Rev 19:11-16 Symbolism brought to life. How should we respond to a mighty conquering king?
I want you to open your Bible with me, go into Revelations Chapter 19, and I want to carry on with: Who is Jesus? That's what we're looking at, Who is Jesus? We're looking in the Book of Revelation. Of course the Bible abounds in insights to who Jesus is. In John 5, Jesus said to the Pharisees, He said: you searched through scriptures, and you think in them you find life. He said you go right through the Bible looking to find life. He said they all talk about Me, and you won't come to Me, that you might have life, so the Bible is full of the revelation of Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is there, and you're going to say well: I didn't see Jesus in the Old Testament. Well listen, in the Book of Genesis, He's the Father of faith. He's the promised Son. In the Book of Genesis He's the deliverer that delivers the nation. He's also the lamb that sheds His blood. You go through each Book - in Exodus He's the one who brings the nation out, He's the rock that provides the water, He is the bronze serpent the hang on the cross so that people could be healed.
When you go into Leviticus He's the High Priest. He's also the offering. Every book of the Bible Jesus appears. In Joshua, He is the triumphant warrior king, who possesses the land and conquers the enemies, and makes a provision for God's people. In 1 Samuel He's the prophet, whose words never fall to the ground; in 1 Kings He becomes the king, the shepherd king, who saves and builds a nation. In the Book of 2 Kings He becomes the wise man who builds the temple, and then we go through; in Ezra He's the one who restores the temple, in Nehemiah He rebuilds the walls, so Jesus is found right through the Bible. You've just got to look for Him in the Bible. That's why Jesus said: you search the word and you're looking for life in the words; they speak of Me. You've got to come to Me, that's where life is found. It's in the relationship, the flow of a dynamic relationship, not just in lots of laws and principles. And so we could go right through the Bible. It's interesting isn't it? You know, He's the shepherd. He's the one who purchased the prostitute, and then redeemed her. He's everywhere in the Bible.
The Bible is about Jesus. It is the revelation, and we get to the Book of Revelation, and now it's the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and certain things are revealed. Firstly of course it's revealed what He is to the churches, but I want to follow and go through to the last part of Revelation, and this has yet to unfold. We saw there are three aspects of this; one, He is the bride groom, who loves us. Now remember these are just pictures of Jesus to help you know what it's like, and then show you how to relate, so as the bride groom we saw, He loves us! A passionate love. He wanted to come and save us! He pursues us. He wants to forgive us. He wants to enter into covenant with us, and so we see Him as the one who offers a covenant, love, a life long eternal relationship. What a wonderful thing. Our role is to submit, receive Him and enter that relationship, and live like someone married to the king.
Then now we want to look today at Him being the king. Well that's an awesome one isn't it? Revelations 19, Verse 11, and He said: now I saw heaven opened, and I saw a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Sounds pretty serious doesn't it? 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. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name was called The Word of God. The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses also. 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. And He has on His robe, and on His thigh, a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.