Revelation 19:11-14. 11Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
Yesterday we saw Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem during his first advent (remember, advent means arrival). Riding a donkey symbolized that Jesus has come in peace not war.
Revelation 19 describes Jesus’ second advent. This time Jesus won’t arrive on a donkey; he will arrive on a white horse. What do you think a white horse symbolizes? That’s right, it symbolizes war. John, the author of Revelation, tells us that Jesus will come again to wage a righteous war.
You don’t ride a donkey into battle, that would be ridiculous. Donkeys aren’t made for battle, they are too short and too slow. You ride a horse into battle. Horses were made for battle. They are tall, strong, and fast. In fact, in a world without trucks, tanks, and airplanes, the horse was the ultimate weapon in a war. Look at how the book of Job describes the horse:
Job 39:19-25. 19“Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane? 20Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying! 21It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle. 22It laughs at fear and is unafraid. It does not run from the sword. 23The arrows rattle against it, and the spear and javelin flash. 24It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows. 25It snorts at the sound of the horn. It senses the battle in the distance. It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.
Like we said yesterday, the kings of Israel would ride donkeys to symbolize their humility and gentleness. Among his own people, the king would ride a donkey to show that they want peace for their people. But among their enemies the king would ride a horse – a battle horse. When Jesus comes to Earth for his second advent, it won’t be as a little baby in a manger. It won’t be as a poor craftsman from Nazareth. And it won’t be to die on a cross.
Jesus will come again, but this time he will come as a warrior riding on a white horse. When Jesus comes again, he will come to deal with God’s enemies. That’s why he will arrive on a battle horse. That’s why his robe will be dipped in blood. That’s why he will come with the armies of heaven (the angels) all on white horses too. Jesus’ second advent will be a fight. It will be a very short fight, because Jesus is so much more powerful than any enemy of God. The Bible says that Jesus will destroy all of God’s enemies with a single word. Yikes!
The big question today is, are you an enemy of God? Or are you God’s friend who loves him and trusts him?
I hope you are God’s friend. I hope you have asked God for forgiveness. I hope you have received Jesus as God’s gift that makes you righteous like him. If you have then, when Jesus returns, it won’t be to fight you, but to rescue you form those who hate God and hate his love and grace.
Questions: Are you God’s friend or enemy? How do you know?
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