His Return
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last week we looked at the scriptures concerning the actual return of the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming. We contrasted His first coming to His second [handout]. We also went over prophesy concerning His Second Coming, starting with Enoch being the first biblical character prophesying in the Book of Jude.
Tonight I want us to get a little more detailed in His Second Coming as we look at “His Return”.
Text; Rev. 19:11-21
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
1. His Appearance;
1. His Appearance;
Rides a White Horse- symbol of victory [conquering generals always rode a white steed in triumphal parades]
White also symbolizes the spotless, unblemished, holy character of the Rider
Eyes like a flame of fire- Fire purifies, burns up the chaff, the worthless things. The eyes of Christ can see through all the motives and masquerades of men and sees the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Many Crowns on His head- many crowns depict that His rule will be a absolute sovereign rule over all the nations of the earth, not just Jerusalem.
The reason He will wear many crowns then is because He wore the crown of thorns at Calvary. Calvary conquered and judged the god of this age!
John 12:31–33 (NKJV)
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Robe dipped in blood- Why is this robe dipped in blood before He actually begins the battle at His Second Coming? It is the blood of redemption in the first battle He fought at Calvary. It is a reminder to Satan and his followers that the victory has already been won and they are doomed!
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Sharp Sword- The sword that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord is none other than His Word.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Matthew 12:36–37 (NKJV)
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
2. His Four Titles ;
2. His Four Titles ;
Faithful and True- There is no more appropriate name for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is faithful to His promises and what He speaks is always true!
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
Name known to Him only- we don’t know what it is and would be foolish to guess
Word of God- This title unmistakably identifies Him as the Son of God! He is the full expression of the mind, will and purpose of God!
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
King of Kings/Lord of Lords- He and He alone is the sovereign King and Lord. He has no equal and no competition. He possesses full divine authority and absolute power over all things and all people.
14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
“All hail the power of Jesus name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and Crown Him Lord of all, Bring forth the royal diadem, and Crown Him Lord, of all!”
3. His Judgment;
3. His Judgment;
Judges and makes war- Jesus doesn’t come back to pick a fight with Satan and ungodly men. He comes back to judge and make war in “righteousness”.
His holy nature demands a holy, righteous reaction to sin. There is a limit to God’s patience. Justice cannot always tolerate injustice; truth cannot forever tolerate lies; rebellion cannot be permitted to go on forever. Hardened sinners will face destruction; mercy abused and grace rejected will ultimately bring judgment.
Mark 8:38 (NKJV)
38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Strike the Nations- He will slaughter the wicked. The dead will include all those gathered for battle at Armageddon; none will escape.
Rule with a rod of iron- all people during the Millennium will be required to conform to the government of God or they will face immediate judgment.
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Tread the Winepress of God’s Wrath- a winepress crushes grapes until it’s juice runs out and nothing is left but the husk or shell of the fruit. Jesus will crush all evil and unbelief with the wrath of God and blood will fill the streets and nothing will be left but the carcases of men and animals.
Cast Beast/False Prophet into lake of fire- This battle will last all of a split nano-second.
There’s an old saying in war; “If you want to kill the snake, then cut off it’s head!” That’s exactly what Jesus does by throwing these two pawns of satan into the lake of fire, “alive”! All the rest of the army were swiftly killed and destroyed.
Note about the birds; It is an important fact to consider that every year millions of birds of many species migrate south from Europe to Africa. They fly over the land of Israel on their journey. The numbers of these birds and their migrating patterns has been the special study of the Israeli government because of the threat they pose to aircraft. This can certainly answer the question as to where such vast numbers of birds will come from. The geographical setting of Israel, situated between the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the vast expanse of barren desert to the east, forms the natural corridor for these migrating birds.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2000). Revelation 12–22 (p. 222). Moody Press.
Close;
These sobering truths serve as a warning to unbelievers to repent, and also to stimulate believers to godly living.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.