REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 19.11

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Nineteen

The Second Coming

(Part One)

 

 

Introduction

The reader needs to understand Christ's Second Return is imminent. It will be the most momentous event in human history. At the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, all alive on that day will witness the manifestation of the glorious Son of God – The King is coming! – The culmination of redemptive history.

Several bible prophecies throughout the Old and New Covenants allude to this. Of the most noted:

Old Testament

Daniel 7:13-14 – I (Daniel) saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven, and [He] came to (approached) the Ancient of Days (Father God), and they brought Him (escorted) near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

 

New Testament

Matthew 24:29-31 - Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.

 

Timeline of Events

1. The Rapture of the Church (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

2. The earth undergoes Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 6 -18)

3. The Marriage and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (cf. Revelation 19:7-10)

 

Comforting Words for Believers

1 John 3:2-3 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth (sanctifies) himself, even as He is pure.

 

 

4. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

(Verse 11)

 

And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

 

All of a sudden, Heaven (where Christ has been during Tribulation) is opened in front of John and his eyes become fixated on a majestic One riding a white horse. Incidentally, He is known as the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse.

 

Heaven Opened

On multiple occasions throughout Scripture, Heaven is opened for special occasions: For instance:

1. When God judged the world with rain (cf. Genesis 1:11-12)

2. When God rained down manna (cf. Psalm 78:23-24)

3. When Ezekiel saw four Creatures in a vision (cf. Ezekiel 1:1)

4. When God sent a dove at Jesus’ baptism (cf. Matthew 3:16)

5. When Steven was stoned (cf. Acts 7:56)

6. When Peter saw a vision of a sheet (cf. Acts 10:11)

7. When John had his first view of Heaven (cf. Revelation 4:1)

8. When John saw the Temple in Heaven (cf. Revelation 15:5)

 

And behold a white horse

First, John awesomely beholds a gallant white horse as Heaven is opened. Many commentators have imagined this horse to be a stallion. Perhaps Job was visualizing this scene when he presented a vivid description of such a warhorse:

Job 39:19-25 - Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth (drinks) the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

 

Irrespectively, John beholds Jesus Christ coming down from Heaven to Earth riding on such a horse. Both will be of glistening white, and symbolic of a pure, spotless holy character.

 

A Roman Triumphal Entry

A white horse was usually typical of conquest. Reminiscent during John’s day, there was a pattern of a triumphant procession. On such a horse, a Roman general paraded with his legions on the “Via Sacra,” the main street in Rome leading from the Temple of Jupiter.

 

Included in this procession were wagonloads of plunder. Some booty consisted of chained captives who later became slaves, or were executed. Following the entire event was a thanksgiving sacrificial feast offered to the god Jupiter (god of the sky, thunderbolt, and eagle). [Excerpts are taken from Merrill C Tenney, The Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker House, 1963) p. 94.]

 

A Comparison

It is no strange coincidence there is a stark contrast between Christ’s first Advent and His Second:

A. At His First Coming, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a foal or colt of a donkey (cf. Matthew 21:1-7) denoting peace

B. At His Second Coming, Jesus rides down from Heaven on a white horse (cf. Revelation 19:11) signifying war

 

A. At His First Coming, the people cried, “Hosanna (Oh save! –an exclamation of adoration) to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!” (cf. Matthew 21:19b).

B. At His Second Coming, the voices of heavenly multitudes thunder, “Alleluia (Praise ye the Lord - a celebratory exclamation of praise by believers belonging only to God): for the Lord God omnipotent (all-powerful) reigneth” (cf. Revelation 19:6b).

 

And He that sat upon him (the white horse) was called Faithful and True

In this scenario, the fifth horse rider of the Apocalypse is Jesus Christ returning in glory, however, two distinct titles are given to Him taken from His attributes:

A. Faithful

Faithful [Greek: πιστός (pistos), meaning to be assured and confident, He is fully trustworthy and can be relied on]. Jesus is certainly contrasted to the first horseman of the Apocalypse who is unfaithful (cf. Revelation 6:2; 12:3). Retrospectively, John adheres to the same faithful identity mentioned to the church of Laodicea (cf. Revelation 3:14).

 

Other assurances to the righteous include:

1. He makes good on His promises (cf. Hebrews 10:23)

2. He helps us in our temptations (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13)

3. He protects us from Satan (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:3)

4. He will never leave us (cf. Hebrews 13:5)

5. He will never forsake us (cf. 2 Timothy 2:13)

6. He will forgive our sins (cf. 1 John 1:9)

7. He will judge our enemies (cf. Matthew 25:31-46)

 

 

B. True

True [Greek, ἀληθινός (alēthinos); i.e., truly, truth and truthful, sincerely genuine as opposed to false, unreal or counterfeit].

Being True alludes to the genuineness of the One described. Several biblical descriptions comprise:

1. True Light (cf. John 1:9)

2. True Bread from Heaven (cf. John 6:58)

3. Truth (cf. John 14:6)

4. True Vine (cf. John 15:1)

5. True God (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:19)

6. True Witness (cf. Revelation 3:14)

7. Faithful and True (cf. Revelation 19:11)

 

 

And in righteousness He doth judge and make war

The first time Jesus arrived was to bring salvation. But, the full purpose and expedition Jesus will emerge the Second Time to judge and make war in righteousness against all ungodly and unbelieving sinners.

Remarkably, His Second Coming was anticipated by the Prophet:

Isaiah 11:3-4 - And [He – The root or stem of Jesse – The Messiah] 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 (give justice) for the meek (poor) of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod (scepter, staff, Word) of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.

 

The Apostle continues to describe the white horse rider. He adds three unusual features concerning His appearance:

1. His eyes were flame-like

2. His head had many crowns

3. His name was known to Him alone

 

His eyes were as a flame of fire

Messiah’s eyes are akin to His attribute of omniscience (cf. Revelation 1:14; 2:18), i.e., being able to know and see everything. His knowledge is complete and all-encompassing, penetrating even to the depths of the human heart.

 

Analogous to fire, His eyes can judge the world in holiness, not only having consuming power but also detecting and revealing all iniquity. For instance:

Hebrews 4:13 - Neither is there any creature that is not manifest (hidden) in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

Nothing escapes His piercing vision.

 

Noteworthy is the fact that these eyes were the same that once wept when He saw the grief of those mourning the death of Lazarus (cf. John 11:33-35), and wept three times for the city of Jerusalem over its future destruction and the redemption of His people (cf. Luke 13:34-35; 19:41-44; Matthew 23:37-39). Now, John sees those same eyes flashing with the fire of judgment.

 

And on His head were many crowns

Secondly, John perceives Jesus wearing many, not victor’s crowns (Stephanos), but royal crowns (diadēma) upon His head.

 

Question: Why are many crowns worn rather than one?

Answer: To understand its significance, some background of ancient customs is first needed.

 

Background

Three biblical-historical-prophetical examples are provided:

1. In the First Century, a king wearing many crowns was not uncommon. For a monarch to wear more than one crown was an indication he was king of more than one country. For example, when Ptolemy of Egypt entered Antioch, he wore two crowns displaying he was not only king of Egypt but of Asia as well. 

 

2. After defeating the Ammonites, David removed the crown of their king from his head and it was placed on David’s head (cf. 2 Samuel 12:30).

 

3. The great red dragon (Satan) is depicted as having seven crowns upon his head (cf. Revelation 12:3), while Antichrist is pictured wearing ten crowns atop his ten horns (cf. Revelation 13:1). 

 

So, on Christ’s head, the wearing of many crowns shows that He is Lord victoriously having absolute authority, majesty, and sovereignty of not only all the kingdoms of this earth but the spiritual ones as well. Thus, the kings of the earth, Satan and Antichrist have yielded their crowns to Christ upon being defeated.

 

Commentary

Be reminded, while on earth at His first Advent, men mockingly exchanged his duly rightful crown and replaced it with a crown of thorns, thorns being emblematic of the original curse placed upon the earth (cf. Genesis 3:17-18).

 

Secondly, Jesus became a curse for us (cf. Galatians 3:13) that we may be redeemed and one day lay our victor's crowns at His feet.

 

And, thirdly, Christ destroyed death and its power (cf. Hebrews 2:14). The full realization of His Words is now fulfilled:

Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.

 

And He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself

 

When Jesus comes again, no one knows His name but Himself. This, of course, has brought much speculation as to its identity. Although some may seem valid, presented are three submissions:

1. Lord (kurios), a name given to Him by God above every other name (cf. Philippians 2:9-11).

 

2. The sacred four letters in the Hebrew alphabet are never pronounced because of their holiness: The Tetragrammaton, YHWH (Jehovah, the existing or eternal One).

 

 

3. The revelation of His name from (1) the wrestling of Jacob and the Angelic Messenger [Christophany or Theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (cf. Genesis 32:29)], or (2) the Angelic Messenger appearing to Gideon, when the divine visitor refused to disclose His name (cf. Judges 13:17-18) is fully revealed. 

 

Subsequently, it is pointless to speculate. There is a profound nature in Jesus only comprehensible to God. The new name can be truly understood when the union of Christ and His Church, and their joint triumph and reign shall be perfectly manifested at the final consummation. In other words, only the Son of God can understand the mystery of His being:

Luke 10:22 - All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth Who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

 

 

Part two of the Second Coming will be studied in the next lesson.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   When is the Second Coming?

2.   Why does Christ arrive on a white horse?

3.   Why is Christ called Faithful and True?

4.   Compare Christ’s First Advent to the Second.

5.   Why is Christ wearing many crowns?

6.   How does the Second Coming affect believers?

7.   Explain why no one knows Christ’s name.

 

 

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