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"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 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. And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed
in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a
sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he
hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the
sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls
that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the
flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of
mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on
them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both
small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the
earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against
him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast
was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These
both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon
the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and
all the fowls were filled with their flesh." Revelation
19:11-21
LESSON 1, VERSE 11:
Welcome to this expository Bible Study. We shall, Lord willing,
journey through these eleven verses one at a time. It should be
both an exciting and an edifying trip!
The Text reads: "And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and
make war." Revelation 19:11
John is writing in the first person. He's an eye-witness to
these events! The verb he uses for "seeing" here means to
examine or to inspect! It is spelled "eidon." It's an indicative
aorist active 1st person singular verb for those of you who
would like that information.
This is not the first time in Revelation that John has seen
heaven "opened" either! Read with me Revelation 4:1.
"After this
I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and
the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew
thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4 records the
Rapture! Then chapter 19 records the Revelation of
our Saviour!
Now let's study the horse, the white horse. The Greek term
for "white" is "leukos," which gives us English words like
"leukemia," meaning "white blood!" In Greek "blood" is the word
"haima." And their noun for "horse" is "hippos," as in
hippopotamus, "horse of the river!"
The custom in the Greek-Roman word was usually to reserve white
horses for a specific purpose. They were to be used by the
conquering General who had just returned from defeating a
formidable enemy! This majestic animal was a symbol of victory!
And honor! And power! There's an earlier "white horse rider" in
the Book of Revelation, back in chapter six. But he only has a
"bow," and while truly that "bow" is an indicator of battle ...
no "arrows" are mentioned! This is power in appearance only!
No "bite" exists behind the "bark" here! I believe the first
white horse rider is a fake, an impostor, a "mimic" or copycat
of the real Christ Jesus! Notice also he ultimately brings war
and famine and massive death, not peace!
Let's get back to Jesus on the "white horse" of chapter
nineteen. According to the four inspired Gospels, Matthew and
Mark and Luke and John, Jesus walked everywhere he went ...
except for one exception! At least I can't find Him traveling
any other way. The one exception? When He rode that little
"colt" in Jerusalem a few days before His Crucifixion! But
there's a big difference between mounting and riding a lowly
colt, having never been ridden before incidentally, and mounting
and commanding a bold white horse!
In case there's any doubt about our Lord's identity up on that
horse, His Names are given!
He is "Faithful!" What a name!
Watch what I mean. Paul writes in Hebrews 3:1-2 that:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that
appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his
house."
See, Jesus is faithful!
The returning Jesus also here is called
"True!" This word, "alethinos," means "that which is not
forgotten!" That which is Real! Not counterfeit! All 27 times
the word is used in the King James Bible it is translated the
same way, "true!" Jesus on occasion would go so far as to repeat
this great Name for Himself, "Truth!" In John 14:6, as you well
know, He preached: "I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Amen!
But look at what Jesus is coming back to earth to accomplish!
"To judge and make war!" He apparently returns right in the
middle of a great battle at a place called Armageddon! His feet,
according tot he Prophet Zechariah, will "stand" in that day on
the "Mount of Olives!"
The verb "judge" is "krino" and
carries the idea of distinguishing or discerning or evaluating
certain issues of life! Here it is a forensic term. The
courtroom is in view! Someone is in trouble!
Then to "make war" translates "polemeo," to fight or conduct a
military campaign! Jesus is not returning as a meek and lowly
Lamb! Not this time! He is the roaring Lion ... of the tribe of
Judah! And He's going to set some things straight!
By the way, do notice that Jesus is still "sitting" as He
returns! That's a position of rest and an indicator that the
work is done! The work of Calvary! All remaining future time
consists merely of the "mopping up" process! Putting the devil
and the anti-christ where they belong, for example!
Then lastly do realize this. According to our verse, Jesus will
do everything ... even the battling and judgment and condemning
... righteously! "Dikaiosune" here carries the meaning of
being straight, in good standing with God! Just and without sin
or error! It's exactly like Hebrews 4:15 says:
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin."
What a view of Jesus this Text gives us!
What a Saviour!
And ... what a Warrior!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, VERSE 12:
Jesus is coming again!
Literally coming,
to this earth!
His descent is
carefully depicted in Scripture, passages like Revelation
19:11-16.
example, verse 12
says of our glorious Lord: "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."
The eyes of Jesus
have been described this way on more than one occasion. Daniel
saw Him and has told us: "His body also
was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning,
and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in
colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the
voice of a multitude." And earlier in Revelation ... in
chapter 1 ... our Lord is seen and described in like fashion.
"His head and his hairs were
white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a
flame of fire," says John of Jesus. And Jesus, describing
Himself and writing to the Church at Thyatira says:
"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These
things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame
of fire, and his feet are like fine brass."
Revelation 2:18
Eyes like fire!
Penetrating eyes,
indicative of omniscience!
Burning eyes,
suggesting fierce and unrelenting judgment!
Then Jesus' head
is described, at least in one sense. He is wearing a crown as He
returns! No, not just one ... many crowns!
It's one of His
distinguishing features. "On His Head were
many crowns!"
John had access
to at least two words for crown. "Stephanos," meaning earned
crowns ... usually bestowed for gallant effort or victory in
some athletic contest ... was available. But John, under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, chose "diadema," our word
diadem. This means a crown bestowed because of one's position,
rank, or authority! It is not earned, but deserved ... simply
because of who one is! This Greek word is only used three times
in the Bible! Once it describes the devil, Revelation 12:3. Next
the anti-christ is in focus, Revelation 13:1. Then finally and
eternally Jesus is the crowned One! The adjective "many"
translates "polus" in Greek and carries the concept of something
being "large, great or much." Great crowns! Multiple crowns!
In verse 12
Jesus' Name is discussed too! So far this great Name is not
spoken or pronounced, just written! The word "written," which is
"grapho" in Greek, is a participle, a verbal adjective. It's
"time" sense is "perfect," telling us that Jesus' Name was
written in the past and remains clearly recorded for use yet
today! This absolutely must be talking about Scripture! It's the
same tense Jesus used with the Devil back in Matthew 4 when He
responded "It is written" three
different times!
This great Name
will be reveled to us in this very Text, a few verses from now!
But until then, we must understand that there are some things
Jesus knows ... things that we will have to wait a while to
learn! Here's the Prophet Isaiah's description of that Name:
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you
a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel." Or more fully:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace."
The verb "know"
here means to understand or perceive or even discern. It's not
talking about simple casual information. We need to always keep
in mind the fact that Jesus always has information and truth
that we just can't handle yet! It's beyond our finite means to
assimilate it! Listen to Jesus in John 16:12.
"I have yet many things to say unto you,
but ye cannot bear them now." Our Lord alone must know
that Name ... for a while longer anyway!
Some day we all
shall see Jesus ... in the very manner He's been described here
in the Book of Revelation! In fact, John earlier records that
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the
earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Get
that? Every eye!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come soon!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE 13:
The Second Coming of Jesus is
dramatic! As He returns to this earth, He will be observed in
this fashion: "And he was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word
of God." Revelation 19:13
The clothing of
Jesus is mentioned here!
The noun vesture
can really mean any kind of garment; but often "himation," the
Greek word used here, means a cloak or mantle. This especially
includes one's outer clothing.
In Jesus' thirty
three year life on earth, His clothing was first mentioned at
His Birth, His Virgin Birth. There He was wrapped in swaddling
clothes. Then at His Crucifixion we are told He owned a seamless
robe, an expensive item! Now, at His Second Coming, He wears a
blood stained robe! Note that His wardrobe is in view at perhaps
the three greatest events in human history.
Here to be
"clothed" suggests some kind of a "wrap around" garment. The
verb used, "periballo," means something thrown (ballo) around (peri)
a person!
The Blood here
mentioned ... could be the Blood of Calvary yet staining His
clothes. He is our great High Priest in Heaven you know! Or this
Blood could be a preview of the coming Battle of Armageddon
where blood will flow as deep as the horses' bridles!
Next ... Jesus'
Name is given! He will be "called" this for all eternity! The
tense of the verb "kaleo" means "called progressively,
continuously!" The verbal action is durative, on-going!
What's That Name?
"The Word of
God!"
"Logos" means
"saying or speech." It gives us our English word "logic!" It is
derived form a root verb, "lego," meaning to pick or choose!
Jesus is the very logical expression of God Himself! Jesus is
God!
Christian, just
think.
You hold in your
hand the Word of God, the written Word!
And you hold in
your heart the Word of God, the Living Word, Jesus!
What a Name!
The very "Word of
God!"
And He, blood
stained clothes and all, is coming again!
Hallelujah!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, VERSE 14:
The Lord Jesus is coming again!
Not just in the
air to rapture the saints into His Presence, but literally
coming all the way to earth.
His feet will
touch the ground says Zechariah the Prophet! His exact words
are: "And his feet shall stand in that day
upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on
the east." Then comes a great earthquake and some other
cataclysmic events! Zechariah 14:14
But just before
the Lord Jesus places His feet again on this earth, on the Mount
of Olives, John adds: "And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed
in fine linen, white and clean." Revelation 19:14
A natural
question is "What armies?"
The noun for
armies is "strateuma" and means a band of soldiers or armed
guards or just as translated here, armies. Our English word
"strategy" comes from this root.
The armies, being
plural as they are, certainly must consist of at least two
separate entities. The angels of God are sometimes known
as armies in Scripture. The "Lord of Hosts," one of God's
specific names, literally means the Lord of the armies! I
believe the angels are at his command. And they can fight!
Secondly, the armies of the Lord might refer to the New
Testament Church as well! The saints of God by this time
have been caught away to Heaven ... and will ever be with the
Lord, says Paul in 1st Thessalonians 4:17.
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Since we
will be for evermore by the Lord's side ... it is only logical
that we Believers are part of that throng returning to earth
with him!
Notice we do not
lead the Lord back to earth, we follow Him! He's
the great Shepherd ... we are but sheep! This verb, "akoloutheo,"
means to accompany someone and be his disciple! Also it's here
an "imperfect" verb, grammatically telling us that once this
"following" has begin, it will continue forever! Always
following Jesus our Lord!
Then look!
These armies are
also riding horses, white horses!
I once thought
about this verse and sort of said to the Lord, "I don't know how
to ride a horse, Lord!" It seemed to me like He answered: "You
don't know how to fly either, but I'll rapture you away one of
these days!
Apparently the
Lord is a good Teacher!
The Greek
expression for the "white horses" we shall ride is identical to
the phrase "white horse" that Jesus is riding just ahead of us!
It is spelled "leukos hippos!"
Our clothing also
is described!
"Fine linen!"
"Bussinos," just
that one word, means "made of linen." That's linen of an
extremely high quality!
We are "wearing"
those robes of righteousness, made possible by the shed Blood of
Jesus! To "wear" translates "enduo," our English word "endued!"
It literally means to be "wrapped into" something! To "sink
down" into something! Here, our very clothing!
These are "clean"
garments too! "Katharos" means cleansed! Cleansed from dirt!
Cleansed from ceremonial defilement! Then cleansed from sin!
Listen to Isaiah
talk about our wardrobe: "I will greatly
rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for
he hath clothed me with
the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as
a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10
What a Day that
will be!
Praise the Lord!
Christian friend,
aren't you glad you are saved?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, VERSE 15:
I said it yesterday and it's still
true!
The Lord is
coming again!
Not merely as a
Lamb this time either!
As a roaring
Lion!
Here's a
one-verse description of His return to earth!
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them
with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Revelation 19:15
The Greek noun
for "mouth" is spelled "stoma!" This word is the basis for our
English term "stomach!" The mouth empties into the stomach via
the esophagus. By Jesus' mouth being mentioned, the Scriptures
are telling us that His Words are about to be described.
What goes out of
this sinless Mouth?
A sword!
"Romphaia" is the
noun that names the larger of two swords Roman soldiers used.
This is a long sword! Nearly like a javelin!
This sword is
also said to be "sharp." Now the adjective "oxus" not only
means sharp, but also swift! A "quick" sword! "Oxus" may be from
the Greek root word that means "acid!" That's even a different
kind of sharpness being described!
This sword is to
be used in judgment!
Jesus will
"smite" the nations! This verb, "patasso," can range in meaning
from a gentle tap to remind or correct someone ... all the way
to a fierce blow that inflicts immediate death!
The noun
"nations" translates "ethnos," meaning Gentiles or heathen or
just a large number of associated people! As you can tell
there's our English word "ethnic!" Our language "borrows" a lot
from Greek!
The "rule" of
Jesus, which He exercises over the nations when He returns, is a
great verb. It's "poimaino" and means to feed like a shepherd!
To provide, protect and tend those little lambs! It also means
sure death to the wolves and bears!
But here Jesus
exercises leadership with force, with "a rod of iron!" This noun
is "rabdos" and means a staff for a shepherd or even a sceptre
for a king! A branch off a tree! A long stout stick! Again, it's
a rod of protection for the lambs, but a rod of destruction to
the enemies!
The "iron" aspect
of Jesus' rod suggests of course any policy which is hard and
unyielding!
The word string
"a rod of iron" is found 4 times in the Bible; Psalm 2:9 and
Revelation 2:27 and 12:5 and finally in our Text here,
Revelation 19:15. If God says something just once ... it's true!
God cannot lie! But when God says something four times ... be
prepared! It's as good as done!
Everyone will
obey Jesus, either out of love or out of duty! All will serve
Him ... voluntarily or otherwise!
Then Jesus is
said to "tread" God's winepress! "Pateo" the verb means to
trample, to walk all over or to crush with one's feet!
The winepress
represents a giant vat of judgment! Perhaps the valley of
Jehoshaphat at Armageddon is meant. I am told that the geography
of that literal place is shaped somewhat like a huge winepress!
John here in Revelation tells us: "And the
winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of
the winepress, even unto the horse bridles!" That's in
Revelation 14:20.
Jesus and His
returning armies will interrupt the Battle of Armageddon!
And He will judge
in righteousness the nations of the world ... just like today's
Text says: "And out of his mouth goeth a
sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
By the way, the
nouns "fierceness" and "wrath" each translate one of the New
Testament's two great words concerning anger! "Fierceness" is
underwritten by "thumos," anger that boils rapidly and subsides
just as quickly! While "wrath" is spelled "orge" and means anger
that is slow rising, but once disturbed ... refuses to readily
go away! When both types of holy anger or righteous indignation
are poured upon the earth, woe!
Jesus is here
being pictured as the Agent of God Almighty's judgment! He did
once say "For the Father judgeth no man,
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." John 5:22
The Name God
Almighty is interesting too! "Pantokrator" just means "all"
("pas" in Greek) "power" ("kratos" in Greek) ... ALL POWER! I
reason that if God created heaven and earth by the sheer force
of His Word ... He is Power! Remember what Paul wrote in
Hebrews 11:3. "Through faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God."
What a winepress
this must be, Armageddon!
I can't wait!
I mean it!
Evil has reigned
long enough!
Satan has been
the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air and
has created chaos and rebellion worldwide!
Lord Jesus, come
again ... shortly!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, VERSE 16:
The Lord wears embroidered clothes!
Specially and
exclusively designed!
He Who on earth
did not have a place to lay His Head is now dressed
magnificently! Royally!
John, explaining
the Second Coming of our Lord, says of the Saviour:
"And he hath on his vesture and on
his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Revelation 19:16
On the great
Jewish Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16, there came a
point after the High Priest had offered the annual sacrifice for
the sins of the Nation, the bullock and the goat, that he
removed his worn and bloody clothes and washed Himself ... next
to clothe himself in his "rich" robes of majesty! I borrowed
that adjective "rich" from Matthew Henry!
Here's the scene:
The last view the people had of the High Priest presented him in
his linen robes, slaying an ox and a goat! Blood may have even
been dripping from his garments! Then he disappeared from sight!
He was in the Holy of Holies, sprinkling blood on the Mercy
Seat!
But when He next
appears ... wow!
He has changed
clothing altogether!
By God's command
he has put off the garments of humility and has been robed in
the garments of glory!
What I'm saying
is this: Jesus' last time on earth He was crucified, wearing
either nothing or nearly nothing! After He died sacrificially
He was buried and rose again three days later. Then He ascended
to His Father forty days afterward!
But when He comes
again, the second time, He ... like the High Priest before Him
... will be dressed in garments of glory!
Read it with me
again: "And he hath on his vesture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS." Revelation 19:16
The word
"vesture" (in Greek, "himation") can include all of one's
garments or just the cloak which is worn on top of everything
else. As you remember, the High Priest's garment of glory
included several layers ... most of which included the color
scarlet, a reminder of bloodshed!
Jesus' glorious
garments here at His Return are "dipped" in Blood, eternally
reminding us of the Price He paid to wash away our sin!
I earlier said
His garment was marked ... but we even know what's placed there!
His Name ... "King of kings and Lord of
lords!"
Just four verses
earlier we were told that no man knew His Name!
But Jesus just
can't ... or won't ... keep secrets from His darling children!
He lovingly shares with us His Name! Amos told us:
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but
he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
Amos 3:7
By "King of
kings" we understand that Jesus is the governmental and judicial
and executive and legislative Leader of all leaders! He also is
the sovereign and distinguished Lord over all other lords and
dukes and sirs and bishops and men of authority! (Or should I
now say women of authority? If so, He's over them too!) Just
don't let the U.S. Congress know ... or the courts of this land.
But what about
His Name being written on His thigh? "Meros" is only used this
one time in the New Testament and is obviously uniformly
translated "thigh." It's that part of one's leg that provides
strength for general combat, marching and even hand to hand
confrontation!
Jesus fights
through the power and virtue and might of His very Name!
Once in
Gethsemane He said to an arrest party that consisted of over 600
men, men who asked if He was Jesus of Nazareth,
"I AM HE!"
Look what
happened next: "As soon then as he had
said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to
the ground." John 18:6
There's power in
the Name of Jesus!
Biblically the
thigh is associated with combat! From Samson's life these words
are recorded: "And he smote them hip and
thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the
top of the rock Etam." Judges 15:8
It's also
associated with keeping one's promises!
"And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that
ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my
thigh: and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of
heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a
wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom
I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred,
and take a wife unto my son Isaac." Genesis 24:2-4
It also is
associated with virtue and holiness. A woman who had been
unfaithful to her husband could encounter certain consequences:
"Then the priest shall charge the woman
with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the
woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people,
when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to
swell; and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy
bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh
to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen." Numbers
5:21-22
The thigh is also
where one of the Judges, Ehud, hid his weapon!
"But Ehud made him a dagger which had two
edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment
upon his right thigh." Then later,
"And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his
right thigh, and thrust it into his belly." Judges
5:16,21
Psalm 45:3 prays
for Jesus to ... "Gird thy sword upon
thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy
majesty." He most assuredly will!
Also just
"seeing" someone's thigh implies a certain degree of intimacy!
Isaiah, preaching judgment to the wicked Babylonians,
predicts: "Take the millstones, and grind
meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh,
pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy
shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet
thee as a man. As for our redeemer, the LORD of
hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah
47:2-4
These thoughts
may help us to better understand that great 16th verse of
Revelation 19, the New Testament's premier Second Coming
Paragraph. "And he hath on his
vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS." Revelation 19:16
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7, VERSES 17-18:
After the Lord has returned to earth
... at His Second Coming ... John the Apostle tells us what to
expect next!
In Revelation 19,
just after His majestic description of our returning Saviour,
John writes: "And I saw an angel standing
in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the
fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye
may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the
flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that
sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and
bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings
of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the
beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had
received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him
that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his
mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."
Revelation 19:17-21
This looks like a
battle to me, a war even!
But first the
Lord issues an invitation!
To the birds!
The fowls of the
heavens!
These carnivorous
creatures are being invited to a feast!
Again ...
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun;
and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly
in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto
the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings,
and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the
flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of
all men, both free and bond, both small and great."
Some would say
this sounds gory!
I say it sounds
great!
Imagine, birds
obeying the voice of an angel! But, come to think of it, animals
have been following the Lord's commands for thousands of years
now!
Roosters crow at
His Word!
Fish swim into
nets with pinpoint accuracy, even distinguishing one side of a
boat from another!
Little untamed
donkeys submit to His control!
In fact,
Scripture reveals a God Who actually cares for the animal world.
Onto the ark He
called two of each kind!
In Jonah's day
the Lord "saved" not only the people of Nineveh, but also spared
their cattle!
And even in the
future great millennial age the animals will still be around!
Isaiah promises that then: "The wolf also
shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with
the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah
11:6
All that being
said, during the Tribulation ... near its very end, a host of
birds will be invited to one last supper!
A banquet!
All they can eat!
The wicked will
finally have been conquered!
How?
By the Son of
God, the Lord Jesus Christ!
I doubt any
newspaper will publish it, but here's the epitaph of Anti-Christ
himself: Destroyed by a Lamb! Eaten by a buzzard! And then comes
the lake of fire burning with brimstone!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, VERSE 19:
The
fowls of heaven ... all eating human
flesh?
When will this
kind of "barbarism" occur? At least that's what the world will
call it!
According to the
Bible, this "meal" will happen at the end of the Battle of
Armageddon, described by John in his Apocalypse ... Revelation
chapter nineteen!
And who are the
victims? John tells us these vultures will eat:
"The flesh of kings, and the flesh of
captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses,
and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both
free and bond, both small and great." Revelation
19:18
But we need to
continue reading. The Holy Spirit immediately adds:
"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the
earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against
him that sat on the horse, and against his army." This
19th verse identifies the combatants in this age ending Battle!
"He that sat on
the horse" is Jesus! He has earlier been described as having
many crowns on His Head and wearing a vesture dipped in Blood
and being named King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Such features
rule out anyone else but our Lord!
And in
fulfillment of Psalm 2, the kings and armies of earth so hate
God and rebel against His will and His Word that they attack!
That is; while attacking Israel, God's chosen people, they also
attack the Lord Jesus Who is descending from Heaven to protect
His little nation, avoiding their very annihilation! The second
Psalm literally asks: "Why do the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 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."
God even comments
on this scene way back in Zechariah. "For
I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the
city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women
ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity,
and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the
city." Then ... "This shall be the
plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have
fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while
they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in
their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their
mouth." This sounds "nuclear" to me! And add this little
headline. Remember, God Himself is talking:
"And it shall come to pass in that day,
that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against
Jerusalem."
Amazing!
Here it is!
The Battle of the
ages!
God versus the
devil!
The "beast" of
verse 19 is none other that the Anti-Christ himself ... for
sure!
Notice that he is
in confederacy with the wicked kings of this earth. This is a
godless conglomeration, a hateful group of united nations
demonically bent on rearranging the Middle East, without Israel!
Yes, this is the
very epitome of Right versus wrong!
Love versus hate!
The Word of God
versus secular human philosophy!
What a day that
will be!
Folks, come back
tomorrow!
Let's see Who
wins this war!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9, VERSE 20:
The world yet faces a great period
of "tribulation."
That period of
time will be ended by a Battle, the Battle of Armageddon.
There the
returning Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the Anti-Christ and his
forces once and for all!
Revelation 19:20
describes it clearly. "And the beast was
taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These
both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone."
The "beast" here
is represented by the Greek word "therion" and means a wild or
venomous animal. It is NOT the word for "beast" used in
Revelation chapter four. "Zoon" means an animal as a living
creature, made by Almighty God!
The "beast" of
our Text here is none other than the Anti-Christ!
The verb "was
taken" is "piazo" and means "to catch or capture" or "to
apprehend" or even "to lay hands on" something!
The False Prophet
is the Anti-Christ's "buddy" and right hand man.
It appears to me
that during the Tribulation there exists a "satanic threesome,"
a "devilish trinity" ... working against Almighty God and His
people. Revelation mentions the "Dragon." He is the devil
himself! He is Anti-God the Father in all he does! Also
the "Beast" or Anti-Christ who leads the godless nations
of the earth during those dark days! Then the "False Prophet"
who is the Anti-Holy Spirit! If you carefully examine the
roles and duties each of these wicked entities play ... you will
see that Satan here is "copying" the position of each Member of
the Godhead!
Anyway, the False
Prophet gets "caught" by the victorious returning Jesus also!
The "miracles"
the False Prophet performed are "semeion" to John. This means
they are "indicators" or "signs" that point to some deeper
meaning, deeper than just the act itself! He's mimicking Jesus
here. Our Lord performed seven great "signs" or miracles in
John's Gospel, proving He is the Son of God!
Yes, the Devil
can work miracles too ... at least to some degree.
These rascals
"deceived" many. "Planao," the verb here, means to lead astray!
To direct into outer darkness! Nihilism!
Two groups have
especially made themselves the victims of such deceit!
Firstly, those
who received (in Greek = "lambano") gladly and eagerly the
"mark" ("charagma") or emblem or seal or brand of the
Anti-Christ are easily misled!
And secondly,
those who worshipped ("proskuneo") or kissed or eagerly adored
the image ("eikon") or likeness or figure or statue of the
Anti-Christ are doomed also!
All this crowd,
deceivers and deceived, are cast ("ballo") or thrown into the
Lake of Fire and Brimstone! I mean kicked in there alive! The
adjective is "zontes" and means living, sensitive to stimuli!
Able to feel!
What an end to a
life of wickedness and rebellion against God!
Eternal torment!
Eternal fire!
All for having
spurned God's Grace!
For having
refused God's Control over their lives!
For rebellion and
selfishness!
Remember this:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life."
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 10, VERSE 21:
The Battle of
Armageddon is described in several Bible Texts.
However,
Revelation chapter 19 adds some interesting details.
It describes
multitudes of dead bodies, wicked men and women who rebelled and
fought against the Lord God Almighty, being fed to the birds of
the air!
Remember:
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a
loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of
heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of
the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh
of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of
horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all
men, both free and bond, both small and great."
Revelation 19:17-18
In addition to
this general description John adds further information. Among
the slain masses were the "beast" or Anti-Christ and the "false
prophet" or Anti-Holy Spirit as many have called him. Listen to
John: "And I saw the beast, and the kings
of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the
beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had
received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with brimstone." Revelation 19:19-20
So, the leaders
of iniquity are dead!
But what about
the regular soldiers, enemies of God ... yet not military
leaders?
Ah!
Verse 21 supplies
that view. "And the remnant were slain
with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword
proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled
with their flesh." Revelation 19:21
The noun
"remnant" translates "loipoi" which means the remaining ones,
the rest of the crowd. "Slain" (in Greek = "apokteino")
specifically means put to death, extinguished, abolished. And
recall that the noun "sword" is "romphaia" which defines the
larger and longer military sword, javelin-like in shape!
The Lord Jesus,
He that sat upon the white horse, does more than talk
with that sword! He judges with it too! To "proceed" (in
Greek = "ekpeuomai") means "to travel out of" a place. To spread
abroad.
Jesus simply
slays them, all of them!
And then ... the
birds eat their flesh!
The verb "to be
filled" is "chortazo" and means to be satisfied, even to the
point of being made fat!
"Flesh" here ("sarx"
in Greek) means exactly what it implies ... the meat on their
bones!
Sin right now
looks popular and easy and perfectly safe!
God says
otherwise!
And the Day of
His Judgment will come!
You can be sure
of that.
Still we pray:
"Lord, Thy kingdom come!"
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 11, CONCLUSION:
The Lord, having returned to earth in our
Revelation 19:11-21Text, next begins His millennial
reign. This is described in Revelation chapter twenty. King
Jesus, the greater Son of David, will lead and direct this earth
for a thousand glorious years!
But, what should our attitude be toward such
things?
Does the Coming of Jesus the second time mean
anything to the Christian who today is trying to live for God?
How should we approach the Rapture, the
Revelation, and Jesus' kingdom reign?
Paul answers that, at least in part.
He does so in nearly the last words he ever
penned too!
He, thinking about future rewards in Heaven,
says: "There is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give
me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that
love his appearing." 2nd Timothy 4:8
Paul reasons, "Death is no tragedy for the
Christian! In Heaven, at the judgment seat of Christ, we shall
be rewarded! There awaits me a crown, a crown of righteousness!"
Then, to encourage us all, he adds: That
crown is not just for me however! It's for all the people
"who love Jesus' Appearing!"
The noun "appearing" is the Greek word "epiphaneia,"
which suggests a bright flash of light, a glowing presence! This
is our English word epiphany. And, yes, when Jesus rides that
white horse of victory from Heaven back to earth ... Glory
will be evident, visible! "Every eye shall
see Him," writes John in Revelation 1:7.
The verb "love" is, of course, "agapao." It
means to appreciate and adore and treasure someone with
unselfish intentions! This is a love that gives to the
object of its desire! Sacrificially if necessary!
Again I ask: What's the right attitude toward
Jesus' Return?
Love it!
Love Him!
Love the Scriptures that describe it!
Even go so far as to pray for His soon
return!
That's what John did. Here's the last prayer
of the whole Bible. "Even so, come, Lord
Jesus."
That's Revelation 22:20.
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
reflect on our lord's return today! Often! pray for his glorious
appearance on earth! of course, for true believers, the rapture
comes first! think of it; eternity with jesus!
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