The Glorious Return of Jesus Christ, Part 2 B

This conqueror comes not as other conquerors out of covetousness, ambition, pride, or the love of power is conquer comes in utter righteousness in perfect holiness in strict accord with every family that's taxes of life are concerned far better to focus on the two that have eternal consequences.

Namely, Jeff and the return of Christ. Indeed, the Lord's return and all of the end time events you read about in Scripture or certainties that you need to prepare for the question is how do you prepare that's a question to keep in mind today on grace to you as John MacArthur continues his study called when Jesus comes. If you have your Bible, or if you're using our study Bible app turn to the book of Revelation. And here's John with today's lesson is our great privilege to open our Bibles to the 19th chapter of Revelation and to look at that great text which details for us.

The return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation chapter 19 verses 11 through 16 now want to divide these verses up into three parts.

The return of the conqueror of the regiments of the conqueror and the rule of the conquer the return of the regiments and the rule must look. Then first of all the verses 11 to 13 and look at the return of the conqueror, the return of the conquer verse 11 and I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse and he was set upon it is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. This time John doesn't see a lamb in the midst of the throne. Rather, he sees.

According to verse 11, a white horse. This is not a lamb. This is a white horse riding on that white horse is the great conqueror of the Messiah, Lord, is a man of war in righteousness he judges and makes war. Frankly, the judging is already been going on in the breaking of the seals and the blowing of the trumpets and the pouring out of the Bulls, but now he makes a final war you for long centuries had endured the scoffing's patiently the insults the bad manners of men who contemplated Calvary, and is it worth spit on him, we displayed human hatred and contempt through millennia have rejected the piece that he made to the blood of the cross are not going to find him a warrior king, but there's not gonna be much fighting on their part. The end will come in a split second you see heaven cannot be at peace with sin. God is a pure horizon to behold evil cannot look upon iniquity God's patience has an end. He will not always tolerate iniquity. Justice cannot always live with injustice. Truth cannot always live with allies. Rebellion cannot always go on and when sin is finally incorrigible and man is incurable will come the destruction and mercy abused will bring the executioner here says one writer comes this sort of insulted Majesty the wrath of rejected grace. Furthermore, this conqueror comes not as other conquerors out of covetousness, ambition, pride, or the love of power. This conqueror comes in utter righteousness in perfect holiness in strict accord with every holy interest. That's where it's going to go this history of the world.

That's where it's going to win. Further, in the description verse 12 and his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diet dams and he has a name written upon him which no one knows except himself. He has eyes like a flame of fire. What is that now nothing escapes his notice is penetrating eyes. His eyes pierced through and see everything that to a set of human Revelation 114. His eyes were like a flame of fire has to do with piercing penetrating as well as purifying gaze. You can see into the recesses of every human heart is vision penetrates everything in chapter 2 verse 18 of Revelation to the church in Thyatira.

It's is a son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire when first he looked upon the earth when first he came. His eyes sparkled with tenderness and joy as he gathered little children to himself as he expressed his love to the poor and the needy. His eyes glowed with compassion as when a single look on guilty Peter melted Peter's heart and made them weep bitterly. His eyes were filled with tears as he looked over the city of Jerusalem and wept as he shed tears from those same eyes at the grave of Lazarus.

The day is coming when those eyes flashed with fire when there penetrating burning eyes probing the darkest recesses of every human soul and purging and purifying with judgment to judge rightly. He has to see everything yes to sound the depths of every heart yes to see behind every mask under every façade. It is the flaming vision of righteous omniscience and anger. Then it says in verse 12, upon his head are many crowns, many D out in my many kings, crowns, rulers, grounds, and the speaks of his royal rank and regal authority.

NCI duties just collected all the crowns and they're all on his head because nobody else rules, any place, here is the ultimate symbol of sovereignty, all the crowns are on one head in chapter 11 in verse 15 we hear the same thought a different way. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever to fair exchange is not for a crown of thorns fair exchange and what it refers to is I suppose what you could call unassailable sovereignty, unassailable sovereignty.

He is King and no one can do anything about it. Gerd thy sword on by thio mighty one summer set aside, quoted earlier and in thy majesty ride on victoriously. He is the king.

Further it says about him. He has a name written upon him which no one knows except himself. I can't tell you how many people have asked me what that name is and I have told them all the same thing is a name that no one knows, not even me and no one else. We don't like something like that. Do we want to know but this is something we don't know John could see a name their leader. He couldn't read it or he couldn't comprehend it. When he did read it. It was unintelligible to him.

He didn't know what it was. It was beyond human comprehension was beyond human knowledge. It was beyond human understanding and listen my friend that's very encouraging.

With all that we know of Jesus Christ. We will not know the fullness of the mystery of his person. John couldn't know what all maybe maybe there are things that will know in eternity.

Surely there are that we can't know now, but I'm quite confident that the full mystery of his being may well never be known to us. Yes, we will know as we are known to some degree.

According to first Corinthians 1312 and and that's wonderful to think about, but here was John in an exalted vision taken to heaven and there was a reality about Jesus that he could not comprehend. There is an incomprehensibility to the character of God, the perhaps even an eternally glorified human will never know all will know so much more than we know now what the full incomprehensibility of God will always be incomprehensible and Saul.

John is saying is there something about them that is way beyond anything we can ever comprehend. That's wonderful to hear. Sometimes I think we can become overly familiar with Jesus we can weaken over we can overstate our comprehension and think we really know him better than we do.

There is a profound nature in the Lord Jesus Christ that is comprehensible only to God, here comes the end, comprehensible one. The sovereign one, the faithful and true one.

The warrior king to do his judgment and then in verse 13, further describing the return of the ruler who returns is clothed with a robe dipped in blood in his name is called the word of God is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. This is not the blood is shed on the cross. This is not a picture of redemption.

My friend, this is a picture of judgment, and based upon clearly the imagery behind this in Isaiah 63 is of a coming king with the blood splattered garment. Jesus is coming with his blood splattered garment sale. Wait a minute, he's coming with the blood splattered garment, but the battle hasn't started where the blood come from nation to remind you this is not his first battle. This is his last battle he is worn is battle closed before but he is fought the Dragon cool but he fought for Israel in the days of Joshua, who, but he thought the kings of Canaan and Teaneck by the waters of Megiddo, who would he vanquished six world powers past and all the nations that have by this time fallen his garments have been splattered with blood for a long time. Who but he battled Pharaoh in the triumph of the Exodus, the Almighty conqueror who has his work clothes on and his war close, bear the stains of prior battles. This is not his first battle the same Almighty conqueror battled with sin at the cross and mingle his own blood with the blood of his enemies on his battle close and now these battle close are to be stained again in the stains.

Now, perhaps more far-reaching than ever before.

Used to tread the winepress of the wrath of God. Blood splattering in every direction in the Holocaust of fearful judgment in second Thessalonians 1. Seven it says the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and those who do not be the got obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is coming in the fury of judgment to stain his garments again and then it says in the end of verse 13. His name is called the word of God's name is called the word of God, just in case is any question about who it is we know the word of God is right.

John one, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We beheld his glory, right in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. The word of God is none other than the second member of the Trinity, Christ, the incarnate one was also the creator. He is the one with the blood on his garments. He is the warrior king becomes an judgment.

So here again this name is so majestic he what is what is, why does God choose the call in the word of God because he is the expression of God is the revelation of God is the declaration of God is the one in whom we hear God speak and see God act. He is the full expression of the mind and the will of the purpose of God is God's word word represents that which is communicated, he communicates God. So the sum of his names really is a glorious picture is in it he has a name which no man knew which expresses his essential deity.

He has a name. The word of God which expresses his incarnate deity.

And he has a name king of kings and Lord of lords, which expresses his sovereign deity.

Frankly, the gospel plan is in those three names is God revealed himself. The man someday will come to rain over the universe.

Some of the names then is the sum of the picture of the conqueror, so the return of the conqueror. Then we see the regiments of the conqueror briefly in verse 14 and the armies which are in heaven now. We got some armies up there in heaven who are they well there, clothed in fine linen, white and clean in their following him on white horses. Who are these glorified troops well get a little hit here back in chapter 19 verse eight just go back a few verses is the bride verse seven.

The bride is the church as well as the redeemed Saints of been brought together for the great marriage supper to take place in the kingdom and it says the bride. That is, believers who been redeemed and it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean and it says this for the fine linen is the righteousness of the righteous acts of the saints so down in verse 14 when it says that these armies in heaven, were clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Who are they have to be saints have to be the saints have to encompass the bride has to be the church. So we said the church's rapture. Now the church comes back with coming back now depicted not so much in bridal character is in righteousness.

This would also encompass tribulation saints who'd been glorified. Because you see them in chapter 7 verse nine standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and in verse 13 essay. Who are those in white robes, and where they come from many says they are the ones he came out of the great tribulation.

They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. So you got the church garbed in fine linen, white and clean. You got the tribulation saints in their wonderful robes robes that have been made pure and clean this another group.

Jude tells us that verse 14 the Lord comes with many thousands of his saints with many thousands of his saints, but only his holy 10,000s to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all and so forth and so who would be the many thousands of his saints. Well certainly could conclude that it could be Old Testament saints.

They've been there to and they're going to have a glorious resurrection at the end of the tribulation. Daniel writes about that a resurrection on the life so you could have the church, the bride, the tribulation saints and even the Old Testament saints coming with the Lord we have to add another group and that's the Angels because in Matthew 25 in verse 3131 it says when he comes all the Angels come with him 10,000×10,000 of the Angels. Two thirds of the original number one third fell with Satan to third remaining glorious Angels come with him all the saints of the Old Testament, all the saints of the church age all the saints of the time of the tribulation all come blazing out of heaven with him so the regiments of heaven, with the conqueror and that's who they are. There are all the regiments gathered in the glory. Up until that time. So what about the saints. What we do what we come to rain. First Corinthians 62 Revelation chapter 20 has us sitting on thrones and raining so once the kingdom is established we rule and reign in the kingdom. So we see the return of the regiments and then just briefly the rule of the conqueror and it's obvious.

Verse 15 from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it he may smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron and he treads the winepress of the first wrath of God the Almighty and on his robe and on his thigh as a name written, king of kings and Lord of lords. The rule of the king is depicted in very graphic turn returned to see the return the regiment. Another rule out of his mouth comes a sharp sword. It's a symbol of his slaying, power, and Janet seen that sword before back in chapter 1 in the vision of verse 16 out of his mouth, coming a sharp two-edged sword in that particular vision. That sword was a defending sword to defend the church against the onslaught of Satan and his his powers, but here it is a sort of judgment does the flaming sword of death, and it's the sword out of his mouth because he speaks it's done the whole thing is over and the second deathdealing power in his words were once he spoke comfort. He now speaks death we don't see any weapons. By the way in anybody else's hands. None of the saints who come with him have any weapons. His word is enough and he says Isaiah 11 for will smite the earth with a rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. So verse 15 says with this sword.

He will smite the nation Israel has been purged. The elect out of Israel have been redeemed and they will be preserved into the kingdom rest of the world, he will slaughter in an instant with his own word, then he will set up his kingdom and rule them with a rod of iron. That is to say there will be regenerated Gentiles use. There's a lot skipped in their there will be regenerated Gentiles. He's not going to kill them. They'll go into the kingdom and through that kingdom. He will rule those nations with a rod of iron was at me and means instantaneous judgment means swift punishment. Chapter 12 verse five says the male child, who is Christ will rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Psalm two verses eight and nine is where that comes from back in Psalm two is the promise that the Messiah would come and he would break the nations with a rod of iron. What that means is instant swift righteous judgment will be the characteristic of the rule in the reign of Jesus Christ when he comes his judgment will be sure it will be swift, unyielding, absolute sovereignty, immediate justice with severity to be a very different world than it is today when there's so much rampant injustice and inequity, God will establish the law. Christ will execute the law, justice will be absolute sovereign, instantaneous and severe. All will be required to conform to that law will be judged. And of course we will participate at that point in that judging process that says in them. Revelation 226 to him who overcomes I will give authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, so we getting on that ruling process.

He does the execution we do the ruling Angels do the mop up after the execution then John gives a further description of his rule by saying he treads the wind, but rather of his judgment by saying he treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. That comment relates to his fury and his wrath wrath. He crushes the grapes in his wrath so very vivid symbol of judgment in nature times they would stop on the grapes and they would squish and spurt everywhere that kind of vivid bursting of the blood of people is the imagery here so you comes in fury and he comes in judgment and he tramples in an instant all the ungodly out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ comes the sentence in the execution and that puts him in a position to be King of Kings and Lord of lords, and it's written on his robe and on his thigh that indeed is his name. Psalm 45, three says Gerd thy sword on by thigh Almighty one and on that same thigh is the name King of Kings and Lord of lords is identified in John's image is having a banner that sweeps across and goes down on his thigh, and it shows that he is ultimately the sovereign is ultimately the king all foes are vanquished. Slaughter is fearful frightening terrible thing but mercy abused and grace spurned reaches this point. When he came the first time they would've preferred a murderer over him and they killed him killing the Prince of life's book of acts they openly blaspheme God they become more and more wicked as time goes on. Finally, in the end, their wickedness reaches irredeemable proportions and the executor comes back to X the picture is clear and unmistakable. The psalmist saw this and I close with this in Psalm two he sought so clearly that he was going to come with a rod of iron and he said this, verse 11 verse 10 is now therefore will kings, show discernment take warning all judges of the earth worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling and I love this kiss the son, lest he become angry, and you perish in the way for his wrath may soon be kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John is pastor of Grace Community Church and Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary and his lesson today as part of his compelling look at the end times called when Jesus comes. Now you've probably heard someone suggest that the Bible is not clear about end times events that the book of Revelation is mostly fog and mystery, and John. While it's true that Scripture doesn't reveal all of the details about what lies ahead. There is a lot that we can know you know this is not an acceptable sort of default position, but I hear it all the time. Well, you know, everybody's got a different view of Revelation.

Everybody sees it differently there. There are millennialist and post millennialist and premillennialists and other there.

There are people who have the rapture did comes at certain time with some say before the tribulation. Some say after the AAA, some say in the middle of the tribulation. Some say near the end of the tribulation.

Some say there is no rapture is the same as the second coming. And because there are so many different views. It's pretty obvious that the Bible is not clear what I beg to differ with you on that. The point of the book of Revelation is Revelation.

The whole point of the book is to make something clear that you could never know if God didn't reveal it. Why, because you can't know the future how priceless is the book of Revelation.

How priceless is prophecy like our Lord gave in the Olivet discourse. In particular, Matthew 24 and 25. This is priceless Revelation about the future and it is carefully given is accurate. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is detailed and it is clear you don't need to be confused if you take the book of Revelation at face value.

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