Jesus Returns as the Conquering King

 

Revelation Chapters 19-20

Our Victorious King of kings

Revelation Chapters 17-18 foretell or pronounce the punishment and judgment on Babylon. Chapter 19:1-10 concludes it with a scene of heavenly worship. The sound represents voices of all creation in heaven and on earth. It is repeated four times, calling out to all people to come and bless our God, for God has executed His righteous judgment and His sovereignty is worthy to be praised. The Lamb is coming for His Bride (v. 7).

It is noteworthy in John’s narration; worship was the immediate descriptive scene after God’s righteous judgment over the wicked. Worship is not merely understood as a spiritual or ritual practice, but it is a triumphant celebration over evil in the socio-economics and politics realm.

The worship scene in Revelation helps readers recognize that God who does justice and executes judgment. He is the only One that all creation shall worship and submit to.

This concept of worship requires every reader to discern who to worship. It also requires one to reject and refuse to identify with any organization, regime of ideology which is powerful enough to cause distortion of truth and human oppression.

Then Revelation 19: 11 - 16, John saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. “Faithful and True” contrasts with the faithless and deceitful Babylon described in chapter 18.

The rider’s eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. He had authority over the whole universe. He was dressed in a robe dipped in blood, for He had once shed His blood and died, and He overcame. He was Jesus, and with Him were the heavenly hosts. Jesus’ robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. This title indicates our God’s sovereignty. His entrance signals the end of the false powers.

Then the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. The enemy armies believe they have come of their own volition; in reality, God has summoned them to battle in order to defeat them. That they would even presume to fight against God shows how their pride and rebellion have distorted their thinking.

There really is no fight, however, because the victory was won when Jesus died on the cross for sin and rose from the dead. The enemy armies were defeated. Both the beasts were captured and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of Jesus. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

This scene provides a graphic display of the wrath of God. It shows God’s anger and judgment against sin and against those who have constantly rejected Christ as the means of foreverness an reconciliation.

God’s wrath exists along side his mercy. In each generation, there must be balanced preaching and teaching about God’s grace, and his anger against sin.

The fiery lake of burning sulfur is the final destination of the wicked. This lake is different from the bottomless pit referred to in 9:1.

The Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown into the fiery lake. Then their leader, Satan himself, will be thrown into that lake (20:10), and finally death and the grave (20:14). Afterward, everyone whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the fiery lake (20:15).

Revelation Chapter 20, then John saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand He seized the dragon---that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years (vv.1-2).

The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

The 1000 years are often referred to as the Millennium (Latin for 1000). Just how and when this 1000 year takes place is understood differently among Christian scholars. The three major positions on this issue are called postmillennialism, premillennialism, and amillennialism.

Postmillennialism looks for a literal 1000-year period of peace on earth ushered in by the church. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be unleashed once more, but then Christ will return to defeat him and reign forever. Christ’s second coming will not occur until after the 1000-year period.

Premillennialism also views the 1000 years as a literal time period but holds that Christ’s second coming initiates his 1000-year reign and that this reign occurs before the final removal of Satan.

Amillennialism is the historical mainline churches’ view. They understand the 1000-year period to be symbolic of the time between Christ’s ascension and his return. This millennium is the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers and in his church; thus, it is another way of referring to the church age. This period will end with the second coming of Christ.

These are different views about the Millennium need not cause division and controversy in the church because each view acknowledges what is most crucial to Christianity: Christ will return, defeat Satan, and reign forever! Whatever and whenever the Millennium is, Jesus will unite all believers, therefore we should not let this issue divide us.

After these one thousand years, Satan will be released. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. Gog and Magog symbolize all the forces of evil that band together to battle God.

John doesn’t say why God releases Satan for a little while but is part of God’s plan for judging the world. Perhaps it is to expose those who rebel against God in their hearts and confirm those who are truly faithful to God. Whatever the reason, Satan’s release results in the final destruction of all evil.

Then, Christ will defeat them all. The fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (vv. 7-10).

Stan’s power is not eternal—he will meet his doom. He began his evil work in people at the beginning (Gen 3:1-6) and continues it today, but he will be destroyed when his is thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The evil will be released from the bottomless pit, but he will never be released form the fiery lake. He will never be a threat to anyone again.

Then God from His white throne, shall judge all men according to what they have done (20: 11-12).

At the judgment, the books will be opened. The Book of Life contains the names of those who have put their trust in Christ to save them. These books also contain the recorded deeds of everyone, good or evil. Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. No one is saved by deeds, but deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God.

Jesus will look at how we have handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.

Death and grave are thrown into the lake of fire. God’s judgment is finished. The lake of fire is the ultimate destination of everything wicked—Satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, the grave, and all those whose names are not recorded tin the Book of life because they did not place their faith in Jesus Christ.

John’s vision does not permit any gray areas in the God’s judgment. If by faith we have not identified with Christ, confessing him as Lord, there will be no hope, no second chance. No other appeal. God is truly the One in control, and He is the One whom all creation shall be accountable to and pledge their allegiance to.