The Return of The King!

Lion photo by Steve Mackay

The Return of The King! 

(Rev. 19:11-21)

Have you ever prayed, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"? According to The Book of The Revelation chapter nineteen, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this world to take over and establish His earthly worldwide kingdom. Finally this prayer will be answered and the desire of all nations realized!!!  It will literally unfold as an invasion from another world that will result in a massive global takeover. Nothing in all human history can be compared with this singular peerless event and nothing in the combined human arsenal of weapons can even hint at preventing it or stopping Him.

You see, two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus ascended back to heaven (Acts 1:9–11) and has been seated at the Father’s right hand ministering as Savior, High Priest, Advocate, and Head of His Church (Heb. 8:1; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:22). This same glorious Jesus Christ will return to this earth to take back the entire world from Satan and establish His kingdom (Rev. 5:1–10). In His first coming He came as the Lamb of God; when He returns it will be as the Lion King! As King, Jesus will usher in righteousness, peace, and blessing this world has not seen since the Garden of Eden. However, He must begin by putting down all sinful rulers and discarding all unrighteousness; this colossal task will impact the entire universe.These grand events begin to unfold in the prophecy of The Revelation in the heart of chapter nineteen.

   — The vision shifts again. “Heaven opened” and Jesus appeared, this time not as a Lamb but as a Warrior on a “white horse” (symbolizing Christ’s Triumph).

   — Jesus had come first as a Lamb to be a sacrifice for sin, but he will return as a Conqueror and King to execute judgment.   2 Thes. 1:7-10, And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Jesus’ first coming brought forgiveness; his second will bring judgment.

   — The battle lines had been drawn between God and evil, and the world was waiting for the King to ride onto the field (Rev. 16:12-16).

   — Finally we reach the event to which the rest of the book has been anticipating, the glorious and victorious Coming of Christ to the earth.

A.  THE FAITHFUL APPEARANCE OF THE KING!  (REV. 19:11-16)

Psalm 45:3-7, Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. [4] And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. [5] Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. [6] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. [7] Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Matthew 24:27-31,  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  [29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

   1.  The King’s Coming. (Rev. 19:11-12)

The Lord Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9–11) and had been seated at the Father’s right hand (Heb. 8:1; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:22) will return to take back the earth from the Satan and establish His kingdom (Rev. 5:1–10).

      A.  The Person of His Coming.

First, John described the Conqueror (Rev 19:11-16) and then His conquests (Rev 19:17-20:3).

            1.  He is Christ.

                 A.  The rider on the white horse (Rev 6:2) is the false Christ.

                 B.  But this Rider is the true Christ.

Rev. 1:7-8,  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. [8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Acts 1:10-11,  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; [11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

            2.  He is The Conqueror. 

The “white horse” is what he rides. 

                 — In the Roman triumphal processions, the victorious general rode his white war horse up the Via Sacra to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill.

                 — Jesus’ first coming was in humiliation on a colt (Zech. 9:9).

                 — John’s vision portrays Him as the conqueror on His war horse, coming to destroy the wicked, to overthrow the Antichrist, to defeat Satan, and to take control of the earth.

           3.  He is The Confirmer. “Faithful and True.”

                — True to His word, Jesus will return to earth (Matt. 24:27–31).

Rev. 3:14, And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (John 14:6; Rev 1:5; 3:7,14).

                — He is "Faithful and True", in contrast to "the beast" who was unfaithful (he broke the covenant with Israel) and false (he ruled by means of deception and idolatry).

                — Suffering saints need to be reminded that God is faithful and will not desert them, because His promises are true.

      B.  The Purpose of His Coming.

           

           1.  His Purpose is to Put Down His Enemies.

                 A.  To Judge.  “in righteousness He doth judges.”

Jude 1:14-15,  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, [15] To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Matthew 25:31-32, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:(John 5:25–30; Acts 17:31).

                 B.  To Fight.

“makes war.” This startling statement vividly portrays the holy wrath of God against sinners (cf. Ps. 7:11). God’s patience will be exhausted with sinful, rebellious mankind.

Rev. 2:16, Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

                 C.  Not to Rapture.

                      — He is not coming in the air to take His people home (1 Thess 4:13-18), but to the earth with His people, to conquer His enemies and establish His kingdom. 

                      — The nature of this event shows how it differs from the Rapture. At the Rapture, Christ meets His own in the air—in this event He comes with them to earth. At the Rapture, there is no judgment, in this event it is all judgment.

                      — This event is preceded by blackness—the darkened sun, moon gone out, stars fallen, smoke—then lightning and blinding glory as Jesus comes. Such details are not included in Rapture passages (John 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 4:13–18).  This is not the Rapture of the saints which happen seven years prior to this event.

           2.  His Purpose is to Set Up His Kingdom.

He returns to put down his enemies and to set up His world wide Kingdom-Empire.  In this passage, Christ returns to the earth with His saints to rule the world.

Rev. 3:21,  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Daniel 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 

Matthew 19:28,  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Rev. 20:4,  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

  

      C.  The Perception of His Coming.

The greatness of Christ is seen not only in His names, but also in John's description of the conquering King (Rev 19:12-16).

           1.  The eyes "as a flame of fire" symbolize His searching judgment that sees all (Rev 1:14).

           2.  His piercing judgment of sin. "Fire" is the symbol of purity and judgment (see Ps 97:3; Isa 47:14; 66:15; Amos 5:6; 1 Cor 3:13; Rev 3:18). 

           3.  Nothing escapes His penetrating vision, so His judgments are always just and accurate (Rev. 1:14; 2:18).

  

      D.  The Potentate of His Coming.  (Rev 19:12)

            1.  The “many crowns” (diadems) indicate His magnificent rule and sovereignty, not merely garlands of victory.  His right to rule is evidenced by the “many crowns” He is wearing.

2.      Many diadems are " kingly crowns " (cf. Rev 12:3; 13:1), because he comes as a King to judgment.               

3.      The plurality of "crowns" points to his character as KING OF KINGS (see Rev 17:14; cf. Rev 13:1).  Christ's diadem comprises all diadems of the earth and of heavenly powers.

1 Tim. 6:14-16, That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: [15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; [16] Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Thro’ all eternity.

Crown Him Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives that death may die.   — Logos Hymnal.

      E.  The Perplexity of His Coming. (Rev 19:12) “he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”

          1.  Perhaps the "secret name" is the same as the "new name" (Rev 3:12).

          2.  John could see the name, but was unable to comprehend it (2 Cor. 12:4).

             — There are unfathomable mysteries in the Godhead that even glorified saints will be unable to grasp.

             — Not knowing what this name is, we cannot comment on it; but it is exciting to know that, even in heaven, we shall learn new things about our Lord Jesus!

             — QUOTE: “It is, therefore, a name which in all its glorious significancy can be only understood when the union of His saints with Him, and His and their joint triumph and reign, shall be perfectly manifested at the final consummation.”  — Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown

All hail the pow’r of Jesus name!
Let angels prostate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.       — Logos Hymnal.

   2.  The King’s Clothing.  (Rev. 19:13)

       A.  The Wardrobe.  (Rev 19:13)

The “vesture dipped in blood” speaks of judgment and probably relates to Isa 63:1-6 and Rev 14:20, the conquest of His enemies. It is not our Lord's blood that marks His vesture, but that of His foes.

            1.  This is the Blood of Conquest.

This is not from the battle of Armageddon, which will not have begun until v. 15. Christ’s blood-spattered garments symbolize the great battles He has already fought against sin, Satan, and death and been stained with the blood of His enemies.

            2.  This is the Blood of Judgment.

His coming as Judge is further supported by the fact that He is dressed in a robe “dipped in blood.” 

Isaiah 63:2-3, Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? [3] I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

            3.  This Blood has Other Possible Meanings. 

                 — QUOTE: “So here the blood on His “vesture,” reminding us of His own blood shed for even the ungodly who trample on it, is a premonition of the shedding of their blood in righteous retribution. He sheds the blood, not of the godly, as the harlot and beast did, but of the blood-stained ungodly, including them both.”   — Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown

                 — QUOTE: “Christ himself, when he rides to the earth on the white horse, will be dressed in a robe dipped in blood. Some suggest that this is the blood of the martyrs; some think it is the blood of Christ's enemies (referring to a similar passage in Isa 63:1-6); others think that this is the Lamb's own blood which, ultimately, brings about this final day of victory.”   — The Life Application Commentary Series

APPLICATION: Truly there is real victory over our enemies through the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:11).

       B.  The Word. 

            1.  "The Word of God" is one of the familiar names of our Lord in Scripture (John 1:1-14).

                  — QUOTE: “Just as we reveal our minds and hearts to others by our words, so the Father reveals Himself to us through His Son, the incarnate Word (Rev 14:7-11). A word is made up of letters, and Jesus Christ is "Alpha and Omega" (Rev 21:6; 22:13). He is the "divine alphabet" of God's revelation to us.”  —W. W. Wiersbe

                  — The title “the Word of God” indicates His incommunicable Godhead, joined to His manhood, which He shall then manifest in glory.

                  — Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known (John 1:18).  This title designates the divine nature of Christ. As the Word, he “was in the beginning” and “became flesh.” “The Word was “with God” and “was God,” and was the Creator of all things (comp. Ps.33:6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:18; Isa. 40:8).

                  — Word, (Logos) would designate the personal creative power and activity of God. It is word in action.   For Greek readers, logos meant “reason, rational thought, and discourse; the principle of reason or order in the world that gives the world its form and makes up the soul of man.” These meanings tell us that the Word is the personal, rational source of power and action in creation.   — Excerpt from Merrill C. Tenney

            2.  Only John uses this title for the Lord.  As “the Word of God,” Jesus is:

                   — The image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15);

                   — The Word of Life (1Jn. 1:1);

                   — The express image of His person (Heb. 1:3);

                   — The final, full revelation from God (Heb. 1:1,2).

Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

    

   3.  The King’s Companions.  (Rev. 19:14) “the armies which were in heaven.”

       A.  Jesus is not alone in His conquest, for the armies of heaven ride with Him. (Rev. 17:14).

       B.  Who are they?

             1.  Certainly the angels are a part of this army (Matt 25:31; 2 Thess 1:7);

             2.  But so are the saints (1 Thess 3:13; 2 Thess 1:10).

                   — Composed of the glorious church bride (Rev. 19:8), tribulation saints (Rev. 7:13), OT believers (Jude 14; cf. Dan. 12:1,2).

                   — Jude describes the same scene (Jude 14-15). The word saints means "holy ones" and could refer to believers or angels.

             3.  It will be unnecessary for the army to fight, for Christ Himself will defeat the enemy.

             4.  They return to reign with Him after He defeats His enemies (Rev. 20:4; 1 Cor. 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:12). Ps. 149:5–9.

   4.  The King’s Cause.  (Rev. 19:15)

        A.  To Rout the Nations With His Sword.  “Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword”

             1.  The Sword is a Symbol of War and Judgment!

Isaiah 66:15-16,  For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

                   — QUOTE: “In Christ’s mouth was a sharp sword (cf. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:21) which He would use to strike down the nations. The word for “sword” was used of an unusually long sword and sometimes used as a spear, thus indicating a piercing action”. — Walvoord, J. F.

                   — QUOTE: “God’s sword is also described as his instrument of judgment (Is 34:5; Jer 12:12; 47:6), especially in the end (Is 66:15–16). The sword was a Roman symbol of an authority’s right over life and death (capital punishment) but appears throughout the Old Testament prophets as an image for judgment by war.”   — Keener, C. S.

                   — QUOTE: “This symbolizes Christ’s power to kill His enemies (1:16; cf. Is. 11:4; Heb. 4:12,13).”    — J.  MacArthur

             2.  The Sword Extends Out of King-Messiah’s Mouth!

                   A.  This agrees with the fact that Christ will consume the enemy by his words! 

2 Thes. 2:8,  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Isaiah 11:4,  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

His mouth does not speak “words of grace” (Luke 4:22), but rather the Word of victory and justice. 

                   B.  QUOTE: “ That the sword comes out of His mouth indicates that He wins the battle with the power of His word. Though the saints return with Christ to reign and rule, they are not the executioners. That is His task, and that of His angels (Matt. 13:37–50).”  — J.  MacArthur

             3.  The “Sharp Sword” Is a Symbol of God's Word! (Rev 19:21; see also Rev 1:16).

Ephes. 6:17,  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Hebrews 4:12,  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

                   A.  The Word of God is "quick and powerful" (Heb 4:12) and it fulfills His purposes on earth (Rev 17:17; Rev 6:11; 10:7; 15:1). 

                   B.  Just as the Word was the Father’s Agent in Creation (John 1:1-3), so the Word is His Agent for judgment and consummation.  

        B.  To Rule the Nations With His Rod. (Rev 19:15)

             1.  Christ will rule with the “rod of iron” or scepter (Rev 2:27; 12:5).

                    — A symbol of His justice as He rules over the earth.

                    — Swift, righteous judgment will mark Christ’s rule in the kingdom.

                    — Believers will share His authority (Rev. 2:26; 1 Cor. 6:2; see also 2:27; 12:5; Ps. 2:8,9).

                    — The Rod speaks of the establishment of Messiah’s authority on earth.

             2.  Christ ruling with an iron rod describes him beating down the nations.

Rev. 2:27,  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

                   — This is not a king’s scepter that is merely symbolic of power; instead, it is a club with which he will destroy them.

                   — The psalmist had written of the Messiah, “Thou shalt break them [the nations] with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel” (Ps 2:9).

        C.  To Ruin the Nations With His Winepress.  Rev. 19:15, “he treadeth the winepress”

             1.  The Image of the Winepress Is Associated with Judgment at Armageddon (Rev 14:14-20). 

 Joel 3:12-14,  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. [13] Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. [14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Isaiah 63:3,  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

Isaiah 63:6,  And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

                     — Christ comes not to bear the wrath of God on the cross, but to tread the winepress of God’s wrath at the War of Armageddon.

                     — QUOTE: “It means here that his enemies would be certainly crushed before him-as grapes are crushed under the feet of him that treads in the winevat.”   — (from Barnes' Notes)  

             2.  Christ is pictured as treading the winepress of the fierce “wrath of Almighty God.” The winepress image describes God's great wrath against those who had rejected him.

Rev. 14:19-20,  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. [20] And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

  

                     — QUOTE: “Almighty—The fierceness of Christ’s wrath against His foes will be executed with the resources of omnipotence.”   — Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown

                     — QUOTE: “Here, God's fierce anger is directed at all of sin personified. At this point, God will totally destroy sin and evil. A winepress is a large vat where grapes are collected and then crushed. It is often used in the Bible to symbolize judgment (Isa 63:3-6; Lam 1:15; Joel 3:12-13).”  — Life Application Commentary

             3.  There Is Always a Need to Emphasize Both Mercy and Judgment (Rev 19:15).

This scene provides a graphic display of the wrath of God. It shows God's anger and judgment against sin and against those who have constantly rejected Christ as the means of forgiveness and reconciliation.

                       A.  God's wrath exists alongside his mercy. In each generation, there must be balanced preaching and teaching about God's grace and his anger against sin. In Martin Luther's day, God had been presented as so wrathful that grace and forgiveness needed to be reemphasized and taught to the people.

                       B.  In our day, however, teaching about God’s love and tolerance have become so predominant that God’s anger seems to be mythical. Such a portrayal of God hardly warns people away from sin.

                       C.  Teaching about God’s wrath may be watered down by some, but it is nevertheless real and will be terrible for those who have steadfastly refused him (1 Thess 1:10). In your study and teaching, do not emphasize God’s mercy to the exclusion of his wrath.

   5.  The King’s Conquering.  (Rev. 19:16)  “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”

        A.  Christ's is Absolutely Supreme! (Rev 19:16).

      

              1.  His Name of Conquest Appears on his Clothing and Thigh.  Rev. 19:16,  “on His vesture and on his thigh a name written”.

                     A.  Jesus will wear a banner across His robe and down His thigh with a title emblazoned on it that emphasizes His absolute sovereignty over all human rulers (see Rev. 17:14).

                     B.  QUOTE: “Since these kinds of inscriptions on the thigh, the garments, and different parts of the body, were in use among different nations, to express character, conduct, qualities, and conquests, we may rest assured that to them John alludes when he represents our sovereign Lord with an inscription upon his vesture and upon his thigh; and had we not found it a custom among other nations, we should have been at a loss to account for its introduction and meaning here.”    — (from Adam Clarke's Commentary) 

The irresistible power of Christ, Jesus– King of kings and Lord of lord–  ends the battle almost before it begins!

              2.  This Is His Victorious Name, and it Brings to Mind His Supremacy!   (Rev 17:14)

Daniel 2:47,  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret.

Deut. 10:17,  For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

              3.  This Title Sets Our Lord Jesus Apart as the Only King.

1 Tim. 6:15,  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

It will be clearly demonstrated through the Lord’s return that He is indeed the true supreme ruler in the world.

         B.   Christ's Is Astronomically Sovereign!

              1.  All kings and lords must submit to Him. No matter who was on the throne of the Roman Empire, Jesus Christ was his King and Lord!

              2.  The name indicates God’s absolute sovereignty over all other kings and lords (see Rev. 17:14).

Philip. 2:9-11,  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 72:11,  Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

              3. What Does the Bible Teach Us about God's Sovereignty?

                    A.  Even the Most Powerful Human Rulers Are Controlled by God (Ezra 6:14).

God's will is supreme over all rulers, all historical events, and all hostile forces. He can deliver us in ways we can't imagine. If we trust in his power and love, no opposition can stop us.

                    B.  God’s Sovereignty Is Completely Awe Inspiring.

Nothing can compare to God. His power and presence are awesome, and when he speaks, we must listen. Too often we presume to speak for God, to put words in his mouth, to take him for granted, or to interpret his silence to mean that he is absent or unconcerned. But God cares. He is in control, and he will speak. Be ready to hear his message -- in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances and relationships.

                    C.  God’s Sovereignty Is Absolute.

Elihu stressed God's sovereignty over all of nature as a reminder of his sovereignty over our life. God is in control -- he directs, preserves, and maintains his created order. Although we can’t see it, God is divinely governing the moral and political affairs of people as well. By spending time observing the majestic and intricate parts of God’s creation, we can be reminded of his power in every aspect of our life.

 

B.  THE FIERCE ASSAULT OF THE KING!  (REV. 19:17-21)

Christ will certainly defeat the armies of the kings of the earth (Rev. 19:17-19, 21).

   1.  Preparations for the Assault (Rev. 19:17-19)

        — QUOTE:   “Keep in mind that the armies of the east have gathered in Palestine to oppose the Beast and his armies. But they will see the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens, and all unite to oppose Christ. Read again Rev. 16:12–16 and 14:14–20.”  — W. W. Wiersbe

        — QUOTE: “The scene on earth is the final stage of the great world war that will be under way for many weeks. With armies battling up and down the Holy Land for victory, on the very day of the return of Christ there will be house-to-house fighting in Jerusalem itself (Zech. 14:2). Combatants will have been lured to the battle site by demons sent by Satan to assemble the armies of the world to fight the armies of heaven (cf. Rev. 16:12-16).”   — Walvoord, J. F.

         — QUOTE: “These verses depict the frightening holocaust unparalleled in human history—the Battle of Armageddon, the pinnacle of the Day of the Lord (see note on 1 Thess. 5:2). It is not so much a battle as an execution, as the remaining rebels are killed by the Lord Jesus (v. 21; see notes on 14:19,20; cf. Ps. 2:1–9; Is. 66:15,16; Ezek. 39:1ff.; Joel 3:12ff.; Matt. 24,25; 2 Thess. 1:7–9). This Day of the Lord was seen by Isaiah (66:15,16), Joel (3:12–21), Ezekiel (39:1–4,17–20), Paul (2 Thess. 1:6ff.; 2:8) and our Lord (Matt. 25:31–46).”  — MacArthur, J. J.

       A.  A Divine Invitation. (Rev. 19:17-18)

It will begin with an angel summoning birds to feed on the corpses of those who will be slain (Matt. 24:27,28).

              1.  The Call of the Angel.

The angel’s summons to the birds of prey to gather together for the great supper of God is borrowed from Ezekiel’s vision of the overthrow of Gog and Magog (Ezk. 39:17–20).  The actual assault of Gog and Magog is set by John at the close of the earthly millennial kingdom reign (Rev. 20:7–9), in harmony with Ezekiel’s vision (Ezk. 38:7–9).

              2.  The Supper of the Great God.

                    A.  These warriors have assembled to fight "against the Lord and against His anointed" (Ps 2:1-3), but their weapons prove futile.

                    B.  The battle turns out to be a slaughter - a "supper" for the scavenger birds!

                           — The first half of Rev 19 describes the marriage supper of the Lamb; the last half describes the "supper of the great God" (see Luke 17:37).

                           — This great supper of God for birds of prey is a gruesome counterpart to the feast that begins the kingdom of God (Is. 25:6), here described as the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Matthew 24:27-28, For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

                    C.  Christ will declare His victory before the battle even begins. The OT frequently pictures the indignity of carrion birds feasting on human dead (Deut. 28:26; Ps. 79:2; Is. 18:6; Jer. 7:33; 16:4; 19:7; 34:20; Ezek. 29:5).

                    D.   QUOTE: “The word flesh occurs six times in this paragraph. While John's immediate reference is to the human body, eaten by the vultures, there is certainly a deeper meaning here: man fails because he is flesh and relies on flesh. The Bible has nothing good to say about fallen human nature. Recall the Lord's words before the Flood: "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh" (Gen 6:3). (See also John 3:6; 6:63; Rom 7:18; Phil 3:3.) "All flesh is as grass" (1 Peter 1:24) and must be judged.” —W. W. Wiersbe

       B.  A Desperate Confederation.  (Rev. 19:19)

           1.  This is the account of the well-known "battle of Armageddon," which was anticipated earlier (Rev 14:14-20; 16:13-16).

           2.  “The beast, and kings of the earth” (Rev.17:12–17); “their armies” (Rev.16:13,14).  

3.      The armies of earth are no match for the armies from heaven. The sharp sword in Christ’s mouth (v. 15) is symbolic of His authoritative word of command that destroys earth’s armies by divine power. Millions of men and their horses will be destroyed instantly. All that our Lord has to do is speak the Word, and the sword of His mouth will destroy His enemies.

   2.  Prosecutions of the Assault (Rev. 19:20-21)

       A.  The Lord Jesus Defeats the Devil’s Henchmen.   (Rev. 19:20)

Christ will immediately defeat "the beast" and “false prophet”.

             1.  The Leadership is Captured.

Since Satan's "henchmen" are the leaders of the revolt, it is only right that they be captured and confined.

             2.  The Leadership is Condemned.

                    — They are cast into the lake of fire (see Rev 20:10,14-15), the final and permanent place of punishment for all who refuse to submit to Jesus Christ.

                    — "The beast" and “false prophet” are the first persons to be cast into hell.

                    — Satan will follow 1,000 years later (Rev 20:10), to be joined by those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15).

                    — QUOTE:   “lake of fire. The final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, angelic or human (cf. 20:10,15). The NT says much of eternal punishment (cf. 14:10,11; Matt. 13:40–42; 25:41; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 3:17; 12:47,48). fire … brimstone. See note on 9:17. These two are frequently associated with divine judgment (14:10; 20:10; 21:8; Gen. 19:24; Ps. 11:6; Is. 30:33; Ezek. 38:22; Luke 17:29).” — J. MacArthur

             3.  Note:  Today, when an unbeliever dies, his spirit goes to a place called hell–hades, which means "the, unseen world" - that is, the realm of the dead. When believers die, they go immediately into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:19-23). Hell will one day be emptied of its dead (Rev 20:13), who will then be cast into lack of fire to join Satan, the beast and the false prophet.

              4.  QUOTE: “Evil's final destination will be a fiery lake. Throughout Scripture, fire portrays God's searing holiness, and burning sulfur reflects his awful judgment as he exacts retribution for evil (Gen 19:24; Ezek 38:22; Heb 10:30). Hell is a horrible reality, a place of endless torment, but hell was designed for Satan and his demons. The people sent there will be those who viciously attack God and join Satan in his rebellion against God. In The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote that "the doors to hell are locked on the inside" to keep God and goodness out. The warnings of Revelation were given to keep believers faithful to Christ and active in his service. Keep your trust in him strong, and be vigilant in withstanding evil.”  — LAC

       B.  The Lord Jesus Defeats the Devil’s Host.  (Rev. 19:21)

             1.  The armies of Antichrist and the nations are now carcasses of kings, generals, horsemen, and all people were slain by Christ. 

             2.  All remaining sinners in the world will have been executed, and the birds will gorge themselves on their corpses.

             3.  The two armies were facing each other -- the Beast and all the kings of the earth versus The Messiah on the white horse and his redeemed people. Suddenly, the battle was over. There was not much of a fight, because, in a shocking second, the confrontation was all over and the end had come. There was no need for a real battle because the victory had been won centuries earlier when Christ Jesus died on a cross. At that time, Satan had been defeated; here at Armageddon, he is finally stripped of all his power.

CONCLUSION:

1.  While it is stimulating to study about the future reign of Christ with His saints here on earth, it is important to remember that He is today King of kings and Lord of lords.

2.  Jesus taught his disciples that the “kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). As we walk with Him in obedience and holiness, His authority and anointing is transferred to us to transact His kingdom's business in His stead (Is. 61:1–3; Luke 4:18; John 1:16; 1 John 2:20, 27; 4:17).

3.  The full consummation of His kingdom awaits His literal, physical return. Until that time, let us serve Him using the “keys of the kingdom” He has granted us.

4.  Our faith in Christ gives us present spiritual victory and assurance of final victory (Heb 11:39-40). The Old Testament records the lives of the various people who experienced great victories. Joshua and Deborah conquered kingdoms (the book of Josh; Judg 4:1-5:31). Nehemiah administered justice (the book of Nehemiah). Daniel was saved from the mouths of lions (Dan 6). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were kept from harm in the furious flames of a fiery furnace (Dan 3). Elijah escaped the swords of evil Queen Jezebel's henchmen (1 Kings 19:2 ff.). Hezekiah regained strength after sickness (2 Kings 20). Gideon was powerful in battle (Judg 7). A widow's son was brought back to life by the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37). All these achievements were examples of faith in action.

5.  We, too, can experience victory through faith in Christ. Our victories over oppressors may be like those of the Old Testament saints, but more likely, our victories will be specific to the role God wants us to play. Even though our body will deteriorate and die, we will live forever because of Christ. In the promised resurrection, even death will be defeated, and Christ's victory will be made complete.

QUOTE: “Picture it this way. Imagine that you are an ice skater in competition. You are in first place with one more round to go. If you perform well, the trophy is yours. You are nervous, anxious, and frightened.

Then, only minutes before your performance, your trainer rushes to you with the thrilling news: “You've already won! The judges tabulated the scores, and the person in second place can't catch you. You are too far ahead.”

Upon hearing that news, how will you feel? Exhilarated!

And how will you skate? Timidly? Cautiously? Of course not. How about courageously and confidently? You bet you will. You will do your best because the prize is yours. You will skate like a champion because that is what you are! You will hear the applause of victory.…

The point is clear: the truth will triumph. The father of truth will win, and the followers of truth will be saved.” — (From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado)