Revelation 19:10-16
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
October 15, 1997
Introduction
We’re coming to the end of the book. We’re seeing what is at the end of the story. The end of the world’s story.
:10 John worships the angel
:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him
Somehow, in a moment of weakness, John falls on his knees before the angel.
:10 See thou do it not:
or, literally, "see not", another way of saying "STOP THAT!"
Lesson:
Don’t worship angels.
Men are not to worship angels.
Today there’s lots of interest in angels.
They’re pretty cool creatures, but they are not to be worshipped.
Lesson:
Don’t worship men.
And if mankind is considered "lower" than angels, then we certainly aren’t to be worshipping other men, even if they’re dead.
The worship of Mary in the Catholic church is getting to the point where there’s a group petitioning the pope to make on of his infallible "decrees" declaring that Mary is a "co-redemptrix" of Jesus. That Mary is an equal with Jesus, and she helps in paying for our sins.
I think if Mary herself were to have something to say about it, she would say, "See thou do it not".
Even Peter and Paul understood this, when at times, people wanted to worship them. See (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-15,18)
:10 I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
fellowservant – sundoulos – a servant alongside another one. John was a servant of Jesus, and so was this angel.
The angel only sees himself as just another servant alongside John and the others with the testimony of Jesus.
Lesson:
Just a servant.
We talked some about the importance of being simple servants, that ministry always begins with servanthood.
We might look at angels and their awesome "cosmic powers" and think, "wow!", and yet the bottom line is that they are just servants of God.
Jesus Himself said,
Mr 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
:10 worship God
There is only one worthy of our worship. God.
Do you think Jesus realized this when the disciples worshipped Him after calming the storm?
Mt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Or when the blind man worshipped Him?
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Or when Thomas worshipped Him?
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Of course, Jesus IS God.
:10 for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
We could say, "the testimony about Jesus is the essence of prophecy"
(John 5:39 KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
We see this over and over again as we’ve studied the Bible, that some of the smallest little details are important, because they talk of Jesus.
In our Sunday night Bible Survey, we’ve seen lots of examples of how even little details in the Old Testament speak of Jesus.
Just last week – we saw that concerning the laws for a high priest:
(Lev 21:13 KJV) And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
Why is this verse here? Because it speaks of Jesus, our Great High Priest, and us, His virgin Bride.
:11-16 Jesus returns
This is the moment that we’ve been waiting for, the moment that all creation has been waiting for.
Billy Graham writes,
There is an inscription in the dome of our Capitol in Washington which few people know about. It says: "One far-off divine event toward which the whole creation moves." A visitor saw this inscription and asked the guide what it meant. He said: "I think it refers to the Second Coming of Christ." When the dome of our Capitol was erected, some God-fearing official ordered that inscription to be etched in the dome of our seat of government, believing that its truth was vital to the concern of our nation.
:11 And I saw heaven opened, and
Somehow, I’m curious about what this is going to look like.
:11 behold a white horse
This is not the same "white" as the fine linen of the Bride (which was better translated "bright" or "shiny"). This is indeed a "white" horse.
Some have used this verse to suggest that there will be animals in heaven. Perhaps.
:11 he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True
Faithful – pistos – faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful; that can be relied on.
Lesson:
You can count on Him.
Illustration
Have you ever heard of the unusual account of how the news of the battle of Waterloo reached England? The word was carried first by sailing ship to the southern coast. From there it was relayed by signal flags to London. When the report was received at Winchester, the flags on the cathedral began to spell it out: "Wellington defeated..." Before the message could be completed, however, a heavy fog moved in. Gloom filled the hearts of the people as the fragmentary news spread throughout the surrounding countryside. But when the mists began to lift, it became evident that the signals of Winchester Cathedral had really spelled out this triumphant message: "Wellington defeated the enemy!"
Too often we allow the future to be colored by what we understand at the moment. We have a tendency to become so absorbed with our current difficulties that we forget God's faithfulness in the past.
:11 in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Righteousness – dikaiosune - in a broad sense: something that is as it ought to be; integrity, virtue, rightness, correctness
He makes no mistakes.
:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire
I think this speaks of Jesus' knowledge of us (seeing right through us) and of His judgment over us.
We saw Jesus described this way at the beginning, and it was applied to the churches.
To church He was most upset with (Thyatira), Jesus described Himself with this very description:
Re 2:18 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; (AV)
And again to the same church, Jesus elaborates with:
Re 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (AV)
Lesson:
He sees everything.
We can run into problems when we forget that we’re being watched.
Eze 8:12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
It’s not a bad thing to know He’s watching. For us, we know that He’s watching us with His eyes of love, I don’t think the flame is on. I hope not.
:12 on his head were many crowns
There are two Greek words that are translated "crown" in the King James.
One word (stephanos) means a "victor’s wreath", as the wreath of olive leaves that the winner of Olympic games received. It’s used in
Re 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
As we saw back in chapter 6, this was not Jesus Christ, but a close imitation, the antichrist.
The other word (diadema), which is used here, indicates a crown that a king would wear.
When Jesus comes back, the crown He’s wearing isn’t because He’s won some prize, it’s because He IS the King.
:12 he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
What is this name? No man knows.
:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood
dipped – bapto – similar to the word for baptize (baptizo); to dip, dip in, immerse
His robe is not dipped in His own blood, as the blood spilled on Calvary. It’s covered with the blood of His enemies.
Regarding this same event, Isaiah writes,
Isa 63:1-4
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. {2} Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? {3} I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. {4} For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.:13 his name is called The Word of God.
This is the same name that John introduced us to in His gospel:
(John 1:1 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
There’s a biblical word often used that refers to the armies of God, the word being "hosts", or "Sabaoth". This army includes both us and the angels.
One of the earliest prophecies of the Bible, referred to by Jude, refers to this event:
(Jude 1:14 KJV) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
:14 clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
This is the same kind of clothing that the "Bride" was clothed with a few verses ago (Rev. 19:8)
We mentioned last week that this is probably where our concept of a white bridal gown comes from, but I urged caution with what kind of picture you have in mind, because here the armies are wearing what seems to be the same garments.
You either have to picture an army dressed up in bridal gowns, or a bride who is wearing white combat gear!
Lesson:
The Battle will be over.
Right now, we’re in the midst of intense warfare.
But then, the battle will be over. In a way, we’re kind of following Jesus just for show, because it doesn’t appear we’ll be doing any fighting. Jesus is only going to have to open His mouth, and the enemies will be vanquished.
I kind of wonder if we’re all dressed up in those white, military dress uniforms, the kind with the white gloves and such.
:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword
This is a symbolic picture here. I don’t think we need to be picturing Jesus like some kind of sword-swallower, with a real sword coming out of His mouth.
sharp – oxus - sharp; swift, quick
Sword - There are actually two different kind of swords mentioned in the New Testament.
The one that is usually used to describe the Word of God is machaira, which was a small sword used in hand-to-hand combat. (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17)
That’s what we use daily in our battles, pulling out the Bible and using our Swords!
But the word used here is rhomphaia, a large sword, like that one in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indiana Jones faces that big guy with the HUGE sword (and Indiana pulls out a gun and just shoots the guy).
It’s still His Word, it’s just the Industrial-Strength version, the one that comes right from His mouth.
When Jesus comes back, He ain’t someone to be messing with! He’s going to use His BIG sword!
:15 that with it he should smite the nations
Specifically, He’s going to smite those that are gathered together, thinking they are going to defeat Him.
And all He’s going to have to do is speak a word.
:15 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron
rule – poimaino – to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep
rod – rhabdos – a staff; a rod with which one is beaten; a royal sceptre
It’s kind of a shepherding picture given here, yet rather than a rod of wood, which might not hurt quite as bad, or which could be broken, Jesus is going to shepherd the nations with a rod of iron, the idea being that it will be inflexible and absolute.
This metaphor seems to be taken from Psalm 2 –
(Psa 2:1-9 KJV) Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? {2} The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, {3} Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. {4} He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. {5} Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. {6} Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. {7} I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. {8} Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. {9} Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Some people ask the question, why doesn’t God just get rid of all sin?
He will.
When Jesus sets up His kingdom upon the earth, sin will no longer be tolerated.
But for now, He is allowing people a chance to repent of their own free will, and receive God’s forgiveness.
(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We ought to be grateful that God is patient and longsuffering.
Otherwise, if God dealt with justice against all sinners, we might all be dead.
:15 he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Treadeth – present tense, "He is treading"
This is the picture we saw back in Isaiah 63.
When God judges men’s sins, it will be like someone treading in a winepress, squishing the grapes and making all the grape juice come out, even as people will be judged with their own blood running out.
This seems to be all tied in to the Battle of Armageddon, which is in the process of happening right now, as the armies are gathered to fight against Jesus when He returns.
Perhaps this is another allusion to what we saw earlier,
(Rev 14:20 KJV) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
:16 he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written
In this modern day and age, we know all about this kind of thing. But the name written on His robe WILL NOT be "Nike".
:16 KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
There is no higher authority.
He is the king over all the other kings.
He is the Lord over all other lords.
Jesus is coming
Secular News reports …
(edited from INTELLIGENCE DIGEST)
Principally as a result of Russian actions, our analysts believe the next Arab-Israeli war might be no more than eighteen months away.
THE NEXT, AND FINAL, ARAB-ISRAELI WAR.
Intelligence received in this office during the past few weeks points to a great reduced timeframe in the Middle East. There is now evidence to support the view that the next, and final, Arab-Israeli war could come as early as the second half of 1998. There are four main reasons why we have previously argued that the next Arab-Israeli war is unlikely to occur before 2000.
1) there is no logic in going to war before every possible concession has been wrung out of the enemy by peaceful means…
Now, however, the feeling in the war camp is that most of the major concessions have been gained. No one believes any longer that the Israeli army will come down off the West Bank watershed, abandon the Jordan valley, or retreat from the Golan Heights - all or any of which would be worth waiting for.
2) The neutralization of Israel's nuclear deterrent.
The second brake on an immediate Arab-Israeli war has bee the need for the Arab states and Iran to neutralize Israel's nuclear deterrent. There is increasing indications that this has, in effect, been done even without the acquisition of a major nuclear capability by any of the Arab states or Iran.
Recent intelligence has shown that Syria has far more Scud C missiles (armed with advanced-type chemical warheads) than previously thought. Most important, the latest intelligence shows that Syria has an unusually high proportion of launchers to missiles (2-to-1 instead of the usual 10-to-1). This will enable Syria to launch a barrage of missiles at Israel in one go. With such capability, Syria might legitimately think that Israel would not dare use its nuclear arsenal.
3) "Turkey is going to war with Russia"
Third, since Israel signed a military pact with Turkey in early 1996 we have argued that Syria cannot possibly go to war with Israel until Turkey is neutralized.
…over the supply of Russian S-300 missiles to Cyprus, by the end of 1998. Turkey has said delivery of the missiles would be a cause for war with Cyprus; Russia has said it intends to deliver by the end of 1998; and now respect former Turkish prime minister Tansu Ciller, who was also foreign minister in the last government, has warned that unless there is a change in policy "Turkey is going to war with Russia.
4) Threat of terrorists
We have long argued that the best way to neutralize America would be by using nuclear-armed terrorists to blackmail the US into inaction, but we have also assumed that it is unlikely that any of the Iranian-controlled terrorist groups yet has that capacity. Until now that is.
… Former Russian security chief General Alexander Lebed has recently revealed that no all of the 100 suitcase-sized nuclear bombs with which Soviet special forces were armed have been accounted for.
… After Lebed's statement, what American president is going to call the bluff of a terrorist group that says it has one (or more) of these bombs (described by Lebed as "ideal for nuclear terror") which it is going to explode in an American city (or cities) in the event that the United States moves to protect Israel against an Arab/Iranian assault?
Lesson:
Hang on, Jesus is coming soon.
I know that some of you are going through some really hard times.
Hang on, it’s almost over.
(Rom 8:18-23 NLT) Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. {19} For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. {20} Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. {21} All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. {22} For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. {23} And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Illustration
In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, a Japanese gymnast, Shun Fujimoto, was competing in the team competition. Somehow, during the floor exercises, he broke his right knee. It was obvious to all reasonable observers that he would be forced to withdraw (from competition). But they reckoned without the determination of a true competitor. On the following day, Fujimoto competed in his strongest event, the rings. His routine was excellent, but the critical point lay ahead - the dismount. Without hesitation, Fujimoto ended with a twisting, triple somersault. There was a moment of intense quiet as he landed with tremendous impact on his wounded knee. Then came thundering applause as he stood his ground. Later, reporters asked about that moment and he replied, "The pain shot through me like a knife. It brought tears to my eyes. But now I have a gold medal and the pain is gone."
Gary Inrig, A Call to Excellence, Discovery House, 1992, p. 152.
Hang in there. The time for gold medals approaches.