Revelation 19:17-21 – And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,” Earlier in this chapter we saw that the Lord had gathered His saints for the wedding supper of the Lamb (V9). The wedding supper of the Lamb is a great celebration for all the saints of God. They come to celebrate the victory of Jesus over evil and also the completion of the marriage of Jesus to His bride the church. Now we see a different calling happening. The flesh of all the armies who come to fight the Lord shall lay as carrion in the fields. Remember that the birds who are called to feed on human flesh are not called to kill and feast, but merely to feast. Just as angels and saints of God are not present to help Jesus fight evil, so the birds shall not kill people but only to eat the flesh of their dead bodies. Remembering that for believers, when not in the flesh they shall be with the Lord forever, conversely it is true that the spirit of unbelievers if not in the flesh shall be in hell or the lake of fire. The birds are not called to eat the flesh of people who are alive, but to eat the flesh of those whose spirit has left and is now in a place of torment. This supper that the birds flying in midair are having is not the wedding supper of the Lamb, but is a supper for birds to come and feast on the dead and empty bodies of those who opposed God. Such is the end for the bodies of those who follow the Antichrist and the devil. Their spirits, however, are in a place of torment. The flesh of mankind is a shell for the soul. All flesh dies, but the soul of a man lives eternally. Where the soul of a man eternally lives depends on the choices of the man. If the man has loved God, then it lives forever with Him. If the man has not loved God, then it lives in torment. God did not create the place of eternal torment for mankind (Matthew 25:41), but for the devil and his demons. By choosing to side with the devil, unbelievers become one with him and will follow him to his eternity. By choosing to follow God through faith in the works and person of Jesus, then believers have chosen to receive all the eternal blessings of God that He wants to impart to us.
“so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” When Jesus speaks the words of justice and judgement, all flesh that participates in the rebellion will die and become fodder for the birds of the air. Notice that the Lord is not a “respecter of persons (Acts 10:34.” What a position a man is considered here on earth is of no import when the man stands before God. God is not partial (Romans 2:11). The only fact that matters is has one loved the Son. If so then when their body dies they will forever live with God (2 Corinthians 5:8). For those who don’t love Jesus, and so have not been obedient, they will pass from the life they have had here on earth to living in eternal torment, with no hope of having their position change. Where a man will spend his eternity is decided during his life here on earth. In the afterlife, the final position of a man is forever unchangeable. The Word of God declares that today, in this life, is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The wise heed this call.
“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army.” John’s attention is turned to the Antichrist and to all the armies of the world that are with him. He clearly states that they are gathered there, by order of the Antichrist to wage war against the “rider on the horse and His army.” We have already reviewed that the rider on the horse is Jesus and the army of the Lord are the angels and us. Let’s remember that the army with Jesus do not fight this battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. Praise God! Jesus will be glorified!
“But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” V15 has already informed us that the victory over all that oppose Him is by the Word spoken from Jesus. Here is the utter and complete defeat of the Antichrist and those who follow Him. Their flesh is eaten by the birds and the souls shall burn forever. How horrible! How unnecessary! It is their choice.
Let us notice that John moves from the gathering of the Antichrist and his armies to oppose God to telling what has happened after the battle. He does not describe the battle. There really is no battle because nothing, whether devil, demons, the Antichrist or all the people of the earth can oppose God (Job 23:13, 2 Chronicles 20:6). The gathering of forces against God is no obstacle. It does not cause God to pause, the forces are instantly and completely defeated as soon as He speaks the Word. The Word of God is more sure and complete than then a nuclear bomb. Jesus will utter His Words and they are simultaneously completed. Family, those who shake their fist at God think themselves brave. It is just foolishness. We who submit to God with all that we are, and in increasing measure, are safe in His love. Those who have not sought the refuge of His love, shall instantly perish. Praise God who loves and protects us, who has always had only the best plans for us. Praise our God whose will cannot be stopped or defeated (Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 43:13) as always has been and always will be! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob with“The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” The armies of heaven certainly include angels (Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7). Also the armies will include us, the Redeemed of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:10). Also Jude 14 tells of the Lord coming with His holy ones. Saints is used instead of Holy Ones in the NKJV. These saints, or holy ones are ones who have been separated unto God. Only God can cleanse sin and separate unto Himself. We are the saints of God who have been redeemed from sin. So, the saints (us) and angels will be with Him when He returns. It would seem that those who roared as a great multitude (Revelation 19:6-8) have the honor of accompanying Jesus upon His return to earth.
We will note in the next verse that we do not come with Jesus to fight alongside of Him. The victory of Jesus belongs to Him alone. We will be there to witness what is to transpire. Surely the combined praises of the angels and of us will be a mighty roar!
“Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.” Here we see that it is not the Lord and the armies that strike down the nations, but only the Lord. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who spoke into being all of creation (Genesis 1, John 1:1-3) who will now, with the same power of creation, defeat the evil army that comes to oppose Him. Jesus will speak and the sheer power of His words will destroy those who would destroy Him.
“He will rule them with an iron scepter.” This phrase is John expressing the absolute authority and might of Jesus to rule (Psalm 45:6, Amos 1:5). And so He sovereignly rule will during the millennia of peace.
“He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” Isaiah 63:1-3 ““Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” 2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.”” Jesus, our Mighty Lord and Mighty King has returned and He is bring justice as He judges all men who do not love God. He is coming back in glory and all who see shall be in awe. The time for mercy has passed. This is the time of judgement and as He brings justice all will see that the one who judges and executes are one and the same, He is Jesus.
“On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS.” All the angels and all the saints adore Him. Then we shall see with our own eyes the complete and utter victory of Jesus. We will witness the vanity of resisting God. The day of His return will be horror to those who have hated Jesus (all who do not love and serve Him, hate Him). But to us who love Him, our admiration and love of Him will not be contained! We will shout and dance and sing praises to our God, just as we should now be doing every day. Family, in the end, our God wins. We will see it then and we know it now. We know it because He has told us and He never lies. Praise God! His day, and our day, are coming…and fast! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Below, in italics, is taken from a friend’s Facebook share. Following is my answer.
A man is driving down the road and his car breaks down near a monastery. He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, “My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?” The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. A sound unlike anything he’s ever heard before. The Sirens that nearly seduced Odysseus into crashing his ship comes to his mind. He doesn’t sleep that night. He tosses and turns trying to figure out what could possibly be making such a seductive sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, “We can’t tell you. You’re not a monk.” Distraught, the man is forced to leave. Years later, after never being able to forget that sound, the man goes back to the monastery and pleads for the answer again. The monks reply, “We can’t tell you. You’re not a monk. “The man says, “If the only way I can find out what is making that beautiful sound is to become a monk, then please, make me a monk.” The monks reply, “You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of grains of sand. When you find these answers, you will have become a monk.” The man sets about his task. After years of searching he returns as a gray-haired old man and knocks on the door of the monastery. A monk answers. He is taken before a gathering of all the monks.” In my quest to find what makes that beautiful sound, I traveled the earth and have found what you asked for: By design, the world is in a state of perpetual change. Only God knows what you ask. All a man can know is himself, and only then if he is honest and reflective and willing to strip away self-deception. “The monks reply, “Congratulations. You have become a monk. We shall now show you the way to the mystery of the sacred sound. “The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, “The sound is beyond that door.” The monks give him the key, and he opens the door. Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man is given the key to the stone door and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby. And so it went that he needed keys to doors of emerald, pearl and diamond. Finally, they come to a door made of solid gold. The sound has become very clear and definite. The monks say, “This is the last key to the last door.” The man is apprehensive to no end. His life’s wish is behind that door! With trembling hands, he unlocks the door, turns the knob, and slowly pushes the door open. Falling to his knees, he is utterly amazed to discover the source of that haunting and seductive sound……But, of course, I can’t tell you what it is because you’re not a monk.
I know what it is! I have heard the call since I was a child. I did not know what it was. The call haunted me and I had found no rest. Then the cause of the call brought many people into my life to help lead me to the source of the call. It is the call that was sent out since before the beginning of time. The call persists, never diminishes, and never grows stronger. It never grows stronger because it was perfect from the start.
Finally, I also could no longer resist and so I yielded. The doors were doors within. The keys were guarded, but shared, by those who knew the source of the call. The keys were created by the eternal one. The keys were all made of the same composition. Miraculously their composition were pieces of His love that had taken on the form of the physical. All the keys were uniquely shaped to fit in unique locks. The shapes of the locks could be matched together to form one grand lock. The keys likewise were like a huge interlocking puzzle and the result of putting them together formed one grand key. The grand key opened the opened the grand lock. When the grand lock was opened using the key made from love, then the purpose and goal of all mankind was discovered. It was one I had heard about but had resisted. The answer to the call was simple and manifest to all. In fact it was found to be in all the world that surrounds mankind. It was found in what sustains mankind. The locks had been made from what had been my hard heart. The keys were formed from the love of the one who loves. They opened the locks to bring me to the one who loves. The one who loves knows where the complete peace and calm of my soul resides. It is with the one who perfectly love.
Perhaps I should not have shared all the story, but I have only revealed the source, but have not completed the journey for you. All must heed the call, the cry, from He who loves. All must follow the call and travel one’s own path. Anyone can tell you to follow the call and to travel the path, but the Answer is found only at the end of each one’s individual path. I will give you the name of the One who loves. It will cause some to run to the One. Others, will stop and walk away. The name at the end of those who heed the beckoning call is Jesus, the Son of God. He calls to all. Some will hear and come to Him. Sadly, most will not. So the testimony of my life is for all to hear, to listen, and to let His love be the key that opens the locks, or the lock. The locks for those of us who hear, but want to resist and only to come later. Or the lock for those who hear and at once use the big key to find the One who loves. You see my friends, Jesus is always the answer!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withIn our minds, to whom do we compare God with? To us, does the devil match up to God? Is he able to stand beside, or above God? Is he able to thrust a spear through God to pierce us? If we get sick, is that sickness greater than God? If we are tempted, maybe repeatedly, is the temptation, or sin, greater than God? Is the person, the human being, that God created, greater than his Creator God? Do we know anyone like Jesus who is God in the flesh? Whom do we know that never, not ever, sinned? The answer is no-one, not grandma and not the cute toddler whom we love and whose smile “kills us.” Who stepped down from perfect joy and serenity to come and suffer and die for us before being resurrected? Let us consider how many of our friends would truly die for us? Who could die and then resurrect Himself? Who knows all our despicable works and thoughts and still would die for us? Who loves even those who refuse Him until the day they die? Who forever loves those who love Him forever? Who has the power to absolutely protect and provide in every way He desires? In our minds, whom can be compared to God and stand? We know that all wither and crawl away at even the thought of the comparison.
Whom can stand beside God to be compared to Him? We know the answer. None are worthy to be compared to God, and least of all, ourselves.
Since God has no equal, none even close, and since God loves us and always protects us, let us not worry or fear. Let us not crave anything but God. Only God can fully satisfy the soul and none other. There is no worthy comparison for God. It is silly to even consider. Let us love and adore our God who first loved us. Let us have joy, peace and rest in the eternity of His love. Let us be happy in Jesus. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have no equals, there is no other God. Praise our God! Love our God! Love our neighbor! Worship our God! Live in the eternal joy that only those who love our God can know. Love God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Psalm 91:1-2 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” The vultures circle me from high in the sky. They see me lying beside a creek. Yet they will not approach me. For they see that I am protected by the Almighty, the only Almighty. He is always with me. He is close and His shadow is upon me. I am safe. I am not dead or wounded, I rest though danger circles me. I rest because God is my refuge and my fortress.
Psalm 91:5-8 “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” The terrors in the world are real. Enemies that frighten the lion and the bear hate me. Evil is around men. Attacks against me are by the thousand, and I don’t even know of them because my Savior and my God protect me day and night. Sometimes I see their failed efforts. I shall see evil vanquished while I remain safe because God loves me. Spiritual attacks, physical attacks, sorrows and hurts raise up against me. Fear has no hold on me. I am unconcerned with that which frightens men because I know the love and the might of the God who loves me.
Psalm 91:9-11 “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” The Lord is within me and I am within Him. My God resides in me and day by day He cleans me and renews me. All that I am, every cell within me, is continuously regenerated and remade to be more of who He is and less of the weakness that I am. He is my refuge. My Lord is ever with me. He loves me and guards me. Shall illness overtake me? Shall the enemy prevent me from going forward in the will of God? Never! He cannot! For it is the presence of God who protects me as I walk where He directs me. Should something or someone overtake me, I have no fear because it can only be so by His will. Because He has blessed me with the knowledge of Himself, and because my eyes have seen His love and His might expressed to me, and because He has promised me in His Word, I do not fear. I am absolutely and without repentance convinced of His goodness and love. He knows all and He knows best. If my life is required by the will of my God, then so be it. Surely, as Job said, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. He loves me no more when He gives than when He takes away. I am convinced of the goodness and love of God and so my heart is at peace.
Psalm 91:14-16 ““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”” See, see, see the promises of God for those who love Him. For those who draw close to Him to know Him and to love Him. He loves those who have drawn close and witnessed His overwhelming and unmovable goodness and His eternal and tireless love for His children. He promises to rescue them, to protect them because they bear His name. Because they love His name. When they call out to their Father God He will answer them. He tells them that He is with them and so their souls are quiet. It is God Almighty who is with them. They have nothing to fear. Death of this body brings eternal life and fullness of peace. Fear has no home with them, they sleep a sweet sleep. It is God who loves and guards.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Revelation 19:11-16 – I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS.
“He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself.” Praise the Lord! We are not going to arrive in heaven and know everything about God and this is a great example of that. Revelation 2:17 states, speaking of us, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” So earlier in the book of Revelation we are given a special name, known only between Jesus and us, individually. One of the explanations for this is that Jesus will be giving us a special name that something that is apt for our service to Him. The new name will be a perfect description of our relationship with Him and of His love for us. My father had a special pet name for us. It was not a secret, all of our nuclear family knew it. From when I was a very young child, before two years old, I remember my Father called me Big Eyes. Funny, but I never wondered why. It may have been because my eyes were always on him, who was my hero. The name the Lord will give us will be our secret name that represents our special bond with Him. It will ring in our hearts and souls as the perfect secret name just between us. My sister calls me a special name and I will only respond to her if she calls me by it. I would tell you, but it is between her and me. I like it that way!
The Word does not tell us where the name is that is written on Him. We will not know that name or where it is written. Certainly the Father and the Holy Spirit, who both know everything, will know what the name is. That is intriguing in itself. Is it a special name for Jesus that is shared only amongst the Trinity? We don’t know. Will we ever know the name? We will just have to wait to find out. That is exciting in itself!
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.” In V11 we are told that Jesus is called “Faithful and True.” Psalm 33:4 states that “the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.” Jeremiah 42:5 and Revelation 3:14 also use Faithful and True in describing the Messiah Jesus Christ. Here in V13 a name we already know that belongs to Jesus is “Word of God.” (John 1:1-5, 14) Jesus is the Word of God. The written Word of God is all that God gives us to know about Him for now. It is more than we can learn of Him during our lifetime here on earth. Jesus is the Word of God manifested in the flesh. Jesus, the Word of God in the flesh is the perfect and complete expression of God to us (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). He is God in the flesh revealed to us. Though He walked among us, and was God revealed to us, still we don’t understand everything about Him. He does reveal to His saints all that we need to know about Him. Jesus is the written Word of God, and beyond, in the flesh. Though Jesus took on humanity to walk the earth and be our Deliverer, He still was fully God. Oh to have walked with Him! Yet, the Lord dearly loves all of us, and calls us blessed, who have not physically seen Him and still believe (John 20:29). Family, oh what a privilege, oh what a delight, and oh what an honor to know Jesus, He who is Faithful and True and He who is the living Word of God! Let us remember the great honor and blessing it is to be bestowed this great privilege of knowing, and being loved by, the One True God. The creator of all of heaven, earth and of us is He! Thank you God Almighty! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Holy Spirit! Praise God! May we never consider the blessed relationship we have with Jesus as a common thing! May we never take this greatest of blessings “for granted.” God is Holy and Sacred and may we always, in our hearts and minds, be on our knees before Him! And may we always call out, to each other and to the World, the wonders and praises of knowing and serving Him. May we always let the joy of Him fill our hearts! Let us always and continuously express our love for Him be praising Him! Praise our God! Praise our Savior and Lord Jesus! Praise the Holy Spirit who lives within us and guiding us home. Praise God! Praise He who is Faithful and True!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withRevelation 19:11-16 – I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS.
“His eyes are like blazing fire…” We see in Revelation 1:14 that the eyes of Jesus are said to be like a “blazing fire.” In Revelation 2:18 Jesus describes Himself as having eyes that “are like blazing fire.” Immediately following He states in V19 “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” He is here stating that He thoroughly knows the saints of Thyatira. He knows what they do, how deep is their love and faith, what are the habits and hopes and that they have not only not wearied of doing well, but are growing in their dedication to doing the works of God. In knowing what Jesus said in V19 we understand why his eyes are described as being “like” a blazing fire. Family, His eyes, both here in V18 and also in V19:12 are not said to be a blazing fire, but to be like blazing fire. We may understand these descriptions to mean that He completely knows us, and what we do, and what we hope for. To use a common vernacular, we could say the He “looks right through us.” Family, in the time of judgement, Jesus knows all and makes no mistakes.
“…and on His head are many crowns.” The crowns represent authority over many. It is not said who or what the many are that the crowns represent authority over. It could be thought that it represents authority over the nations. However, He has authority over all the earth so “many” would seem to be an odd way to express His absolute authority over all the earth. One commentator (Jon Courson) believes that the crowns are the denominations of His people. The Lord has many people in many denominations of His church. He shall, in the End Times, gather them all together. We quibble and argue and believe that only what we believe is right. We let matters that are not matters of eternal life and eternal death separate us. While certainly we should stand for the right interpretations of the Word, we also let ourselves be divided by such things that are trivial spiritually, like smoking, or tattoos. God Himself will judge who are His and who are not. That judgement belongs solely to Him.
The Roman guards mocked Jesus and made a crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2) and mashed it onto His head. These verses use the same word (the transliteration is stephanos) used in these verses is the same as is in V12. Therefore the crowns may be a rebuff of what these evil men did. They mocked Him with a crown of thorns, but they will bow before Him as His royalty and divine kingship is revealed. Men of this world mock God, but one day they will be reminded of their deed and word and they will shudder. Jesus is the King of kings! Praise God!
The crowns may also represent His victory over the enemy, and also over all who oppose His divine right to rule. In Revelation 2:10 Jesus tells the church of Smyrna that if they remain faithful, even to the point of death, He will give them life as their victor’s crown. Also in 2 Timothy 4:8 the Apostle Paul writes that he, and all who continue to love Jesus until His appearing, will receive a crown. Jesus indeed persevered and was true “even to the point of death.” Surely it is possible that His many crowns represent the complete victory that He had over the enemy as He took back each of our eternal companionship from him back to eternal companionship with God.
Proverbs 1:7a “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” As we read through the Word of God we ought to become increasingly reverent to the point of the fear of God. It is one thing to tell how beautiful a lion is when one is securely protected by a barrier between the lion and oneself. But to stand bare handed and face to face with a four hundred pound lion that has an inch and half long claws and four inch fangs is quite another. Then this creature of beauty, when to face to face with its ability to kill and maim, is not admired for its beauty but feared for its mighty power. The lion may have no intent to hurt, but what it could do is dreadful. We do not fear God knowing that He loves us, but being face to face with the Almighty God is a very fearful thing as we see Him in all His power and might. Family, I know many will run to the verse 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” Some will smugly wave this first part of the verse to proclaim they do not understand how a child of God could fear Him. Well, those who say such things must not read the rest of the verse because the whole of V18 states “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” This verse is speaking of not fearing punishment from God because we dwell in His love and grace through Jesus our Savior and Lord. It is not speaking of beholding God in all His power and majesty. To know the infinite power of God, and to know that He, even more so than a lion, has our destiny entirely in His hands, is very frightful to those who are not covered by His love and grace. Even mighty men of God, when in His presence, have fallen to their knees and quivered. Isaiah 6:1-5 describes when Isaiah was in the presence of God. He fell to the floor and cried out “Woe is me!” Family, it is easy for those who don’t understand who God is, how mighty and awesome He is, to ignorantly speak that they could have no fear of Him. People say such things till they are face to face with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We must remember that we will all bow our knees in reverential fear and being overwhelmed by His glory (Romans 4:11, Philippians 2:10). Bowing to ones knees is what one does before one who has absolute power. Family, yes, ultimately we have nothing to fear from the God who completely loves us, but as Isaiah did, and as John did (Revelation 1:17) (even before angels ((Revelation 19:10)) and the power they possess from living in the presence of God) we all will be overcome by, and even fear, when at first we actually see Him. Oh my, oh my, what a wonderful day! But we also know that His hand will reach out to us and cause us to rise to His embrace (Revelation 1:17). Oh, praise God! Our God is powerful to create the all the universe and tender to wipe away all our tears (Revelation 21:4). There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment and indeed we, Family, will face no punishment because of the perfect and complete work of Jesus. Praise our God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withRevelation 19:11-16 – I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS.
“With justice He judges and wages war.” In ESV and the NKJV it is translated “in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Using the translation “justice” is proper and is closely related to “righteousness.” We might define justice as giving out or receiving what is fair or impartial. Of a judge it is considering the facts and then making a decision that is made from the facts and circumspect consideration. There is not impartiality or bias in the decision, just a rendering of what is as equitable. Some consider justice to be a compromise, yet compromise is not always fair. Sometimes one person is one hundred percent right and another person one hundred percent correct. So compromise for the sake of compromise can be very unjust. There is not compromise for those who have rejected Jesus as their Messiah and Lord are fully guilty of rejecting the mercy and love of God to embrace the evil in and of the world. They are one hundred percent wrong and have no excuse (Romans 1:18-32, 10:31). Righteousness is only imputed to a person who has Jesus as Savior and Lord. Then the righteousness (sinless nature and life) of Jesus is imputed on to the His follower and the horrid sin that His disciple once had is imputed onto the believer. Outside of the Gospel there is no imputed righteousness. How can there be, there is none other than the Triune God who is sinless, who is righteous. No one can give what they do not have so none but God can impute righteousness to another. God has only made one way to receive His righteousness and that is through Jesus His Son.
So what is righteousness? God is the only one who has it, except for those to whom it has been imputed to. Righteousness is the innate purity of God. It is all the qualities of God that are all manifested as the result of His love. Since God loves all (John 3:16) He is just with all (Romans 2:11). His love demands that justice be rendered in every case. From God’s love flows His qualities. He provides, protects, heals, teaches, etc. all out of His love. Yes God is righteous, because it flows from His very nature. It is who He is and it all comes from His love. It all begins and ends with His love. The Word says that God is love. It is not that love controls God, but that God Himself is love and it flows from the essence of Him. God does not have a checklist of things to do to be loving, He is loving because He is love. It is His essence. A perpetual liar lies because that is what is within Him. In his heart is dishonesty and deception and so he lies. The action does not make the heart but from the heart flows the action (Luke 6:45). Acts of love from God does not make Him a loving God. Rather acts of love flow from Him because He is love. Love naturally flows from the fount that is Him.
Since God is love the judgement that comes from Him is not from anger or vengeance. Rather it what is fair and righteous. It come from His love. In love He gave men free will. However throughout the Word, even from the Garden of Eden, God has always warned that rebellion against God is sin and so there will be a penalty for sin (Genesis 2:15-17), which is not the righteousness of God. Any action that is contrary to the nature of God (is revealed by what He does and is who He is) is sin. And only those who have God within them are being transformed by Him to change from their sinful essence to a Godly essence. If God truly lives within us then we have His love within us and thusly we live in righteousness (the nature of God) and justice (which is a byproduct of the nature (love) of God. Righteousness and justice are a supernatural progression of all those who have yielded to Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit is love (1 John 4:8). If He is transforming us to be like Jesus, who is leading us to the Father, who both are love, then love is within us. Now it is not exactly that having love displayed from within us is the key. What is the key is that because God lives within us He is then assimilating every cell within us to be conformed to Him (and that we call out and plead for Him to do). He is love and so we are transformed from selfish sinners to unselfish conformers to God, not done by our will but by His love (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). Therefore, yes we yield to God, but it is He who chooses us and keeps us and transforms us because He loves us. He calls us to Him because He knows all and He knows that what is best for us is to be with Him. As we were made to be His children, to not be His child is an abomination against not only our Lord, but also against the very make up of how we were built.
When Jesus comes back to judge and make war, it is not out of hate or vengeance, but rather because of His very nature of love. He has been merciful and offered grace and a place at His dinner table to all. If they have refused Him then they have stated that who He essentially is, is not what they like, or prefer, but even hate (Matthew 12:30). They do not want to be what they were created to be. Those who reject Christ reject their creator, they reject the purpose of their creation, they, in fact, reject the essence of who they were made to be and have mutated and become a vile creature that ends up living a life that is hateful even to self. They refuse to live a life of subjection to God. Rather, they would be free of God. They may cry out “live and let live,” but actually, since they were created to love and fellowship with God, by rejecting God they have decided Him unworthy to be their Master. So they defame God and elevate themselves (Job 40:8). They are not listening to God, but to the enemy. He also attempted to elevate Himself as sovereign over his own life and deemed God unworthy to rule over Him (Isaiah 14:12-15). Therefore God is just and He is righteous in waging war against those who have utterly rejected Him. He loves His disciples and the world has rejected and scorned His disciples. They have scorned the Gospel message they shared with the world. God judges and He discerns what the fruit of the unbelievers plainly reveals. It reveals that they reject God’s presence in their lives and so God gives them what they want, and what they want is separation from Him. He is just with the unbeliever and gives them what they want, separation from Him and that means spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. He is in the same action just with the believer who has been martyred and, or, persecuted, because the unbeliever who persecuted or killed them has received a just sentence.
Family, remembering the martyrs under the Altar form Revelation 6:9-11, they cried out for justice, for justice to be done for their blood spilt by unbelievers. God is bringing justice for all those who have harmed His beloved children. Every cruel word will be accounted for. Jesus loves us and woe to the one who harms or attempts to derail one of His children (Luke 17:1-3a). In His absolute righteous judgement of the rebellious, His love for us is in open display. Family, indeed God is love. His justice is a fruit of His love. It is all about love, His love. He is always good and He always loves us. Woe to those who hurt the children of God. Pray for them. Praise our God who loves us so! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob with
Revelation 19:11-16 – I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.14 The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS.
“I saw heaven standing open…” In Revelation 4:1-2 John sees a door open and he hears a voice calling him up to heaven. V2 states that he was at once in the Spirit and he was in Heaven. This time Heaven is opened and Jesus is coming out of Heaven and He is on His way back to end the evil reign on earth. He is claiming back what belongs to God. And the enemy and all who side with him are no match for He who spoke all of existence into existence.
Jesus is not coming only in the air to take His people home as the “Rapture” is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” This time when Jesus comes back He is coming back to bring justice and judgement. He is coming back to the earth to defeat the enemy. Zechariah 14:4 tells us that when He returns this time His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives and it will be split in two causing a great valley. Luke 24:50 records that Jesus was “in the vicinity of Bethany” with His disciples when He left them and was taken up to Heaven. Bethany is on the side of the Mount of Olives. So we see that the prophecy from the two angels that “this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus was taken up in a cloud (Acts 1:9) and He will return in the clouds (Revelation 1:7) as Jesus as Jesus prophesied (Mark 13:26) and as also the angels did. Jesus also returns to the Mount of Olives from which He departed. Praise God for His perfectly accurate Word!
“and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.” Some mistake the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2 with the rider here in Revelation 19:11. That is a mistake. The rider in Revelation 6:2 is the Antichrist. He rides out with a bow, but no arrows, he is given a crown which means that he will have authority to rule, and he is a conqueror bent on conquest. He has no arrows because he is a deceiver who seems to be making all the right moves and saying all the right things, but then his true evil nature is revealed. He makes a peace treaty with Israel and allows them to build their temple, but half way through the tribulation (three and a half years) he breaks the covenant with Israel and pursues them to destroy them. He will put in place a false idol of himself in the temple and thereby commit the “Abomination that causes desolation.” (Daniel 9:27). The rider mentioned in Revelation 6 is the deceiver who serves the devil. He is the opposite of the rider from Revelation 19 who is called “Faithful and True.” This title has earlier been ascribed to Jesus in Revelation 3:14. Jesus is faithful (Hebrews 3:6) and He is the embodiment of Godly Truth (John 14:6, 2 Timothy 2:13). Contrariwise the Antichrist is he who, like his father the devil, is filled with lies and deceptions (John 8:44). Jesus only speaks as the Father has guided Him and God cannot lie (Deuteronomy 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:8). The two riders are the exact opposite.
As already noted Jesus is referred to as “Faithful and True” and that is an apt and deserving title.
Already we have seen, and do see, the prophecies from the End Time happening all around us. The biggest one is bringing the dead nation of Israel back to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14note Verses 11-14). It seemed to the world that this prophecy would not come true. Israel had not been a nation for over two thousand years. People wondered if God had discarded the nation of Israel and replaced them with the church. Family, please don’t believe that lie! God loves Israel and has called the nation from a very old grave. God does not forget His promises (Psalm 105:8, Deuteronomy 4:31) and He is always faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Psalm 119:90). We can rejoice in the faithfulness God has shown to Israel. We see that as He is faithful to them, so He is faithful to us. Family, let us praise God who will surely return to bring us home and we shall forever be with Him. Praise God! God is always good! He always loves us! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withMatthew 6:9 – “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Happy Father’s Day Father God! Thank you for giving me a great earthly Father and that he is with You now. Thank You for being the ultimate example of what all Father’s should be. My Dad was a great Father, but none, including me, are perfect as You are perfect! Yes Lord, thank You! I love You! I am looking forward to the day when I finally behold You! Though really, You show yourself to me daily! You truly are beautiful! Amen, yes You are beautiful!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob with