Revelation 19: 11-21

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.  The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven.  It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this world.  Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’ – aim at earth and you will get neither.

-C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian

  The more Believers think about our next world, the more effective we become in changing this world.

  Revelation 19 is about the event that will trigger:

• JUSTICE finally being done on Earth

• RESTORATION of the Earth to how it was in the Garden of Eden when God created it

• BEGINNING of life in Heaven for every follower of Jesus when the King Returns!

1. Eternity is on the horizon for everyone the moment you die!

  In Jeremiah 1:5 God said to Jeremiah-when you were in your mother’s womb I KNEW you!

  In Romans 1, Paul said nobody will have an excuse for not responding to Jesus. He is constantly beckoning to us all.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock...if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me!

-Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

  If you choose to walk through the door of faith, you’ll have a life-changing relationship with Jesus!

  When Jesus talked about Heaven and Hell, it wasn’t a philosophy lesson. It was a geography lesson! One of those two locations is on the horizon for everyone!

  Teleological Eschaton: the ultimate end, purpose, or final destination of history and the universe, driven by an inherent design or goal.

The Rapture of the Church - I Thessalonians 4:

Rapture: in Latin means, to catch up.

  Jesus will return and miraculously and dramatically take all of his followers up out of this world!

  Jesus said in Matthew 24 and Luke 17: two men will be working in the field-one will be taken and the other left behind.

Time of Tribulation:

  The impact of that rapture of believers will cause the world to devolve into chaos.

  History will culminate with the return of King Jesus and He will invoke the final judgement!  

  In Matthew 25, Jesus describes it like a shepherd separating the sheep and the goats.

  Followers of Jesus will appear at the Judgement Seat of Christ where, by God’s grace, there will be NO CONDEMNATION for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.

  Paul says in Romans 14: 10-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 that every follower of Jesus will have the QUALITY of their life assessed, the generosity and authenticity of their contribution will be evaluated and rewarded.

  Those who don’t know the Lord will appear at what Revelation 20:11 calls the Great White Throne Judgement.

2. Eventually Jesus will return to establish His kingdom on earth and judge the enemies of God!

  The Appearance of the Returning King:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

-Revelation 19:11 (NIV)

This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!

-Matthew 3:17 (ESV)

This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!

-Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

  At the peak of his popularity and success God affirms that Jesus was still faithful and true-undistracted by the seductions of fame, applause or opposition.

The Authority of the Returning King:

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

-Revelation 19:12-13 (NIV)

The Allies of the Returning King:

The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

-Revelation 19:14 (NIV)

  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because though our sins were as scarlet, Jesus washed us white as snow.

The Outcome of the Returning King:

Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

-Revelation 19:15-16 (NIV)

When Jesus returns:

• He will return in ultimate power-every knee will bow to Him!

• He will be surrounded by everyone who has declared their love for Him and been saved.

• He will bring justice to those who have dishonored Him and His Father’s Kingdom-who disregarded His word and left a trail of dehumanizing pain in their wake.

• He will finally set everything right in this world for the first time since the Garden of Eden.

  John doesn’t write this to frighten us, but to attract us and encourage us!

• Don’t despair-no matter what you’ve done, you are one decision away from being forgiven of your sin and adopted into God’s family right now!

• Don’t doubt-no matter how dark our world gets, God’s Word is true. The King will return and make all things right! 

• Don’t delay-the devil doesn’t have to get you to hate Jesus, just to put off making a decision for Jesus until it’s too late!

Make a Decision