Heaven opens onto the Battle of Armageddon. This devotional reading looks at who fights in the battle.
Nuggets
- John fell down to worship at the feet of the angel.
- The leader of the armies will appear on a white horse.
- Jesus is going to lead the army at the Battle of Armageddon.
- Jesus makes war by judging the worldview people.
- Jesus deserves a crown because he is the King of Heaven.
- The robe dripped in blood is significant.
- John saw the rider’s name, but he doesn’t tell us what it is.
- Jesus will marshal His army against the army for the Antichrist.
The worship service is done. We have one little oops to talk about. Then we’ll get back to the Battle of Armageddon.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Homecoming series
Let's Put It into Context #2
We briefly talked about the Battle of Armageddon in Revelation 16. Let’s hit some highlights.
- The battle will take place here on earth at a place called Armageddon, which is the Hebrew.
- We first must address our physical condition. We can’t access Heaven until the sin is eliminated.
- God chose the battle location.
- This isn’t a physical war.
- The place isn’t important. The battle is.
The General
“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” (Rev. 19: 11 ESV)
The leader of the armies will appear on a white horse.
Armageddon is a real-life battle that is going to take place near the end of what we call the tribulation. The earthly kings are going to gather an assault against Jerusalem.
Jesus is going to lead the army at the Battle of Armageddon.
We’ve talked before about Jesus being the faithful and true Witness. “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write, ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation’” (Rev. 3: 14 ESV).
Jesus will be coming in power and honor.
Spurgeon made a great observation. He wrote, “John looked into the open vault of heaven, and he had time not only to see the horse, but to mark the character of Him that sat upon it. He says that He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.”
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This wasn’t a quick glance that John had. He looked at the rider long enough to establish what His character was.
Jesus is already approaching us in this way. He wants us to get to know Him and know Who He really is. He wants us to see His character, because He wants us to adopt the same character for ourselves.
Way back when we were discussing the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, we talked about Jesus being the rider of the first horse, the white horse. “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer” (Rev. 6: 2 ESV).
We talked then about the possibility of the first horseman of the Apocalypse referring to Jesus coming to earth the first time.
This would make Jesus’ coming here full circle. That is logical when we think about it.
Both the first coming and the Second Coming are to bring salvation to mankind. The first time was because it had not previously been available for us. The second time is to bring true salvation – changing us to pure beings who cannot sin.
We have to remember that first-century Jewish warfare did not include a cavalry. The use of horses by the enemy in warfare would make the Jews feel vulnerable.
To have their General arrive mounted would give them a great boost of confidence. They would see it as an opportunity for a swift victory.
Jesus makes war by judging the worldview people.
How the General arrives is important because the purpose of this battle is to judge through righteousness any who are not righteous.
Jesus is going to judge mankind based on their obedience or disobedience to God’s laws and commandments. The foundation is our relationship with God.
Crowns, Clothes, and Names
“His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (Rev. 19: 12-13 ESV)
Jesus deserves a crown because he is the King of Heaven.
When Jesus shows up at the Battle of Armageddon, He will wear many crowns.
Spurgeon describes one of these crowns as the crown of creation. We know that Jesus is Creator.
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“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. … The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn. 1: 3, 5 ESV).
Jesus wears the crown of providence because He is also Sustainer. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. …” (Heb. 1: 3 ESV).
In addition, also on Jesus’s head is the crown of grace. I didn’t see any other references about a crown of grace.
It is because of grace that Jesus came. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2: 8-10 ESV).
What we more often hear is Jesus is crowned in glory and honor. “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2: 9 ESV).
Jesus also has a crown of victory. Yes, He will be wearing this crown at the beginning of the battle. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16: 33 ESV).
Jesus was already victorious. He has overcome sin and death. He has overcome, suffering and sorrow.
I’ve long thought that we, like the elders, will lay our crowns at Jesus’ feet. But what if He takes up those crowns and wears them as crowns of thanksgiving?
Spurgeon felt that might be the case. Wouldn’t that make them mean even more?
Over the years, I’ve bought my sister several tops for Christmases and birthdays. It felt good to buy them for her. It felt even better when she actually wore them.
What will we feel when we see Jesus wearing our crown?
Probably the most memorable crown that Jesus wears is the crown of thorns. Meant to be a crown of shame, it shows Jesus’ love for us and commitment to be our Savior.
Bottom line, Jesus is King.
The robe dripped in blood is significant.
Some may question why the General’s robe is bloodstained even before the battle starts. That should be obvious.
We said Jesus wore a crown of victory because He has overcome sin and death. He did that by being the Sacrifice on the cross. He shed His blood so that the price of our sins would be paid.
Of course, His robe was bloody.
John saw the rider’s name, but he doesn’t tell us what it is.
Look back at verses 12 and 13. “… and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (Rev. 19: 12-13 ESV).
We think His name is Jesus because that is the name He was given here on earth. Some might think of Him as His Hebrew name: Yeshua.
That wasn’t the name used to identify Jesus in Genesis. No name was given then.
We are given God’s name as YHWH. We are not given a similar name for Jesus.
But this is another name. It is one only He knows.
Conway described this name as being illegible and incomprehensible. It is only legible and comprehensible to Himself.
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John does identify the rider by a name we know — in fact, one he had given Him before. He called Him the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1: 1 ESV).
Jesus is the Word because, not only is the gospel about Him, but also the whole of God’s Word is about Him.
The Armies
“And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses” (Rev. 19: 14 ESV)
Jesus will marshal His army against the army for the Antichrist.
We may worry about the battle being lopsided. We know there are more that are going to follow Satan than God.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt. 7: 13-14 ESV).
Don’t worry. Check out verse 14? “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses” (Rev. 19: 11-14 ESV emphasis added).
Armies plural. Not just one. Multiple. Spurgeon said that the number couldn’t be counted.
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Well, there will be a multitude in Heaven. God does have legions of angels. Who is to say there isn’t more than four living creatures?
If mankind does make up even part of the army, we might think we are unworthy. But then we think the same thing with salvation.
God doesn’t need us. He wants us.
Jesus doesn’t need us in His army. He wants us.
But only those who are pure can be in Jesus’ army. Remember white garments? Equate that to white horses.
The army is mounted just as the General is. That is logical. We are to be as He is — just not divine.
Spurgeon brought up a great point. John talked about the uniform and the transportation.
Not one word is said about these armies having weapons or even armor.
There is no need to worry. The army isn’t going to be doing the fighting.
Rose gave us a great reminder. He wrote,
“Dream not of marching battalions and of mustering squadrons when you hear of Armageddon, dream not of a local battlefield. No; this is no common earthly battle; it is a spiritual battle; a war of principles; of righteousness against unrighteousness; of faith against unbelief; of Christ against Antichrist. This war has been waging ever since St. John received the revelation. In the latter days it will culminate in this one grand final conflict — the crisis of the world; the battle of the great day of God Almighty; the great decision between good and evil, sin and God, the world and Christ.
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- It is a spiritual battle between right and wrong – good and evil.
- The war is going on right now.
- Armageddon will be the final battle.
- This is the Day of the Lord.
It isn’t going to be a battle that relies on numbers. It will rely on the might of God.
Remember we said they would be greatly encouraged by the fact the General arrived on horseback. That showed strength.
The army also has the strength.
Look at it this way. This is going to be the faithful and true disciples, also. It won’t be the lukewarm ones who have lost their first love. It won’t be the goats masquerading as sheep.
These will be the mature and ready to be perfected ones. It will be the ones who endured.
Ooo, baby. Got Questions said that Jesus’ Second Coming is going to be the Battle of Armageddon.
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That isn’t the way I’ve always thought of it, but it is making more sense after I looked at everything.
Rose called this battle a precipice.
But is Jesus the One Who is going to lead the battle?
We know that Jesus will be victorious.
Making the Connections #1
Rose gave a great list of why the principles Satan champions appeals to mankind. He wrote,
“But in the main these evil spirits will appeal, nay, are appealing, to that which is worst in the hearts of men — to an impatience of moral restraint, to a dislike of pure Christian morality, to the longing after independence, to the rising in the human heart against the childlike teachableness and submission of soul which the Christian faith requires of us, to the desire to have no superior, to be a law unto ourselves, a god to ourselves.”
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- No moral restraint.
- A hated of God’s character, which we are to have.
- Refusal to depend on God.
- Refusal to submit to God or any authority.
- Refusal to obey the law.
- Desire to be God.
Yes, all of those deal with elevation of self. They try to counter it with the agendas of helping fellowman, but they miss the one thing on which everything hinges.
Are you going to obey or disobey God? Worldview people refuse.
Making the Connections #2
So, what kind of warfare will there be?
Remember the double-edged sword coming from Jesus’ mouth. That isn’t the only thing coming from His mouth.
Jesus always told us about Himself. He proclaimed the gospel wherever He went.
What if that is the ammunition that fuels the Battle of Armageddon? Satan is defeated by the words out of God’s mouth – the gospel.
Isn’t that what happens? When we turn to Christ and accept the gospel, Satan is defeated.
That’s how he will be defeated in the end.
Making the Connections #3
Look what was written in Armies Invisible and Distant on the Side of the Good.
“It is a law of Christ’s kingdom that those only who are holy and pure can enter therein: hence these heavenly soldiers are furnished with ‘white horses,’ the emblem of purity, and ‘white linen’ also. No one in heaven or on earth will Christ allow to fight under His banner who are not qualified, both in capacity and character, for the work they undertake.”
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The gospel that Jesus tells us about is based on God’s laws and commandments. They show whether we are pure or not.
If we aren’t pure, we won’t survive Armageddon.
How Do We Apply This?
- Enlist as a soldier for Christ.
- Enthusiastically follow Jesus wherever He leads – even to battle and certain death.
- Don’t contend, argue, or think less of worldview people.
- Let all see our devotion to Jesus by our lives and words.
- Love Christ with our whole heart.
- When witnessing, remember it is the love of Christ that will draw mankind to Him.
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Father God. We accept Your gospel, making Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. We commit to following Your laws and commandments and asking forgiveness when we fail. We commit to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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