Sermons and Outlines

A Biblical View Of The End Times #6

Revelation 19:11-21

The King Is Coming

Intro: For about 6,000 years, the human drama has been unfolding. Since the day man sinned in the Garden of Eden, the whole of history has been moving toward one tremendous event. That event is the day when Jesus Christ returns to this world in power and glory to reign on the throne of David, Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32.

When Jesus was here on the earth, He made many promises to His followers, but perhaps none is so great as His promise that He will indeed return to this earth one day, Matt. 24:27-30. In fact, the last recorded words of the Lord Jesus in the Bible are these, "Surely I come quickly.", Rev. 22:20!

The fact of the matter is, Jesus is coming again! We have already seen that He will return in the Rapture to claim His people and take them to Heaven, John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:13-17. However, just as every coin in your pocket has two parts, so does the return of Jesus. The first part is when He returns in the clouds to receive His bride and the second part is when He returns in glory to defeat His enemies and to reign upon the earth. It is this event that we want to focus on this morning.

Many famous men have left us their legacy in their words. For instance, Nixon said, "I am not a crook." But, he was! Bush said, "Read my lips, no new taxes!" But, there were! Clinton said, "I didn't have sexual relations with that women." But, he did! The point? Most men's words are just that: Words! However, the words of Christ are truth! Everything He has ever said is true. And, when He tells us that He is coming again, you had better believe it!

I want you to know this morning that The King Is Coming! He is returning to this earth some glorious day to reign in peace and glory upon this earth. You need to be sure that you are ready to meet Him when He comes the first time so that you can come back with Him when He returns the second time! Let's spend some time together in these verse as we think on the thought: The King Is Coming!

I. V. 11-16 HIS COMING WILL BE VISIBLE

(Ill. When the rapture takes place, it will be so sudden and so swift that people will not even know what has taken place. Like a thief in the night, Jesus will come and steal away His jewels from the earth and will take them to Heaven. The rapture will not be a visible event. However, when Jesus returns the second time in glory and power, everyone, everywhere will know about it, Rev. 1:7. Look at what these first verse tell us about this visible event.)

A. V. 11-13, 16 The Appearance Of Jesus

(Ill. These precious verses tell us something of what Jesus will look like when He returns to the earth the second time. Notice what the Bible says about The Appearance Of Jesus.)

1. V. 11-12 His Nature - From this description, it is clear to see that Jesus is a little different than He was the first time He came!

A. V. 12 He Is Full Of Glory - This verse tells us that Jesus Christ wears on His head many crowns. These are not crowns like the Anti-Christ wore! In Rev. 6:2, we are told that he was "given" "a" crown. The word used there refers to a victors crown, a "stephanos". Very literally, it has reference to the olive leaf crowns that were given to the victors in the Greek Olympic games.

On the other hand, Jesus wear many crowns. This word is "diadems" and refers to the crowns of royalty. While Anti-Christ had to be given a crown, Jesus already wears them!

(Ill. Jesus is already King of Kings whether men acknowledge that fact or not! People can pretend that Jesus isn't Lord, but one day, His sovereignty will be revealed with great power and glory!)

This verse also says that "His eyes were as a flame of fire." This speaks of His holiness! When He returns the second time, He come not as a meek and lowly Lamb, but He returns as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He returns not in humility, but in power, authority and glory!

(Ill. What a difference there is between the Jesus of the first advent and the Jesus of the second advent. The first time, He came as a servant, Phil. 2:5-8. The first time, He came, He was despised and rejected of men. He was a man of sorrows. He appeared to be nothing more than one more man among millions of other men, Isa. 53:2-3. The first time He came, no one but a handful of common people even took note of Him. The first time He came, those who hated Him without a cause saw to it that He was put to death!

However, things are different this time around! Now, He doesn't appear as a servant, but as a King! Now He hasn't some to suffer, but to render judgment. Now, He has not come to die, but He has come to visit death upon all those who have defied Him and despised Him! He has returned in power and glory!)

(Ill. What a glorious Savior we serve this morning! God help us to see His as He is and worship Him accordingly! By the way, there are some in this room who need to receive Jesus as their Savior! You have the choice today to meet Him as Savior. There is coming a day when you will be forced to acknowledge Him as King. Today is a day of mercy, that will be a day of wrath! Which do you want?)

B. V. 11 He Is Faithful And True - I am sure for many that it looked like Jesus would never return, but He is Faithful and True! He can be depended on to keep His Word forever! What He says He will do, He will do!

(Ill. That Anti-Christ, like all other world leaders rose to power riding the back of lies and false statements. However, when Jesus appears, there are no attempts to prove that He is Who He claims to be. He shows up as a King and the world now knows it is true!)

(Ill. Just a word to the saints: Friend's always remember that you can trust Jesus! He will always Keep His Word. If He has made you a promise, claim it with the knowledge that He will surely bring it to pass! Just keep trusting Him, He is Faithful and True!)

C. V. 11 He Fights In Righteousness - All down through history, there have been wars. Many have been fought for foolish reasons. In fact, all wars boil down to one thing: sin! They all come from the fact that men want to be God. They try to place themselves in a position where they will be in total charge of the world. When they do this, other men stand up and say, "No, you will not reign over us!" And, a war is the result.

(Ill. Jesus, on the other hand, wages righteous war! His cause is a just cause! He fights the battle of the Lord! We may like to think of Jesus as a Man of peace, and He is the Prince of Peace! However, the Bible also makes it clear that He is a Man of War, Ex. 15:3! Certainly, God will pursue peace, but if man will not repent, there will come a day when that man must do battle with the Lord. He will not allow unrighteousness and sin to go unchallenged! He will make war with the enemies of God!)

2. V. 12-13, 16 His Names - When the Lord Jesus returns, three new names are attached to Him. These names reveal much about His character and Person.

A. V. 12 The Name Of Mystery - The Bible tells us that Jesus has a name written on Him that no man can know. It seems that refused to know the Name of Jesus except as a by-word, now they cannot know Him at all!

(Friend, the time to know Jesus is now! He is revealing Himself to men as the Savior of the sinner's soul. However, there is coming a day when men will not be able to know Him as Savior, but only as Judge! I beg you to call on the name of Jesus while He is still saving souls. Do not wait until He returns in judgment. In that day you will not even be able to know His Name!)

B. V. 13 The Name Of Ministry - He is also called the Word of God. This is the name of His ministry. Ever since He stepped onto the scene, Jesus has ministered through His Word. In Genesis 1, He merely spoke and this vast universe and all it contains came into being. When He walked in this world, He made the Word of God live in the eyes of men, John 1:1; 14. When He returns in power and glory, He will speak the word and all His enemies will be slain before Him in that day!

(Ill. My I say to you that Jesus is ministering right now through His Word! It is the Word of God that reveals our sins. It is the Word of God that points us to a redeeming Savior. It is the Word of God that tells us how to live! Today, that Word can be such a blessing in your life! However, if you refuse to receive the Word of God and come to Jesus for salvation. One day, you will face the Word of God in judgment. In that day, it will contain no words of mercy for you, but only damnation and judgment. Today is the only time you really have to get ready to meet the Lord, 2 Cor. 6:2.)

C. V. 16 The Name of Majesty - This verse tells us that when Jesus returns, He will have a name embroided on the thigh of His garment. This name is a title that He has always deserved, but has one which has never been acknowledged by men. In fact, while He was here on earth, His own people refused to acknowledge Him as King, John 19:15. Pilate, the Roman Governor, placed a cruel mocking title over His head as He hung on the cross, Matt. 27:37 which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." My friends, Jesus is far more than just the king of the Jews, Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! One day, He will return in power and the world will be forced to admit that which they have always denied: that Jesus is indeed King! What a day that will be!

(Ill. My friends, have you made that admission yet? Have you bowed before Jesus as the King of Kings and as the Lord of Lords? Have you received Him into your heart? I keep coming back to this, because it is so important! What you do about Jesus will determine what He does with you! You need to be ready, for the King in Coming!)

B. V. 14 The Armies Of Jesus - Every king has an army and the Lord Jesus is no exception. He has an army that large and of a special nature. Notice how His army is dressed. They are wearing "fine linen, white and clean". There is no armor and no mention of them having weapons. Isn't this a strange way of sending soldiers into battle? Well, it would be if it were any other army! But, this is the army of Heaven and the King, Jesus Christ, does all the fighting Himself!

(Ill. Who is in this army? Well, the attire gives us a little clue. Look at verse 14 and then look at verse 8. It would appear from the apparel that this army is the Bride of Christ. In other words, it is made up of you and me. We will be riding in that army when the Lord Jesus returns to claim victory over His enemies. If you don't know how to ride a horse, don't worry, you'll know then!)

C. V. 15 The Armaments Of Jesus - When Jesus returns to fight this battle, He doesn't bring guns, tanks, artillery, or nuclear weapons. He merely brings His Word! Remember that His Word is "sharper than any two-edged word.", Heb. 4:12. It has the power to help men and it has the power to judge men. Instead of needing vast arsenals of weaponry, all Jesus needs is a Word and His enemies are forever defeated! Notice the words of Isaiah 11:4, "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."

(Ill. It is mentioned here that Jesus will "rule" with a rod of iron. The word "rule" means to shepherd. After His enemies are defeated, the Lord Jesus will establish His Kingdom and He will lead the peoples of the earth like a shepherd leads his flock. He will, in that day, lead them beside all the still waters and He will cause them to lie down in the green pastures. He will be a shepherd to all men!)

(Ill. It is also mentioned that Jesus will tread the winepress of the fierce wrath of God. What a picture this is! Like a man crushing grapes under his feet to force them to release their juices, so the Lord Jesus will crush this world under His feet and He will crush all the life out of every opponent of righteousness and God. It will be a terrible day!)

(Ill. Are you ready for His coming? Are you saved?)

I. His Coming Will Be Visible

II. V. 17-18 HIS COMING WILL BE VIOLENT

A. V. 17 The Fowls Are To Be Called - The slaughter will be so great when the Lord does battle, that God calls for the fowls of the air to come and help dispose of the bodies of the slain. Revelation 14:20 tells us that the blood will be to the horse's bridle! What a slaughter that will be!

B. V. 18 The Flesh Is To Be Consumed - Notice that all levels of the army of God's enemies are on the menu for this great supper. In life, they were separated by class and by rank. Here we see slave and freeman; small and great. All are reduced to nothing more than food for the scavengers in that day!

(Ill. What a lesson! In life they were different. Some gave orders, others carried them out, but in death they are all equal! Friends, death is the great leveler! No matter who you are, when death comes for you, everything you had and everything you were will be no more! Your money, your position, your power, your intellect, your everything will be gone! If you leave this world without having trusted Jesus as your Savior, then you have nothing but Hell to look forward to! Some think they will make it because of this reason or the other, but the truth is, none will make it without Jesus. When you leave this world, you had better know Christ! If you don't you will go to Hell!)

I. His Coming Will Be Visible

II. His Coming Will Be Violent

III. V. 19-21 HIS COMING WILL BE VICTORIOUS

A. V. 19 Earth's Armies Will Be Drawn To Armageddon - All the armies of the world, armies that are enemies today, will join together to fight against the Lord Jesus when He returns. Armies that were fighting with one another just before Jesus comes back will join forces in a effort to defeat the Lord and His army. But, this is meant to be! God will raw them here to His killing field so that He might execute His wrath upon all the enemies of the Lord! Their desire shall be to put an end to the Lord and all He represents. They will fail miserably!

B. V. 20-21 Earth's Armies Will Be Destroyed At Armageddon - the two verses tell us the amazing news of how this battle turns out.

1. V. 20 The Devilish Duo Are Destroyed - Throughout the Tribulation Period, the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet had lead people to believe that they were superhuman. They had used deception to convince the word that the Anti-Christ was, in fact, God. Their plan was so convincing that the world bowed down in reverence to the beast.

However, when the Lord returns, it quickly becomes apparent that these men, despite all their bluster and their miracles, were nothing more than men. These men are taken and they receive a fate worse than death. They are cast alive into the Lake of Fire! They are sent directly into Hell. Jesus will claim absolute victory over these men.

2. V. 21 The Doomed Multitudes Are Destroyed - With the image of the great leaders being taken alive and cast into Hell still burning before their eyes, the Lord Jesus will speak the Word and all these armies will be destroyed in an instant of time! Their blood will saturate the cloths of the Lord Jesus, verse 13, and the fowls of the air will devour their rotting flesh. Without firing a single shot, Jesus will prove Himself greater than every opposing army and greater than all the military might men can muster against Him. What a horrible day that will be for all the enemies of the Lord! But, what a glorious day it will be for those who love Him, look for Him and for those special ones who ride with Him!

Conc: When these things are read, they sound almost too fantastic to be true. However, everything I have preached this morning will come to pass one of these days!

While this will happen, this is not an event that you should have to worry about! If you are saved, you will witness the victory of the Lord from the air. As we ride behind Him, we will see our beloved Bridegroom dispatch all our enemies in an instant of time! That will be a glorious sight.

On the other hand, if you are not saved, you may very well be in that crowd of soldiers that is defeated instantly. Which would you rather have this morning? The peace of heart that comes with being saved, or the doubt and fear that comes with being lost? Where would you rather serve? With a victorious, glorious army, or with an army that is defeated before it is even formed? (Ill. It is already done!)

My friends, you can be saved today if you will come to Jesus and accept Him into your heart and life. Will you do that this morning? Will you be ready when the King comes?