Understanding Revelation (19:11)~Newton

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war."

(Revelation 19:11)

Here we see Christ, not as the gentle Lamb but as the Conquering Warrior and King. All of those rejecting Christ as “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), will know Him as the terrifying Warrior that conquers every vestige of evil in the world. This fourth vision reinforces the certainty of Christ’s second coming and the finality of judgment on the unbelieving world. John has already introduced the second coming of Christ (Rev. 11:15-16; 14:1-5), yet in the typical fashion of apocalyptic writing, he introduces an idea only to return to it later with more detail, filling in the gaps in our understanding and amplifying the majestic picture before us. 

Those of us that were introduced to the idea of Christ’s return by cheesy movies and glamorized novels must unlearn some things! Jesus promised His return at the appointed time as an encouragement to His disciples (Matt. 24:29-31; John 14:3). Believers found comfort and motivation to faithfulness due to the promise of Christ’s return (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-14; 1 John 3:1-3). Just as that was true for 1st century Christians, it is the same for us. As we consider the rebellious nature of the world that is so bent on the lusty pursuit of all manner of sin and unbelief, then it is a great consolation to know that one day Christ will return, judging the world and eliminating every trace of sin. When He returns, there will be no more unbelief! All unbelievers will face His wrath; though too late for eternal life, they will confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). No more skeptics or atheists will denigrate our Lord or the gospel. The anxiety that we feel over our own weaknesses with regard to sin will be over. The grief that ladens us due to the wickedness in the world will be forever removed. “The Son of God appeared for this purpose,” John tells us, “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The finality of that work transpires at the Second Coming as the full measure of Christ’s conquering death at the cross will be applied.

(Dr. Phil A. Newton)