By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist
Read Revelation 19:1-21
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords” (Revelation 19:16).
These verses present the climax of God’s wrath against sinful people on earth. Yes, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is coming again!
First, the armies of Jesus Christ from heaven (Revelation 19:11-16). In Revelation 4:1, heaven opens to let the church in; but here, heaven opens to let Christ and his armies ride forth in victory.
At his trial, Christ said that the Father could send legions of angels to deliver him; and here the Lord rides forth with the armies of glory: the Old Testament saints, the church, and the angels (Matthew 25:31; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). In Revelation 6:1, the Antichrist had ridden on a white horse, imitating Christ, but here the “Faithful and True” (verse 11) rides forth to judge and make war (Psalm 45).
This description of Christ is awesome! Jesus is no longer on a humble donkey, but on a fiery white charger. His eyes are not filled with tears as when he beheld Jerusalem; nor is he wearing a mocking crown of thorns. Instead of being stripped by his enemies, he wears a garment dipped in blood, signifying judgment and victory.
When on earth, he was abandoned by his followers; but here the armies of heaven follow him in conquest. His mouth does not speak “words of grace” (Luke 4:22), but rather the words of victory and justice (see Isaiah 11:4). He comes to rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2). He comes not to bear the wrath of God on the cross, but to tread the winepress of God’s wrath at the Battle of Armageddon. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Second, the announcement of judgment on earth (Revelation 19:17-21). Two suppers are seen in this chapter: the marriage supper of the lamb (verse 9) and the supper of the great God, Armageddon. All of human history is moving rapidly toward Armageddon.
Who are the armies gathered together against Christ? These are the armies of the 10-kingdom federation of Europe, as well as the forces of the kings of the east, Egypt, and Russia. They gather on the Plain of Esdraelon in Palestine, an area that Napoleon called the most natural battlefield in the world. The name “Armageddon” means “Mount of Megiddo.”
Jesus Christ destroys the armies with the word, the sword that comes from his mouth (Hebrews 4:12). Men would not bow to his word and receive the Gospel; now they must be slain by that same word. The followers of the beast are “marked men;” the mark of the beast on their bodies seals them for certain judgment. Christ not only destroys the armies of the beast, but he also captures the beast and false prophet and casts them alive into perdition. He also takes Satan and casts him into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). God wins!
Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.
