AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED; AND BEHOLD, A WHITE HORSE, AND HE WHO SAT UPON IT IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE; AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE JUDGES AND WAGES WAR. 12 AND HIS EYES ARE A FLAME OF FIRE, AND UPON HIS HEAD ARE MANY DIADEMS; AND HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN UPON HIM WHICH NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT HIMSELF. 13 AND HE IS CLOTHED WITH A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS CALLED ‘THE WORD OF GOD’’. 14 AND THE ARMIES WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN, WERE FOLLOWING HIM ON WHITE HORSES. 15 AND FROM HIS MOUTH COMES A SHARP SWORD, SO THAT WITH IT HE MAY SMITE THE NATIONS; AND HE WILL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; AND HE TREADS THE WINE PRESS OF THE FIERCE WRATH OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY. 16 AND ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN. “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
The book of Revelation is frightening for many people, and rightly so. If they don’t know Jesus, then the terrible things recorded there will one day come upon them. That is why God gave this information to John and had him write it; as a warning.
But chapters 19-21 contain information that should be very exciting and encouraging to the believer, because they tell what we have to look forward to.
It is written in past tense (as though it has already happened), because with God, who sees all of eternity at once, what He has decreed is as good as done. He has said it, and although it is in the future for us, it is a done deal with Him.
I wanted to focus on these verses because of the description here of Christ. We all have this picture in our mind of the man who was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, walked the dusty roads of Palestine, felt the sun’s heat on His neck, got hungry, got tired, and finally submitted Himself to the hands of angry men; was beaten, spit upon, whipped, crucified and buried in a tomb.
But in Revelation 19, the Holy Spirit has given us just a glimpse of the risen Christ, who will one day return in power and glory. And what a picture!
Eyes like a flame of fire! Crowns on His head! Clothed in a robe dipped in blood! The highest title in the heavens...”The Word of God”! (See the gospel of John, chapter 1) Out of His mouth a sharp sword! And His royal rank, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!!!
A far cry from the silent, lamb of God who was offered for sacrifice to pay for sin, huh?
Here’s the exciting part. See verse 14? “The armies of heaven” will be all those throughout history who have put their trust in Christ for salvation. If you believe in Him, that means you too! All who believe in Him will have already been taken up into Heaven, and after the seven terrible years that are described in the first 18 chapters of Revelation, He will return to earth with all believers behind Him, to rule here as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
That is how it’s going to be. It is just as sure as the last breath you took. God said it...it’s a done deal. Do you belong to Him? Then rejoice! You are a soldier in the army of Heaven. Have you never believed in Him? It’s not too late. Confess to Him that you are a sinner in need of salvation, and accept the gift of His grace and His shed blood for your sin, and you’ll be signed up as a member of that mighty army.
Sound kind of unreal? Don’t let the devil fool you. It is real, and it is coming, and like I’ve said before; eternity is a LONG time to regret one hasty, prideful decision.
