THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Just as a new vision from heaven was revealed to the apostle John in Revelation 4:1-2 and 11:19, he was likewise shown a new and different vision as the lesson text begins. As we shall see, soon after the solemn marriage was symbolically depicted between Christ Jesus, the bridegroom, and His church, the bride, this lesson text reveals the beginning of the prophetic revelation of the victory of the Son of God over the Satan-inspired beast and the false prophet noted in the following verse 20. It was to be the final triumph of The Word of God, Christ Jesus, and His church. This battle was to symbolically to be fought at Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).

Back to the lesson text we find that when the heavens were parted, John saw a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. The white horse, not only represents innocence, purity, and truth, but it also signifies the glory of a victorious battle of conquest. The rider is the Son of God, Christ Jesus, here referred to as Faithful and True, meaning that He will faithfully and truthfully carry out the duty and responsibility of bringing the hope of eternal salvation to the world, in order to fulfill God's promise to mankind, from the beginning of the time. To accomplish this God-given mission on earth, Jesus will exercise righteous and omniscient judgment on people of the world, which will result in bringing salvation to the obedient faithful and just punishment to wicked followers of Satan's atheistic heathens, as well as followers of his apostate religious organizations.

Just as He was described in Revelation 1:14, He is revealed here - His eyes were as a flame of fire, demonstrating His soul piercing insight that is able to penetrate the hearts and minds of all people, determining if they are good or evil, and executing righteous judgment on their souls. The many crowns upon His head symbolically assure us of the universal dominion of His authority to judge the world. Our Savior, Christ Jesus, will be identified by a new name at the end of time. It is a name that cannot be fully comprehended by mankind while here on earth. Verse 13 tells us of this name that will become known to men and women of the world - His name is called The Word of God. He is described as clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. Whether the blood, referred to here, was that which He shed on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of the world, or the symbolic blood of the enemies of God that fall to His just punishment on Judgment Day, is a matter of debate. Either instance has worthy merit.

It is the opinion of most bible scholars that the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean refer to the redeemed in Christ Jesus, His church. Their apparel, fine linen, white and clean, assures us that they are robed in the raiment depicting faith, obedience, and purity. It is not meant here that they will be engaged in this battle at Armageddon, but rather to witness the final defeat of Satan's followers, and rejoice in the triumphant victory. The symbolic weapon used by Christ Jesus in His battle against His enemies is a sharp sword. With it He would smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. This is probably the same sword previously referred to as a sharp two-edged sword (Rev. 1:16). It is also probable that Paul used the same analogy in Ephesians 6:13-17 as he described the protective armor of Christians as well as the one offensive weapon they are to use in their everyday battle against Satan and his followers - the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Indeed, it is the word of God by which Christians find comfort and consolation, are protected from evil, and find hope in His plan of eternal salvation. However, the unbelieving and unrepentant enemies of Christ will find in God's word only banishment from His presence, and His severe judgment of eternal destruction at the end of time.

Within the lesson text we find four different names given to Christ Jesus, the Son of God. He was called Faithful and True (Vs. 11), ...The Word of God (Vs. 13), and in the final verse 16, He is given the names of KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. The final two names, John tells us, were written on His vesture and on His thigh. World history tells us that the locations of titles and inscriptions were common among kings and other officials within the upper echelons of various civil governments. These names were worn on their outer garments, and served to identify, both the character, and the conquests of that particular leader. Many biblical commentators seem to think that the meaning of the titles of Christ being displayed on His vesture and on His thigh seems indicate that they were written on the clothing that covered His thigh.

There is no higher power on earth than that inherent in the title KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. On earth there have been, and still are, numerous kings, queens, princes, lords, and others within the ranks of nobility, that rule various dominions. However, the title assumed by our Savior in this passage assures all readers that He is the supreme, sovereign ruler over all earthly beings, and entities, regardless of their individual titles of rank and authority. The apostle Paul emphasizes these titles, as belonging to Jesus, in his letter to the young evangelist Timothy (See 1 Tim. 6:13-16). The supreme, omnipotent power of Christ Jesus was willed to Him by God, His Heavenly Father even before His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven. Jesus, Himself, assured us of this when He told His disciples: All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. And having that omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent power, Jesus exercised it with this commandment to His apostles: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matt. 28:18-20).