The description of Christ: (19:11-13): John sees a mighty Rider on a white horse having a sharp sword, the rod of iron and the winepress. He is called “Faithful and True.” This is in contrast to “the beast” who was unfaithful (he broke the covenant with Israel) and false (he ruled by means of deception and idolatry). Suffering saints need to be reminded that God is faithful and will not desert them, because His promises are true.
Because Jesus is faithful to His word and righteous character, it follows that “in righteousness He judges.” When He came first, the wicked people judged Him. But when He returns, He will judge all wicked people (Acts 17:31).
- His eyes: The Apostle writes that the Rider’s eyes are a flame of fire. Nothing escapes the notice of His piercing vision. The eyes that wept over the fate of unrepentant Jerusalem and over the sorrow, suffering and death in this sin-cursed world, now flashing with the fire of judgement.
- His crown: His head wore “many diadems,” which indicates His royal authority. Because He is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” and “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ,” He will reign forever and ever. The many crowns Christ will wear are indeed a fair exchange for crown of thorns (Phil. 2:8-11).
- Name: He has “a name written on Him which no one knows except Jesus Himself.” The meaning of that name is unknown, since we are not told and no one knows it except Jesus Christ Himself.
- His clothes: He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood. The blood is not the representative of the cross, but it is a picture of judgement. The blood is the blood of slaughtered enemies (Isa.63:1-6). The blood is spattered before the battle has begun is because that speak of many previous slaughters. But on that day, they will be stained as never before when He “treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty (19:15). He has laid aside his priestly garments and put on “crowns” and kingly attire; He is coming as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
- Rider’s name: The Rider’s name is called “The Word of God” who is none other but Jesus Christ (Jn.1:1,14; 1 Jn. 1:1). He is the Second Person of the Trinity.
The Regiments (19:14):
The Lord Jesus Christ will be accompanied by the following armies:
- The bride: The bride of the Lamb (the Church), already pictured wearing “fine linen, bright and clean”.
- The tribulation believers: They are seen in heaven wearing white robes (7:9).
- Old Testament saints: They are resurrected at the end of the tribulation (Dan. 12:1-2).
- The Holy angels: The holy angels (Matt. 25:31) accompany Jesus Christ.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ is armed and all others are un-armed. The saints will not come to fight with Jesus Christ, but to reign with Him (20:4-6).
The mode of war: (19:5-6): The Apostle John says: “from His mouth comes a sharp sword.” This sword was used to defend. The sword symbolizes the deadly power of Christ’s words. Once He spoke words of comfort, but now He speaks words of death. Christ will wield that sword with deadly effect as He strikes down the nations.
The dead will include all those gathered for battle at Armageddon. The rest of the world’s un-redeemed people will be judged and executed at the sheep and goat judgement (Matt.25:31-46) that follows Christ’s return. The swift judgement will mark for the beginning of Millennium. During His 1000-year reign, He will rule the nations with a rod of iron (12:5). He will put down instantly any sort of rebellion. But the believers would rule under Him in the kingdom.
During His judgement, “He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” This is a picture of the ancient wine making process. The splattering of the grape juice pictures the pouring out of the blood of Christ’s enemies (14:18-20; Isa. 63:1-3).
The Ultimate victory: Armageddon(19:17-21):
The Apostle John saw an angel standing in the sun which means the worldwide darkness associated with the 5th bowl (16:10) was lifted. The sun is again visible. The smoke from Babylon’s destruction was visible at a distance (18:9-19). When the battle of Armageddon is over and the wicked are all dead, an angel invites all the fowls to “the supper of the great God” that they may eat the flesh of the wicked. While the saints partake of the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” the wicked become a feast for the birds at “the supper of the great God.” The catastrophic day of the Lord will result of the unprecedented slaughter, with uncounted millions of dead bodies. Even after the birds have eaten, it will still take 7-months to bury the bodies (Eze. 39:12).