The Second Coming

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Today in our reading of Revelation (Revelation 19:1-21) we finally get to the point toward which the entire book has been proceeding, where what John has seen in heaven (chapters 4-5) comes to earth: the Second Coming of Jesus.

 
 

19:1-8 is the continuation of chapter 18, where voices in heaven praise God for the fall of Babylon. (See Friday’s post, “The Whore”.)

 
 

The Ending of One City and The Arrival of the Other

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

These verses move us from the fall of Babylon to the arrival of the New Jerusalem.

I find it so interesting that John tries to worship his angelic guide, much to the angel’s horror! Why shouldn’t angels be worshipped in their majesty and glory? Because angels—no matter how majestic and glorious—are created things, and it’s wrong to worship anything except the Creator.

 
 

The Second Coming

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!

This is the moment to which the book has been working: heaven is fully revealed on earth. The kingdom has now come.

 

The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 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. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 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. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus is a conqueror, but he conquers as a martyr, hence the bloody robe.

He comes as truth, which is why he is called The Word.

He strikes down his enemies with the Truth, which is why his mouth is a sharp sword.

His true identity is now revealed (an apocalypse!) to everyone: King and Lord.

 

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

The Second Coming results in a complete rout of the enemy.

In John’s vision, judgement on the earth is described in multiple different ways, starting in chapter 6. To put it another way, John describes the same thing—the earth under God’s judgment—to us in different ways. In each series of judgments, right before the Second Coming would occur, there is a digression as John describes the church’s mission.

And then each time he circles back to a theme he’s previously discussed, he tells us something new.

Allow me to recap the book’s plot so far and show you what I mean:

  • SET UP: Chapters 4-5, John sees the heavenly throne room.

  • JUDGEMENT 1ST DESCRIPTION: Chapter 6, the judgments of the seals (#’s 1-6);

  • CHURCH DIGRESSION: Chapter 7, a description of the messianic army;

  • JUDGEMENT 2ND DESCRIPTION: Chapters 8-9, the 7th seal, then the judgments of the trumpets (#s 1-6);

  • CHURCH DIGRESSION: Chapters 10-15;

  • JUDGEMENT 3RD AND FINAL DESCRIPTION: Chapters 16-19.

The reason for the digressions is so that John can explain to the church that it has a role in God’s plan: to testify to the truth about Jesus so that the unbelieving nations will hear and repent.

BUT

Those who ultimately refuse to repent will face judgement when Jesus finally comes and time runs out.

This is what is described in graphic terms in John’s vision (19:17-21, above).

It is not God’s desire that anyone should face judgment. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son; Revelation tells us that the church’s role is to preach repentance in the name of Jesus to all nations, so that all nations might be saved. But God will not force people to repent, and those who stubbornly refuse will finally be destroyed.