The One Sitting on the White Horse
*Revelation 19:11-21 [Take a moment and read this passage.]
Observations from the Structure and Context of this Passage:
Half of our passage is the description of Jesus Christ in vv11-16. There He is called “Faithful and True… The Word of God…King of kings and Lord of lords.” (11, 13, 16) In other words, Jesus is absolutely the all-power King.
(Note: when Jesus is referred to in vv17-21, it’s as “Him who was sitting on the horse.” This is interesting because this is the only place in the Bible where someone is described as sitting on a horse! The only other place like it is Matthew 21:5-7, where Jesus rides a donkey, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:8-9. What does this mean? I think this points to a shift in how we ought to perceive Jesus in this situation. Where He once rode a humble donkey on His way to suffer and die for sinners, He now sits upon a White Horse on His way to vindicate His people and defeat His enemies.)
In the second half, vv17-21, first (not second) we hear an angel invite all the flesh-eating birds to gather to feast on Christ’s defeated enemies. Then, second (not first) we see the foes assemble and then… captured and slain. In other words, this fight was over before it began.
This is especially noteworthy because chapters 12-18 have been recounting the terrors of the powers who are working together against Christ and His people. And yet here, in a snap, they are overthrown and undone.
Emphasis
Christ vindicates His people, with absolute authority, by judging His enemies, with absolute destruction.
Argument of Revelation 19:11-21
When Jesus Christ sits on that White Horse, the War is over.
Good News
In the first century world “good news” was a public announcement of some great thing Caesar had done, typically a military victory.
When the Christians began calling their message “The Good News” (i.e. Gospel), they meant the same thing—Hear the announcement that God’s King has come and has won!
Christ has won, is winning, and will win.
So then, our job is not to win. Or rather, we win by remembering His victory, and letting that Good News motivate us to be faithful, obedient, and to suffer well.
Application
We fight battles, spiritual battles, every day. (See: Ephesians 6:11-17)
But we fight battles in a war that’s already won.
So now, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1John 5:4)
Remember Christ’s victory when you feel defeated. Christ’s victory is yours. So long as He has won—and He has—and we remember this, there is no defeat.
J.R.R. Tolkien held two ideas close to his heart, which he tried to convey in his epic tales, The Lord of the Rings. First, he recognized that we fight a long-defeat. Second, yet God works “eu-catastrophe”—that is, happy-catastrophe.
In other words, Tolkien recognized that the Christian life and mission is characterized mostly by what feels like defeats, setbacks, and frustrations. And yet, according to the Bible, and Revelation, and most of all the story of Jesus, there were, are, is, and will be sudden, astonishing, joyous reversals.
Leading up to Revelation 19, God’s people do a lot of suffering—a lot of what looks like losing. The evil powers do a lot of what looks like winning.
Ah, but what it looks like and what it is are not the same thing.
Revelation 19 is in the book, friends. It is written. “Declares the LORD,” as the prophet Jeremiah likes to say.
Your battles and mine and our church’s and The Church’s still rage on. But the war is won.
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Cor 15:57)
Prayer
LORD God, I cannot wait to see Him who is sitting on The White Horse. What a day of rejoicing that will be! What a sweet and precious vision it is.
In the strength of His victory—in His strength and power—help me to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD. Steel my spirit with this Good News. Help me to be faithful, obedient, and to suffer well. May I be unafraid. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo by Avi Theret on Unsplash