Sunday Left-Overs July 8th, 2012 or 'Doing the Electric Slide with Moses!'

Today at Southbrook we turned our attention to Revelation Chapter 19.  This passage takes us on a tour, beginning with Heaven.  When you think of Heaven, what images or ideas come to your mind?


Four times in this passage, heavens inhabitants shout 'Hallelujah' -literally 'praise to God,' for His mighty acts of justice and righteousness.  The author, John, describes Heaven as a 'wedding banquet!'  Now just think about that for a moment... Heaven isn't a boring place, but it is filled with the excitement and joy that we would find at a Wedding Party!  


In verse 11 a shift occurs, and we see Jesus as a mighty warrior, coming to avenge evil and injustice.  Jesus' clothes are covered in blood and a sword comes from His mouth.  He arrives to fight and comes in a victory formation!  I love this middle section of Revelation 19, because we see Jesus arriving as if the battle has already been won.  This isn't arrogance; rather it is holy certainty! For when Jesus rose from the dead, conquering the power of Sin, Satan's ultimate defeat was just a matter of time....

Two Invitations are issued, Two Dinners are held, and Two Destinies are at stake...!

Now, as you read through Revelation Chapter 19, what stands out in your mind?  Send in your questions and let us continue discussing this life-changing section of Scripture!

Warrior Jesus Imagery -Revelation 19

Think of Jesus, go ahead think of Him right now.  More than likely the image is common and reassuring: like Jesus holding a lamb or a child.  While these images are accurate, they probably say more about how we want Jesus to be than about how Jesus actually is!

In Revelation Chapter 19 we meet Warrior Jesus.  No cute lambs or bushy haired children are present.  Instead Jesus comes with a sword and a bloodied robe.  He comes ready for battle and for destruction.

Revelation 19.11-13 depicts Jesus with powerful terms and images.  We find seven different themes in this sobering view of Jesus.  Let's take a deeper look at the story behind each image...

1. Jesus is called 'Faithful and True.'  This phrase builds off of Chapter 1.5 and Chapter 3.14.   Jesus is shown to be faithful in His actions and true in His justice.  As His followers are called to be faithful in a hostile world, Jesus exists as the purest example of faithfulness!

2. 'With justice he judges and makes war.' Since the Dragon and the Beast have made war against God, Jesus goes to war against them.... This is the law of retribution that is found so strongly throughout the book of Revelation.

3. 'Eyes are like blazing fire.' This phrase refers to Daniel 10 verse 6.  One commentary states that the fiery eyes, 'refers to the penetrating vision by which God discerns all and the fiery judgment that will result from his all-seeing discernment.'

4. 'On his head are many crowns.'  This phrase is a direct attack on the Roman Empire and Caesar's rule. Caesar wore an earthly crown, but here Jesus wears the true crown and is the only 'King of Kings!'

5. 'Name that no one knows except himself.'  We remember that Jesus promised the residents of Pergamum (2.17) a 'new name.' Various interpretations exist to what this name means.  It very well could be a name of Jesus that is revealed only in the End Times.

6. 'He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood.'  Is this Jesus' blood -a reference to his sacrifice on the cross, or the blood of the martyrs, or the blood of His enemies?  All are great possibilities, but the context is a battle, and so we assume that this refers to the blood of His enemies.  See Isaiah 63.1-3 for more insight on this possibility.

7. 'His name is the Word of God.'  This is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus is called 'The Word of God!'  This title shows that He is speaking for God and that His message comes from God.

These images are packed together to show the power and authority of the Warrior Jesus.  He comes to vindicate the saints, to right past wrongs and to exercise divine judgment upon the forces of evil.