Part 4/Week 1: The Second Coming of Christ

As the Gentile Kingdoms come to an end, we see Christ as the stone that crushes all other kingdoms. “During the reign of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever” (Daniel 2:44, NLT).

Revelation 19 “marks a dramatic change in the tone of Revelation. The destruction of Babylon, the capital of the Beast’s kingdom, marks the end of the Great Tribulation. The somber gives way to song. The transfer is from darkness to light, from black to white, from dreary days of judgment to bright days of blessing. This chapter makes a definite bifurcation in Revelation, and ushers in the greatest event for this earth – the Second Coming of Christ. It is the bridge between the Great Tribulation and the Millennium.”

J. Vernon McGee, Reveling Through Revelation, II, p. 66

This is where we pick up Part 4 of our study, “Thy Kingdom Come.” Revelation 19:1-5 opens with a Hallelujah chorus in heaven. The Tribulation Saints, the 24 Elders and 4 Living Creatures (seraphs), and finally all God’s servants in heaven both great and small will rejoice in God and the Lamb.

“Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Revelation 19:6-8 NASB1995

We studied the Marriage Supper of the Lamb earlier in this series. “It is with the marriage feast that the Messianic Kingdom will begin, but the invitations are sent out just prior to the Second Coming. They go out to all the redeemed who are not members of the church, i.e. the Old Testament and Tribulation saints soon to be resurrected” (Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 339). [See also Rev. 19:9].

John was so overcome by the words of the angel, that he fell at his feet to worship him. The angel quickly rebuked him, reminding him “do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10 NASB1995). Walvoord says that “prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the present age, therefore, the Spirit of God is not only to glorify Christ but to show believers things to come as they relate to His person and majesty. Christ is not only the major theme of Scripture but also the central theme of prophecy” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 273).

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God.”

Rev. 19:11-13 NASB1995

“The many crowns worn by Christ are an indication of His right to rule and the many facets of the character of His rule… The plurality of crowns also indicates He is the King par-excellence, the ‘KING OF KINGS’” (preceptaustin).

I love that Jesus is called the Word of God. He is the Living Word! John 1:1-18 clearly expresses this wonderful truth. God’s Word is associated with a sword both in Ephesians 6:17, and Hebrews 4:12. Because His Spirit lives in us, that sword not only aids in the conviction of sin (distinguishing the thoughts and intentions of our hearts), but also gives us a weapon against the enemy, enabling us to defend the truth.

“And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses” (Rev. 19:14 NASB1995). You should recognize those clothed in fine linen, white and clean, as the Church – the Bride of Christ (see Jude 14-15). Dear reader, if you are a believer in Christ, one day you will join me along with all the saints as we follow the Rider on the white horse! This magnificent army not only consists of raptured Saints, but also includes the armies of the mighty, angelic heavenly host (see Matt. 16:27 and 2 Thess. 1:7-10).

“Just imagine what it will be like to follow the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to lead the mighty angels who come in flaming fire as the Lord God Omnipotent returns to reign.”

Hitchcock, THE END, p. 387

Revelation 19:15-16 reveals the severe, yet righteous judgment Christ will render the earth upon His return. According to Walvoord, the sharp sword coming out of the Lord’s mouth (v. 15) is symbolic of “a sharp instrument of war with which Christ will smite the nations and establish His absolute rule” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 277-278).

“The concluding description of Christ reveals that on His vesture, previously described as dipped in blood, and also on His thigh a name is written, ‘King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.’ Here at last has come One who has a right to rule the earth, One whose power and majesty will demonstrate His authority as He brings to bear His sovereign judgment on a wicked world. It is anticipation of this ultimate triumph that God the Father holds the nations of the world in derision in their rebellion against the Lord’s Anointed (Ps. 2:1-4). God will indeed break the nations with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces and give the uttermost parts of the earth to His Son as His rightful possession” [see Ps. 2:10-12].

Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 278

Zechariah 14:3-4 indicates that upon Christ’s return to earth, “His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,” and it will be split in two as a result. Accompanying this will be “the greatest earthquake ever to occur in the history of the earth (Rev. 16:18, Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 350). This earthquake will not only cause Jerusalem to be split in 3 divisions (see Zech. 14:4-5), but also the destruction of Babylon during the seventh bowl judgment (Rev. 16:19). Along with this, great hail weighing 120 lbs will fall on men (Rev. 16:21). Lastly, the 5th worldwide blackout will occur as seen in Matthew 24:29 (Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 350). Christ Himself will wage war with the Antichrist and his armies. Isaiah 63:1-6 makes it clear “that although the armies of the saints and angels will return with Him, they will not participate in the fighting. Messiah will fight this battle by Himself” (Fruchtenbaum, THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MESSIAH, p. 340).

The final stages of the Campaign of Armageddon are seen in Revelation 19:17-21 when the “beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies [gather] to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army” (v. 19 NKJV).

“There is evidently on the part of these armies, a knowledge of Him against whom they are fighting. I believe that when the heaven is ‘opened’ and the Lamb upon the white horse and His armies come forth, the scene is visible from this earth. It is a direct warfare of hell against heaven. Satan, cast with his millions of angels out of heaven in his war against Michael and his angels (chapter twelve), has brought up this false christ with his false prophet and arrayed the millions of earth’s mortals against Michael’s Lord and all the hosts of heaven! What supreme folly! The dragon could not prevail even against Michael. Now he is trusting the puny arm of flesh to defy the whole host of heaven, led by the Son of God Himself! This is the incurable insanity of sin, which wars away in spite of defeat after defeat, against a holy God!”

Newell, Revelation, a Complete Commentary, p. 232

2 Thess. 2:8 reveals the quick demise of the Antichrist, who will be consumed with the breath of Messiah’s mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming. Revelation 19:20 reveals how the Antichrist and False Prophet die. LaHaye says, “In this battle, both the beast and the false prophet will be seized by the Lord. Together they will be ‘thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone,” and the armies that gave their allegiance to the beast and false prophet will be ‘killed with the sword…from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse (verse 20-21)” (Exploring Bible Prophecy, p. 538).

BUT GOD! Christ defeats them all, killing them with the sword of His mouth (v. 21). Carnage from the armies of the beast will stretch to 200 miles (Rev. 14:19-20). Birds of prey will feast on the “flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great” (Rev. 19:18 NASB1995). We will see next week from Rev. 20 that Satan is laid hold of and bound for 1000 years!

“This imprisonment of the great enemy is the closing scene connected with the Day of Wrath; and, we may say, the opening scene of the coming age – the Millennium.”

Newell, REVELATION, a Complete Commentary, p. 234

Week One Reflections

1. Read Revelation 19 and list everything you observe about the events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ. How is Christ described? How are His judgments described? What truths do you learn about our Lord and the final judgment He will bring to the earth when He comes?
2. Imagine following the Lord along with the armies of angels when He returns! Read the following passages and list everything you learn about this remarkable future event: Zechariah 14:5; Matt. 25:31; 1 Thess. 3:12-13; 2 Thess. 1:7; Jude 1:14-15; Rev. 19:11, 14.
3. Read Zech. 14:4; Matt. 25:31; and Acts 1:9-11. How do you see the promise of Christ’s Second Coming in the Scriptures? What comfort and assurance do you have knowing that God always keeps His promises?
4. Read the following passages and list everything you learn about the manner in which the Lord will return: Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 22:20; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:27-35; Rev. 3:3; Luke 21:25-26; Isaiah 63:1-14; Psalm 2
5. Some of the passages we looked at this week are heavy with the sobering truth of God’s judgment. But I love how the heart of God is displayed in the Isaiah 63 passage, even in the midst of judgment. He is the avenger of His people! Praise God! “How blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Ps. 2:12b). Take some time to worship the Faithful and True rider on the white horse! “He judges fairly and wages a righteous war” (Rev. 19:11b NLT). Praise the Lord!