY;
HE’S MORE MIGHTY THAN THE MIGHTIEST, HE REIGNS FROM ABOVE
HE IS THE ALL TIME, UNDISPUTED, UNDEFEATED CHAMPION OF LOVE
THE WRITER TO THE HEBREWS STATES:
HEBREWS 9:27-28:
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A SECOND TIME THAT OUR KING IS COMING BACK. THIS TIME IT WILL NOT TO BE A SACRIFICE, BUT A VICTOR, NOT JUST TO BE THE LAMB OF GOD, BUT TO BE THE LION OF JUDAH.
IN HIS FIRST COMING HE WAS WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES.
IN HIS SECOND COMING HE WILL BE CLOTHED ROYALLY IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD.
IN HIS FIRST COMING HE WAS SURROUNDED BY CATTLE AND COMMON PEOPLE.
IN HIS SECOND COMING HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE MIGHTY ARMIES OF HEAVEN
IN HIS FIRST COMING THE DOOR TO THE INN WAS CLOSED TO HIM.
IN HIS SECOND COMING THE DOORS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE OPENED TO HIM.
IN HIS FIRST COMING HIS VOICE WAS THE TINY CRY OF A BABY.
IN HIS SECOND COMING HIS VOICE WILL THUNDER AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS.
IN HIS FIRST COMING HE WAS THE LAMB OF GOD BRINGING SALVATION.
IN HIS SECOND COMING HE WILL BE THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WHO COMES BRINGING JUDGMENT.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. REFERENCES IN THE SCRIPTURE TO THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD OUTNUMBER REFERENCES TO THE FIRST 8 – 1. HIS SECOND COMING IS EMPHASIZED IN NO LESS THAN 17 OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS AND SEVEN OUT OF EVERY TEN CHAPTERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. SO INCIDENTLY IF YOU’RE SAYING YOU HAVEN’T HEARD THIS TYPE OF PREACHING, WHAT BOOK IS THE GUY WHO’S PREACHING TO YOU USING, BECAUSE IT SURE ISN’T THE BIBLE.
THE SECOND COMING IS SECOND IN EMPHASIS ONLY TO FAITH AS THE MOST DOMINANT SUBJECT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT MANY OF THE PROPHETS SPOKE OF THE SECOND COMING. LISTEN TO WHAT ZECHARIAH SAYS:
ZECHARIAH 14:3-11:
Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime—a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.
8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. 10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. 11 It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.
JESUS ALSO ANNOUNCED HIS COMING:
MATTHEW 24:27-30:
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days ”‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and
the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31AND he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
THE ANGELS ALSO ANNOUNCED THE RETURN OF CHRIST:
ACTS 1:11: Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
WHEN JESUS ARRIVES THIS SECOND TIME HIS LANDING WILL DRAMATICALLY HERALD THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING. WHEN HIS FEET TOUCH THE MOUNT OF OLIVES IT WILL SPLIT IN TWO CREATING A PASSAGEWAY FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO.
TIM LAHAYE DESCRIBES IT THIS WAY:
THERE WILL BE A STELLAR EVENT. CELESTIAL, COSMIC, GREATER THAN EARTH. GREATER THAN THE HEAVENS. AND IT WILL SUCK THE AIR OUT OF HUMANITY’S LUNGS AND SEND MEN AND WOMEN KINGS AND PRESIDENTS AND TYRANTS TO THEIR KNEES. IT WILL HAVE NO NEED OF SPOTLIGHTS, FOG MACHINES, AMPLIFIED MUSIC, SYNTHESIZERS OR SPECIAL EFFECTS. IT WILL BE REAL.”
THE WORLD WILL RECOGNIZE ITS RIGHTFUL LORD AND KING. HE CAME THE FIRST TIME IN HUMILITY AND SIMPLICITY, THIS TIME HIS GLORY AND MAJESTY WILL BE SPECTACULARLY DISPLAYED FOR ALL TO SEE.
WHEN JESUS COMES BACK HE WILL HAVE THREE TITLES USED TO IDENTIFY HIM. THE FIRST ONE IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD. THE SECOND IS THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE THIRD IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. THEY ARE STATED IN REVELATION 19:11-13 AND 16. WE READ THEM THIS MORNING.
THESE THREE TITLES ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE FIRST TITLE RELATES TO HIS INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER. A RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE WEORLD BEGAN. HIS SECOND TITLE “THE WORD OF GOD” TAKES UUS TO JOHNS GOSPEL AND ITS INTRODUCTION. IT EMPHASIZES HIS FIRST ADVENT, WHEN THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.
HIS THIRD TITLE WHICH WE FOCUS ON TODAY ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” FOCUSES ON HIS SECOND ADVENT. IN THIS TITLE HE CLAIMS HIS RIGHTFUL THRONE AS THE SOVEREIGN RULER OF THE EARTH.
WHEN THE LION OF JUDAH RETURNS HIS DISCRIPTION WILL CAST FEAR INTO MANY. HIS EYES ARE DESCRIBED AS “BURNING LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE.” YOU PROBABLY HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU. I DON’T LIKE BEING AROUND SUCH PEOPLE. BUT THE KING OF KINGS WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK DEEPLY INTO OUR HEARTS AND EXAMINE OUR MOTIVES AND JUDGE THEM FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE, NOT FOR HOW WE HOPE WE CAN MAKE THEM OUT TO BE.
REVELATION 19:12 TELLS US THAT ON HIS HEAD WILL BE MANY CROWNS SIGNIFIYING HIS ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ENTIRE EARTH. THIS INCLUDES THE ABSLOUTE SOVEREIGN POWER OVER SIN AND DEATH, SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT TEAR US APART NOW WILL FALL UNDER HIS SOVEREIGNTY AND WE WILL FEAR THEM NO MORE.
THE ROBE OF THE RETURNING CHRIST IS DIPPED IN BLOOD. HE IS REMINDING US THAT HE WAS ALSO THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF GOD. HE WAS THE LAMB SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (REV.13:8). NOW THE VICTIM IS COMING BACK AS THE CONQUEROR.
WHEN JESUS COMES BACK HE WILL BRING HIS ANGELIC AND SAINTLY ARMIES WITH HIM. MY FRIENDS, THIS WILL BE AS CLOSE AS YOU GET TO BEING INVOLVED IN EARTHLY LIFE AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
JUDE 14-15:
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
NOW THIS ARMY WILL BE ON HORSES AND DRESSED IN FINE LINENS. THE FACT IS YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE WEARING YOUR SUNDAY GO TO MEETING CLOTHES. YOU SEE YOU ARE NOT COMING TO FIGHT BUT TO WITNESS. TO WITNESS THE KING AS HE DESTROYS THE ENEMY.
REVELATION 19:15-16, 19-21:
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. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU AS DAVID JEREMIAH DOES. THIS IS NOT THE SUPPER THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IF YOU GO TO THIS SUPPER YOU WON’T NEED TO CHECK THE MENU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE MENU. RICH AND POOR, YOUNG AND OLD, MAN AND WOMAN WILL FIND THEMSELVES BIRD FOOD AFTER BEING SLAIN BY THE GREAT KING. ANY WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST WHO ARE ALIVE AT THIS TIME WILL MEET THIS FATE.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SUPPER THAT I AM GOING TO. AND HOW I WANT YOU TO BE THERE TOO. IT’S THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
REVELATION 19:7-9:
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. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 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.”
NOW FOR ALL IT’S BEAUTY JOHN DOES NOT GIVE MUCH DESCRIPTION TO THE FEAST. IT’S NOT BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO, BUT RATHER BECAUSE HE CAN’T. WORDS FAIL HIM TO DESCRIBE THE BEAUTY AND EXCITEMENT OF THE SCENE. THERE IS A WRITER’S TECHNIQUE KNOWN AS INDIRECTION. WHEN AN EVENT IS TOO WONDERFUL FOR WORDS, IT IS SOMETIMES MORE EFFECTIVE TO SHOW THE WONDER THROUGH REACTIONS TO THE EVENT RATHER THAN THE EVENT ITSELF. JOHN MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN HE WAS USING THIS TECHNIQUE WHEN HE WROTE THIS. HE PROBABLY WASN’T A PROFESSIONAL WRITER. BUT IN USING THIS TECHNIQUE JOHN USED THE REACTIONS OF OTHERS TO SHOW ITS CHARACTER INDIRECTLY.
MY FRIENDS THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST WEDDING CELEBRATION OF ALL TIME. CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE IT? THE BRIDE GROOM, THE KING OF THE AGES, COMING FOR HIS BRIDE. THE SAINTS OF THE AGES WILL BE AT THIS WEDDING, AND ONLY THE SAINTS WILL BE THERE. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SIN AT THIS FEAST.
WE’LL BE SITTING WITH THE BLEST OF THE AGES. THE OPPORTUNITY WILL BE OURS TO TALK WITH DAVID AND SOLOMON. TO DINE WITH THE APOSTLES AND MEET MARY. OUR LOVED ONE IN CHRIST WILL BE THERE.
THIS WEDDING FEAST WILL CELEBRATE CHRIST’S VICTORY AND BEGIN A VICTORIOUS LIFE WITH HIM ON THE NEW EARTH THAT WILL LAST THOUGHOUT THE AGES. OH CAN’T YOU JUST SEE IT.
REVELATION 1:13-18:
and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
WE WILL WITNESS A CORONATION THE LIKES OF WHICH THIS WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN. AS THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS HE IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST. HE IS THE ALMIGHTY KING OG KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
WE WILL WITNESS THE AWESOME POWER OF HIS JUDGMENT, FOR THE SWORD PROCEEDING FROM CHRIST’S MOUTH IS NOT THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT OF EPHESIANS 6:17 BUT THE SWORD OF JUDGMENT, AND CHRIST WILL USE IT TO SMITE THE NATIONS INTO UTTER SUBMISSION AND ESTABLISH HIS ABSOLUTE RULE.
WE WILL WITNESS CHRIST RECLAIMING THE WORLD, BUT BEFORE IT CAN BE RECLAIMED IT MUST BE CLEANSED, AND WE WILL WITNESS THE CLEANSING OF THE WORLD FROM ALL OF THE INFLUENCE OF SIN. THE SIN NATURE THAT CORRUPTED THE WORLD FROM THE TIME OF ADAM AND EVE WILL LOSE ITS POWER.
IN THIS CLEANSING WE WILL WITNESS A MOST GLORIOUS EVENT ONE OF MANY AT THIS TIME. WE WILL WITNESS THE DEMISE OF SATAN, THE ANTICHRIST, AND THE FALSE PROPHET. NO LONGER WILL THE ANTICHRIST HAVE RULE IN THIS WORLD. NO LONGER WILL THERE BE A MARK OF THE BEAST. NO LONGER WILL THERE BE THE HORRORS OF THE TRIBULATION.
THE INFLUENCE OF SIN WILL BE GONE FROM THIS WORLD, AND WE WILL WITNESS ITS LEADES CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE. THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET WILL PRECEED SATAN WHO WILL BE SET FREE FROM THE ABYSS FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER THE MILLENNIUM, BUT THIS WILL HAVE NO CONSE QUENCE FOR OUR ETERNAL DESTINY. SATAN WILL HAVE NO REAL POWER AT THIS TIME. DURING THE MILLENNIUM THE POWER OF HEAVEN WILL BE UNLEASHED ON THE WORLD AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS.
HARRY IRONSIDE STATES:
NOTE THAT TWO MEN, ARE TAKEN ALIVE….THESE TWO MEN ARE CAST ALIVE INTO (THE LAKE BURNING WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE) WHERE A THOUSAND YEARS LATER, THEY ARE STILL SAID TO BE SUFFERING THE VENGENCE OF ETERNAL FIRE, MENTIONED IN JUDE 7
HELL IS A FRIGHTFULLY REAL PLACE. THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN IT, MAY HOLD TO THEIR BELIEFS, BUT THAT WILL NOT CHANGE THE REALITY OF IT. HELL SHOWS HOW DEADLY IT IS TO BE AN ENEMY OF THE ALMIGHT GOD. HIS POWER IS INFINITE, AND HIS JUSTICE IS CERTAIN.
YOU AND I AS SAINTS OF GOD WILL NOT HAVE TO FEAR THAT JUDGMENT, FOR THE JUDGMENT THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL FACE WAS PAID AT CALVARY BY CHRIST. HE PAID OUR PENALTY AND TOOK OUR JUDGMENT. WHAT THIS DOES SHOW US, IN A SMALL WAY IS SOME OF THE PUNISHMENT THAT HE TOOK FOR US. THE ROAD THAT SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS FOLLOW TO THE LAKE OF BURNING BRIMSTONE IS THE ROAD THAT YOU AND I SHOULD BE WALKING AS WELL, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT A LOVING SAVIOR CHOSE TO WALK THAT ROAD FOR US, AND SHOW HIS AWESOME POWER BY DEFEATING SATAN AT CALVARY.
TO YOU AND I GO THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING WITH THE SAINTS IN PRAISING GOD SAYING:
REVELATION 19:6: 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. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
WE STARTED WITH THE WORDS OF A SONG, AND WE WILL FINISH WITH THE WORDS OF A SONG. DOTTIE RAMBO A GREAT GOSPEL WRITER WHO RECENTLY WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD PENNED THESE WORDS ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL DAY THAT JESUS COMES BACK.
THE SKY SHALL UNFOLD PREPARING HIS ENTRANCE
THE STARS SHALL APPLAUD WITH THUNDERS OF PRAISE
THE SWEET LIGHT OF HIS EYES SHALL ENHANCE THOSE AWAITING
AND WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM THEN FACE TO FACE
THE GREATEST THING ABOUT THE RETURN OF CHRIST IS THIS, WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM FACE TO FACE, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR ALL ETERNITY.
