The Second Coming of Christ

Revelation 19:11 – 16

 

INTRODUCTION

• Series Introduction: This is the second of eight sermons.  However, this is the first of the Seven Last Things, The Seven Last Things of Human History.
• Sermon Introduction: John says in Revelation 4:1, “a door was opened in heaven.”  Then a voice says, “come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”  This door is as the door built into the huge gates of the castle where one person could enter without opening the large gate.  However, in 19:11, John says, “heaven opened.”  See the magnitude of the spectacle about to unfold.
• Last week, we saw how we will sing alleluia because of the attributes of Jesus.  In this message, the emphasis is on the names Jesus.

 

I.                   Jesus bears the marks of Deity, v. 11 – 12.

A.     The first name is, “Faithful and True.”

1.      The beast was unfaithful; he broke his covenant with Israel.

2.      The Dragon or Satan is the deceiver; the beast is the False Christ; his companion is the False Prophet.  The Anti-Christ will rule by deception.  He was not who he said he was.

3.      The only way to combat such lies and deception is with judgment.  He comes to “judge and make war.”  He does not come with vindictiveness, not with a lust for conquest, but in righteousness.

B.     The second name is “a name written that no man knew.”  “And no man knoweth who the Son is but the Father. . .” Luke 10:22b.  The following verses tell of His transcendence, Ephesians 3:17 – 20, Romans 11:33, (To be a member of the Forbes Magazine Billionaire Club you must have $1 billion. Bill Gates is still top with 40 billion.  Can you comprehend $40 billion?  The new Cabinet Level Homeland Security Department has a budget of $33 billion for this year.  Bill Gates could pay for the first year of operation and still have $7 billion left.  God is greater than that.) Isaiah 55:8 – 9, Deuteronomy 29:29 – God is transcendent, but He has told us what we need to know.

1.      His eyes as a flame of fire

a.      fierceness

b.      fairness (omniscience)

(1)   to know every sin

(2)   to know every secret

(3)   to know rightly who is to be judged

2.      many kingly crowns

 

II.                Jesus bears the marks of Battle, v. 13 – 15.

A.     The third name is “the Word of God.”  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “I am he” and the mob fell backwards.  In the armor of the Christian (Eph.6), the only offensive weapon is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  The only weapon we have to fight with is the Word of God. So here, Christ bears the marks of battle.

B.     The first mark is the blood.  Therefore, you cannot go to war without getting bloody.

1.      Jesus sits on the throne because He is “a Lamb as it has been slain,” (Rev. 5:6).  The robes are washed “white in the blood of the Lamb,” (Rev. 7:14).

2.      Jesus must fight because “these (the kingdoms of the world) shall make war with the Lamb,” (Rev. 17:14).  Therefore, Isaiah 63:1 – 4 happens.

C.    The second mark is the armies that follow made up of the redeemed and the angels.

 

III.                  Jesus bears the marks of Majesty, v. 16. - The fourth name is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  There is a painting in the Royal Academy in London entitled “King of Kings.”  It pictures Jesus standing at the foot of the cross receiving the homage of the crowned heads of the world.  158 portraits are included in the canvas.  Louis the Ninth offers his crown and Constantine kneels before Him.  Julius Caesar and Napoleon are in the throng.  To update the picture painted in 1927, we would add Hitler, Stalin, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Saddam Hussein.  All will bow before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Philippians 2:9 - 11

 

CONCLUSION – By God’s grace, you and I who are saved will be one of those behind Jesus in fine linen on white horses.  We are anticipating the Rapture, not Second Coming of Jesus.  However, there are three principles we can learn from this situation that apply to us today.

·                    Be Faithful – After the fall of Atlanta in July 1864, General John B. Hood, commander of the Confederate Army, marched westward to attack the communications of General Sherman with Chattanooga and Nashville. He hoped to draw Sherman’s army from Georgia.  General Hood attacked a Union post at Allatoona Pass.  Sherman himself went back with part of his army as far as Kennesaw Mountain.  From the summit of the mountain, he signaled to the beleaguered garrison, “Hold the fort! I am coming!”  After the songwriter, P.P. Bliss heard this story, he was inspired to write . . . .(copy of song Hold the Fort)

·                    Be Watchful

1.                  Jesus’ admonition is to “Watch therefore: for ye know not the hour your Lord doth come,” Matthew 24:42.

2.                  John’s desire was “even so come Lord Jesus,” Revelation 22:20

·                    Be Worshipful

1.                  “Faithful and True” – He can be trusted to fulfill all His promises.  He is the true object of worship in contrast to false gods.  When Jesus came the first time, he embodied “grace and truth.”  Now he is still true, but when he comes as described here, he will come for judgment, not salvation as before.

2.                  “A name written that no man knew” - This is a reminder of how great He is.

3.                  “The Word of God” – He is the One who created the universe.  He is the One who will judge it.

4.                  “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” He will rule during the millennium.

We worship Him because of who He is.