When Christ Wages War | Revelation 19:11-21 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 19:11–21

About this sermon

Introduction: Something that will always belong to this sin-sick world is WAR. In fact, we are told to expect that until the very end there will be wars and rumors of war. That constant state of conflict that exists between nations is simply the global manifestation of the conflict that exists at the level of individual, idolatrous, human hearts. The reason for war is sin in the hearts of men. ESV Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." ESV James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Even when one side of a war represents a more righteous cause than the other, there would be no war if not for sin. The ONLY PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS WAR that will ever be waged will be executed by the perfect Warrior-King. It will be the war that puts an end to a great harlot — an idolatrous empire. It will be the war that ends mankind’s battle against God — the enmity of the nations against the world’s the rightful king. In the first ten verses of this chapter, we heard four hallelujahs. • Praise to God for the accomplishments of His judgment • Praise to God for the finality of His judgment • Praise to God for the sovereignty of His judgment • Praise to God for what follows His judgment In the rest of this chapter we could say, “Praise to God for the GREAT JUDGE.” Because, now in our verses THAT IS OUR FOCUS. We now see the judgment described in terms of the one who accomplishes it. This morning, we consider five truths God puts on display when Christ wages war. This morning, we will focus on the first one and next week we will look at the other four. • THE PURITY OF THE GREAT JUDGE (vs.11-13) John sees heaven opened and a horse with a mounted warrior emerging from heaven. And as he goes on to describe that warrior for us it becomes plain that the warrior is Christ. And what is emphasized about Christ in verses 11-13 is His purity. • THE PURITY OF HIS CHARACTER (vs.11) He’s a warrior riding a battle horse. His cause is right — he emerges from heaven and goes to war on behalf of God as the one and only Son of God. His cause will be victorious. The horse is white — like a conquering Roman general would ride a white horse in a triumphant processional, the Messiah is no longer riding on a humble colt (Zec 9:9), He is now riding on a war steed. His name is faithful and true (He is faithful — He has promised this day, and He will keep His word, and He is TRUE — He is the TRUE MESSIAH. He is the authentic promised one). His judgment and His warring represent righteousness. He wages war and He executes judgments that establish true righteousness. That is: IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IS RIGHT, HE GOES TO BATTLE AGAINST THAT WHICH ISN’T RIGHT. In this case, against the great harlot. IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IS RIGHT, HE ESTABLISHES WHAT IS RIGHT, VINDICATES WHAT IS RIGHT, AND DESTROYS WHAT ISN’T RIGHT. His warring is in righteousness, and His judgment is in righteousness. His character means He is ALWAYS on the side of right. His character means He will FINALLY put an end to what isn’t right and establish what is right according to God. • THE PURITY OF HIS ASSESSMENTS (vs.12) If anyone should ever wonder whether He GETS IT RIGHT, the next description answers that. This description has already been used of Jesus earlier in the book. ESV Revelation 1:14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ESV Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. His eyes speak of the purity of HIS ASSESSMENTS. HE IS THE STANDARD OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND HE PERFECTLY ASSESSES WHAT DESERVES HIS PRAISE AND WHAT DESERVES HIS CONDEMNATION. His judgments are HOLY judgments. His judgments are PENETRATING judgments. His judgments are OMNISCIENT judgments. HIS JUDGMENTS BURN AWAY THE CHAFF OF ALL PRETENSE AND HYPOCRISY. HIS JUDGMENTS BURN AWAY ALL THE CHAFF OF MAN’S SINFUL ESTIMATIONS. HIS JUDGMENTS DESTROY EVERY LOFTY CLAIM AND EXCUSE CONTRARY TO THE TRUTH. HE BYPASSES APPEARANCES AND GETS TO THE SUBSTANCE. HE BYPASSES THE CONFUSION OF WORDS AND GETS TO THE TRUTH OF SPIRITUAL REALITY.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Jesus Christ
• Prophecy & End Times