The Returning King | TheLast Days
With all the focus you see on the web, or on the bookshelves, you would think that the Last Days are all about the antichrist. They’re not! Jesus is the central figure. He is the soon coming King which all the tumultuous events are preparing the earth to receive. Moreover, He is the One continually at work through His Word and His Spirit to help His believing people endure all that He will be asking of us. Nor is the Rapture primarily about our ascent. It’s us joining Him in His great descent. We’re not leaving! And neither is He…
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:16
All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
Chief Characteristics
Whole books are written about most of these crucial components. These characteristics are summaries of what is grounded in scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[1] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer.
Consider the pleasant irony of what we have here. All of Christendom has been praying, waiting, and watching for Jesus to return—for two thousand years. For even longer, the hope-filled yearning of the Jewish people for over three thousand years has been to behold the advent of their Messiah.[2] Not only that but all history has been moving towards this moment. The entire planet and all on board are lurching towards a bloody, torturous, yet heroic finale with Wagnerian-style orchestration directed by the hands of a consummate Master. It has taken the Bible over 700,000 words to prepare us for this one event. Yet, when the Author finally takes the stage, what are we given? Sixteen scant verses!
Jesus said He did not come “to bear witness” of Himself.[3] Nowhere is that laudable intention more evident than in the prophetic vision about His return which He personally conveyed to John. Nevertheless, in the same passage quoted above, Jesus said that there was one who would bear witness about Him. In fact, the scriptures reveal that both the Father and the Holy Spirit give witness about Him. Couldn’t They have filled in some of this outline that Jesus left blank? Evidently, all Three of Them chose to leave us in the half-light of earth’s Daystar being only partially revealed—just at the moment when He arrives at long last in full view.
Names of Jesus in the Book of Revelation
If the Book of Revelation gives us precious little on the moment of our Lord’s return, it showers us with an abundance of ways to view Him. We could easily look elsewhere for many of these images. Jesus said, for instance, that the whole of the Hebrew scriptures speak about Him.[4] Naturally enough, the New Testament gospels are also is filled with living portraits of this amazing God-man. Even so, it may prove especially instructive to let our hearts and imaginations pass lovingly over these snapshots gathered in John’s family album, so to speak. For this review, we won’t try to go deep, so much as long—they’ll be longingly brief.[5]
1. Jesus Christ
The very first phrase of the very first sentence of John’s prophecy sets before us the Name that is above every name, the Name that was given to Him at birth: “Jesus.”[6] His name means “Yahweh saves.” Indeed, He does. He has. And He will! Nothing can thwart His desire to save us “to the uttermost” unless we resist Him to the bitter end.[7] But we’re not going to do that! This divine Savior is the “Christ”—the “anointed one.” He has been anointed by God for this very purpose of winning us by His love and protecting us by His power.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Revelation 1:1
2. Him Who Is and Who Was and Who Is to Come
Jesus “is” because He is life, but this also can mean that He is always with us in the present. He “was” because He is the eternal, pre-existent Son of the living God. He was always there in the past—long before time began. He also “was” because there was a time when He chose to become human, emptying Himself of His eternal, divine attributes.[8] For just a brief season He was fully if not merely human, but He is now raised back into full divine empowerment. The new Being that He “is” is the God-man—the eternally begotten Son of God and the resurrected Son of Man. This is the One who is soon to “come.”
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne. Revelation 1:4 (See also Revelation 1:8)
3. The Faithful Witness
The third title that John applies to Jesus is an unexpected one: “faithful witness.” For those of us schooled in the requirements of discipleship, it sounds like a reversal of the divine order. Jesus is the One who acts; we are the ones who give witness to what God has done through Him. Yet, Jesus in His earthly ministry became the greatest of all human witnesses to the reality of God’s love and saving works. At the very moment when His life was on the line, Jesus told a disbelieving Pilate that His divine assignment was to “bear witness to the truth.”[9]
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Revelation 1:5 (See also Revelation 3:14)
4. The Firstborn of The Dead
As the eternally begotten Son of God, Jesus has never been born. As one us, however, Jesus had to be born twice to complete His divine commission—saving us from sin and death. He was born the first time of the virgin Mary. Sin (ours, not His) took Him down to death. His second birth came when God raised Him from the dead. That’s where this very interesting preposition comes in: “of.” It is a word that can mean of or from, after or among, by or for.[10] His first birth came from life; the second is from death. He is the first to be “born of the dead.” Who are they? According to scripture we are already “dead” in our sins.[11] He was made to be sin—our sins—then raised to new life.[12] By spiritual rebirth, we were first raised from a living death to new life. By the resurrection to come, we will be raised (a second time) from physical death to eternal life.
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Revelation 1:5
5. The Ruler of Kings on Earth
Jesus already rules over the “kings on earth” in two ways—yet desires a third. As Sovereign Lord, the earth’s rulers (any in authority) would have no power did He not grant it to them. Second, what power they do have is subject to His Hand upon them, directing them to fulfill His hidden purposes.[13] Often enough, they may find themselves blocked from what they’d prefer to do and grudgingly carrying out tasks they would rather avoid. Even at their most rebellious, they end up playing into His Hands. Still, He would far prefer to have a team of leaders who know Him and willingly submit to His leadership. That’s coming soon.
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Revelation 1:5
6. The Alpha and the Omega
“The alpha and the omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Accordingly, this title carries the meaning that He is the beginning and the end of all things. He is the beginning in that He (with the Father and the Holy Spirit) were here long before anything came into being. He is the end in that all the Father’s work is heading towards summing up or uniting all things in Christ.[14] As often in scripture, there are other layers here. Jesus is the eternal Word. He spoke all creation into existence. Under redemption, His Word—administered by the Holy Spirit—is bringing creation back to Himself. Words, of course, are made of letters.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
7. The Son of Man
In this verse, John describes Jesus by a title that was by far His most preferred way of referring to Himself when He walked the earth— “son of man.” That Jesus used it so much is curious because it occurs in the Hebrew scriptures primarily as a reference to ordinary human beings. In fact, the only clear use of it as a Messianic reference comes in Daniel 7:13, "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.” As it happened, one of the earliest and most persistent of the heresies had to do with the false idea that Jesus only “appeared” to be human (but was really God in disguise). We evidently have a hard time getting this and need frequent reassurance: yes, Jesus is God with us, but He is also one of us. He forever is a true son of man.
And in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. Revelation 1:13
8. The First and the Last
We can readily see many ways in which Jesus is first. He is beyond all things, above all things, before all things. He is the firstborn of the dead and the firstfruits of redemption. The word here suggests foremost in time, place, order, or importance.[15] He is all that! In what way, then, is He “last”? At this point, our English translation fails us, and we have to dive into the Greek which reveals that “last” here doesn’t mean last in time or line, but farthest out or “a latter end.”[16] The One through whom creation began is the One to whom all creation is headed.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last.” Revelation 1:17 (See also Revelation 21:6 and Revelation 22:13)
9. The Living One
Earlier, John called Jesus the firstborn of the dead. Here, He is “the living one.” Although it’s true that Jesus spent time in the realm of the dead and for our sins actually died, we are not to imagine that there is anything of death clinging to Him. He is gloriously alive! Because He lives eternally, so will we. Better, through His life all creation lives both on earth and in heaven for (with the Father and the Holy Spirit) He created and sustains it all. There is no life apart from the One who is “the way, the truth and the life.”[17] Perhaps, best of all from the standpoint of our own encouragement, this living one is with us on the inside. The same “indestructible life” is at work in us.[18]
And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:18
10. The Son of God
When Jesus is referred to as “the son of man” in the scriptures, He usually is looking and acting somewhat like one of us—if only we could do things perfectly. As the Son of Man, it is possible to draw close and find an easy-going fellowship with the Lord such as John enjoyed when he reclined at Jesus’ side at the Last Supper.[19] In this passage, however, there can be no question that Jesus is also radically different from any of Adam’s children. The church is being put on notice that in this letter, they are being addressed by no less a Personage than God’s eternal Son. Sit up, take notice, and be prepared to give your full obedience.
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.’ Revelation 2:18
11. He Who Searches Mind and Heart
This title can convey the utmost comfort or strike a note of terror. It all depends on what we’re carrying on the inside. For those who don’t want their sins brought to the light, it is a terrifying thing to suspect that there is One “who searches the mind and heart”—and will deal with what He finds that’s not to His liking. If only those poor lost souls knew what the redeemed are discovering—that our Lord only brings our darkness to His light so that He can free us from it. The problem is never the sins that we carry. It’s always whether we have faith to believe He will carry our sins away. Keep carrying that kind of faith on the inside and all will be well.
And I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. Revelation 2:23
12. The Holy One, the True One
This is a beautiful, even glorious side of the Lord, but it is a hard side from the standpoint of wayward humanity. As the “Holy One,” He will not bend an inch in the direction of anything that is unholy, impure, or immoral. As the “True One,” He will not be manipulated by any excuse we may use to try to cover our fallenness. Holiness and Truth are forever set in the perfection of God and no pleading or prevarication on our part can change them. These are the rocks upon which our wayward self-will breaks. Yet, seen from a better perspective, out entire hope is built upon there being just such a perfection in the universe, provided there is also a kind, loving and compassionate God (with a softer side) who can lead us there.
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.” Revelation 3:7
13. The Head of the Creation of God
From Paul’s writings, we are familiar with the idea that Jesus is head of the church, the Body of Christ on earth.[20] This less well-known title carries the idea of Headship even further. Jesus is “the Head of the Creation.” It brings to mind the disciple’s astonishment at discovering that “the winds and sea obey Him.”[21] This same thought is there when we read Jesus’ words that the “the very stones would cry out” if His disciples kept silent about Him.[22] What? Is all creation somehow mysteriously alive? And we don’t know it? Further, does the created order recognize its rightful Head better than we? Just how much connectivity to the creation did we lose when Adam fell?
And to the angel of the church of the Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God, says these things. Revelation 3:14 MKJV
14. Our Lord and God
Those who work with people with addiction quickly discover that many of these poor, enslaved souls have known Jesus from their earliest years. Unfortunately, they only knew Him as the Savior who shed His Blood so they could get to heaven when they died. Somehow, they missed the part about Him being the Lord that they owed entire obedience to and the God who could make all that obedience work for their blessing and enjoyment in this life—if only they would start trusting and obeying him as Lord. Yet, it is gloriously true that if we abandon our “right” to be our own boss and let Jesus take over as Lord, our God works miracles of transformation in our lives.
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." Revelation 4:11
15. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Want to hear a lion roar? Just wait until Jesus returns! This lion will be roaring as He swoops down to our rescue. If we have remained faithful, that’s the side of Him we will want to see: fierce, aggressive, and powerful. That’s not our usual image of Him. He is best remembered as the Lamb of Calvary and best loved as “Jesus meek and mild.” That side will always be there (thank God) but a terrible trial is coming when His beloved Bride will be mauled by that other lion—the one who seeks only to devour.[23] When these two lions square off it won’t be much of a match.
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." Revelation 5:5
16. The Root of David
It was well-known that the Messiah would be an offspring of David due to the word of the Lord given to Israel’s great king by the prophet Nathan. Jesus used that understanding to throw His opposition into confusion by asking them a puzzle from Psalm 110: How can the Messiah be a son of David if David calls him lord?[24] Jesus was trying to get the Pharisees to realize that as Messiah, He was not only a son of David, but uniquely the Son of God—the divine “root” from whom David had come. Just as David called Him lord in the Psalms, they should also be bowing to His rank and His calling. Either He was being too subtle, or they were too dense. Fortunately for us we get it—and give thinks!
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." Revelation 5:5 (See also Revelation 22:16)
17. The Lamb Who Was Slain
Like a lamb, Jesus went peacefully to the slaughter. Lambs are known for this; we aren’t. Abuse and false accusations were hurled at Him. So were fists. He was beaten, scourged, and crucified—all without fighting back. He accepted an entirely unjust and unfair verdict without complaint. Why? His Father asked it of Him. Had there been another way to save us, He would have taken it. There wasn’t. So, in a quiet display of incomprehensible love for us and magnificent trust in His Father, Jesus willingly endured unimaginable suffering. At this point, there is no point in adding words. Only an enduring devotion.
Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:12
18. The Lord of Lords and King of Kings
Parallelism like this are a frequent way in Hebrew for emphasizing the superlative nature of a characteristic, such as the holy of holies. In this case, what is being compared are not quite the same things. For instance, “the holy” is the holiest of holy things. Yet, Jesus is “Lord of lords” not because there are lords by any inward reality of their own, but only because He makes them so to suit His purposes. He is in a class all by Himself. He alone is the one and only true ruler of anything anywhere in this universe He created. Keep that in mind all other “lords and kings”!
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. Revelation 17:14
19. The Faithful and True Judge
Jesus said that He had not come to judge us (the first time around) but He will when we are brought to Him after He returns. Some of us will have already judged ourselves and will have gone to Him for mercy and new life long before He arrives. Sadly, many of us won’t have used the time of His delay so wisely. Even with His first coming, Jesus was judging faithfully though not in the sense intended here. Then, He was leaving judgment of souls to the Father and only faithfully seeking to judge with truth just what it was the Father wanted Him to do or to say. That’s the kind of judging we can share in with Him now.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11
20. The Word of God
This is one of the most powerful titles that we have for Jesus. Like 220 volts, however, it needs to be handled carefully. We also call the Bible the Word of God which it is. It is God’s word to us brought to us in time and space through us by means of our languages. It is, therefore, both a work of God and of the earth which could have but little meaning apart from conditions upon the earth. The people, places, and events in it are all part of creation. Because it is a divine work, the scriptures are of eternal significance. However, Jesus is the only eternal, uncreated Word of God.[25] From before time or creation began, He has been the image, the ultimate expression (the Word) of the invisible God (Yahweh, His Father).[26] The Bible is His Story just as our history is His Story, but every Person is far greater than the stories told about them and exists apart from them.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. Revelation 19:13
21. The Bright Morning Star
When this bright star rises in our hearts, our lives are translated from the surrounding darkness into His kingdom of light.[27] Our spiritual birth literally ushers in the morning of a new day, an unending Day which can only grow brighter into eternity—if we keep our awakened eyes on Him! Interestingly, the Morning Star is most frequently associated with the planet Venus which often appears in the East before sunrise. Venus is associated with love due to the name it bears of the Roman goddess. So what if the pagans desecrated this title for Jesus by mis-naming the Morning Star after one of their own? They, nevertheless, saw something of love and beauty about it. Indeed, this bright “star” rises first and best—just as our Lord does in our hearts.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16
Pre-Figured in Scripture
Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[28] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.
In the Bible, Jesus is described with beautiful, poetic language as the Suffering Servant by Isaiah and as the self-emptying One by Paul in his letter to the Philippians. Jesus and His work are thoroughly described by both the prophets and the apostles in theological terms. In the gospels, on the other hand, we get to see the carpenter from Nazareth in action. Sadly, we aren’t given, however, anything remotely like a description of His features. Even so, what emerges through all this is more than enough for us to have an assurance we know Him and will easily recognize Him when He appears. The icing on the cake is that we are given, not just these ways that Jesus is directly portrayed, but further ways of seeing Him through the persons who foreshadowed Him.
1. Adam
No one has to work hard at comparing Jesus with Adam. Scripture does it for us. Twice Paul pursues the analogy: first, in Romans 5 and again in 1 Corinthians 15. In fact, he calls Jesus “the second man” and the “last Adam.” There won’t be a third. There won’t need to be. This One did it all! Where Adam rose into the pride of his rebellion, Jesus descended into the depths of humility. Adams’ fall cast all who followed him into sin and death; Jesus’ resurrection raises all who follow Him into eternal life. We know the oppositions. However, imagine for a moment, Adam in his unfallen state. That’s harder to see but an image lingers despite the tragic history of all the intervening centuries. The Adam who walked with Eve, united in love, at one with creation, and resplendent with untrammeled innocence and grace, is the “foreshadow” who gives us one of our best glimpses of the Lord in whose image he came stunningly to life.
Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
2. Moses
Moses told the people that the Lord would one day give them a prophet like himself. Considering the rough time he had of it, one wonders if this wasn’t a case of misery wanting company. Just kidding! It’s unlikely that he was looking far enough into the future to see that the Lord would one day come down and try shepherding the sheep Himself without an intermediary like Moses to take the brunt of their resistance. Thank God for us that Jesus managed to keep His composure unlike Moses who, in an unguarded moment, let his frustration with the people get in the way of his obedience to the Lord. That one missed step was enough to keep him out of the Promised Land. Because He never missed a step, Jesus opened wide our promised entry both to life in heaven above and to a heavenly life down here. Even so, by his humility, by his obedience, by his devotion to God, the Christ life shines out through this great prophet. All Israel was looking to see a Messiah who resembled Moses.[29]
And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” Deuteronomy 18:15, 17-18
3. Joseph
With Joseph it is not so much his character as what happened to him that casts him as a true foreshadow, or type, of the Messiah who would come. Beloved by his father and with a bright future opening before him, Joseph was treacherously betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and shipped off to Egypt, the very fountainhead of spiritual darkness and oppression in the ancient world. There he is wrongly accused of crime, clapped into prison, and numbered among the dead by his distraught father. Then, miraculously, comes the great reversal. Just as the Father would one day resurrect Jesus by His own mighty Hand, so here in Joseph’s life that same Hand of providence opened all the doors. Joseph is not only raised from a living death, he is given a new name and raised to the greatest height Pharaoh could bestow. This outward pattern, which so vividly traces the outline of Christ’s life, would likely not have been possible had not Joseph embraced the grace of forgiveness in that lonely dungeon cell. Somehow, he managed to say with Jesus, “Father forgiven them they knew not what they were doing.”[30]
When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. Psalm 105:16-18
4. David
The prophet Samuel anointed David to be the next king over Israel while David was still tending sheep. This was not an event that David’s father Jesse expected, nor any of his seven brothers desired to see. Yet, caring for the sheep, especially when they were attacked by a bear or lion, prepared the young shepherd boy for his first assignment—conquering the giant Goliath. David told the skeptical king that he had full confidence in his ability to take down the giant. It almost sounds like boasting which is exactly how his brothers cynically viewed it. Yet, David knew what righteous indignation rose in him when it was a matter of rescuing the innocent. He also knew it was “the living God” who gave him strength and cunning. Jesus also had a giant to conquer: sin and death. To this day not a single one of Adam’s children has ever made any headway in that life or death struggle. Yet, Jesus kept His eyes fixed on the faithfulness of His Father and on restoring us to innocence. He is the ultimate Shepherd King.[31]
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." 1 Samuel 17
5. Elijah
Elijah is clearly marked out in scripture as a foreshadow of the forerunner, John the Baptist. There are many excellent for this completely accurate comparison, not least of which are the words of Jesus Himself.[32] Nevertheless, Elijah also doubles as a type of the Messiah in that he had, perhaps, the most notable miracle-working ministry of all the prophets. He not only called for a drought to parch the land, he orchestrated a showdown with the wicked king that ended it. Better yet, by this dramatic event, the people of God repented of their wayward ways and returned with believing faith to worship their God alone. Jesus accomplished a companion work. Through his showdown with the wicked “ruler of this world,” Jesus accomplished such a miracle of reversal that the people have been returning to the true and living God ever since.[33] Beyond this obvious comparison, there is yet another parallel. Elijah was an outsider, rejected by both the political and religious factions of the Northern Kingdom. Some of his most notable miracles were done for those outside the covenant. When Jesus pointed out His likeness to Elijah in this regard, the people rose against Him “with wrath.”
And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. Luke 4:24-26
Revealed by Scripture
The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.
The mission of this white horse stands in stark contrast with that of the one which rode forth at the very beginning of the judgment series when the first seal was opened (See “The Four Horsemen”). The rider of that white horse—the first of the notorious Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse also came “conquering and to conquer.”[34] However, that dark angel came as a mere destroyer of which we have seen far too many throughout our long dark history. Jesus will do battle as a liberator! This will bring our history to a glorious end and His Story to a wonderful new beginning.
The Rider on a White Horse
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11
John is in heaven within full view of the throne, having described to us the preparations for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in the previous ten verses of this chapter. Yet, now he says he “saw heaven opened.” What can this mean? It can hardly mean—as it would for us who dwell on earth—that John saw into heaven because it had just been opened to his view. No, he is already seeing everything from a perspective within heaven. This can only mean that he sees heaven opening towards the earth—an interpretation which fits the context perfectly for the great moment of Messiah’s triumphant return to earth has finally arrived!
“Behold” is almost too tame a word for John’s use of it. The sound of it to our ears is archaic, even poetic, but hardly dramatic. John wants it to shatter our complacency. “You’ve got to see this!” would convey his meaning better. Having so forcibly grabbed our attention, he points us to... “a white horse.” That’s it? No, that can’t be it. We’ve already seen a white horse once before, when the first Horseman of the Apocalypse rode forth. What makes this horse so riveting to behold is the “one sitting on it.” It’s Jesus!
This is the grand moment when His Return begins. In a very real sense, Our Lord Jesus has been preparing for His Return ever since Adam and Eve transferred their authority over the earth to their Enemy and God’s. That was roughly six thousand years ago. The fallen couple were driven from Eden, but Our Lord had already been eased out of their hearts and from His rightful position as earth’s sole Ruler. He has been working in hidden ways since then to reestablish His reign upon the earth—one heart at a time. Now, He is returning to take up the reins of direct and overt command.
Jesus’ royal restoration cannot happen without first facing a final, desperate resistance from those who refuse to bow the knee to the coming King. This last battle—Armageddon—has been long prophesied and cannot be avoided. Its outcome is as certain as its end will be swift. John can hardly be surprised to see that the gentle Healer he walked beside along the shores of distant Galilee is now prepared to “make war” with the armies of heaven following close behind. One of the most frequent names of God in the Hebrew scriptures is Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.[35] Nevertheless, the sight of this Commander and this army surely fills him with awe which more than accounts for the excitement of his startled, “Behold!”
Unlike the fierce conquerors of our bloody histories there is nothing of self-aggrandizement about this invading King. Jesus may not be entering as He first did “humble and mounted on a donkey” but He is still coming as Zechariah foretold, “righteous” and “having salvation.”[36] John declares that this mounted warrior is “called Faithful and True.” Neither power nor pride will ever go to His Head! In faithfulness He is coming to liberate His faithful people, so cruelly oppressed by the antichrist’s brutal domination. In perfect “righteousness” of motive and action he “judges and makes war.” That time has come.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. Revelation 19:12
Those who have seen Him at other times have testified to the superabundance of love which pours from our Lord’s eyes. The Jesus that John sees has fire in them instead! “Flames of fire” signify passion, one side of which would be a burning desire to rescue His beloved—us. The other side may be what’s rising in Him in this moment—vengeance. We’re seeing the fury of One who has waited long—almost too long from our point of view—to deal with His enemies and ours. This is “the day of vengeance of our God” prophesied by Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah, 61:1-2
To our ears, Jesus’ reading of this passage seems curiously out of context when He first announced in the synagogue of Nazareth that He had come to bring healing to the multitudes. Perhaps because it really does seem so out of place, Isaiah’s words were abbreviated by Luke (or one of his translators) to leave out “the day of vengeance of our God” and only include “the year of the Lord’s favor.” [37] However, it is inconceivable that Jesus would have “edited” a text of scripture so high-handedly during of a public reading of the Word. He would not suffer “one jot or tittle” of God’s Word to be altered.[38]
In retrospect, we understand that Jesus would have been well-aware He was leaving some unfinished business (vengeance!) upon the table, but first things had to come first. The Messiah came first to “seek and save” those who were lost—that’s been billions of us and still counting.[39] Seeing Jesus mounted now for His second coming means no more of the lost can or will be saved from this point forward. Having refused every effort of God to save them, their doom is upon their own heads.
In contrast, it is not doom, but “many diadems” that rest upon Jesus’ head. Our Lord and Savior has many names and many titles. Is it any wonder that He would be wearing many crowns? He rules over all the orders of creation, over all the nations, and over every individual, whether they desire Him to or not. The only mystery about this is how to imagine how they would appear. By now most of us have seen the heroic attempts of sincere individuals to depict the many heads with their many crowns that the antichrist—that beast! —is said to be wearing. Don’t they all seem preposterous, even ridiculous? We simply do not have “eyes to see” things that are only visible in the unseen realms. John is doing his best to convey the sense of mysteries that he sees and hears, but he cannot convey the reality.[40]
An even greater mystery now presents itself. Jesus has a name written upon Him “that no one knows but Himself.” Let’s don’t even try to puzzle this one out. We will have to wait to see it. Is not the Word clear enough? No one knows what this name is, but Jesus and that One can truly keep a secret. Of course, He also told us that He didn’t know the day and hour of His Return, and that admission hasn’t stop lesser mortals from trying to solve the riddle.
We don’t even know (from this passage) where this name will be written or how it will be inscribed. Perhaps other names that this book mentions can provide the clues. There are the 144,000 faithful of Israel who are sealed on their foreheads in Chapter 7, though nothing is said that describes the seal. Two chapters later, all the faithful on earth are given “the seal of God” on their foreheads to protect them from the judgments that are coming. Then, in Chapter 14 we are shown a second 144,000 who will have the “Father’s name written on their foreheads.”[41] Most tellingly, Jesus told John to write this message to those who overcome:
I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Revelation 3:11-12
This passage from the letter to believers in Philadelphia provides a wealth of insight. Here we have a direct connection to “the Father’s name” which is said to be written “on the foreheads” of the second 144,000. Almost certainly, this is the same name that Jesus calls here “the name of my God” for always on earth He used the name Father to speak of His God and ours. To this name He says that He Himself will add “my own new name.” That must refer to the new name which “no one knows but Himself” of our present passage! For confirmation we have a description from the final chapter of this book. His name—very likely His new name—will also appear on our foreheads in mirror reflection of His own.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:4
As a final note, mention must be made of something extremely curious about all these inscribed names that we are seeing in the Book of Revelation. The Hebrew scriptures explicitly and strictly forbid tattoos.[42] Yet, even Jesus is wearing a one! Presumably, God forbade such “cuttings” or “marks” to the Israelites because of their close association with pagan worship and its unseemly practices which had to be avoided at all costs. Certainly, none of us who believe in Jesus should ever have any participation or association with the occult or with pagan religious practices, either. But that is a different issue from how we are to relate to external things.
The Israelites were set apart as the Lord’s special possession, but it was under a different covenant than ours.[43] Where ours focuses on inward and invisible spiritual realities, theirs looked outward to a visible Temple, a promised Land, a priesthood, and physical warfare just to name a few. Accordingly, God called them to exhibit visible signs of their separation from the world around them, as a reminder to them and a witness to the Gentiles. Circumcision is the most obvious and well-known example, but specific foods and even hairstyles were also included on the forbidden list.[44]
No one is suggesting that any Christian believer must be circumcised (if male) or eat Kosher. You can if you want to. You can also never trim your hair or beard (if you’re a guy), but who wants to do that? From all these outward signs of separation the Christian has liberty. Naturally, we have no liberty to sin. In fact, our covenant has a much higher standard. We are not simply to live within the moral boundaries of the Law, reflecting God’s principles, we are to exactly live as Jesus would have us live, reflecting Him in all our ways. Curiously, that even might mean getting a tattoo now. It surely will sometime in the future!
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. Revelation 19:13
John continues with his description of Jesus, still seated upon the white horse, crowned, emblazoned and wearing a robe “dipped in blood.” Our translation (the ESV) doesn’t say that the entire robe was drenched in blood, only that it had been dipped. Other translations go with “washed”, “sprinkled” and “covered” as well as dipped. The Greek word (bapto) according to Strong’s can mean either to cover wholly, to stain, or to moisten. Hence, the lack of unity in the translations. Nevertheless, if what John was seeing was a robe entirely red, he could easily have expressed it as a “blood-red robe” or used a word which would have made it clear that the robe had been completely drenched by blood.[45] Dipped, sprinkled, or partially stained is likely what he saw.
Since the blood on Jesus’ robe is there in advance of the great battle, it cannot be the blood of His enemies. It can only be His own incomparable Blood, the Blood that He shed for the salvation of the world. Is it there as a statement of His right to return and reign? Is it there as a comforting sign to us—a way of inspiring the troops so to speak (for it would certainly do that)? Or, is it there as a reproach to the ones He is coming to defeat—the ones who refused all attempts by heaven to rescue them by this Blood? Sometimes pictures and signs speak louder than words.
This One, however, is the Master when it comes to using words. He is none other than “The Word of God”—the “logos” of John’s Prologue, who brings to earth the eternal counsel of heaven’s All-Wise Father. This is the Word of God who inspired the prophets to write the scriptures. Yet, we should never think of the Word of God as being limited to a Book, no matter how inspired that Book truly is. This Word is Jesus—the exalted Second Person of the Trinity, whose testimony (as we have seen) is the on-going spirit of prophecy. He is the ever-speaking voice inside every surrendered heart. But He is more: He is the lover of our souls! Let’s be sure to get this Word into both our head and our heart—and hold Him fast there where life springs forth.[46]
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. Revelation 19:14
Now we see that a battle truly is in the making. Close behind their mounted Leader ride unnumbered multitudes— “the armies of heaven.” These too are riding “white horses” just as Jesus is. They are also “arrayed in fine linen” just as the wedding guests had been described, previously in this chapter (see “The Marriage Supper”). The consistency of how their appearance so far matches that of Jesus creates a further impression. It is likely that Jesus, too, would be wearing a robe that is primarily “white and pure” like theirs, but partially dipped in or sprinkled with His Blood.
It only remains to ask who composes these armies? Are these warriors angels, or redeemed saints, or both? Jesus told us that when He returns His angels will go out to gather His elect. The dead will rise first and those who are still living upon the earth will join with the Lord in the air when He returns. Then, we will all come back with Him to Jerusalem.[47] This might lead some to think that we will engage in the battle, but that is not supported by the text. These are “the armies of heaven”, a phrase that always signifies the Lord’s angelic warriors. We will be brought to earth once the battle is won for us, though that may not require much of a wait. The end comes mercifully swift.
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Revelation 19:15
As brief as this battle appears to be by the scant words devoted to it, it still may cover a good bit of time and territory. Jesus will be striking down “the nations” which could mean more than just an army assembled out of the many nations who oppose him. He may invade all the recalcitrant nations that defy His right to reign. Even so, it will be brief and entirely one-sided. This is the Eternal Son of God Almighty! Out “from His mouth” shoots forth a “sharp sword” that shatters all resistance, both human and demonic.
The writer of Hebrews described the Word of God as “living and powerful” and “sharper than any two-edged sword.”[48] Such is the power of the written Word of God. It can turn our lives inside out and upside down. This is the Living Word! The word Jesus now speaks is a word of unbridled vengeance, for He has come to unleash “the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” The wrath of God has waited for thousands of years to reap this harvest of evil from the earth. To “tread the winepress” gives us a graphic image of life blood being squeezed out and flowing beneath the fury that is crushing beneath it all “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”[49]
The story will not end here with this terrible outflow of blood and destruction. John says that Jesus is coming to “rule” the very nations He is defeating. Not all will die in this assault by any means. There will be some left who are not “us” (if you are a fellow Christian reading this) for all of us will be with the Lord “in the air.” Then, when we return with Him, He will be ruling through us and with us, not over us “with a rod of iron.”[50] So, these who remain will not be us. Neither will they be the adamantly unrepentant who have served the beast and his system of oppression. They are the ones whose life blood is at this moment in the text flowing from the winepress of God’s wrath. Who does that leave?
One ministry calls them the “resisters.”[51] These are apparently the people who have resisted the antichrist (or the wrath would have consumed them), but they have also resisted God (or they would have joined us). Because they are unconverted, they will indeed need to be ruled over with a “rod of iron” for sin will not be tolerated under the new Leadership. Their inward impulse towards the dark side will be eased because of two factors. First, the Tempter will be imprisoned for 1000 years and second, the Lord’s glory will cover the earth. During the Millennium there will be plenty of time and opportunities for these resistors to learn the way of the Lord and come around to worshipping and serving Him. Nevertheless, the truly final battle will gain its recruits from this group, not from us!
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:16
Again, we see that markings are allowable, even desirable, under the New Covenant. Who doesn’t want to be marked with either the seal of God or the name of God? A sane person would take both! John’s continuing description of Jesus now reveals that “his robe” and “his thigh” are imprinted with a regal title. The name that is written both places is “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Since John would likely be able to read Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, the tattoo is probably inscribed in one of those languages, though by all accounts there is a “knowing” in heaven that transcends the limits of human understanding.[52] Nevertheless, if we have to pick which language (and we don’t), Hebrew would be the hands down favorite. The pagan world with its vile and idolatrous worship spoke Greek. Aramaic was the language the Israelites brought back from their years of exile in Babylon. It is inconceivable that Jesus would choose either of those tongues in lieu of the one He used to communicate the scriptures to the prophets.
His two-fold title emphasizes that the coming Conqueror already holds the position of supreme headship which this invasion of earth will manifest. Jesus even now is the King over all kings and the Lord over all lords. Simply put, He holds authority and power over all who hold authority and power, whether they know it or not. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord.[53] This King turns earth’s kings into the fore-ordained path of His will. In the Last Days, even the most powerful and ruthless “king” who has ever lived—the Antichrist—will end up playing right into Jesus’ Hands.
Between kings and lords there may be little discernable difference. Kings traditionally are those who hold positions of authority and power over domains—over landed territories inhabited by their subjects. Lords, under feudal systems, are those who hold power and authority within a king’s domain and under his dominion. That may be tethering the word too tightly to a use of it which is familiar to us in the West. The scriptures, for instance, have no trouble referring to Abraham as a lord, though he rarely had a king over him, yet engaged kings in battle as an equal.[54] Nevertheless, kingship requires subjects, people who have no choice but be subject to that person’s rule. Lordship is exercised in many ways, only some of which imply the subjugation of individuals. Abraham was just such a lord. His servants were free to seek employment elsewhere. A king’s aren’t.
We are told in Psalm 2 and the Book of Revelation that “the kings of the earth” will rise to fight against God and His Messiah.[55] That’s what’s coming here and yet by our mere use of the title, kings are a diminishing breed upon the earth. We have far more presidents and premiers, dictators and generals, than we do proper kings in charge of the nations. The kings (and queens) who remain sit upon thrones that are largely bereft of power. Hence, this title of Jesus needs expansion to cover the realties on the ground for this fallen world has no shortage of those who hold power and authority over its huddled masses. We just don’t call them kings or lords generally.
We don’t even call ourselves that. Yet, scripture does. We who believe are a “royal priesthood.”[56] We have been reborn with kingship in us through our new covenant bloodline. The King of kings and Lord of lords is living in us! His Blood is in our spiritual veins. By this we can now see that as King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus will return not just to re-establish His direct rule over earth’s present rulers. He is also coming to bring His own royal children (us) into their full inheritance as those who will reign with Him in the Millennium.[57]
Other Scriptures to Study
"Men of Galilee," they said. "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:19-21
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:23-24
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
#16. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:4
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is the 'coming' he promised? …But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:3, 8-10
Dear friends, now we are like children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Jude 1:14-15
Next Crucial Component
The Rebirth of the Earth Most of our attention is given to the destruction of the earth during the Last Days. However, we should never lose sight of something wonderful taking place behind the scenes. Not just Adam’s children, but the entire earth bore the weight of Adam’s sin. Throughout our fallen history, the natural order suffered corruption and cataclysmic destruction. In Romans, Paul tells us that “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” The Birth Pangs and the trauma of Tribulation are for ushering in the “one new man” and a “born again” earth for the dwelling place.
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Endnotes
[1] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.
[2] Prophecies of the Messiah go back to Isaiah and earlier, but I chose three thousand years to mark the time when the covenant with David was made and the messianic promise given (ie. @ 1000 BC).
[3] "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. John 5:30-32
[4] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. John 5:39
[5] My apologies to those who don’t know the slang phrases of American football. “Long and deep” is the ideal, high stakes pass toward the end zone.
[6] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11; and: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
[7] Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
[8] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7
[9] Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." John 18:37
[10] Strong’s G1537: ek. A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
[11] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2
[12] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
[13] The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1
[14] Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:9-10
[15] Strong’s G4413 prōtos: Contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance): - before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), former.
[16] Strong’s G2078 eschatos: A superlative probably from G2192 (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time): - ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.
[17] Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
[18] Who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. Hebrews 7:16
[19] One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" John 13:23-25
[20] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18
[21] And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" Matthew 8:27
[22] And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Luke 19:39-40
[23] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
[24] Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:41-46
[25] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3
[26] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Colossians 1:15
[27] For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Colossians 1:13
[28] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14
[29] When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" John 6:14
[30] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20
[31] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:11, 14-15
[32] For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Matthew 11:13-14
[33] Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:30-32
[34] And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:2
[35] Sabaoth is a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “hosts” or “armies.” It is used with Yahweh 261 times and with Elohim 24 times.
[36] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
[37] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19
[38] “One jot or tittle (similar to punctuation points)” is how this famous phrase read in the old King James but for moderns, the ESV has it as: For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:18
[39] And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:9-10
[40] Robert Browning seems to allude to this inevitable, even praiseworthy, but impossible “reaching” we do when he writes: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”
[41] Revelation 14:1
[42] You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28; Also: Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28 KJV
[43] For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2
[44] You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. Leviticus 19:27
[45] The close association of this word with the one for baptism is fascinating: “The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g.Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!” Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
[46] Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
[47] Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:30-31.
Paul elaborated on this scenario: For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
[48] For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
[49] For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them. Romans 1:18-19
[50] If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12
[51] The International House of Prayer (IHOP) at Kansas City has tons of information on the Last Days on their website.
[52] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
[53] The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1
[54] Peter passes this on to us: For so once indeed the holy women hoping in God adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose children you became, doing good and fearing no terror. 1 Peter 3:5-6; Genesis 14 recounts the story of Abraham’s battle with the four kings.
[55] Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate on a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers plot together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands in two and cast away their cords from us. Psalm 2:1-3
[56] But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
[57] To 2 Timothy 2:12 previously cited we can add Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.