In Tuesday's study John saw heaven opened and Christ riding forth on a white horse with the armies of heaven (most likely the church, His bride) following Him on white horses while dressed in white linen. We pick up there today.
"Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.'" (Revelation 19:15a) Remember, the nations of the world are assembling their troops to fight against the Lord and against His people, as we learned last week. This is known as the battle of Armageddon, and we will get into this subject in more detail tomorrow. Right now our focus is on Christ, the mighty warrior king.
John says the Lord has a sword in His mouth, and this isn't the first time we've seen the word of God symbolized in this manner in Revelation. We've already been presented with such symbolic imagery in Revelation 1:16 and Revelation 2:16. Words that are sharp or words that cut through to the soul to get a person's attention have been referred to as a sword in the Old Testament as well. In Psalm 59:7 the harsh words of the wicked are compared to swords because the wicked use their words to cut people down. The prophet Isaiah spoke of both the restoration of Israel and the coming Messiah in one combined prophecy in Isaiah 49. He said that the Lord has made the mouth of Israel (and the mouth of the Messiah) "like a sharpened sword". (Isaiah 49:2)
The word of God reveals our faults to us so we can be healed of them. The author of the book of Hebrews speaks of the ability of God's word to cut into the inner man to show us our sins and to point us to the Savior: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) But if we don't allow the word of God to lead us to repentance, then we will be judged by the word of God. Just as a person standing in a court of law is judged by the law of the land, a person standing in the presence of the Lord will be judged by the law of the Lord.
The nations are rebelling against the Lord here in Chapter 19, so John quotes Psalm 2:9 in reference to the Lord. Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm and foretells a conspiracy against the Son of God, saying, "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed." (Psalm 2:9) The psalmist points out the futility of man's plans against the Son of God by saying that God the Father, enthroned in heaven, laughs at their puny plans and announces His unchangeable intention to seat His Son on the throne in Zion as king over the world. (Psalm 2:4-6) In this psalm God the Father makes a promise to God the Son, promising to give Him the entire earth as His kingdom and assuring Him that He will conquer His enemies by breaking them "like a rod of iron" and by dashing them "to pieces like pottery". (Psalm 2:9) Because Christ's victory is certain, God cautions the nations to be wise and serve His Son and celebrate His sovereign authority over them. (Psalm 2:10-11) God the Father warns the nations of the coming wrath if they refuse to honor His Son, then He pronounces a blessing on those who accept His Son: "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 2:12)
John goes on to say about Christ, "He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." (Revelation 19:15b) When we refuse to accept the mercy and salvation of God, we must face His wrath. This is what we see happening here in Chapter 19. There are people who have come to faith during the Great Tribulation, but they are not the ones who are fighting against the Lord. They are not the ones He is treading down like grapes in a winepress.
"On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:16) Earlier in Revelation, when we studied the characters known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse, we saw the Antichrist coming onto the world scene riding a white horse. He came onto the scene with hidden motives. He wanted the world to accept him as the Messiah if possible, but if not he was still going to demand to be bowed down to as a king. He was presented to John in his visions with no name, with no clear description of his genealogical origin, and speaking words of peace while war was in his heart. But Christ rides out of heaven in Revelation 19 in full view with nothing hidden. His identity is clear, for even while seated on a horse His title is visible since it's written on the thigh of His robe. He is the King of king and Lord of lords. He doesn't come to the earth speaking peaceful words as He did at His first advent because He isn't coming in peace. One of the first things the world sees is that He is wielding the powerful sword of the word of God. When a king rides out with his sword ready, everyone knows he's about to wage war. In Chapter 19 Christ doesn't ride into Jerusalem on a donkey as He did at His first advent, for a donkey is what a king rode when he came in peace. He rides out of heaven on a white horse, the animal kings rode when charging into battle. There is no deception in the Lord. His intentions are clear.
We who are the church---the bride of Christ---are going to be right behind Him when He rides into battle like a knight in shining armor. With unimaginable power and authority He will overthrow His enemies and our enemies. The enemies of Christ are also our enemies because they are fighting against and blaspheming the precious One to whom we belong. Our enemies are Christ's enemies because He avenges those He loves.
The bride of Christ is madly in love with Him. She always has been and she always will be, but I think in the moment when He rides forth to conquer evil, her heart is going to be overwhelmed with love for her Bridegroom. What woman doesn't practically swoon over a man who fights for her honor? The church is going to be more in love with her Bridegroom than ever when He rides out and fights for her and for all that is righteous and holy. He is greater than any superhero or caped crusader. He is more powerful than anyone who has ever fought a battle. And He is ours and we are His! I think our hearts are going to swell with love and pride as we behold Him charging into the fight.
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