The Beast is Defeated

The Beast is Defeated

Revelation 19:11-16  ⁽¹¹⁾ 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 wages war. ⁽¹²⁾ 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. ⁽¹³⁾He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ⁽¹⁴⁾The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ⁽¹⁵⁾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. ⁽¹⁶⁾On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. (NIV)

 

 

            John was shown Jesus who is the rider of the white horse called Faithful and True. God is always faithful to His children and we can always count on what His word says is forever true. 1 Corinthians 1:9 god, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (NIV) The description of His eyes matches what was described in the earlier chapters of Revelation showing that He is a consuming fire, which brings forth purification. Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  On His head were many crowns and He had a name that only He could understand. Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (NIV) There are people who proclaim that they do not believe in God or His Son. However, there is no one who will not acknowledge that Christ is Lord regardless of how they have tried to not believe it while living on this earth.

            John saw Jesus wearing a robe that had been dipped in blood and his name was the Word of God. Jesus is the Word of God because He and God are one and He sacrificed Himself in an effort to save all mankind even though He was rejected. John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (NIV)

            When Jesus first came to earth, He came as a meek and humble lamb. But this time, He will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will come to pass judgment upon the wicked and send them to their ultimate destruction. All of Heaven’s armies will be with Him, and out of His mouth will be a sword, which is the promises of the Word of God to render the reward that all have earned. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (NIV)

 Revelation 19:17-18 ⁽¹⁷⁾And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, ⁽¹⁸⁾so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” (NIV)

              The destruction of the wicked is going to be mighty. There will be no second chance once this earth is done. The wicked will think that they have gotten by with all the evil that they have done, but the King of kings and Lord of lords will be coming back with a reward that is due. John saw the angel tell the birds in the air to feast upon the flesh of those who had been destroyed. This is similar to a text in Ezekiel when God warns the enemies of Israel that their flesh will be eaten as well. Ezekiel 39:4-5 ON the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as good to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV) God is longsuffering and yet, He is a God of justice who will punish those in rebellion against Him.  

Revelation 19:19-21 ⁽¹⁹⁾Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. ⁽²⁰⁾But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ⁽²¹⁾The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (NIV)

             Once again, this beast is that of the anti-Christ who has dared to go against God as a ruler along with other government officials of the world. However, he was captured as well as his false prophet who fooled the masses and caused people to receive the mark of the beast and worship it. Both were thrown into the lake of fire and those who followed were destroyed as well. There are many people who are allowing their religious leaders to prepare them for taking the mark of the beast. They follow these leaders without any question and never take the time to study the word of God for themselves. However, they will be without excuse because the Bible has told us what to look out for in these leaders. 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into repute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (NIV)

 

 

Join us tomorrow as we continue our study in the book of Revelation.