Armageddon
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The Commander and Chief
The Commander and Chief
vs. 11-13, 15-16
We all understand that the individual described for us in these verses is none other than Jesus Christ! Let’s take a moment to see King David’s view of this great battle. Turn to and read Psalm 110:1-7.
The Lord Jesus Christ, right now, is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, waiting for the day when He will come again, not as a the sacrificial Lamb but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Notice...
He is Faithful and True
He is Faithful and True
As I look back on the road I've travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
He is Righteous
He is Righteous
Every government and kingdom, throughout time and history, has felt that there’s was a righteous cause when the waged war against another country and kingdom. Yet, in each case, there have been those who have called those governments and kingdoms into question. (Think George W. Bush, the second Gulf War and “Weapons of Mass Destruction.)
And yet, when here, in Revelation chapter 19, we see the Lord Jesus Christ, coming to judge the nations of this world, He will be fully justified in this battle. There will be no one who will be able to question Him, “Why are you doing this?” or “Who gave you the right to do this?”
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, Neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
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.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Look back at Revelation 16:5-7.
Back in Revelation chapter 11, vs. 12-13, we see a further description of Jesus Christ as He returns, but I want you to notice the end of vs. 13...
His name is called The Word of God.
His name is called The Word of God.
Turn to and read John 1:1-5, 14.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Praise the Lord that He is the Word of God! Jesus Christ is God!
Do you realize that if you have an ESV Bible or a New American Standard Bible or any number of other “versions” that you do not have all of 1 John 5:7. In those Bibles you will simply find, “For there are three that testify” and then it goes on to verse 8.
I will tell people that I am “King James only but I’m not King James ugly!” However, even as I say that, I do want you to understand that it does make a difference what version of the Bible that you use.
By leaving part of 1 John 5:7 out, you are, whether you realize it or not, diminishing the deity of Jesus Christ! If He is not God, than Christ could not have risen from the dead and...
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
There’s one other description that we will look at from vs. 13, but not just yet.
The Armies
The Armies
The Forces of God
The Forces of God
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
If you’re seated here this evening and you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation, than you are mentioned in vs. 14; you are part of that army that follows Christ into battle riding upon a white horse and clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Last Sunday night, Mr. Rideout shared with us the story behind the writing of “The Solid Rock.” The last verse says...
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
The Forces of Evil
The Forces of Evil
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
These forces began to be gathered together back in Revelation chapter 16. (Turn to and read Revelation 16:12-16.)
The Battle
The Battle
Turn to and read Revelation 19:15, 17-21.
Notice...
This battle has already been decided.
This battle has already been decided.
As we read Revelation chapter 19, we already have been told what the outcome of this battle will be. And yet, it still will be fought. Why even fight a battle that has already been decided? It’s foolish. Yet, that is how deceived Satan is. That is how deceived the kings and the people of the world will be. They will be deceived into thinking that they can win. They cannot!
Yet, what makes us think that we could ever win against God? We are, at times, stubborn and rebellious. Yet the Bible tells us that God is always victorious. Would it not be better for us to simply “bow the knee?”
What a privilege to come into God's presence
Just to linger with the One who set me free.
As I lift my eyes and see His awesome glory.
I remember who He is and bow the knee.
This battle will be brief.
This battle will be brief.
Do you recall Genesis 1:3?
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
It was that quick. He spoke and the light, and all of creation, were brought into existence. It did not take millions of years. It did not take billions of years. It was instantaneous.
The battle of Armageddon will be that quick as well.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Jesus Christ will not need to lift a finger or fire a weapon. He will simply speak victory!
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.
The Word of God raised the dead.
The Word of God caused the lame to walk.
The Word of God calmed the storm.
The Word of God cast out demons.
It was through the power of the Word of God that we are saved!
“Young Christian, pray understand this. The word is living and powerful; through the word you are born again. The word works faith in you; through the word comes faith. Receive the word simply with the thought that it will work in you. Keep yourselves occupied with the word, and give it time. The word has a divine life in itself; carry it in your inmost parts, and it will work life in you. It will work in you a faith strong and able for anything.” - Andrew Murray
If the Word of God is this powerful - and it is - would it not make sense for us to avail ourselves of that power each and every day?
This battle will be lopsided.
This battle will be lopsided.
Christ’s opposition won’t have a chance. The beast and the false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire. The remnant will be slain by the Word of God.
I'm on the winning side, yes I'm on the winning side,
Out in sin no more will I abide,
I've enlisted in the fight for the cause of truth and right
Praise the Lord- I'm on the winning side
This is all wonderful but I want to go back and look at one last, marvelous truth. Look back at Revelation 19:13 and compare it with Revelation 19:14.
Christ is “clothed with a vesture dipped in blood.”
Where did this blood come from? While there are those who teach that this is the blood of Christ’s enemies that He conquerors, we are told that His clothed in this way before the battle ever begins.
I believe that Christ’s garments are have been dipped - been baptized - in His own blood.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
The blood that Jesus shed for me way back on Calvary
The blood that gives me strength from day to day
It will never lose its power
It reaches to the highest mountain
It flows to the lowest valley
The blood that gives me strength from day to day
It will never lose its power
On the other hand, Christ armies are “clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, God exchanged our filthy rags for robes of pure righteousness. Amen?!?!
So, what does this mean?
Christ has done it all!
Christ has done it all!
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
In Revelation chapter 19, Jesus Christ fights the battle of Armageddon. We, the blood-washed throng will not do a thing. But that is just illustrative of the Christian life. Jesus did everything to save us. We did nothing. And, we can do nothing to stay saved. In fact, we cannot begin to hope to live our life in our own power. It’s all Him!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
This past June, Kenjon Barner, received a package in the mail. In the package, was a Super Bowl ring from Super Bowl 53 which was won by the New England Patriots. However, Kenjon Barner did not play in that game. He wasn’t on the sidelines during the game. He wasn’t even a Patriot. And, while the New England Patriots were not under any obligation to give Kenjon Barner a Super Bowl ring, they did so, none the less.
I see that same situation in this comparison we see in Revelation chapter 19. Jesus Christ did everything. He shed His blood on the cross of calvary for our salvation. To us, salvation is a gift. We get to wear His robe of righteousness. Christ has done it all!
Now, for full disclosure, I have to tell you: Kenjon Barner was on the Patriot’s active roster for a total of five games last season. He was cut on three different occasions during the year. The NFL provides the Super Bowl winning team with 150 rings that they can give out. The Patriots gave out 231 rings (meaning the organization had to pay for 81 of those rings themselves).
As you think about that, aren’t you glad that once you are made a part of God’s family, He will not “cut” you from the team?!?!?