Revelation 19:11-16

Do You Recognize this Rider?

A sermon by Pastor Joe Haynes

Preached on May 30, 2021 at Beacon Church.

Did you know some wedding ceremonies wait until after the vows are exchanged before the groom lifts his bride's veil? The Bible records an unfortunate even in the life of a man named Jacob, that might convince you it’s a good idea to lift the veil before the vows. The first day of Jacob’s honeymoon was not what he had imagined. Neither was his wife. When he woke up the morning after his wedding, much to his surprise, the bride he thought he had married was not the bride he married! He thought he was marrying Rachel but the bride he woke up with was her sister, Leah. This probably explains why I’ve never heard a wedding sermon from that passage of Scripture: can’t you just picture the groom hearing Jacob’s story and taking a peek under the veil? “Sorry, I just had to be sure!” It’s good to make sure. A lot depends on being sure! Well, Revelation 19:7 describes the second coming of Jesus Christ like a wedding, when He comes to be united to His Bride, the Church of all those who believe in Him. And make no mistake about it: He knows who she is. And the Church will know her Bridegroom. But I would like to suggest that there are many people who assume they Christians, who, in fact, would not recognize the Bridegroom, and if nothing changes, when He comes they will be shocked to find they didn’t really know Him at all.

Compare verse 7 to verse 11. Revelation 19:7 announces that the "marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready!" but now, where we expect the Lamb to make His appearance, the description is more like a Lion than a Lamb! Sort of the opposite to how Jesus was introduced in chapter 5. John was told to expect the Lion of the Tribe of Judah but when he looked he saw a Lamb, standing there, as though it had been slain (Rev 5:5-6). In chapter 19, right when we expect the Lamb to show up for His “marriage supper” John sees not a Bridegroom but a Warrior. This isn’t a bait and switch though, like how Rachel’s father sent her sister to marry Jacob instead of her. This Person John sees when he sees the Rider is the same Person the Church has always been expecting but the unexpected way He is portrayed should make you wonder if you really know Him. It should make you want to be sure. It’s good to be sure. A lot depends on being sure!

As we saw last Sunday, the last words of verse 10 are an explanation that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Another way to say is when God speaks through a prophet, the Spirit points people to Jesus. Revelation 1:1 introduced this book as being about “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (that’s why we call this book “Revelation”). And Jesus has been the main character through it all. First portrayed as a divine High Priest, then as a Lamb, now as a fearsome Rider on a white horse. This prophecy isn’t here to satisfy your curiosity about the end of the world. It’s here to testify about Jesus and show John’s readers who Jesus is. Verse 10 mentioned Jesus’ name twice but nowhere in these next verses is the Rider explicitly named Jesus. It’s as if you’re supposed to read the description of this Rider and recognize Him. In this part of John’s vision, the way this Rider is identified so that only those who know Him can recognize Him shows how important it is for you to make sure you are properly introduced. That brings us back to verse 10: introducing people to Jesus is what prophecies are for, especially these prophecies! And the introduction you need is a spiritual introduction, a work of the Spirit of God that He will do if you ask Him to—if you just pray, “God, please introduce me to Him.” The Rider’s common name isn’t given here but He is identified: by His regal aspect; by His righteous army; and by His wrathful actions.

The Rider is identified by His regal aspect (verses 11-13)

The first thing that should stand out here is that this Rider is not dressed for the occasion we expected—or maybe that’s the problem: maybe it’s because everybody else wasn’t dressed for the occasion that things end up this way? The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is what verse 7 led us to expect so what we find the rest of this chapter is a bit of a shock. It’s not a wedding we find here but warfare. The description of the Rider—what I’m calling “His regal aspect”—the kingly, or “regal” way He appears to John in this vision (that’s what “aspect” means)—takes up the biggest part of this passage and it’s packed with bits and pieces of references to other parts of the Bible. In fact, if John’s original readers didn’t know their Bibles, there is no way they could have understood this description of the Rider’s “aspect.” It’s all “biblical”. Let’s break it down like this: The Rider’s horse; His name;  His eyes; His crown; His name; His robe; and His name. Notice how it repeats the idea of his name—because the key idea here is that He is being identified. These verses aren’t mainly about what the future will be like, or about what this Rider will do, but about identifying who He is and why the Bridegroom comes ready for battle. That’s why His name is described three times in 3 verses. That’s also why it says “heaven was opened”. Really that’s the only way anyone ever becomes a friend of this Rider—first by invitation, then by proper introduction:

• And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."  (Rev. 19:9a ESV)

• Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!  (Rev. 19:11a ESV)

Now “heaven” being opened isn’t meant to tell us that when this Rider comes it will be through a portal in the sky from another dimension. The descriptions here are not what you would think of as literal—the person being introduced here doesn’t literally have fire coming out of his eyes (12) or a sword from his mouth (15)—but He is real, this is about a literal day when He will arrive, and these symbolic description are meant to show you why it’s urgent that you be reconciled to Him now while you can. So what does heaven being “opened” mean?

This is the first time in Revelation John says he saw “Heaven” was opened. It’s similar, though, to 4:1, where John looked “and behold! A door was standing open in heaven!” and to 11:19, where “God’s Temple in Heaven was opened…” and to 15:5, where John looked and, “the sanctuary of the tent of witness in Heaven was opened…” But just to be clear, those are all different: those things John saw opened were a door, then God’s Temple, then the sanctuary of the Tent of Witness, but here, it’s Heaven John sees opened. That “door” opened in heaven, for example, in 4:1, represented a summons, an invitation to come up and receive the revelation of prophecy John was then given.[i] The rest of the Book of Revelation is what was “revealed” because John was invited to enter that door opened into heaven. Here it’s not just a door opened for one prophet; it’s all of heaven opened for everybody. The message is not being partially revealed but fully revealed and not just to a few but for all. On the day when verse 11 is fulfilled, Heaven will have no more secrets. And if you’re not ready, that should scare you.

Verse 10 said “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” so are you ready to see all of Jesus for who He really is with no filter, no veil, nowhere to hide, up close and personal? This scene contains an allusion to Isaiah’s prayer for God to come to earth, in Isaiah 64, so when this happens, Isaiah’s prayer will be answered:

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence--  2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!  3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.  4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.  (Isa 64:1-4 ESV)

John said in verse 10 that prophecy reveals Jesus; Revelation 1:1 said this whole book is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The coming of Jesus Christ is the answer to the prayers of all God’s people. Most people are not ready for this day. When Ezekiel saw heaven opened, in Eze 1:1, do you know what he saw? "In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." (Eze 1:1 ESV) But on the day when verse 11 is fulfilled, everybody will see, and not just a vision of God but God in the flesh. Are you ready to meet your Maker? Let’s look at those pieces of His “regal aspect.”

The Rider’s horse. 

A white horse. The only things in common here between this Rider and the “four horsemen of the Apocalypse” in chapter 6 is that one of those four rode a white horse, and that white horses were understood as a sign of victory.[ii] But there, there were four, and here there is One. They were a symbol of patrolling angels from Zechariah 1; this Rider here has more in common with the Rider in Zechariah 9:9—but with an important twist! Zechariah 9 says, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zec 9:9 ESV) This is the same Rider alright. But a different ride. There he was humble, mounted on a donkey. Here is revealed in glory and power and ultimate victory. The late Dr. Robert Thomas of The Master’s Seminary, and the man who taught John MacArthur to read Greek, put it so well: “At [Jesus’] first coming, He sat on a donkey… but in the day of His ultimate triumph He will sit on a white horse.”[iii]

The Rider’s name. 

He’s not called Jesus here but HE is clearly identified: “The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war,” (Rev. 19:11 ESV). In the letter Jesus dictated for the church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14), He described himself this way: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation" (Rev 3:14 ESV). He is therefore, by His own testimony, “Faithful and True.” And the end of verse 11 is a close echo of Psalm 96:13 about the coming of the LORD: "the LORD, …he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness." (Psa 96:13 ESV)

The Rider’s eyes. 

“His eyes are like a flame of fire…” (Rev. 19:12a ESV). This is how John described the appearance of Jesus at the beginning of Revelation, in Rev 1:14, "His eyes were like a flame of fire," (Rev 1:14 ESV).

The Rider’s crowns. 

“…And on his head are many diadems…” (Rev. 19:12b ESV). In Revelation 12 and 13, the dragon and the beast each have seven diadems but here, this Rider has “many”—because in Revelation 1:5, Jesus Christ is called, “the ruler of the kings on earth” and in Revelation 11:15 it says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The “many diadems” mean when Jesus comes for His Bride, He isn’t coming as the King of just one kingdom but as the only King. As Daniel 7:27 predicts about the future Kingdom of the Son of Man,

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Dan 7:27 ESV)

The Rider’s name. 

“…And he has a name written that no one knows but himself,” (Rev. 19:12 ESV). Again, this recalls what Jesus said about Himself, this time in Matthew 11:27 - "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Mat 11:27 ESV) Only God knows the Son completely—a kind of intimate knowledge here expressed by the ancient idea of “knowing someone’s true name”. But here, now, when this happens, Christ is totally made known for all to see: Christ the Son is being shown as completely revealed from Heaven in all His glory and power.

The Rider’s robe. 

“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood…” (Rev. 19:13a ESV). This is not a literal description but a literary description. It takes the words of Isaiah 63, which is an end times prophecy of Yahweh God returning to Jerusalem after having avenged the blood of His people on all their enemies.[iv] Isaiah sees the Lord in “crimsoned garments” “marching in the greatness of his strength” and asks who He is, and the Lord answers, “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” And Isaiah asks, “Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?” And Yahweh God answers, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come,” (c.f., Isaiah 63:1-4). In Isaiah 63 Yahweh identifies Himself, “It is I.” In Revelation 19:14, It is also Him.

The Rider’s name. 

“…And the name by which he is called is The Word of God,” (Rev. 19:13 ESV). This is how John identified Jesus Christ in the beginning of the Gospel of John: calling Him, “The Word of God”—He was in the beginning, with God, and all things were made through Him (John 1:1-2); And from the beginning, John testifies, “no one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known” (Jn 1:18). God sent Him, He revealed God, the Bible makes Him known to you, and one day soon HE will be revealed from Heaven. Are you ready for that? This Rider is identified so that only those who know Him can recognize Him. And the only way to know Him is by invitation—"And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,"  (Rev. 19:9 ESV)—and then by a proper introduction—the way God makes Him known in the Bible. Come to Him on His terms, embrace who the Bible says He is; believe His promises, confess your sin to Him and ask Him for mercy; bend your knee to Him now and HE will show you mercy and love and make you one of His people. Part of His Bride. Because although He is dressed for battle, HE is also the Bridegroom of those who love Him.

The Rider is identified by His righteous army (verse 14)

Verse 7 announced the marriage supper of the Lamb and that the Bride was ready but instead of a Lamb, verse 11 revealed a Rider, and instead of a Bride, verse 14 reveals an army. “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses, (Rev. 19:14 ESV). The people following Christ in triumph on that Day are literal but the description of them is not. These are real people who belong to Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and ascended to Heaven, this is the day when HE returns in His resurrection body, and as 1 Cor 15:23 promises, "then at his coming [He will raise] those who belong to Christ." (1Co 15:23 ESV) This is the day 1 Thess 4 predicts, "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"  (1Th 4:16-17 ESV). This is the army of all believers, the Church Triumphant, who are seen with Jesus on the Day He comes to conquer, as Rev 17:14 declares, "those with him are called and chosen and faithful." (Rev 17:14 ESV) They are real but the description of them here is symbolic—like a picture is worth a thousand words, the Gospel hope packed into this description is worth a thousand sermons!

“They are arrayed in fine linen, white and pure…” There is no doubt that this Army is the Bride of Jesus Christ, because those words directly quote the description of the Bride’s wedding dress in verse 8: “‘…It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints,” (Rev. 19:8 ESV). The meaning of the symbols are the same: the garments of the army represent the same as the bright and pure linen worn by the bride—“for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints,” (8b)! “[They] were following him on white horses.” The meaning of symbol of the white horse ridden by Christ is the meaning of the white horses ridden by the saints—His ultimate triumph and victory is theirs as well! Oh Christian, when this day arrives you will never again be defeated by sin; you will never again taste the failures of your present pilgrimage; you will never again suffer any shame or humiliation. He already took your sin and gave you His righteousness when you believed in Him—have you believed in Him yet? If you have, then when this day comes, you will share His victory. "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." (Rom 6:8 ESV) This isn’t about literal linen or horses but it is about literal righteousness, literal resurrection, literal victory, and literal followers of Jesus Christ, "when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints…" (2Th 1:10). This Rider is identified so that only those who know Him can recognize Him but it shows how important it is for you to be properly introduced to Him today.

The Rider is identified by His wrathful actions (verses 15-16)

The Rider’s sword and rod. “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron,” (Rev. 19:15a ESV). The first vision of Jesus Christ in Revelation pictured Him like this: "from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword," (Rev 1:16 ESV). And Psalm 2 contains a promise God makes to His only Son, to Christ:

“…You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  (Psa 2:9-12 ESV)

The sword from Christ’s mouth, yes, signifies that His Word is true and just but also that He will execute justice; the rod of iron not just that He could hypothetically ruler the world with absolute sovereignty but that He will. Verse 15 is the first time in this passage when it says what the Rider will do. “with which to strike down the nations” and “he will rule them…” Both of these ideas match what Isaiah prophesied Jesus will one day do: "…with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked." (Isa 11:4 ESV) It’s not just that Jesus is righteous but that His rule will restore righteousness; not just that Jesus is good but that His Kingdom will eradicate evil; not just that the Word of Jesus is true but that when HE comes He will cleanse the world of lies and of liars. “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty,” (Rev. 19:15b ESV). Next week we will see how the Last Battle will happen but as we end today, I want you to see what these verses have revealed about this Rider. “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords,” (Rev. 19:16 ESV). Everybody who has already met Him, know Him in the way God has revealed Him and made Him known through His Word—maybe you don’t know all that the Bible has to say about Him, not yet, but whatever you do believe about Him, must be in line with how the Bible introduces Him, so that when you believe in Jesus you believe in Him for who HE really is.

In Revelation 2, Jesus told one of those churches, "The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father."  (Rev 2:26-27 ESV) Have you ever read Psalm 149 carefully? Verse 4 says, “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; he adorns the humble with salvation,” and then verses 6-9 describe this same army of God’s saints:

Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,   to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,  to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD! (Psa 149:6-9 ESV)

The day when verse 14 is fulfilled will be the first day of a new era in world history. We’ll see more about this in chapter 20 but for now you need to take to heart what this says about your future. Some Christians seem to think that the afterlife is no longer real life; some act like it means we can just bail out of caring about what’s wrong with the world, like hitting the eject button and parachuting to safety while everything else goes down in flames. But this army of the saints of God meets Jesus in the sky and comes with Him to extend His Kingdom over the Earth, and for a thousand years, to fix everything that is wrong with the world now. To put all things right. "For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations." (Isa 61:11 ESV) It has been said, “This vision [of the Bridegroom dressed for battle] makes clear that the God of the Bible is the Lord of joyful love but also of vengeful wrath against all forms of evil.”[v] The vision of the Rider predicts a day when the Lord Jesus Christ will be fully and finally revealed for who He is. He is a King worthy of the title; HE is a god worthy of the name, “God.” Do you know Him?