Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
V11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” The counterfeit Messiah rode a white horse (Revelation 6:2), also, but it was to deceive people, making them think he, the antiChrist, is the genuine Messiah (2 Corinthians 11:14). The false Messiah uses pretend faithfulness and lies; the genuine Messiah is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3) and true (John 1:17 and John 14:6). Every decision Jesus makes and every maneuver in war is righteous, holy, and the best of all possible decisions and actions. God makes all decisions and actions in wisdom, love, and holiness.
V12 “His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” Fire equals zeal and holiness. He has many crowns for all the honors and authority that He is.
Revelation 19:11 (Holman Commentary) “The second title is unknown. This banner remains furled, for no one knows but he himself. Because Christ is infinite, unknowable aspects of his attributes will always remain. Humans, even in their eternal glorified condition, may know only what he chooses to reveal, and his secret name reminds us of this.”
V13 “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” The robe dipped in blood is from his victorious war against antiChrist forces afflicting the believing Jews in the Petra area, where He goes first, then proceeding to the Mt of Olives.
Henry M. Morris: “The vesture was dipped in blood as He rode triumphantly down the great winepress, where the spilled blood had reached the horses’ bridles (Revelation 14:20). He will begin His journey deep in Edom at Bozrah (Isa 63:1), and continue on, “red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat” (Isaiah 63:2), until He reaches Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. “In thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things” (Psalm 45:4).”
Constable: “The blood on His robe is probably the blood of his enemies, in view of the context (cf. Isa 63:2-3). John did not see Christ as the redeemer in this vision but as the warrior and judge. As many of the symbols in this passage, this one is also proleptic, anticipating His victory.”
V14 “And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” These armies are angelic and all believers who have died. Fine linen = righteousness and servants of God. White and clean because all have had all sins forgiven, thus justified (Romans 8:1). The armies of God are innumerable. Compare Daniel 7:10, Jude 1:14, and Psalm 68:17.
V15 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” The sharp sword is the words He speaks in judgment. They are holy and true. Compare Hebrews 4:12.
V16 “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.” A kingly robe and a name. The name is King of kings and Lord of lords, which means the supreme king over all and any who exist.
We learn:
- Jesus, the Messiah, keeps His word.
- Jesus goes to war to destroy evil.
- Jesus’s words are supremely authoritative.
Questions:
- Why is every decision Jesus makes holy, just, and true?
- If Jesus is the supreme king with no other greater or equal, do we obey His rules as listed in the New Testament?