Unity ARP

The Glory of Christ: King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Revelation 19:11-16

12/14/97

This morning I come to you in weakness and trembling, preaching to you out of this marvelous and mysterious book of Revelation. I am not an expert on the book or on prophecy in general. Many of the so called experts on Revelation will eventually be proven wrong. Nine out of ten experts on this book will be proven wrong, because where you have ten experts, you have ten different opinions and they can’t all be right! So why did I choose to preach to you from the book of Revelation, especially during the month of december? Because I wanted you to catch a glimpse of the glory and the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I took preaching classes in seminary, our professor taught us that we should always have one overarching purpose for each message we preach. What is the purpose of this message today? What do I hope to accomplish by it? Well, I will have succeeded if at the end of the message you have forgotten altogether about the preacher and the sermon and you are saying in your heart, “What a great Lord and Savior is He! All hail the power of Jesus’ name! He is truly worthy to be crowned Lord of all!”

The book of Revelation begins in verse one stating, “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” Does the book deal with the end times? Yes. Does it prophecy about things to come? Yes it does. But what, or I should say who, is the book about? It is a revelation of Jesus Christ! If you read the book only to satisfy your curiosity about beasts with 10 horns, seven bowls, seven trumpets, and the millennium, then you are missing Him!! Revelation is about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is primarily a revelation about Christ and His glorious victory over the devil and all that is evil!

What I am asking you to do this morning can be found in the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (NKJV) Lord willing, let’s do that now as we look into this passage of Scripture.

VERSE 11- The passage starts with another vision which John had while in lonely exile on the island of Patmos. The contents of this vision must have been very encouraging to John, especially as he contemplated the fact that he had been taken to this ancient Alcatraz by the enemies of Jesus Christ. He was the last living apostle. All the others had probably been martyred by that time. The whole church was being persecuted by the Roman government. The church at that moment must have appeared anything but victorious to John. Would the church after all be defeated? In this vision John saw heaven opened. He saw a white horse with the Divine Warrior General upon it. And in verse 14 John saw “the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, … (who) followed Him on white horses.”

This scenario reminds me of another setting in the Old Testament. Turn briefly to 2 Kings 6:8. “And the king of Syria was making war against Israel.” The prophet Elisha was giving the king of Syria trouble, so he sent an army to go get Elisha and bring him before the king. Verse 14 says, “Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.” Elisha had a servant who was with him. When they woke up that next morning the servant said in verse 15, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elijah answered, “‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see’. The the LORD opened the eyes of the young man and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

The apostle John’s eyes were opened that day and he knew he was not alone. He knew that the church had not been defeated, but that in the end it would win, because the church has a Defender who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Everything in this vision symbolizes victory. The majority of commentators understand this passage to refer to the second coming of Christ. Many others understand this vision as a picture of Christ conquering spiritual foes through His church between the first and second advents. Bible teacher David Chilton said the following: “John is not describing the second coming at the end of the world. He is describing the progress of the gospel throughout the world, the universal proclamation of the message of salvation, which follows the First Advent of Christ.”

Dr. Jay Adams said this in his book, The Time Is At Hand: “The nineteenth chapter must of necessity be interpreted not as the second advent, but as the destruction of the world empire by the Word of God, and the establishment of the worldwide kingdom of God.” Dr. Adams gave two reasons why he believes this is not the second coming of Christ. 1) The Bible nowhere else says Christ will return upon a horse. Jesus did not ascend this way, and the angels in Acts 1 said that He would return just as He ascended. 2) “the conflict described here is spiritual, not physical. It is a battle waged and won by the Word of God.”

On the other side, commentator A.W. Pink said, “A full length picture of our returning Lord is found in Rev. 19, a picture awful in its solemnity and fearful in its vividness.” Who’s right? Well, I think both sides have valid biblical arguments to support their views. But instead of trying to solve this issue today, I want us to focus on the person of Christ who is riding this white horse. You see He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords now. He is conquering and building His kingdom now. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.” He is King of Kings now, and when He returns He will return as King of Kings.

The Greek word for this white horse suggests a war horse or “Charger”. In verse 11, John said “And he who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” He is faithful and true. He is One who has always done what He said He would do. He has always spoken the truth, because He is the truth! The devil, and man are characterized by speaking lies and by unfaithfulness. Especially in our day, who can you trust? The answer is - you can’t really trust anybody. This is a universal sentiment in our day and age. Therefore cynicism is so prevalent, especially in recent generations. Cynicism is that open mockery of the virtues or motives of other.

This cynicism is often transferred over to God and to Jesus Christ in this unbelieving generation. The apostle Peter predicted this very thing. In 2 Peter 3:3-4 he said, “First, knowing this, that there will come in [the] last days scoffers walking according to their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since [the] fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of creation.’” (NKJV) Even if people do not verbalize this, they subconsciously believe it and say to themselves: “Jesus isn’t coming back to this earth. Surely if He was coming He would have come by now. The world continues on like it always has. Why even give this second coming business any thought at all?”

Peter goes on to say in that third chapter that what such people willingly ignore is that this is not the first time God has ever threatened a catastrophic judgment upon the human race. In the early stage of the human race God was angry with man and his sinful ways. He said that He would destroy the world by a flood, and He did. The entire human race perished, except for Noah and his family. Another time God had had enough with the sins of the people of two cites - Sodom and Gommorah. He said that He would send fire and brimstone from heaven to destroy them because of their great wickedness. Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed. God was faithful and true to His Word.

Some might argue that those events occurred so long ago. They seem like myths to our modern generation. Several thousand years later, Jesus made another prediction. In Matthew 24:1-2, The disciples told Jesus how wonderful they thought the Temple was. Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone on another that shall not be thrown down.” (NKJV) Then in Matthew 24:34 Jesus told them when this would happen: “Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled.” (NKJV) 40 years later the Romans destroyed the Temple completely, thus carrying out God’s judgment against the unbelieving Jews and the end of the Old Covenant. Did somebody say He wasn’t coming back again? Does anyone think that He is not faithful and true? Not one of His promises and surely not one of His threatenings will ever fail.

John went on in verse 11 to say this of the rider on the white horse: “In righteousness He judges and makes war.” What happened to the peaceful, loving Jesus that we hear about? Nothing. He is still peaceful and loving toward His elect. However, He judges and makes war against all His enemies. In the Shorter Catechism there is a simple question that is asked: Q# 26 says, “How does Christ execute the office of a King? A - Christ executes the office of a King, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.”

Thanks be to God that Christ is a King who defends us from evil. He is a conquering King, part of His conquering is to destroy His enemies. The message of Scripture is that you do not mess around with this King. Isaiah 66:15-16 says, “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a tempest, to refresh His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will execute judgment with all flesh; and the slain of the LORD will be many.” (NKJV) Ps 110:6 - “He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill them with dead bodies; He shall shatter heads over much of the earth.” (NKJV)

We live in a day of relative peace. Paul told Timothy that we ought to pray for those in authority on earth that we might live a quiet, godly, peaceable life. He went on to say that this was pleasing to God (1Ti 2:4) “who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (NKJV) The final judgment has not taken place yet because God has not saved all that He intends to save. When the gospel is preached to all nations and all God’s elect have come into the kingdom, then The Lord will return, as 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, “with the angels of His power, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (NKJV)

VERSE 12 - Verse 12 tells us what we already knew from last week’s passage, that Christ’s eyes were “like a flame of fire”, reminding us of His omniscience, and ability to, as A.W. Pink said, “pierce through every veil of hypocrisy and scorch into the very soul of His enemies.” “On His head were many crowns.” He is not King over one kingdom, but of all kingdoms. He is the indisputable Sovereign over all the universe! Though His brow was once crowned with thorns, the symbol of the curse, it is now and will be crowned with glory and honor. He has many crowns, because He is king of all.

C.H. Spurgeon preached an awesome message on this one verse titled, “THE SAVIOR’S MANY CROWNS”. Several times during this message he had to pause because he was so overwhelmed by the majesty of Christ. During those pauses he quit preaching and broke out into praise! He spoke of the fact that Christ is the King of Heaven. The angels are His. All the heavenly hosts praise and magnify His name continually. They obey Him instantly. He is truly the High King of Heaven. But He is also the King of Hell. There He also reigns supreme. Spurgeon said, “Not only in the dazzling brightness of heaven, but in the black impenetrable darkness of hell is His omnipotence felt, and His sovereignty acknowledged; the chains which bind damned spirits are the chains of His strength; the fires which burn are the fires of His vengeance; There is no power in hell besides His. Hell trembles at Him. While in heaven the glorious notes shout forth His Goodness; in hell the deep growling resound His justice, and His certain victory over all His foes.”

He is not only King of Heaven and King of Hell, but He rules as King of this earth. Isaiah 66:1 “So says the LORD, Heaven [is] My throne, and earth My footstool. Where, then, [is] the house that you build for Me? And where [is] the place of My rest?” (NKJV) How is He king of the earth? He created it. Every bit of matter that makes up this planet was created out of nothing, by the Word of His power. He sustains this world and everything in it. This is the crown of His providence.

Then there is the crown of grace. He can give grace or He can withhold it if He chooses. What He shuts no man opens, and what He opens no man can shut. He is the King and Head of His church especially. Here He expects willing submission and obedience. He defends and guides us in return. He wears the crowns of victories which He has won. The crowns mentioned before are His by divine right, but the crowns of victory are His by conquest as the Son of Man. His is the crown of victory over the world. In John 16:33 Jesus said, “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

He wears the crown of victory over sin. Sin has defeated angels, and all men. But sin was no match for this Almighty King. He suffered, He endured and He destroyed sin and its power once and for all. He did it by shedding His blood on the cross. He is also King over the devil. Satan tempted Him and tried to get Jesus to bow down and worship him, but Christ came away the victor. Christ is King over death. He defeated it by rising triumphantly from the grave.

What a great King is Jesus! No other ruler comes close. Revelation 19:15 says, “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” This great King is coming back. You can count on it. Those who will not submit to Him now, will bow to Him then. Is He King of Kings? Then will you try to run your own life and do your own thing? Will you keep trying to have your own way or will you crown Him Lord of all and bow down before Him? These are the only options: Either you keep trying to rule your own life or you submit to Christ as Lord of your life. Pray for grace to turn to Him today and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. You are not as in control as you think. You don’t even have the power to turn from your sins and believe in Christ. You can only come to Him if He gives you grace to come. Be sure that He invites you to come to Him. He said, “Come to Me all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.” (NKJV)

What if you do not come to Christ and in your heart receive Him as King of your life? Then you will be judged by the sharp sword that comes out of His mouth. That sword represents the Word of God. In John 12:47-48, Jesus said, “And if any one hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him, for I do not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (NKJV) All that remains for those who will not submit to the Kingship of Jesus Christ is the wrath of God. This wrath is more awful and fierce than anyone has ever dreamed. Christ is treading the winepress of God’s wrath.

There is a passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah which describes this work of Christ concerning the wrath of God. Isaiah 63:2-4 says, “Why [is Your] clothing red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples [there was] no man with Me; for I will tread them in My anger and trample them in My fury; and their blood will be sprinkled on My garments, and I will stain all My clothing. For the day of vengeance [is] in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.” (NKJV)

Where do you stand today with this King? Today this King is merciful and will forgive you of all your sins, if you will repent and turn to Him alone to save you. This Kings commands that you repent and believe in Him as your Lord and Savior. If I were you I wouldn’t leave this building without settling your relationship with this King. If you know Christ as Lord and Savior today, do you not stand in awe of such a King as this!? And to think, He is your King!! He is on your side, and you on His. As Martin Luther said, in His hymn, “A Mighty Fortress”, “Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing; our striving would be losing.” But thanks be to God, those who strive with Him will overcome with Him and be victorious in this life and the life to come.

“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 14th, 1997 at 8:05 pm and is filed under Glory of Christ Series, Sermon Text.