Revealing the Revelation
Chapter 19 “The Triumphant King”
March 28, 2010
Today is a day of triumph. Today is a day of victory! Today is a day of praise! Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. We call this day Palm Sunday. It is the celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Let’s take a look at that event. The Triumphal entrance into Jerusalem is recorded in all four gospels, but Luke’s Gospel gives a little more detail.
Luke 19:28-44
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Luke 19:28-44
I don’t know if it is coincident or not, but this is the 21st sermon I have preached on the Book of Revelation and I have had Bob preach a number of times in between sermons, and it so happens that this chapter coincides with this particular Sunday. I find that interesting. I couldn’t have timed that if I tried.
Did you notice, as we read about the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, that it was bittersweet? It was Joy and sorrow. The people ‘joyfully’ praised God in loud voices. When some of the leaders of the day told Jesus to quiet them down, Jesus said, “If they keep quiet – the STONES will cry out.”
I find that fascinating! Wonder what He meant? Would the stones really have voices? Can rocks make noise? I don’t know - but Jesus HAD to be praised! The King had to be crowned. The King had to have His coronation.
But then there was the sadness as Jesus looked over the sinful city and cried. He prophesied that it would be totally destroyed one day. And why would they be destroyed? Because they didn’t recognize the time of God’s coming to them.
Was Jesus referring to that particular time in history? I think every person ever born is approached by God in some way- at some point in his life. God makes Himself and His will known to them. Every person has to choose between right and wrong – life and death. And many do not realize the implication and consequence of their choice. Their eternal destiny hangs in the balance. And Jesus weeps over those who refuse to come to Him. He weeps over those who refuse to believe in Him. He weeps over those who refuse to trust in Him.
That brings us to Chapter nineteen in Revelation. I think the Triumphant Entry, in Luke 19, was a foreshadow of Revelation 19. In this Chapter we see Jesus take up His Kingdom completely and eternally.
1After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"
5Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"
6Then 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. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
9Then 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."
10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
11I 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. 12His 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. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out 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. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17And 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, 18so 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."
19Then 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. 20But 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. 21The 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.
This is Jesus’ Triumphal Entry – once and for all. The first Triumphal Entry, the people of Jesus’ day lined the streets and laid, not a red carpet, but a carpet on colorful coats and palm branches for Him to walk on. They joyfully praised Him and gave Him glory and honor in that wonderful parade.
On this Triumphal Entry, Jesus is given praise from the host of heaven. A roar of praise from a multitude in heaven greeted Him. The 24 elders fell down and worshipped Him. The four beasts we studied earlier worshipped and praised Him. John says the roar of the multitude sounded like thunder. It was loud! Ever been at an exciting football or basketball game? It’s pretty loud. But nothing compares to the praise the Coming King will receive.
And why were they so joyful? Why were they celebrating? Because the Lord reigns! God had finally taken control and all heaven and earth were in celebration. “He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
Notice the past tense here. “He HAS condemned…!” “He HAS avenged…!” Babylon the Great has fallen! The Great Harlot has been cast down! Satan is about to be cast into the bottomless pit. The Beast and the False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire. The rest of the wicked are killed with the Sword of the Lord. The Lord reigns! Jesus is triumphant! We have finally conquered! Has the Lord come yet? No. That’s in the next chapter. It is after the beast and the false prophet are cast into the Lake of fire and Satan is locked in the pit, and the rest of the wicked killed, that the first resurrection takes place. And coincidently, we will talk about that resurrection on Resurrection Sunday, next week.
As a Nazarene, it doesn’t really matter to me when the Lord returns – pre-trib; post-trib, mid-trib, or one of the other views. Our official statement on the return of Christ is “we believe Christ will return”. Nazarenes hold many different views on Christ’s return – but as for me, I have changed from pre-trib to post-tribulation a long time ago. I just think it is a more biblical theory. Revelation seems to bear it out to me. I think we better be prepared to go through seven years of tribulation. Pray for the rapture – but prepare for enduring some trials.
Well, the seven years are about over, the enemy has been defeated, and now, it is time for the marriage of the Lamb. Why were all the people celebrating, certainly because Jesus is crowned King, but they also were celebrating the wedding between the Lamb and His glorious bride – which is us – the church.
I don’t think any of us fully realize how much God loves us. I can remember, although it was almost four decades ago, when the wedding march began to play and I turned and saw my beautiful bride at the back of the church, dressed in a flowing white bridal gown, being escorted to me. As every groom looks at his bride with heart bursting with love and eyes only for her, Jesus looks at you that way. He loves you so much – and He longs for you to love Him in return. He longs for His bride to love Him as He loves her.
And the Bride had made herself ready. She is dressed in white linen. As the bridal gown is to a bride – so is righteousness to a Christian. White represents purity. And it is true that we are only pure through the blood of the Lamb. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb. We are cleansed by Jesus paying the price for our sins on the cross. But the Bible says that the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints. Jesus said that, not so insignificant, an act as giving someone a glass of water will be forgotten. You will be rewarded for your righteousness, the prophet says. (1 Samuel 26:23) I think the linen bridal gown represents all your righteous deeds. They are a natural expression of what is in your heart. If you love the Lord, his commands are not burdensome, John says. If you love someone, you delight to do their will. Service to them is joyful. That is the attitude we ought to have in serving God and obeying Him. It ought not to be a struggle. It ought not to be painful. It ought not to be a burden. If it is – we need more love.
Then John says,
11 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. 12 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. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is 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.
Can you see Jesus sitting on a blazing white horse? This is the Messiah the Jews of Jesus’ day were expecting. They didn’t see Him coming as the “Suffering Servant” the first time. They didn’t understand that He had to come and take our sins to the cross. It was right there in Scripture. Isaiah prophesied,
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:2-6
So God revealed His plan long before it happened – but most missed it. They weren’t ready. They had preconceived ideas. They weren’t paying attention. May that not be so with us. May we be so familiar with God’s Word that nothing will take us by surprise.
Jesus IS coming as a conquering King on a white charger. His eyes are blazing fire and on His head are many crowns, signifying all authority. His robe is dipped in blood. Scholars differ as to what this means. Some think it is the blood of his enemies splattered on Him as he treads the winepress of His wrath. Some think it may be the blood of martyrs that died for Him. Other think it may be His own blood that won the victory for all. Whichever it is – it is an imposing picture of the conquering King.
And look who is with Him. “The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.”
That’s you and me in that army – at least if we didn’t make it through the tribulation. That’s all the saints who have died in the Lord since time began. We are not only the ‘Bride of Christ’ - we are also the ‘Army of Christ’. And we are marching to war. But this war seems pretty brief. It makes Israel’s ‘Six Day War’ seem long. 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. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet. There were thrown alive into the lake of fire. Their army was killed and sent to Hades to wait for the Great White Throne Judgment that will happen about a thousand years later, in the second resurrection.
Folks, I want you to know you picked the right side. You are a winner. God created you for a reason. You were created to, not only love Him and be one with Him, but to serve Him as well. You were created for leadership. Jesus, in this same chapter in Luke that we have the Triumphal Entry, reveals that fact. Understand that Jesus knows He is going to be killed soon. He has only a short time to prepare His followers for His departure. And He speaks of the end times. He says,
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. (3 months wages) 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
17" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
18"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' 19"His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
20"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
22"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
24"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
25" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
26"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me."
Luke 19:11-27
Do you see? It is all there. The ones who do not make Him King of their lives will be destroyed. Those of us who make Him Lord of all, will be given leadership roles, not only for the thousand year reign, but many scholars think, for all eternity. You were created for something more; something magnificent! You are a unique, inimitable individual. You are a one of a kind, like a snowflake or a fingerprint. No one else is just like you – and your King has some awesome plans for you. Jesus said that in His Kingdom, the last will be first and the first last. If you were looked down on because you were not one of the bold or beautiful – and yet remained faithful – the humility you learned prepared you for first place. You will be compassionate and understanding – where someone who is first and best and biggest here – may not. You just need to trust and obey.
Since we know all this – what should we do? Peter asked the same thing.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” 2 Peter 3:10-12
Let’s live holy and godly lives. Let’s strive to do His perfect will. The King IS coming! May He find us faithful.
Song: “Hosanna”
