Wednesday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Revelation 19:11-21

And He Comes

I have said in various places that Revelation has a habit of moving back and forth—often depicting an event and then providing an interlude explaining the event.  Well, no longer.  Revelation now rushes to the end to crush the forces aligned against God, His Christ, and His Church.

Whereas in 4:1 John saw a door standing open in heaven, now heaven itself is opened for the coming of one on a white horse called, “Faithful and True,” who judges and makes war in righteousness.  The description echoes chapter one where it is prophesied that “he is coming with the clouds” and that “all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him” (1:7).  Likewise, his eyes are like “a flame of fire” (1:14).  He is, of course, our Lord come to conquer and vindicate his name and his people once and for all.  Besides “Faithful and True,” he bears the names of “Word of God,” “King of kings and Lords of lords,” and another he shares only with the Father and Holy Spirit.  As the Almighty conquering King, he leads his army arrayed in white linen.  But we soon discover that their appearance is only to witness their Lord’s victory, for it is only his robe which is “dipped in blood.”  Some believe that it is his own from the cross, but I am inclined to agree with those who see it as the blood of the wicked he comes to slay.  He does so with the sword of his mouth by which we understand his word of judgment—the same powerful word which created the world.  And with that word, he strikes down the nations once for all, rules them with a rod of iron, and “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  For those who think this description beneath the dignity of our Lord, I quote Robert Mounce, “Any view of God which eliminates judgment and his hatred of sin in the interest of an emasculated doctrine of sentimental affection finds no support in the strong and virile realism of the Apocalypse” (NICNT, 347).  If this language sounds sexist among today’s effeminate, then all the better.

What we should find amazing is that men rise to make war against their Creator.  Even after so many warnings clearly depicted throughout this Book, men and women refuse to repent.  Man bereft of God clings to his sin and rebels against his Maker even to his eternal ruin.  It is pathological, is it not?  But men hardened of heart and enslaved to sin are little above irrational beasts (Psalm 49:12-20).  God is patient and kind, but one day His patience shall run dry.  But for those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, the King and the Kingdom will be made sight and their vindication finally come.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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