Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Revelation 19:12-13
Feb 13th, 2011
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”

In verse 11, John says, “And I saw.” We are told that John is relating things which he actually saw. He states that he saw Christ. He says that he saw Christ sitting upon a white horse. In verse 12 and 13 he gives us a description of Christ as He sits on the white horse. For us this is a wonderful revelation of Christ as He is about to return to the earth.

The first part of the description says, “His eyes were a flame of fire.” This is the same as the description John gives in Revelation 1:14, “And His eyes were as a flame of fire.” John here uses the word “as” he is painting for us a picture of what he saw. The idea is that His eyes are penetrating. Nothing escapes Him, He sees everyone and He sees all about them. He sees into their hearts and minds. He sees their attitudes and motives, He sees the whole life. As He returns to the earth He sees the wicked and their wicked hearts and their unbelief and rebellion. Nothing escapes Him; there is no place to hide.

When the sixth seal is opened men try to hide from Him, but to no avail. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.” It is impossible to hide from Him. He sees all and He knows all.

In the sheep and the goat judgment, every man and woman alive on earth will stand before Him and be revealed as He judges each individual. Matthew 25:32-33, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” His judgment will be righteous and true as He gives a verdict on every living person who has survived the tribulation period. Matthew 25:34, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” What a wonderful moment for the righteous who have been persecuted by the world for their righteousness and faith in Christ.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). What a devastating moment for the unrighteous which stand in their own righteousness which are as filthy rags in His sight. The all -seeing eye of Christ will penetrate every heart.

John continues his description, “And on His head were many crowns.” As Christ returns to the earth He is the uncontested ruler of the world. He is the ruler over many (every) nations.

Today the world’s rulers are in rebellion against God and His Christ. David stated it in Psalm 2:2-3, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”

The world’s rulers are today decreeing that the land of Israel is to be given to the enemies of Israel. They are in defiance of God and His Word.

Today men are saying that God’s Word is not true, God is either a liar or He does not even exist. They proclaim that God did not create the heavens and the earth; they just evolved out of nothing. Men are defying what God says about marriage; they say marriage is an option.  They also legitimize homosexuality. Whatever God says in His Word, men reject.

When the rightful king comes back to reign, He will put down all the rebellion of man. All will bow before Him, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11-12).

John goes on to say, “And he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” In verse 13 John tells us more about His name, he says “His name is called the Word of God.” Jesus is the Word of God, the living Word. You cannot separate Christ from the Word of God and you cannot separate the Word from Christ. When you know all there is to know about the Word of God, then you know all there is to know about about Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Of course that time will never come, God is infinite and we are finite.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood.” This is not His own blood which He shed on the cross to redeem men. This is the blood of those who have refused His shed blood, the blood which He shed to redeem them. When He comes to the earth He will put down all rebellion. “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth” (Isaiah 63:2-6).

When Christ returns to the earth His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives and He will proceed to destroy the armies of the earth. “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.....” (Zechariah 14:4a).

At that time the armies of the whole world will be assembled against Him and against His people Israel.

The rest of the chapter tells the story of this great coming judgment on the world.