The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Lyn Mize
(Rev 19 KJV) And after these
things I heard a great voice of much people in
heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and
glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord
our God: {2} For true and righteous are his
judgments: for he hath judged the great whore,
which did corrupt the earth with her
fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his
servants at her hand. {3} And again they said,
Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and
ever. {4} And the four and twenty elders and
the four beasts fell down and worshipped God
that sat on the throne, saying, Amen;
Alleluia. {5} And a voice came out of the
throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his
servants, and ye that fear him, both small and
great. {6} And I heard as it were the voice of
a great multitude, and as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of mighty
thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord
God omnipotent reigneth. {7} Let us be glad
and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife
hath made herself ready. {8} And to her was
granted that she should be arrayed in fine
linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is
the righteousness of saints. {9} And he saith
unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
And he saith unto me, These are the true
sayings of God. {10} And I fell at his feet to
worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do
it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy
brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy. {11} And I saw heaven
opened, and behold a white horse; and he that
sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
{12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on
his head were many crowns; and he had a name
written, that no man knew, but he himself.
{13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped
in blood: and his name is called The Word of
God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in
fine linen, white and clean. {15} And out of
his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he
should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of
Almighty God. {16} And he hath on his vesture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. {17} And I saw an
angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a
loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly
in the midst of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the
great God; {18} That ye may eat the flesh of
kings, and the flesh of captains, and the
flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses,
and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of
all men, both free and bond, both small and
great. {19} And I saw the beast, and the kings
of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against him that sat on
the horse, and against his army. {20} And the
beast was taken, and with him the false
prophet that wrought miracles before him, with
which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped
his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone. {21} And
the remnant were slain with the sword of him
that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded
out of his mouth: and all the fowls were
filled with their flesh.
Chapter 19 covers the Song of Hallelujah in Heaven in verses 1-10 and the Second Coming of Christ in power and glory in verses 11-21.
P. The Song of Hallelujah in Heaven (19:1-10)
1. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
a. After the destruction of the Great City Babylon, John hears "a great voice of much (i.e., many) people in heaven." Jesus Christ is praised and worshipped for bringing salvation to His people, and He is ascribed with honor, power and glory.
b. The singular voice shows that all are in one accord in ascribing true and righteous judgments to the Lord Jesus Christ in His destruction of New Babylon (See following verse).
2. For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
a. The Lord was true and righteous in destroying Babylon the Great, for she had corrupted the earth with her fornication (i.e., idolatry).
b. She was also destroyed because of her persecution and martyrdom of God's servants. The word servants includes the Jews, the Church, and the Gentiles. This is further confirmation that the focal point of persecution and martyrdom will be in the United States of America during the tribulation period. This is in accord with the fact that the majority of Americans are Christians now at this point just before the separation, and many will probably be saved after the separation.
3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
a. Those in heaven again praise the Lord, and the statement is made that the smoke of Babylon "rose up for ever and ever." This confirms that the destruction of Babylon is a permanent event. Babylon will never be revived, and this includes the whole Babylonian system that has existed since Nimrod founded the city and the system.
b. Even though this is literally referring to the destruction of the Great City Babylon, it also has reference to the entire Babylonian system. Just as the "beast" refers to the leader of the empire and the empire, "Babylon" refers to the city, nation, and system where everything associated with Babylon resides.
4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
a. The 24 elders and the four living creatures are the leaders in the praise and worship in heaven. It should be remembered that they were in heaven at the very beginning of the tribulation period. They are the ones taken in the Separation that takes place at the beginning of the tribulation period.
b. We have explained earlier how the four living creatures are almost certainly the bride of Christ, and the 24 elders are in the second highest position in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
a. This voice coming out of the throne is not God, but it is the voice of authority telling all the servants to worship God. Since it is so intimately connected with the throne, yet not the voice of God, it must be the voice of the four living creatures, who will be announced as the bride later. Since the bride has not yet been introduced, it would be appropriate for her voice to be anonymous at the present time.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
a. John hears another voice as if it were a great multitude, and as if it were the sound of many waters, and as thunderings. All of these are characteristic of the voice and authority of God, but this is not God, since they praise the Lord and proclaim the reign of the "Lord God omnipotent." This almost certainly would have to be the voice of the 24 elders, since they announce the bride in the following verse
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
a. This voice of authority speaks of the Lamb and the bride by announcing the impending marriage of the Lamb.
b. It is highly significant that the bride has made herself ready. The blood of the Lamb has cleansed her, and she has prepared her wedding garment of good works or righteous deeds as shown in the following Scripture.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
a. The bride is arrayed in fine linen that is clean and white. The bride has availed herself of the cleansing that Jesus provides currently as our High Priest.
b. The fine linen also represents the righteous deeds of the saints who are not disqualified as the bride of Christ. The Greek word for righteousness is actually in the plural, so it should be translated as righteousnesses or righteous deeds. This is the wedding garment that the bride works on herself. It is not the garment of salvation, which is the imputed righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is in the singular.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
a. This wedding must be compared to the weddings in the first century that consisted of three stages.
(1) The first stage is the legal consummation of the marriage by the parents of the bride and the groom, and the dowry is paid. Jesus did this at His first coming. His death on the cross was the price of redemption.
(2) The second stage is the bridegroom coming to claim his bride. This will be fulfilled at the Separation that will take place at the beginning of the tribulation period. It is true that the whole Church was part of the legal consummation, but the majority of the Church has been unfaithful during the time between the consummation and the time that the Lord will come for His bride.
(3) The third stage will be the wedding supper that will take place at the end of the tribulation period when Jesus returns in power and glory. It has been greatly debated whether the wedding supper takes place on the earth or in heaven. It seems certain that this is an earthly event since those who are God's earthly people have an opportunity to attend the wedding supper, and they will be in bodies of flesh and blood.
b. The use of the Greek word gyne in verse 7 above literally means wife, so the second stage of the wedding has already taken place. It is now time for the presentation of the bride and the celebration of the wedding feast or supper.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
a. John falls at the feet of the "angel" identified in Rev. 17:1 and later in 21:9. We have concluded earlier that this angel is representative of the 24 elders. He refuses the worship and states that he is a fellow servant of John and one of his brethren that has the testimony of Jesus. This is in keeping with our identification of him as being representative of the 24 elders.
b. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. This confirms that this is not a literal angel since angels do not hold or cling to the testimony of Jesus. Saved people hold to the testimony of Jesus, or the spirit of prophecy, which simply believes what the prophetic Word of God states. Those who hold to the spirit of prophecy believe that Jesus is coming back to establish His kingdom upon the earth. They are anxiously looking forward to His return and the fulfillment of the prophetic Word of God. The 24 elders were certainly holding to the testimony of Jesus, and this is the reason they were taken out in the Separation, and have a prominent role during the judgments of the seven-year tribulation period.
Q. The Second Coming of Christ (19:11-21)
In this section we see the second coming of Christ in power and glory. He comes as a conquering warrior riding a white horse, The Antichrist—indwelled by Satan—and the False Prophet come out to war against Him with all the nations gathered in the valley of Mageddo (Armageddon). This is the last ditch effort of the satanic trinity to keep the Lord Jesus Christ from assuming complete and total control over the earth.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone could think that he could war against the Lord and possibly win, but it must be remembered that these are the armies deceived by Satan into thinking that Antichrist is God. They consider him immortal and almighty. This would be the only way that these armies would even consider fighting against another supernatural being such as Jesus Christ.
11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
a. In Rev. 4:1 we saw a door opened in heaven for the separation. We now see all of heaven open up, and Jesus Christ comes out riding a white horse. This is in sharp contrast to the first time he rode into Jerusalem on the humble and meek donkey to proclaim Himself the King of Israel. The white horse is symbolic of a conquering hero. Antichrist was seen as the rider on the white horse at the beginning of the tribulation period. He was the conquering hero for a period of 42 months at the permission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
b. Jesus Christ is Faithful and True in sharp contrast to those He comes to judge and destroy. The Dragon is the deceiver, and the Beast is the False Christ. The companion to the Beast is the False Prophet, and their followers are false worshippers. All of these are now to be dealt with by the Embodiment of all Faithfulness and Truth. Though all men are liars, Jesus Christ is absolutely true and faithful.
c. Human beings and nations war out of covetousness, pride, and for selfish ambition and dominion. Jesus Christ comes to war in absolute justice and righteousness. He unsheathes the sword of infinite power, and the carnage is great and dreadful, but no one can say that it is not merited and even demanded to fulfill righteousness and justice.
d. The powers of judging and warring are often separated in earthly kingdoms, but they go together. Wherever war is made there has already been a judgment made. The general in battle is the sheriff and hangman for the court. Christ is both Judge and Executioner, and He exercises both in perfect justice and righteousness.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
a. His eyes as a flame of fire demonstrate the penetrating force that goes into rightly judging. He searches all depths, looks behind masks, penetrates into the darkness of the human heart, and tries everything in accordance with the truth.
b. Jesus Christ is not only Judge and General, but He is the Absolute King. David put the crown of the Ammonites on his head when he conquered them. This was in addition to his own crown. Ptolemy placed the crowns of Asia and Egypt on his head when he entered Antioch. The Dragon wore seven crowns on his seven heads as the possessor of the seven great world powers. The Beast wears ten crowns on his ten horns conbining ten sovereignties. The accumulation of crowns expresses accumulated victory and dominion. Jesus Christ comes as the One anointed and endowed of heaven with all the sovereignties of the earth. They are His rightful due and possession. He comes now as the Warrior, Judge, and King against the usurpers who dispute His right to the dominion purchased with His own blood.
c. The name is the reflection of the character and the true essence of a person. There is no man who has a full and complete understanding of the character and essence of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christ has a name that is unknowable. He appears here in all of the unrevealed and unknowable wonders that connect Him with the incomprehensible Godhead. He is seen in His awesome power and glory, yet He has a name that is unknowable.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
a. He is clothed in an outer garment that has been dipped or stained in blood. Contrary to popular opinion this is not his own blood, but the blood of his enemies. The following verse confirms this:
(Isa 63:1-3 ASV) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. {2} Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? {3} I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment
b. Some are perplexed that the blood of his enemies is on His garments before the engagement in battle. According to Seiss the stains are from enemies previously slain, and are the marks of a veteran in battle. Others say that the picture is anticipatory of the battle that is yet to come. Regardless, the blood is from His enemies and not from Himself.
14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
a. These are the saints in heaven that follow Him on white horses. They are dressed in fine linen, white and clean. The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.
b. Included in these armies could be the Old Testament saints who did not lose their inheritance in the kingdom of the heavens. Even though the Jews as a nation forfeited their inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, there were individual Jews that realized their inheritance.
15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
a. The sharp sword that goeth out of His mouth represents the Word of God. He needs no other weapon than the Word of His mouth. He will smite the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. He simply speaks and it is done. He commands and it is accomplished.
b. The winepress is the battle of Armageddon where He speaks the word and hundreds of millions of soldiers are killed and supernaturally transported into the winepress outside of Jerusalem. It is in this winepress that the blood will flow up to the horses' bridles. This winepress will go through the Mount of Olives, and then turn south to the Gulf of Aqaba.
16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
a. This name King of Kings, and Lord of Lords has reference to His Second Coming when He comes to reign over the world. The previous name stated as being unknowable has reference to His deity. His name as the Word of God has reference to His incarnation as the Incarnate Word.
17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
a. The angel standing in the sun is mentioned to show that the night has passed and the light of day has appeared. The night of the tribulation period is over, and the Sun of Righteousness is appearing to complete His judgments and usher in the millennial kingdom. The tribulation period is seen in the Scriptures as a long dark night of threshing and winnowing. The bride goes to be with the Bridegroom at midnight. The main body of the Church receives the Morning Star which appears about 3:00 in the morning just before the darkest part of the night. Midnight to 3:00 represents the first half of the tribulation period, and 3:00 to 6:00 represents the last half of the tribulation period. The sun is up at the very end of the tribulation, so the battle of Armageddon occurs at the very end of the tribulation.
b. The carnage will be so great that it will be a feast for the birds of prey as described in the following verse.
18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
a. This tells the awful story of how the greatest of men are made food for the vultures. Kings and leaders have become carrion for the birds. Those who thought to conquer heaven's anointed King are rendered helpless even against the timid birds.
19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
a. The Antichrist and the kings of the earth gather to make war against Jesus Christ.
20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
a. Both the Antichrist and the False Prophet are taken alive and cast into the lake of fire. They are the first two individuals to be cast into the lake of fire.
b. The verse summarizes some of the past works of both the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
a. The battle is explained in one verse that is clear-cut, concise and final. Christ speaks the word and hundreds of millions of people are slain.
b. The sword is the spoken word from the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse establishes without a doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter 19 covers the Song of Hallelujah in Heaven in verses 1-10 and the Second Coming of Christ in power and glory in verses 11-21.
P. The Song of Hallelujah in Heaven (19:1-10)
1. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
a. After the destruction of the Great City Babylon, John hears "a great voice of much (i.e., many) people in heaven." Jesus Christ is praised and worshipped for bringing salvation to His people, and He is ascribed with honor, power and glory.
b. The singular voice shows that all are in one accord in ascribing true and righteous judgments to the Lord Jesus Christ in His destruction of New Babylon (See following verse).
2. For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
a. The Lord was true and righteous in destroying Babylon the Great, for she had corrupted the earth with her fornication (i.e., idolatry).
b. She was also destroyed because of her persecution and martyrdom of God's servants. The word servants includes the Jews, the Church, and the Gentiles. This is further confirmation that the focal point of persecution and martyrdom will be in the United States of America during the tribulation period. This is in accord with the fact that the majority of Americans are Christians now at this point just before the separation, and many will probably be saved after the separation.
3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
a. Those in heaven again praise the Lord, and the statement is made that the smoke of Babylon "rose up for ever and ever." This confirms that the destruction of Babylon is a permanent event. Babylon will never be revived, and this includes the whole Babylonian system that has existed since Nimrod founded the city and the system.
b. Even though this is literally referring to the destruction of the Great City Babylon, it also has reference to the entire Babylonian system. Just as the "beast" refers to the leader of the empire and the empire, "Babylon" refers to the city, nation, and system where everything associated with Babylon resides.
4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
a. The 24 elders and the four living creatures are the leaders in the praise and worship in heaven. It should be remembered that they were in heaven at the very beginning of the tribulation period. They are the ones taken in the Separation that takes place at the beginning of the tribulation period.
b. We have explained earlier how the four living creatures are almost certainly the bride of Christ, and the 24 elders are in the second highest position in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
a. This voice coming out of the throne is not God, but it is the voice of authority telling all the servants to worship God. Since it is so intimately connected with the throne, yet not the voice of God, it must be the voice of the four living creatures, who will be announced as the bride later. Since the bride has not yet been introduced, it would be appropriate for her voice to be anonymous at the present time.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
a. John hears another voice as if it were a great multitude, and as if it were the sound of many waters, and as thunderings. All of these are characteristic of the voice and authority of God, but this is not God, since they praise the Lord and proclaim the reign of the "Lord God omnipotent." This almost certainly would have to be the voice of the 24 elders, since they announce the bride in the following verse
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
a. This voice of authority speaks of the Lamb and the bride by announcing the impending marriage of the Lamb.
b. It is highly significant that the bride has made herself ready. The blood of the Lamb has cleansed her, and she has prepared her wedding garment of good works or righteous deeds as shown in the following Scripture.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
a. The bride is arrayed in fine linen that is clean and white. The bride has availed herself of the cleansing that Jesus provides currently as our High Priest.
b. The fine linen also represents the righteous deeds of the saints who are not disqualified as the bride of Christ. The Greek word for righteousness is actually in the plural, so it should be translated as righteousnesses or righteous deeds. This is the wedding garment that the bride works on herself. It is not the garment of salvation, which is the imputed righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is in the singular.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
a. This wedding must be compared to the weddings in the first century that consisted of three stages.
(1) The first stage is the legal consummation of the marriage by the parents of the bride and the groom, and the dowry is paid. Jesus did this at His first coming. His death on the cross was the price of redemption.
(2) The second stage is the bridegroom coming to claim his bride. This will be fulfilled at the Separation that will take place at the beginning of the tribulation period. It is true that the whole Church was part of the legal consummation, but the majority of the Church has been unfaithful during the time between the consummation and the time that the Lord will come for His bride.
(3) The third stage will be the wedding supper that will take place at the end of the tribulation period when Jesus returns in power and glory. It has been greatly debated whether the wedding supper takes place on the earth or in heaven. It seems certain that this is an earthly event since those who are God's earthly people have an opportunity to attend the wedding supper, and they will be in bodies of flesh and blood.
b. The use of the Greek word gyne in verse 7 above literally means wife, so the second stage of the wedding has already taken place. It is now time for the presentation of the bride and the celebration of the wedding feast or supper.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
a. John falls at the feet of the "angel" identified in Rev. 17:1 and later in 21:9. We have concluded earlier that this angel is representative of the 24 elders. He refuses the worship and states that he is a fellow servant of John and one of his brethren that has the testimony of Jesus. This is in keeping with our identification of him as being representative of the 24 elders.
b. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. This confirms that this is not a literal angel since angels do not hold or cling to the testimony of Jesus. Saved people hold to the testimony of Jesus, or the spirit of prophecy, which simply believes what the prophetic Word of God states. Those who hold to the spirit of prophecy believe that Jesus is coming back to establish His kingdom upon the earth. They are anxiously looking forward to His return and the fulfillment of the prophetic Word of God. The 24 elders were certainly holding to the testimony of Jesus, and this is the reason they were taken out in the Separation, and have a prominent role during the judgments of the seven-year tribulation period.
Q. The Second Coming of Christ (19:11-21)
In this section we see the second coming of Christ in power and glory. He comes as a conquering warrior riding a white horse, The Antichrist—indwelled by Satan—and the False Prophet come out to war against Him with all the nations gathered in the valley of Mageddo (Armageddon). This is the last ditch effort of the satanic trinity to keep the Lord Jesus Christ from assuming complete and total control over the earth.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone could think that he could war against the Lord and possibly win, but it must be remembered that these are the armies deceived by Satan into thinking that Antichrist is God. They consider him immortal and almighty. This would be the only way that these armies would even consider fighting against another supernatural being such as Jesus Christ.
11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
a. In Rev. 4:1 we saw a door opened in heaven for the separation. We now see all of heaven open up, and Jesus Christ comes out riding a white horse. This is in sharp contrast to the first time he rode into Jerusalem on the humble and meek donkey to proclaim Himself the King of Israel. The white horse is symbolic of a conquering hero. Antichrist was seen as the rider on the white horse at the beginning of the tribulation period. He was the conquering hero for a period of 42 months at the permission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
b. Jesus Christ is Faithful and True in sharp contrast to those He comes to judge and destroy. The Dragon is the deceiver, and the Beast is the False Christ. The companion to the Beast is the False Prophet, and their followers are false worshippers. All of these are now to be dealt with by the Embodiment of all Faithfulness and Truth. Though all men are liars, Jesus Christ is absolutely true and faithful.
c. Human beings and nations war out of covetousness, pride, and for selfish ambition and dominion. Jesus Christ comes to war in absolute justice and righteousness. He unsheathes the sword of infinite power, and the carnage is great and dreadful, but no one can say that it is not merited and even demanded to fulfill righteousness and justice.
d. The powers of judging and warring are often separated in earthly kingdoms, but they go together. Wherever war is made there has already been a judgment made. The general in battle is the sheriff and hangman for the court. Christ is both Judge and Executioner, and He exercises both in perfect justice and righteousness.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
a. His eyes as a flame of fire demonstrate the penetrating force that goes into rightly judging. He searches all depths, looks behind masks, penetrates into the darkness of the human heart, and tries everything in accordance with the truth.
b. Jesus Christ is not only Judge and General, but He is the Absolute King. David put the crown of the Ammonites on his head when he conquered them. This was in addition to his own crown. Ptolemy placed the crowns of Asia and Egypt on his head when he entered Antioch. The Dragon wore seven crowns on his seven heads as the possessor of the seven great world powers. The Beast wears ten crowns on his ten horns conbining ten sovereignties. The accumulation of crowns expresses accumulated victory and dominion. Jesus Christ comes as the One anointed and endowed of heaven with all the sovereignties of the earth. They are His rightful due and possession. He comes now as the Warrior, Judge, and King against the usurpers who dispute His right to the dominion purchased with His own blood.
c. The name is the reflection of the character and the true essence of a person. There is no man who has a full and complete understanding of the character and essence of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christ has a name that is unknowable. He appears here in all of the unrevealed and unknowable wonders that connect Him with the incomprehensible Godhead. He is seen in His awesome power and glory, yet He has a name that is unknowable.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
a. He is clothed in an outer garment that has been dipped or stained in blood. Contrary to popular opinion this is not his own blood, but the blood of his enemies. The following verse confirms this:
(Isa 63:1-3 ASV) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. {2} Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? {3} I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment
b. Some are perplexed that the blood of his enemies is on His garments before the engagement in battle. According to Seiss the stains are from enemies previously slain, and are the marks of a veteran in battle. Others say that the picture is anticipatory of the battle that is yet to come. Regardless, the blood is from His enemies and not from Himself.
14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
a. These are the saints in heaven that follow Him on white horses. They are dressed in fine linen, white and clean. The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.
b. Included in these armies could be the Old Testament saints who did not lose their inheritance in the kingdom of the heavens. Even though the Jews as a nation forfeited their inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, there were individual Jews that realized their inheritance.
15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
a. The sharp sword that goeth out of His mouth represents the Word of God. He needs no other weapon than the Word of His mouth. He will smite the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. He simply speaks and it is done. He commands and it is accomplished.
b. The winepress is the battle of Armageddon where He speaks the word and hundreds of millions of soldiers are killed and supernaturally transported into the winepress outside of Jerusalem. It is in this winepress that the blood will flow up to the horses' bridles. This winepress will go through the Mount of Olives, and then turn south to the Gulf of Aqaba.
16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
a. This name King of Kings, and Lord of Lords has reference to His Second Coming when He comes to reign over the world. The previous name stated as being unknowable has reference to His deity. His name as the Word of God has reference to His incarnation as the Incarnate Word.
17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
a. The angel standing in the sun is mentioned to show that the night has passed and the light of day has appeared. The night of the tribulation period is over, and the Sun of Righteousness is appearing to complete His judgments and usher in the millennial kingdom. The tribulation period is seen in the Scriptures as a long dark night of threshing and winnowing. The bride goes to be with the Bridegroom at midnight. The main body of the Church receives the Morning Star which appears about 3:00 in the morning just before the darkest part of the night. Midnight to 3:00 represents the first half of the tribulation period, and 3:00 to 6:00 represents the last half of the tribulation period. The sun is up at the very end of the tribulation, so the battle of Armageddon occurs at the very end of the tribulation.
b. The carnage will be so great that it will be a feast for the birds of prey as described in the following verse.
18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
a. This tells the awful story of how the greatest of men are made food for the vultures. Kings and leaders have become carrion for the birds. Those who thought to conquer heaven's anointed King are rendered helpless even against the timid birds.
19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
a. The Antichrist and the kings of the earth gather to make war against Jesus Christ.
20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
a. Both the Antichrist and the False Prophet are taken alive and cast into the lake of fire. They are the first two individuals to be cast into the lake of fire.
b. The verse summarizes some of the past works of both the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
a. The battle is explained in one verse that is clear-cut, concise and final. Christ speaks the word and hundreds of millions of people are slain.
b. The sword is the spoken word from the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse establishes without a doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Fall of Babylon
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