11. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
18. so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."
19. Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
20. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
21. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
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Reflection |
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A Righteous Judgment (19:11–16)
Jesus’ first coming was marked with grace and humility, riding slowly into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. His second coming will be unlike the first in that He will arrive swiftly and in a manner that will strike fear into those who are about to face righteous judgment. Many Jews did not recognize the Messiah upon His first arrival because they failed to understand the Old Testament prophecies which spoke of His first coming as a suffering servant. His second coming, however, will remove any mystery about who the Messiah is. He is Jesus, and He is the conquering King that His people had always envisioned the Messiah to be.
A Righteous Victory (19:17–21)
This passage details one of the most one-sided victories in the history of the universe. Indeed, it only takes a few short verses to describe how the battle between good and evil goes down. The battle is swift. It is severe. It is final. It almost seems anti-climactic in a way. In our finite minds, the ongoing conflict between God and Satan from the fall of mankind until this seminal moment seems almost evenly matched at times. Perhaps this seems true because that is how close the struggle is within our own hearts. But make no mistake about it: God wins, Satan is defeated—and it is not even close. The one who is always in control demonstrates His sovereignty with a resounding victory over all that is evil.
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Application |
- We often like to picture Jesus as only gentle and meek, but this passage radically displaces that imagery. In what ways do you appreciate and fear His divine power and righteous judgment?
- Do you go through life knowing that the end has already been determined and that it is a victorious ending for those who walk by faith? Do you live in that peace and with that purpose?
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A Letter to
God |
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Holy God, help me to live each day with both a healthy fear of Your holiness and righteous judgment and a quiet peace that knows that all that is wrong in this world will be made right by You. I trust in Your sovereign hand and righteous rule. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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