Christ’s Second Coming
By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist
Read: Revelation 19:1-21
“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. … And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:11 & 16)
The armies of Jesus Christ will come from heaven (Revelation 19:11-16). In Revelation 4:1, heaven opens to let the church in; but here, heaven opens to let Christ and his armies ride forth in victory. At his trial, Jesus Christ said that God the Father could send legions of angels to deliver him; and here the Lord rides forth with the armies of glory: the OT saints, the church, and the angels (Matthew 25:31; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). In Revelation 6:1, the Antichrist had ridden on a white horse, imitating Jesus Christ, but here the “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11) rides forth to judge and make war (Psalm 45).
This description of Jesus Christ is thrilling. He is no longer on a humble donkey, but on a fiery white charger. His eyes are not filled with tears as when he beheld Jerusalem; nor is he wearing a mocking crown of thorns. Instead of being stripped by his enemies, he wears a garment dipped in blood, signifying judgment and victory. When on earth, he was abandoned by his followers; but here the armies of heaven will follow him in conquest. His mouth does not speak “words of grace” (Luke 4:22), but rather the word of victory and justice (see Isaiah 11:4). Jesus Christ comes to rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2). He comes not to bear the wrath of God on the cross, but to tread the winepress of God’s wrath at the Battle of Armageddon. He is king of kings and lord of lords.
Who are the armies gathered together against Christ? These are the armies of the 10-kingdom federation of Europe, as well as the forces of the kings of the east, Egypt and Russia. They gather on the Plain of Esdraelon in Palestine. The name “Armageddon” means “Mount of Megiddo.” An angel announces that the armies of earth will lose the battle. In fact, there will not be much of a battle, for Jesus Christ will destroy his enemies instantly (2 Thessalonians 1).
Christ destroys the armies with the word, the sword that comes from his mouth (Hebrews 4:12). Men would not bow to his word and receive the Gospel; now they must be slain by that same word. The followers of the Antichrist (i.e., the beast) are “marked men;” the mark of the beast on their bodies seals them for certain judgment. The OT prophets wrote about this great battle (see Isaiah 63, Zechariah 14, and Joel 2-3.)
God promised that Jesus Christ would one day rule the earth. Christ’s second coming is that day. When will this happen? Perhaps soon. Because God keeps his promises.
Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at www.rcpbibleoutlines.com free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.