“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white
horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice
he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire,
and on his head are many crowns. He has a name
written on him that no one knows but he himself…”
(Revelation 19:11-12)
Thoughts… It is only right that all of creation will one day look upon Jesus Christ as the risen and exalted One. God’s justice demands it. Those who crucified Christ, literally, and those who bear responsibility for his death spiritually, will one day see him, as verse 16 describes, “The King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.”
The last time the world looked upon Jesus, he was hanging on a cross. He had suffered the humiliation of death by crucifixion. He had been flogged, beaten, pierced, and nailed naked to a tree like a common criminal. His executioners mocked him, the crowds jeered him, the religious leaders clucked their self-righteous tongues at him, and Satan laughed at him. Jesus died alone, abandoned by his followers, and was buried in a borrowed tomb like a penniless pauper. In the eyes of a sinful world, that was the end of this would-be messiah’s sad story.
Of course, what the world saw as the humiliation of God’s Son, believers see as God’s perfect plan of redemption: The sacrifice of the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. We love Jesus for willingly enduring the pain, shame and sorrow of the cross. We worship him as the crucified but resurrected Lord. We know that death could not contain him—that he rose victorious over sin and Satan. We know that he is the Master and Ruler of all.
But the world rejects what we know. They still deny Jesus as the Son of God and rightful ruler over all creation, and will continue to do so right up to the end of time as we know it. So God’s justice demands that they see Jesus as the great Spoiler of Satan’s plans, the great Judge of sin, the great Redeemer of those who put their hope in him, the great God and King of all the universe.
And on the day John describes in this chapter, the One riding the white horse whose name is Faithful and True will make a grand entrance onto the great universal stage, and everyone—saints and sinners, demons and the devil, himself—will finally and definitively know Who is really in charge. The saints will be vindicated, sinners will be judged, the beast and the false prophet will be sent packing for all eternity, and Satan will be quaking in his boots—because he knows what’s coming.
Aren’t you glad you worship Jesus, the risen and exalted One!
I think at this very moment it would be appropriate for you to join me in doing what the great multitudes will do on that day when Jesus is finally and fully revealed as King and Lord of all by shouting, “Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:1)
Prayer… Lord Jesus, you are King and Lord of my heart, and one day you will literally rule and reign as King and Lord of all. I worship you now in anticipation of the day when the entire universe will bow its knee and confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
One More Thing… “The Lord Jesus Christ would have the whole world to know that though He pardons sin, He will not protect it.” —Joseph Alleine
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