The Second Coming of Christ & the Battle of Armageddon
Bible Study Guide
If God’s prophetic word has an accuracy rating of 100% perfection with not a letter out of place, then we should expect just as it’s been told, the Second Coming of Christ.
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-12)
The seven year Tribulation is finally coming to a close. Those that remain have endured the intensity of God’s wrath upon a sinful world who’ve chosen to reject Christ. The nations have raged against God and one another.
Now they’re coming together for one final war against the Heavenly Warrior who will win a decisive blow against Satan in the battle of Armageddon.
The Second Coming of Christ
(Verse 11) We can only imagine with our small minds the vision that John was gazing at. The vastness of the scene must’ve been overwhelming. John again does his best and describes in the simplest of terms what he saw.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.” (Revelation 19:11)
The rider on the white horse who is called Faithful and True is none other than Jesus Christ.
He’s not to be confused with the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2. The rider on that white horse that enters the scene at the beginning of God’s wrath as Christ opens the first of seven seals represents the Antichrist. You can learn more about this in Revelation 6 Bible study guide.
Christ will return to wage war as a just judge against His enemies. The battle of Armageddon will not be much of a war. His enemies will not have a chance.
Faithful and True With Eyes Like Blazing Fire
In this verse, we see the first of four names John records for Jesus in this passage. Jesus is Faithful and True. This represents His close and intimate relationship to His heavenly Father.
(Verse 12) Remember the scene when Christ appeared to John on the Island of Patmos for the first time to give him the revelation of things to come? John describes His eyes of blazing fire in the same way he does here in Revelation 19.
“The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.” (Revelation 1:14)
Christ’s eyes of blazing fire represent His ability to see past flesh deep into the heart and soul of mankind. Nothing is hidden from Christ. He sees all things. Not a single evil doer who has opposed God can hide what has been done through their evil ways.
He wears many crowns as the victor of many things such as death. He’s been victorious against all His enemies who’ve chosen not to follow Him or accept God’s free gift of salvation. He’ll also be the victor of the coming battle of Armageddon.
John also records the second of four names given to Christ. This name is kept a secret and is known only to himself.
Who’s Blood Is Stained On the Robe of Christ?
(Verse 13) John sees Christ come mightily onto the scene on His white horse in His beautifully adorned white robe. But John notices something interesting. Jesus’ pure clean white robe is stained with what appears to be blood.
Who’s blood is this and where did it come from?
You may be led to think that this is a symbol of the spilled blood of Christ from His work on the cross on our behalf. It would seem logical to think that it points us to God’s gift of salvation to mankind. But is it?
It most certainly seems reasonable to follow that line of thinking. But if we look closely at the passage and what it’s really leading to, can we still make the same assumption?
Allowing the Bible to Interpret the Bible
Here at Bible Study Simply, we hold fast to the true form of biblical interpretation. The best way to interpret God’s word, is to allow God’s own word to interpret God’s word. This is how anyone should teach another how to interpret and understand the Word of God.
This passage is a good example of that.
First, notice this passage points directly to the return of Jesus Christ. His return will be to first deal with those who’ve opposed God and His people in the Battle of Armageddon.
Christ returns at the end of the seven year period known as the Tribulation. It will be a time of great distress upon the earth and its inhabitants. It’ll be God’s wrath upon a sinful world. It’s going to be a time unlike any other on the earth.
Christ will cap off the end of sin and evil on the earth with His return to judge and wage war and avenge His enemies.
Notice a pattern? This passage is all about Christ and the completion of God’s wrath upon the earth with His final blow in a very decisive victory in the battle of Armageddon.
Now that we see where this passage points us, should we make the determination that the blood that has stained Christ’ robe is the His blood meant for the salvation of the world?
If Not For Salvation, Whose Blood Is This?
Let’s allow the Bible to help us understand whose blood is stained on the robe of Christ. To do this, we must go and visit a very special prophet by the name of Isaiah. Read carefully this passage which foretells of Christ who treads the winepress of God’s fury in the end times.
“Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save.”
2 Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing.
4 It was for me the day of vengeance;
the year for me to redeem had come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.
6 I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground.” (Isaiah 63:1-6)
Isaiah foretells of a future time (God’s Day), end of the age when God will seek vengeance and redemption on a world opposed to Him and lovers of evil.
We can certainly understand how the thread of Christ that runs through scripture and the shedding of His blood on the cross points us to salvation. In understanding this passage, we must stay within the context of the entire passage. The whole passage points to God’s Day of judgment and the deliverer of vengeance and wrath upon an unbelieving world.
Therefore, it’s clear that the robe stained with blood on Christ is stained with the blood of His enemies.
More of the Enemies Blood
Remember how this passage began? We were reminded by the heavenly hosts that God has avenged upon evil (Spirit of Babylon) the blood of all of God’s servants.
“He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Revelation 19:2)
We were also reminded back in Revelation 14 of the enormity of the blood of the enemy that will be spilled when they are reached by God’s wrath.
“The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[approx. 180 miles or 300 kilometers]
(Revelation 14:19-20)
Armies in Heaven Followed Him
(Verse 14) We have not seen the church (raptured believers) since Revelation 1-3. In Revelation 4, we see John temporarily raptured (taken up in spirit) into heaven to be shown the things to come. Symbolically, this also signifies the rapture of the church.
We no longer the church once Christ appears to open the first seal and the judgments of God begin upon the earth. Not until the judgments are over and Christ returns do we see the raptured church again. These are the armies that follow Christ’ return to earth for His Second Coming.
“His Name is the Word of God”
Verse 16 is closed out with the third of four names that are given to Jesus in this passage of the Second Coming before the Battle of Armageddon.
John records Christ as, “the Word of God.” John would be very familiar with this name. In fact, he would understand what it meant. John began his gospel account in explaining the meaning of Christ being the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
The entire Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Every word of God in the Bible points to Christ and our need of a Savior. Christ didn’t come into existence at birth. He existed before creation. The Bible teaches us of our brokenness and our need for Christ to reunite us with God, our heavenly Father.
Now, let’s also go take a look at the Battle of Armageddon that will take place after the Second Coming of Christ. Is it really going to be that big of a battle as many make it out to be? Let’s find out.
<< Rev. 19:1-10 “Rejoicing Over the Falling of Babylon” | “What Is the Battle of Armageddon?” Rev. 19:15-21 >>