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1. The Coming of Christ as the Judge of Antichrist (Revelation 19:11-16)
On His Head are Many Crowns: Antichrist has at first two, then three and afterwards several crowns which he usurped or which Satan himself had pressed on his head. However, Jesus is crowned with countless crowns, which before the throne of God the 24 elders and all saints had put down before his feet as a sign that none of them is worthy in himself to be crowned with an eternal crown. They all give honor to the Lamb of God! In the adoration of all saints the glory of Christ is made clear.
As a crown is the evident sign of power and glory, Jesus received from his Father the most precious of all crowns when the Almighty gave to his Son all power in heaven and on earth. (Mathew 28:18; Revelation 5:1-14). But what did this unique crown look like? It was full of thorns and was pressed deep in the skin of the head of the whipped crucified. The crown of thorns of Jesus outweighs all other crowns of the world. Each acknowledgement of his believers means a voluntary handing-over of their crowns to the Lamb of God, as also all angels confess: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)
Do you have still a secret crown on your head? Do you still honor yourself? Give your pretended crown to Jesus. Only he is worthy to receive your honor. Through his expiatory sacrifice you are made worthy to look up confidently to your Father in the heaven.
His New Name Nobody Knows but He Himself: In the Bible there are about 250 different names and traits of Jesus. Each of these names and traits shows one aspect of his glory. When the Book of Revelation now told us that Jesus will bear a new name when he comes again which only he will know, so we suspect that the fullness of Jesus is growing as his spiritual body is growing by the rebirth of many believers and their sanctification whereby the glory of the Father and the Son will increase. Christ is today “greater” than after the completion of his salvation on the cross. Millions of followers are connected to him like branches on the vine. The victory of Christ is realized continuously and is expanded by faith, love and hope of his followers. When he comes again he will be glorified in his saints and appear wonderful. (Revelation 17:14; 19:14)
Like the flock of a shepherd is growing by means of his careful care and providence and so the wealth of the shepherd is increasing, likewise by increasing of the spiritual body of Christ the honor, power and glory of Christ will increase.
The new name of Jesus will sound more humble and tender, more faithful, more patient and more glorious than all his former names. To the leader of the church of Philadelphia, who even though being despised and tempted did missionary work among the Jews of his town, Jesus promised that he will engrave his new name on his forehead if he bears his temptations furthermore with love and patience and overcome by faith (Revelation 3:12). In this way Jesus wanted to integrate his faithful servants in his privilege, in his new name, without the person concerned knowing what had offered him therewith.
His Robe is Soaked With Blood: Jesus will return to the earth as Son of Man. His eyes will be like fiery flames, on his head many crowns. He will ride on a white horse and wear a coat soaked with blood.
During his lifetime on earth Jesus had not killed any man nor had he made anybody killed for the sake of his honor as Muhammad did. Instead of killing his adversaries Jesus preferred to die in place of them. Also at the end of the days he will not come to us out of a bloody battle, but from the open heaven. The blood on his robe does not point to other peoples shed blood, but to his own blood, which he as slain Lamb of God shed as a substitute so as to reconcile all sinners with their creator. Jesus will come as Prince of Peace who sacrificed himself so as to make peace with God.
Therefore for the sake of righteousness he is compelled to fight against everybody who will deny, reject or hate his propitiation blood. Whoever wants to live without his blood remains a lost and depraved sinner in God's view, no matter he seems to be respectable or good. Outside the blood of Christ there is no salvation, no forgiveness and no grace. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, solely cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).
Jesus will come so as to destroy Antichrist. For this the Lord does neither need metallic breastplates nor a radiant proof protective waistcoat. Also Jesus has not put on a gas mask. His own blood is his coat, his strength, his righteousness and his authority. Because of his blood he is invincible. By shedding his blood he has already overcome Satan. The Evil One had vainly tried to hinder Jesus from his way to the cross. The Devil had entered in Peter so as to divert the Son of God from his way to the cross. But Jesus never sinned, neither in thoughts nor in speech nor in actions. On the contrary, he asked his Father in heaven, even when he was hanging on the cross, for forgiveness for all his enemies. He believed and hoped to the bitter end. That was the defeat of Satan. The shed blood of Jesus Christ judges the Evil One.
He is the Word of God Personified: In the vision of John of the coming Christ a compact fullness of names and traits of the Son of God is revealed so that his loving portrait will be almost covered by them.
John had begun his gospel of Jesus Christ with a prologue on the Word coming from God and being of divine nature, abiding in God and at the same time going out of him (John 1:1-18). All things are made by this Word of God. The eternal word of the Almighty became a man in Christ. John witnessed personally: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. …. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace!” (John 1:14.16)
As Jesus is the Word of God which became man, the whole authority of this word dwells in him:
- his creational wisdom
- his preserving and keeping strength
- his legislating power to dominate
- his healing compassion (mercy)
- his forgiving grace
- his comforting love
- his in-dwelling joy
- the will of the Almighty
- the holiness of the incorruptible judge
- the authority for renewing the fallen creation
All these powers of mercy are anchored in God's Word that was manifested in Jesus, when he became man. Whoever wants to know the will of God may look to Jesus who said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father!” (John 14:9). His Father in heaven confirmed Jesus several times publicly, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him!” (Matthew 17:5; see also 3:17; Psalm 2:7)
As Jesus not only preached the Word of God but did it and lived according to it, he continued without sin. He spoke not only about God's Word but he was it in person!
Even the Koran indicates five times that the son of Mary is God's Word, which became flesh, (Suras Al 'Imram 3, 39.45.64; al-Nisa' 4, 171; Maryam 19, 34). That this biblical statement is confirmed in the Book of the Muslims is one of the weak points of Islam. Commentators interpret it in such a manner that Jesus is only a “created” creation word of Allah and not his eternal word. This, however, does not change the fact that the Koran indirect agrees that “in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).
The name “Jesus” includes Christ's program, his salvation, his law and his judgment. Outside the name of Jesus there is no Word of God. He is and remains it in person. Through him, his word, the Father is acting still today.
PRAYER: Merciful Son of God, You truly became a man to die as the Lamb of God for us, sinners, that You might reconcile us to Your holy Father, who gave to You all authority in heaven and on earth to save us from the devil and his children and sanctify us. Help us to listen to Your word carefully, and to allow Your precious blood to enter the bottom of our heart that You may change us to Your image and sanctify us. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What does the blood of Christ and His strong word do to all who deliver themselves to Him?