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.
“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.