MARANATHA! Come, Lord Jesus
Revelation 19:11-16
Message #34
MARANATHA!! It means – “O Lord, Come!” The word (phrase) is Aramaic and since the New Testament is written in Greek, the Aramaic word Maranatha is only once in the New Testament. But from the earliest church writings, we know this word became a celebration, a battle cry, and a one-word prayer. It became a little bit like the Hebrew “Shalom” or the Hawaiian “Aloha.” It was used for greetings, salutations, hello, goodbye. It became this word in the New Testament Church to encourage one another. COME LORD JESUS!! It was a constant reminder to the first-century Church, especially under persecution, that Jesus was coming again. MARANATHA! COME LORD JESUS! It’s our celebration, our battle cry, and our prayer!
We’ve been building up to this moment for a long time, and finally, today, we are at the crescendo of God’s plan for human history on earth. The Second Coming of Jesus is a major theme of both the New Testament and the Old Testament. The Second Coming of Jesus is referred to over 1,800 times in the Old Testament and over 300 times in the New Testament. It’s referred to in 27 Old Testament books and 23 New Testament books.
And for every prophecy on the first coming of Christ
there are eight prophecies on the Second Coming.
Listen, God scored a perfect one hundred percent on the first coming. Every prophecy came true. And there are eight times more about the Second Coming. We need to get ahold of that and realize this is going to happen. It is going to happen.
Jesus himself referred to his Second Coming twenty times, and we are commanded almost fifty times to be ready for it.
From the earliest of the Old Testament prophets, God’s people have longed for the coming of the Messiah. From the earliest time in the New Testament Church, believers have longed for the return of Jesus Christ. They have set their hearts, their sights, and their minds on the Second Coming of Christ. Since the moment Jesus ascended into Heaven in Acts Chapter 1, Christ-followers have been waiting for this day.
When Jesus ascended from the Mt. of Olives, the Disciples were standing there dumbfounded, staring into the clouds, and two angels said this to them in Acts Chapter 1, verse 11.
Acts 1:11 (NLT)
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
And you’re going to see today when he returns from Heaven, it’s like a lightning flash. It’s with intense glory. That’s the way he went. And that incredible, earth-changing, crescendo moment happens today in our text. That is how long the New Testament Church has been looking forward to the Second Coming since the dust was still in the air from his ascending on the Mt. of Olives.
There is much more that happens after the return of Jesus to the earth and so many promises still to come to pass. The Second Coming is considered the crescendo of so many promises and so many prophecies and everything else that comes after it comes because of it. So, the Second Coming kind of opens up the door for everything about the Millennium and about eternity. The return of the Lord to earth is the moment that triggers the beginning of all those promises of our eternal life in his presence.
I’m trying to say to you – This is a big event!! It is the biggest event! The Cross enabled us to be in God’s presence for eternity. The Resurrection was the victory over sin, and death, and the grave. But the Second Coming makes it happen. Positionally – it’s already done. The Second Coming – it gets tangible!
Remember, we’re coming out of that out-of-control worship session and the Marriage of the Lamb (beginning of Chapter 19). Worship is at its peak in Heaven. The Marriage of the Lamb has taken place, and Heaven is preparing for the 1,000-year Marriage Feast.
I’m going to read straight through the text, and then we’ll come back and look at each verse. Heaven is exploding in worship as we go into today’s text.
Revelation 19:11–16 (NLT)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
MARANATHA!! (Come Lord Jesus)
This is the culmination of the victory of Jesus Christ over this world.
And we’ve got to know – this is coming
We’ve got to know – this is real
We’ve got to know – we can be part of it
Alright, let’s go back and go through it verse by verse.
Revelation 19:11 (NLT)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
In the Book of Revelation, Heaven is only opened twice. The first time in Revelation that Heaven was opened it was to let the Church in at the Rapture (Chapter 4).
The second time Heaven is opened, it’s to let Jesus (and the armies of Heaven) out to return for his final victory on earth.
And when Heaven opens the second time, the first thing John sees is Jesus on a white horse. Remember, Jesus made his Triumphal Entry on a donkey in humility, but when he returns, he returns on a white horse as the symbol of the conquering King. When he was coming the first time, it was to make sure you could be with him the second time. Jesus was coming the first time to hang on the Cross and pay for every one of your sins and to exchange your sin for his righteousness so that you could be part of this event. And so, he came in on a donkey to convey that – when Jesus comes back again, it is as he should come on a white horse. That is a war horse – it speaks of victory over the city that the King is riding the horse into, and that’s what’s happening.
And then, verse 11 says Jesus is named Faithful and True . . . Guys, Jesus Christ is faithful to his promises – he cannot be anything but faithful because he cannot deny his own character. Jesus Christ is faithful when we are faithless. Jesus Christ remains faithful. He is the Truth. He EXISTS AS THE TRUTH. In John 14, he says, I am the truth. And he is true to his Word (and he always will be). And Jesus IS coming back again to rule and reign on this earth. And to that, we shout MARANATHA!!!! (Come Lord Jesus)
And then, verse 11 says, he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. This is really critical to understand because people say this. “Well, if I were God, I wouldn’t do that.” People say, “Well, why would God do that?” They challenge God. “Why would God let that happen?” When you get there, you’ll know. Until then, how in the world can you say “God’s not fair,” or “God doesn’t judge fairly,” or that “God is not right or righteous”? That is his character. And he cannot deny his own character.
And so, here’s what I have learned after a very, very long time teaching and studying the Bible. When you read something in the Bible that you don’t understand, that you would do differently if you were God, don’t go toe-to-toe with God. Instead, just say, “God, I don’t understand that. But I know you. I don’t know how that works out, but I know you. I know your character. I know your nature. And I know that you judge fairly and that you are righteous. You are perfect righteousness and holiness.” And that’s how he comes.
Jesus is not an arbitrary conqueror. It is in perfect righteousness that he judges and wages war on his enemies and he will do that only after the world has been saturated with the Gospel message – including during the Tribulation.
God has been putting the Gospel message on this earth since Genesis Chapter 3, when he first promised that a Savior would come to crush the head of the enemy. All through the Old Testament, salvation is prophesied. All through the New Testament, salvation is spread around the world.
Just in the Book of Revelation, we’ve seen:
144,000 Jewish Billy Graham evangelists released on the world. The Church is already gone, the way we see the timing. And so, God creates 144,000 Billy Grahams; they’re going to come from the 12 Tribes of Israel so they can go to Israel and share the Gospel with them during the Tribulation. Because the Tribulation is so much about Israel. We’re in Heaven, the way we see it – 1 Thessalonians 4 – we’re in Heaven after the Rapture. God is working on those who missed it. Don’t miss it. And don’t wait! “If all you Christians disappear, then I’ll believe.” Probably not. If you won’t believe now, you probably won’t believe then.
Then, he brings his Two miraculous Witnesses in Jerusalem that proclaim the Gospel. They die. He lets them rot for three days, and then he raises them from the dead. And it says that all eyes will see them. We used to say, “How can that happen?” But now there are live streams of war in Gaza.
And then, in Chapter 14, and angel flying and proclaiming the Gospel to the world.
But what have we seen from the people who belong to this world (that’s how the Bible describes the people who reject God) as we’ve moved toward the end of the Tribulation? The people refused to turn from their sin and they refused to cry out to God.
And by the time Jesus returns here in Chapter 19, every soul on earth has made their choice either for Christ or against him. It is in righteousness that Jesus judges and wages war.
It’s really important to say because this is the part of the Bible that people don’t want to hear – that God must actually judge sin.
Verse 12 continues the description of Jesus in the Second Coming.
Revelation 19:12 (NLT)
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
His eyes are like flames of fire, referring to the burning discernment of the Lord. He knows you, he knows you, he knows you. He knew every day of your life before one of them occurred. And he died for every sin before one of them occurred. He is the one who sees all, who knows all, and to whom we must all give account (Hebrews 4:13). If you think you’re hiding from his knowledge, it’s like holding up a tissue paper to stop a flame-thrower.
And verse 12 says on his head are many crowns. This is a symbol of his ultimate authority and rule over all the earth. These crowns are not like the Athlete’s crown (that is GREEK STEPHANOS). These crowns are the GREEK DIADEM, which is the crown representing sovereign royalty and many crowns are because Jesus is the Sovereign Ruler over all things. When Jesus Christ returns, he will sovereignly rule the entire earth – You can count on that! And shout, MARANATHA!!! The one who wore the Crown of Thorns to pay for your sin now wears the many crowns of sovereign rule over the earth.
And then, the end of verse 12 . . . A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. Don’t ever think that you know all there is to know about Jesus. Paul says, in Philippians Chapter 3, I want to know him. And the word is a continual, ever-increasing personal intimate knowledge. I want to continue to know the Lord. I want to know him more and more and more. And 1 Corinthians says that there will be a time when we will know as we are known – until then, you can know Jesus more. Right now, today.
The Names of Jesus are incredible and powerful. They speak of his character and his majesty, and many other divine attributes. The counts go from 125 to almost 200 names and titles for Jesus in the Bible, all of which convey an “aspect” of WHO Jesus IS. But, here is a name that is so intimate, so personal that no one can even know it.
But in Revelation 3:12, Jesus made a promise to those who remain faithful.
Revelation 3:12 (NLT)
12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God . . . And I will also write on them my new name.
This is speaking of an intimacy with Jesus. He says, “Listen. There’s a part of me that you don’t know yet. Nobody knows. But on this day when you are with me I will write on you the name of my God, and I will give you my new name. I will write on you my new name.” It’s this relational intimacy. If you ever think you know all there is about Jesus, he says to you . . . No, there’s more . . . There’s more. And if you will remain faithful you will know him more, and more, and more right into eternity. In every circumstance, in every situation in this life, make it your goal to know Jesus more.
Revelation 19:13(a) (NLT)
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood . . .
Jesus is returning in a robe dipped in blood . . . but this may not be the blood that was shed for your salvation. This is not the “washed in the blood for your salvation.” That “washed in the blood” is done. It’s finished. TETELESTAI! You have been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb through your faith alone. And so, why is Jesus described as wearing a robe dipped in blood?
Listen to the prophecy from Isaiah.
Isaiah 63:1-4 (NLT)
1 Who is this who comes . . . with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? “It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”
2 Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes?
3 “I have been treading the winepress alone . . . In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes.
4 For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.
Yes – you and I are saved, forgiven, and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. But this blood-stained robe may actually be a symbol of the judgment that Jesus is coming to bring on this earth. Jesus is going to absolutely tread his enemies as if they were grapes in a winepress, enough that his robe will be like it was dipped in blood. We love the blood that covers our sin, but we don’t like the blood of the judgment. That’s our blood – Jesus’ blood was on the Cross. It should set you back – Okay, judgment is real! I think if there was a way for me to miss it, I think I would take it. That’s the goal
And then the second half of verse 13 says this.
Revelation 19:13(b)
. . . and his title was the Word of God.
This is the Apostle John’s favorite name for Jesus. It is LOGOS “God in Expression” (or “Communication”). Jesus came the first time as “God in Communication” to save you from your sin. He’s coming the second time as “God in Communication” to judge the world in righteousness. Jesus Christ took his sins upon himself and paid the full price not to give you your best life now. Jesus says in this world you will have tribulation. He’s saying, “This word’s going to be hard. But because of what I have done, I have overcome the world!” Jesus Christ came so you would never have to experience his judgment upon the sin of the world. And if you will receive him as Lord in his first coming, then at his Second Coming, instead of being on the receiving end of his judgment, you will be joining him in his victory.
And this is what we see in the next verse.
Revelation 19:14 (NLT)
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
Almost all scholars agree – this is US! These are the Saints of Heaven who have either died in Christ or who were caught up in the Rapture. Those who have died in the Tribulation. The Saints are dressed in pure white linen. This is us! The word following is really important there. We are with Christ. All the Saints!
AND notice it says armies (plural) of Heaven, and listen to Matthew 25, verse 31.
Matthew 25:31 (NLT) Jesus speaking
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
Do you have any idea how many angels there are in Heaven? I mean, a third of them fell with Lucifer, and apparently, there is a whole bunch of them. There are so many angels in Heaven, we can’t imagine! They’re innumerable, and they’re all with us as the armies of Heaven with Jesus as he returns! This is planet shaking. This is earth-shaking. The armies of Heaven is certainly US, and apparently, all the Angels of Heaven with us!!
Guys, Jesus Christ is returning with all his Saints and all his angels to rightfully take possession of the world he created.
The Bible says:
This world was created through Jesus Christ (John 1 says)
and it was created for Jesus Christ himself (Colossians says)
and it is going to return TO Jesus Christ (Revelation says) . . . MARANATHA!!
I’m just teaching the Bible to you, and it has the power to transform our lives for eternity. The whole of it!!
And back in Revelation 19:14, the white and pure linen we are wearing symbolizes the righteousness of Christ we are clothed in. And we are riding white horses, symbolizing our victory in Christ because both our righteousness and victory are in him. There’s nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it – there’s no works that we can accomplish to be here. It is by faith alone!
But how can we wear fine white linen to the final battle of Armageddon?
How can we? Because we won’t have to lift a finger. We are just with Jesus as his great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews 12:1 talks about. 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 says when we’re raptured, when we’re caught up with him, we’ll be with him forever. We are there as the praise team along with the angels because Jesus Christ does not need any of us to win this battle.
Here’s why.
Revelation 19:15(a) (NLT)
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod . . .
From his mouth (referring to his spoken Word – in Greek, it is RHEMA, the spoken Word of Christ holds all of creation together) from his spoken word comes a sharp sword to strike down the nations.
In Hebrews 4:12, we are told the Word of God is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. The Greek word there is SICARII – it’s for a dagger small enough to be hidden under a cloak and sharpened to a razor’s edge on both sides, and it could penetrate to the heart in a second like a surgeon’s scalpel.
However, the Greek word for the sword that comes from the spoken word of Jesus in his return is not an “Assassin’s dagger.” This word is for the Long (Great) sword. It’s a sword that is normally five to six feet long! The armor bearer would carry this sword, not a soldier because he would get worn out just carrying the sword. And so, when the armor-bearer would give the soldier the great sword, the warrior would swing with two hands, more like we would swing a baseball bat; once it started, the momentum was so heavy there was no stopping it, and it would cut down everything in its path. That’s the sword that is coming from Jesus from his spoken Word. It’s the great sword that swings, and Jesus says, “We’re done. We’re done here.”
With a Word, the earth was created by Jesus
and with a Word, the earth will be judged by Jesus.
And then the second half of verse 15 says,
Revelation 19:15(b) (NLT)
. . . He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
Maybe you’ve seen someone “treading the winepress.” A person gets into a large vat of grapes and they smash the grapes by stomping on them again and again until all the juice runs out. The only difference is Jesus is treading this winepress with the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, and it’s not grapes in the wine press – it is those who have chosen to be enemies of God.
Listen, the Bible’s goal is for you not to be in this winepress – in Jesus’ judgment. That’s good of God.
Finally, verse 16.
Revelation 19:16 (NLT)
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
King of all kings and Lord of all lords. The Sovereign, Omnipotent, Almighty Jesus Christ!!
Over every King who has ever tried to reign on earth and over every Man and Spirit that has tried to receive worship, Jesus Christ will return victorious, and he will reign victoriously.
This is the end of the great battle for this earth that began in Genesis in the Garden when the Federal Head of Mankind, Adam, turned control of this earth over to Satan. And Satan has been the little “g” god up until this point. Jesus is taking it back. But where God exists, the battle is already finished. The victory has already been won and we can turn to the back of the book and see how this whole thing is going to work out. It’s written. It’s finished.
It’s not a question of IF it’s going to happen; it’s a question of will you believe it. Will we read it, believe it, and choose to live our lives by it? Will you make a decision for your life according to it? It’s happening with or without you – whichever side you are on. Get on the right side.
Here’s how powerful it’s going to be.
Five hundred years before Christ, Zechariah said the Messiah would stand on the Mt. of Olives (the same place where Jesus ascended), and it would split in two, and a great valley will form right through the center of the Mt. of Olives.
Zechariah 14:4 (NLT)
4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.
And then verse 9 says,
Zechariah 14:9 (NLT)
9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.
And we should shout MARANATHA!!! (Come Lord Jesus)
In one of the twenty times Jesus spoke of his own return, Matthew 24 says this.
Matthew 24:27-31 (partial) (NLT)
27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.
. . .
29 . . . the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
30 . . . And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (no joke)
31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
Jesus is coming back, and he will gather all those who are his in preparation for the Millennium.
Jesus is coming back, and Revelation 1:7 says every eye will see him. Jesus is coming back with and for all those who are his.
And God’s desire is that every person who can hear my voice would be his.
But the Bible says the only way for you to be his is to believe and receive him. It is through identification with Christ by faith. When we put our faith in Jesus, we believe that he is who he says he is, and he’s done what he says he’s done, and we receive him – we embrace him – into our lives as our personal Savior and Lord. At that point, we become so identified with him that what he’s done, we’ve done. And when he returns, we’ll return with him.
John 1:12 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him (that’s receive him into their lives), who believed (it means to put their full faith and trust in his name) in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Don’t be on the wrong side of this. Jesus is coming back!!! To rightfully rule and reign on this earth and to judge the sin of this earth. If you have received him into your life in his first coming and believed in his name, then you will be with him for his Second Coming and for Eternity!!
MARANATHA!!!! Come, Lord Jesus!!!
We’ve been building up to this moment for a long time, and finally, today, we are at the crescendo of God’s plan for human history on earth. The Second Coming of Jesus is a major theme of both the New Testament and the Old Testament. The Second Coming of Jesus is referred to over 1,800 times in the Old Testament and over 300 times in the New Testament. It’s referred to in 27 Old Testament books and 23 New Testament books.
And for every prophecy on the first coming of Christ
there are eight prophecies on the Second Coming.
Listen, God scored a perfect one hundred percent on the first coming. Every prophecy came true. And there are eight times more about the Second Coming. We need to get ahold of that and realize this is going to happen. It is going to happen.
Jesus himself referred to his Second Coming twenty times, and we are commanded almost fifty times to be ready for it.
From the earliest of the Old Testament prophets, God’s people have longed for the coming of the Messiah. From the earliest time in the New Testament Church, believers have longed for the return of Jesus Christ. They have set their hearts, their sights, and their minds on the Second Coming of Christ. Since the moment Jesus ascended into Heaven in Acts Chapter 1, Christ-followers have been waiting for this day.
When Jesus ascended from the Mt. of Olives, the Disciples were standing there dumbfounded, staring into the clouds, and two angels said this to them in Acts Chapter 1, verse 11.
Acts 1:11 (NLT)
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
And you’re going to see today when he returns from Heaven, it’s like a lightning flash. It’s with intense glory. That’s the way he went. And that incredible, earth-changing, crescendo moment happens today in our text. That is how long the New Testament Church has been looking forward to the Second Coming since the dust was still in the air from his ascending on the Mt. of Olives.
There is much more that happens after the return of Jesus to the earth and so many promises still to come to pass. The Second Coming is considered the crescendo of so many promises and so many prophecies and everything else that comes after it comes because of it. So, the Second Coming kind of opens up the door for everything about the Millennium and about eternity. The return of the Lord to earth is the moment that triggers the beginning of all those promises of our eternal life in his presence.
I’m trying to say to you – This is a big event!! It is the biggest event! The Cross enabled us to be in God’s presence for eternity. The Resurrection was the victory over sin, and death, and the grave. But the Second Coming makes it happen. Positionally – it’s already done. The Second Coming – it gets tangible!
Remember, we’re coming out of that out-of-control worship session and the Marriage of the Lamb (beginning of Chapter 19). Worship is at its peak in Heaven. The Marriage of the Lamb has taken place, and Heaven is preparing for the 1,000-year Marriage Feast.
I’m going to read straight through the text, and then we’ll come back and look at each verse. Heaven is exploding in worship as we go into today’s text.
Revelation 19:11–16 (NLT)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
MARANATHA!! (Come Lord Jesus)
This is the culmination of the victory of Jesus Christ over this world.
And we’ve got to know – this is coming
We’ve got to know – this is real
We’ve got to know – we can be part of it
Alright, let’s go back and go through it verse by verse.
Revelation 19:11 (NLT)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
In the Book of Revelation, Heaven is only opened twice. The first time in Revelation that Heaven was opened it was to let the Church in at the Rapture (Chapter 4).
The second time Heaven is opened, it’s to let Jesus (and the armies of Heaven) out to return for his final victory on earth.
And when Heaven opens the second time, the first thing John sees is Jesus on a white horse. Remember, Jesus made his Triumphal Entry on a donkey in humility, but when he returns, he returns on a white horse as the symbol of the conquering King. When he was coming the first time, it was to make sure you could be with him the second time. Jesus was coming the first time to hang on the Cross and pay for every one of your sins and to exchange your sin for his righteousness so that you could be part of this event. And so, he came in on a donkey to convey that – when Jesus comes back again, it is as he should come on a white horse. That is a war horse – it speaks of victory over the city that the King is riding the horse into, and that’s what’s happening.
And then, verse 11 says Jesus is named Faithful and True . . . Guys, Jesus Christ is faithful to his promises – he cannot be anything but faithful because he cannot deny his own character. Jesus Christ is faithful when we are faithless. Jesus Christ remains faithful. He is the Truth. He EXISTS AS THE TRUTH. In John 14, he says, I am the truth. And he is true to his Word (and he always will be). And Jesus IS coming back again to rule and reign on this earth. And to that, we shout MARANATHA!!!! (Come Lord Jesus)
And then, verse 11 says, he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. This is really critical to understand because people say this. “Well, if I were God, I wouldn’t do that.” People say, “Well, why would God do that?” They challenge God. “Why would God let that happen?” When you get there, you’ll know. Until then, how in the world can you say “God’s not fair,” or “God doesn’t judge fairly,” or that “God is not right or righteous”? That is his character. And he cannot deny his own character.
And so, here’s what I have learned after a very, very long time teaching and studying the Bible. When you read something in the Bible that you don’t understand, that you would do differently if you were God, don’t go toe-to-toe with God. Instead, just say, “God, I don’t understand that. But I know you. I don’t know how that works out, but I know you. I know your character. I know your nature. And I know that you judge fairly and that you are righteous. You are perfect righteousness and holiness.” And that’s how he comes.
Jesus is not an arbitrary conqueror. It is in perfect righteousness that he judges and wages war on his enemies and he will do that only after the world has been saturated with the Gospel message – including during the Tribulation.
God has been putting the Gospel message on this earth since Genesis Chapter 3, when he first promised that a Savior would come to crush the head of the enemy. All through the Old Testament, salvation is prophesied. All through the New Testament, salvation is spread around the world.
Just in the Book of Revelation, we’ve seen:
144,000 Jewish Billy Graham evangelists released on the world. The Church is already gone, the way we see the timing. And so, God creates 144,000 Billy Grahams; they’re going to come from the 12 Tribes of Israel so they can go to Israel and share the Gospel with them during the Tribulation. Because the Tribulation is so much about Israel. We’re in Heaven, the way we see it – 1 Thessalonians 4 – we’re in Heaven after the Rapture. God is working on those who missed it. Don’t miss it. And don’t wait! “If all you Christians disappear, then I’ll believe.” Probably not. If you won’t believe now, you probably won’t believe then.
Then, he brings his Two miraculous Witnesses in Jerusalem that proclaim the Gospel. They die. He lets them rot for three days, and then he raises them from the dead. And it says that all eyes will see them. We used to say, “How can that happen?” But now there are live streams of war in Gaza.
And then, in Chapter 14, and angel flying and proclaiming the Gospel to the world.
But what have we seen from the people who belong to this world (that’s how the Bible describes the people who reject God) as we’ve moved toward the end of the Tribulation? The people refused to turn from their sin and they refused to cry out to God.
And by the time Jesus returns here in Chapter 19, every soul on earth has made their choice either for Christ or against him. It is in righteousness that Jesus judges and wages war.
It’s really important to say because this is the part of the Bible that people don’t want to hear – that God must actually judge sin.
Verse 12 continues the description of Jesus in the Second Coming.
Revelation 19:12 (NLT)
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
His eyes are like flames of fire, referring to the burning discernment of the Lord. He knows you, he knows you, he knows you. He knew every day of your life before one of them occurred. And he died for every sin before one of them occurred. He is the one who sees all, who knows all, and to whom we must all give account (Hebrews 4:13). If you think you’re hiding from his knowledge, it’s like holding up a tissue paper to stop a flame-thrower.
And verse 12 says on his head are many crowns. This is a symbol of his ultimate authority and rule over all the earth. These crowns are not like the Athlete’s crown (that is GREEK STEPHANOS). These crowns are the GREEK DIADEM, which is the crown representing sovereign royalty and many crowns are because Jesus is the Sovereign Ruler over all things. When Jesus Christ returns, he will sovereignly rule the entire earth – You can count on that! And shout, MARANATHA!!! The one who wore the Crown of Thorns to pay for your sin now wears the many crowns of sovereign rule over the earth.
And then, the end of verse 12 . . . A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. Don’t ever think that you know all there is to know about Jesus. Paul says, in Philippians Chapter 3, I want to know him. And the word is a continual, ever-increasing personal intimate knowledge. I want to continue to know the Lord. I want to know him more and more and more. And 1 Corinthians says that there will be a time when we will know as we are known – until then, you can know Jesus more. Right now, today.
The Names of Jesus are incredible and powerful. They speak of his character and his majesty, and many other divine attributes. The counts go from 125 to almost 200 names and titles for Jesus in the Bible, all of which convey an “aspect” of WHO Jesus IS. But, here is a name that is so intimate, so personal that no one can even know it.
But in Revelation 3:12, Jesus made a promise to those who remain faithful.
Revelation 3:12 (NLT)
12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God . . . And I will also write on them my new name.
This is speaking of an intimacy with Jesus. He says, “Listen. There’s a part of me that you don’t know yet. Nobody knows. But on this day when you are with me I will write on you the name of my God, and I will give you my new name. I will write on you my new name.” It’s this relational intimacy. If you ever think you know all there is about Jesus, he says to you . . . No, there’s more . . . There’s more. And if you will remain faithful you will know him more, and more, and more right into eternity. In every circumstance, in every situation in this life, make it your goal to know Jesus more.
Revelation 19:13(a) (NLT)
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood . . .
Jesus is returning in a robe dipped in blood . . . but this may not be the blood that was shed for your salvation. This is not the “washed in the blood for your salvation.” That “washed in the blood” is done. It’s finished. TETELESTAI! You have been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb through your faith alone. And so, why is Jesus described as wearing a robe dipped in blood?
Listen to the prophecy from Isaiah.
Isaiah 63:1-4 (NLT)
1 Who is this who comes . . . with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? “It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”
2 Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes?
3 “I have been treading the winepress alone . . . In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes.
4 For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.
Yes – you and I are saved, forgiven, and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. But this blood-stained robe may actually be a symbol of the judgment that Jesus is coming to bring on this earth. Jesus is going to absolutely tread his enemies as if they were grapes in a winepress, enough that his robe will be like it was dipped in blood. We love the blood that covers our sin, but we don’t like the blood of the judgment. That’s our blood – Jesus’ blood was on the Cross. It should set you back – Okay, judgment is real! I think if there was a way for me to miss it, I think I would take it. That’s the goal
And then the second half of verse 13 says this.
Revelation 19:13(b)
. . . and his title was the Word of God.
This is the Apostle John’s favorite name for Jesus. It is LOGOS “God in Expression” (or “Communication”). Jesus came the first time as “God in Communication” to save you from your sin. He’s coming the second time as “God in Communication” to judge the world in righteousness. Jesus Christ took his sins upon himself and paid the full price not to give you your best life now. Jesus says in this world you will have tribulation. He’s saying, “This word’s going to be hard. But because of what I have done, I have overcome the world!” Jesus Christ came so you would never have to experience his judgment upon the sin of the world. And if you will receive him as Lord in his first coming, then at his Second Coming, instead of being on the receiving end of his judgment, you will be joining him in his victory.
And this is what we see in the next verse.
Revelation 19:14 (NLT)
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
Almost all scholars agree – this is US! These are the Saints of Heaven who have either died in Christ or who were caught up in the Rapture. Those who have died in the Tribulation. The Saints are dressed in pure white linen. This is us! The word following is really important there. We are with Christ. All the Saints!
AND notice it says armies (plural) of Heaven, and listen to Matthew 25, verse 31.
Matthew 25:31 (NLT) Jesus speaking
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
Do you have any idea how many angels there are in Heaven? I mean, a third of them fell with Lucifer, and apparently, there is a whole bunch of them. There are so many angels in Heaven, we can’t imagine! They’re innumerable, and they’re all with us as the armies of Heaven with Jesus as he returns! This is planet shaking. This is earth-shaking. The armies of Heaven is certainly US, and apparently, all the Angels of Heaven with us!!
Guys, Jesus Christ is returning with all his Saints and all his angels to rightfully take possession of the world he created.
The Bible says:
This world was created through Jesus Christ (John 1 says)
and it was created for Jesus Christ himself (Colossians says)
and it is going to return TO Jesus Christ (Revelation says) . . . MARANATHA!!
I’m just teaching the Bible to you, and it has the power to transform our lives for eternity. The whole of it!!
And back in Revelation 19:14, the white and pure linen we are wearing symbolizes the righteousness of Christ we are clothed in. And we are riding white horses, symbolizing our victory in Christ because both our righteousness and victory are in him. There’s nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it – there’s no works that we can accomplish to be here. It is by faith alone!
But how can we wear fine white linen to the final battle of Armageddon?
How can we? Because we won’t have to lift a finger. We are just with Jesus as his great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews 12:1 talks about. 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 says when we’re raptured, when we’re caught up with him, we’ll be with him forever. We are there as the praise team along with the angels because Jesus Christ does not need any of us to win this battle.
Here’s why.
Revelation 19:15(a) (NLT)
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod . . .
From his mouth (referring to his spoken Word – in Greek, it is RHEMA, the spoken Word of Christ holds all of creation together) from his spoken word comes a sharp sword to strike down the nations.
In Hebrews 4:12, we are told the Word of God is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. The Greek word there is SICARII – it’s for a dagger small enough to be hidden under a cloak and sharpened to a razor’s edge on both sides, and it could penetrate to the heart in a second like a surgeon’s scalpel.
However, the Greek word for the sword that comes from the spoken word of Jesus in his return is not an “Assassin’s dagger.” This word is for the Long (Great) sword. It’s a sword that is normally five to six feet long! The armor bearer would carry this sword, not a soldier because he would get worn out just carrying the sword. And so, when the armor-bearer would give the soldier the great sword, the warrior would swing with two hands, more like we would swing a baseball bat; once it started, the momentum was so heavy there was no stopping it, and it would cut down everything in its path. That’s the sword that is coming from Jesus from his spoken Word. It’s the great sword that swings, and Jesus says, “We’re done. We’re done here.”
With a Word, the earth was created by Jesus
and with a Word, the earth will be judged by Jesus.
And then the second half of verse 15 says,
Revelation 19:15(b) (NLT)
. . . He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
Maybe you’ve seen someone “treading the winepress.” A person gets into a large vat of grapes and they smash the grapes by stomping on them again and again until all the juice runs out. The only difference is Jesus is treading this winepress with the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, and it’s not grapes in the wine press – it is those who have chosen to be enemies of God.
Listen, the Bible’s goal is for you not to be in this winepress – in Jesus’ judgment. That’s good of God.
Finally, verse 16.
Revelation 19:16 (NLT)
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
King of all kings and Lord of all lords. The Sovereign, Omnipotent, Almighty Jesus Christ!!
Over every King who has ever tried to reign on earth and over every Man and Spirit that has tried to receive worship, Jesus Christ will return victorious, and he will reign victoriously.
This is the end of the great battle for this earth that began in Genesis in the Garden when the Federal Head of Mankind, Adam, turned control of this earth over to Satan. And Satan has been the little “g” god up until this point. Jesus is taking it back. But where God exists, the battle is already finished. The victory has already been won and we can turn to the back of the book and see how this whole thing is going to work out. It’s written. It’s finished.
It’s not a question of IF it’s going to happen; it’s a question of will you believe it. Will we read it, believe it, and choose to live our lives by it? Will you make a decision for your life according to it? It’s happening with or without you – whichever side you are on. Get on the right side.
Here’s how powerful it’s going to be.
Five hundred years before Christ, Zechariah said the Messiah would stand on the Mt. of Olives (the same place where Jesus ascended), and it would split in two, and a great valley will form right through the center of the Mt. of Olives.
Zechariah 14:4 (NLT)
4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.
And then verse 9 says,
Zechariah 14:9 (NLT)
9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.
And we should shout MARANATHA!!! (Come Lord Jesus)
In one of the twenty times Jesus spoke of his own return, Matthew 24 says this.
Matthew 24:27-31 (partial) (NLT)
27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.
. . .
29 . . . the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
30 . . . And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (no joke)
31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
Jesus is coming back, and he will gather all those who are his in preparation for the Millennium.
Jesus is coming back, and Revelation 1:7 says every eye will see him. Jesus is coming back with and for all those who are his.
And God’s desire is that every person who can hear my voice would be his.
But the Bible says the only way for you to be his is to believe and receive him. It is through identification with Christ by faith. When we put our faith in Jesus, we believe that he is who he says he is, and he’s done what he says he’s done, and we receive him – we embrace him – into our lives as our personal Savior and Lord. At that point, we become so identified with him that what he’s done, we’ve done. And when he returns, we’ll return with him.
John 1:12 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him (that’s receive him into their lives), who believed (it means to put their full faith and trust in his name) in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Don’t be on the wrong side of this. Jesus is coming back!!! To rightfully rule and reign on this earth and to judge the sin of this earth. If you have received him into your life in his first coming and believed in his name, then you will be with him for his Second Coming and for Eternity!!
MARANATHA!!!! Come, Lord Jesus!!!