The most common impression of Jesus is that of a loving, tender, compassionate Savior. But there is another side to the “coin” -the one portrayed in Revelation 19:11.
The is one of the most awesome scenes in the Bible that reads as follows:
I saw the heaven open up, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness, He judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire and on His head many crowns. He has names written and a name written no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” The armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. Out if His mouth proceeds, double-edged sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the time press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He had on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD of LORDS.
This sense begins with John using the expression which asserts that his message is of divine origin. He saw “heaven opened” (Revelation 4:1; Ezekiel 1:1). The events of earth are under the sovereign control of Him who orchestrates His will from heaven, and the apostle John was given a preview of the final conflict.
John uses his characteristic “behold” 26 times in Revelation to get our attention to the narrative, and to awaken us to what he is about to describe.
The Holy Warrior
The main subject of the vision was on the “white horse. “White” in Revelation suggests either purity or victory. In this case it stands for victory.
The rider is no doubt Jesus as He is the designated as the “Word of God, who John identifies as the Lord Jesus. In John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1, Jesus is the divine Word because He is the thought and voice of heaven to humanity (John 1:28; 14:8). The will of God for mankind cannot be ascertained apart from th mission of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus is further characterized as “Faithful” because He was loyal to the will of His Father. It was Jesus’s perfect life that qualified Him to be the atoning sacrifice for sin (1 Peter 1:18-19). He is “True’ as a witness of the Will of God to our blighted face (Revelation 1:5; 3:7, 14).
The Purpose Of His Mission
John sets forth the mission of Jesus (the heavenly warrior). In righteousness, He judges and makes war.
When Jesus came the first time, His purpose was to inaugurate the redemption for Adam’s fallen family. As He Himself said, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the works through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Once that mission of mercy was implementedeed, no further plan was to be offered. Aside from Jesus, there is no other sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:26).
When Jesus comes again, He will not come on a mission of mercy, but He will arrive for judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. It’s important to know the connection between “judge” and “make war.” These two things occur simultaneously. The war is the day of judgment. (2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7).
The wrath of God will be poured out as a prelude to a holy war. The major enemies of truth are the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet will be gathered “unto the war of the great day of God” (Revelation 16:14). Designated as Armageddon the most famous battlefield in history. Which becomes a symbol for the conflict that is to take play on the final day of this world’s existence.
Jesus came like a lamb, but is coming back as a Lion
From Pity to Praise 