When Moses saw Pharaoh and his armies drowned in the Red Sea and the people of God standing safely upon the shores of deliverance, he sang, "The Lord is a man of war." (Ex. 15:3). How often he proves it! In the garden our Lord foiled the schemes of the serpent and out of the fall accomplished his own purpose, promising redemption to the fallen pair. Throughout the history of the Old Testament, we see our great Savior illustrating his redemptive purpose in the deliverances of the chosen nation from the hands of their enemies. Then, at last, Christ came to deliver his people from sin, satan and the curse of the law (Matt. 1:21).
Having accomplished eternal redemption for us, our Lord Jesus took our sins and the prince of darkness, who held us captive, into everlasting captivity. He arose on high, was enthroned as the King of glory, and reigns today to save his people (Ps. 68:18-20). Yet, even now, "The Lord is a man of war." He rides forth in majesty, power and great glory "conquering and to conquer" (Rev. 6:2).
Proposition:Either by the irresistible power of his grace, or by the irresistible power of his wrath, King Jesus will defeat all his enemies and cause them to bow before his throne (See Ps. 89:21-25; Isa. 45:20-25; Phil. 2:9-11).
In our text John sees heaven opened. Not a window, or a door, but heaven itself is opened, and the Lord Jesus Christ comes forth riding upon a white charger, like a mighty Man of War.
Divisions:Tonight, I want us to look at the picture John saw and pray that God the Holy Spirit, who revealed it, will teach us its meaning. I want to show you four things:
I. First, we are given a picture of Christ The Mighty Conqueror, The Man of War. (vv. 11-13).
John had seen the Lord Jesus in his humiliation and even leaned upon his breast.
But now he sees Christ in his glory as the Captain of our salvation, the King of kings and Lord of lords. And he sees a warfare upon the earth. The Seed of the woman and the serpent are in conflict. Truth and error are engaged against one another. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are involved in war. We see this warfare, sometimes, with great concern. But John sees it and describes it from heaven's viewpoint. And he wrote this vision down so that we might clearly see it and take courage.
If we are soldiers enlisted under the banner of Christ, pledged to the advancement of truth, sworn to the precious blood of atonement, the glorious doctrines of the gospel and the honor of Christ, it will do us good to stand like John above the mists of the earth and see this warfare from heaven's viewpoint. Though the battle must rage upon the earth until Armageddon is over, there is no cause for fear. The ark of God is safe. The cause of Christ is secure. The Church of the living God will overcome her enemies. Truth shall prevail.
In order to stir our hearts to steadfastness and zeal, even in the thick of the battle, we are given this vision of the triumph and glory of Christ, his gospel and his church. And the greater part of the vision is Christ himself, the Mighty Conqueror, our Caption, Commander and King, The Man of War.
A. Our Mighty Savior Comes Forth Riding Upon A White Horse.
Of course, the picture is purely symbolical. The Son of God does not ride through the air upon a horse! Only the most ignorant of men would imagine taking this language literally. But our Lord is described as one sitting upon a white stallion, charging his foes upon a white horse. What does that mean? This white horse suggests four things to us.
1. Christ Jesus rides forth upon a white horse as the leader of a great army because he is highly honored in heaven.
2. This white horse also represents our Savior's power and dominion as our great Captain – The horse, from ancient times, symbolizes power (Job 39:19-25). (See John 17:2).
3. The white horse is a symbol of speed and swiftness – (Zech. 10:3).
The Word of the Lord runs swiftly. He only wills it, and his gospel is spread unto the uttermost parts of the earth. The Church of God is made a swift running horse for the spread of the gospel.
4. And this White horse represents the certain and sure victory of our mighty Savior (Rev. 6:2).
B. AS JOHN LOOKED INTO THE HEAVENS HE SAW CHRIST JESUS RIDING FORTH AS A MIGHTY CONQUEROR UPON A WHITE HORSE, AND HE SAW THE CHARACTER OF OUR LORD AS WELL.
It is one thing to see a Mighty Conqueror, but it is another thing, altogether blessed, to see that that Conqueror is altogether good. That is what John saw. Christ Jesus is not only vested with total power to rule, but he is perfectly good.
1. He is called Faithful and True.
2. His warfare is carried on in Righteousness – "In righteousness he doth judge and make war."
"Christ's kingdom needs no deception: the plainest speech and the clearest truth – these are the Weapons of our warfare." – C.H. Spurgeon.
C. Now Look At His Glorious Vesture – "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood."
I love all that Christ is. I love all his character and admire all his works. But I love, above all else, the fact that his whole Being has been dipped in blood. Whenever I think about our great God and King, I love to see him dipped in blood.
Christ is seen best, and seen in his truest glory, only when he is seen as the sin atoning Sacrifice of God's elect. The greatest thing he ever did was this – "He laid down his life for us!" (I John 3:16).
D. JOHN SAW ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE LORD JESUS WHICH HE GIVES US – HE SAW HIS NAME!
John seems to contradict himself. He says, "And he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself." Then he says, "And his name is called the Word of God." But there is no contradiction. John is simply saying what our Lord himself declared: "No man knoweth the Son, but the Father." (Matt. 11:26).
We know that Christ is the Word of God. He is the embodiment and revelation of the glorious, triune God. He sits before us, in human form, the mind, will, heart, nature and glory of God. But knowing that he is the Word of God, we recognize such mysterious majesty and majestic mystery in him that we readily acknowledge our ignorance of him. He is unspeakably and unknowably glorious.
1. Who understands the mystery of His Person?
2. Who understands the depth of His Love?
3. Who understands the wonder of His Redemption?
4. Who understands the treasures of His Grace?
5. Who understands the blessedness of His Peace?
This is Christ, our mighty Conqueror. He is exalted with power and glory. He is faithful and true, righteous and pure, sovereign and good. He is the Word of God. May he graciously conquer your heart by his grace.
II. Secondly, in this vision we see The Armies Which Follow Him (v. 14).
"These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (Rev. 14:4). The Church of God is a mighty army, steadily advancing through this world under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Mighty Conqueror, Man of War. John calls our attention to four things about the Church of the living God, whose names are written in heaven.
A. THE CHURCH OF GOD MARCHES AS MANY ARMIES UNDER ONE GREAT CAPTAIN.
Though we are One in Christ, God's church scattered throughout this world, throughout the ages of time are many armies.
1. Though at anytime or place we appear to be few and weak, God's church is many and strong.
2. The armies, or battalions, of this Kingdom are all engaged under the same banner (The Cross), fight under the direction of the same King (Christ) and fight for the same cause (The Glory of God).
B. ALL WHO FOLLOW CHRIST ARE MOUNTED, AS THEIR LEADER IS MOUNTED, UPON WHITE HORSES.
As he fares, they fare, for they are all one with him. And these white horses mean the same thing here as when we see Christ himself upon a white horse.
C. ALL THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST ARE WELL ARMED.
They have neither sword, nor spear, nor bow, nor gun. They do not even have a derringer hidden in case of an emergency. Their only armor is the bright white righteousness of Christ. They are "clothed in fine linen, white and clean."
NOTE: Though we march with Christ through this world in hostile, enemy territory, we are never the ones who do battle. We are engaged in the warfare, but the battle is the Lord's. II Chron. 20
D. AND THESE ARMIES, FOLLOWING THIS MIGHTY CONQUEROR, ARE ASSURED OF VICTORY – (Rom. 8:36-39).
Until our Captain is taken, not one of his recruits can fall! (Matt. 16:18).
III. Thirdly, I want you to see The Warfare He Wages (v. 15).
What is this warfare? There cannot be a war without a weapon. Yet, as we looked through the ranks of the armies, there was not a weapon among them. But, look, there is a sword. The sword is in the mouth of our great Conqueror, The Lord Jesus Christ.
A. THE SWORD BY WHICH OUR LORD CONQUERS THE HEARTS OF MEN IS THE GOSPEL OF HIS GRACE (Heb. 4:12).
B. IF HE DOES NOT SUBDUE MEN BY THE GOSPEL, HE WILL YET SUBDUE THEM BY THE ROD OF HIS JUSTICE.
C. AND, IN THE END, KING JESUS WILL TREAD HIS ENEMIES IN THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.
IV. Fourthly, John shows us The Reason For This War – (v. 16).
The Lord God is determined to make all Christ's enemies his footstool, to make all men bow before him and acknowledge that he is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
Application:March on in confidence. March on to Victory. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord! Christ The Mighty Conqueror shall win the day (Isa. 45:22-25).
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