The Testimony of Jesus.
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. 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. 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. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 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. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” – Revelation 19:10 – 16
This passage highlights the essence of prophecy as always pointing to Jesus. Let’s remind ourselves – Revelation is all about Jesus! And this statement is immediately followed in Revelation 19:11-16 by a wonderful description of Jesus. Here we see a white horse, a symbol of a conquering king. A rider who is named Faithful and True. The horse is carrying “the King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. His name is intriguing because within a few verses we go from “Faithful and True” (v11) through a name, “known only to Himself” v12 and the “Word of God” v13 to “King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s” v16. Remember this is Jesus! He leads the armies of heaven (The Archangel Micheal archon = leader) – the Archangel who descends with a shout in 1st Thessalonians 4:16 and performs the resurrection. This archangel (the leader of the angels) is ascribed many of the characteristics we have discussed previously as applying to Jesus only, but borrowed from the Old Testament as being attributes of Yahweh: eyes like blazing fire; crowned with many crowns; dressed in a blood stained robe over clean, white, fine linen; possessing a sharp mouth-sword; ruling with an iron sceptre; treading the winepress of God’s fury.
Note how this description out does that of the dragon, beasts, false prophet and great harlot that we have encountered in the preceding chapters. While they attempt to imitate Jesus and take His place, they are no match for Him, meeting their end in a climactic confrontation described in verses 19-21
This is the bridegroom who is the Majesty of Heaven returning to gather His people from the far corners of the earth. This is the same Jesus that John saw at the beginning of Revelation walking among the candlesticks. This is the same Jesus that walked the dusty roads of Palestine, healed the blind, deaf and lame. The same Jesus that stilled the storm, walked on water and raised the dead. The same Jesus that walked the streets of Jerusalem with his cross, to a mountain that felt the footsteps of its creator and there saw Him lifted on a rough hewn cross between heaven and earth as if He were not fit for either.
What we see in today’s passage is a depiction of Christ’s second coming, the fulfilment of the promise that believers of all ages have been longing for. His people have based their faith on God’s word. Revelation 19:11-16 is the culmination of Jesus many victories. Jesus defeated satan in heaven; He defeated satan in the wilderness; He defeated him at the cross; and He will defeat him at his return.
This is the same Jesus that will eventually come to take you home to a place where the curse of sin will no longer exist (Rev 22:3).