Revelation 19:11-21 Lesson 495

Revelation 19:11-21 Lesson 495

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The crucial passage in Revelation.

Armageddon (19:14-21).

The Second Coming!

Study Tip:

Apply important verses into your life by asking yourself;
What lesson does this verse teach?
What difference would it make in my life?

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 19:11-21
Armageddon

11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Margin notes:

"A white horse." (19:11) - A symbol of purity and victory. The rider is Jesus Christ, come to defeat evil and claim His church as He promised in Matthew 24:29-31.

"He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True." (19:11) - This is Jesus riding the white horse.

"In righteousness he doth judge and make war." (19:11) - As promised in Isaiah 11:4 twenty-seven hundred years ago.

"His eyes were as a flame of fire." (19:12) - Symbolic of Jesus' wisdom.

"On his head were many crowns." (19:12) - Symbolic of Jesus' authority.

"He had a name written, that no man knew." (19:12) - Jesus has a heavenly name that is beyond the grasp of the human mind? Will all Christians receive a new name (Revelation 2:17)?

"The Word of God." (19:13) - Another title for Jesus (John 1:1; 1:14).

"He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood." (19:13) - "He was clothed in garments dipped in blood." See the prophecy in Isaiah 63:3.

"Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword." (19:15) - This is a figurative sword symbolizing the word of God which can pierce the soul and spirit and strike down evil (Hebrews 4:12). Will the Antichrist be defeated by the mere power of Jesus' words and "the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8)?

"Winepress." (19:15) - A winepress crushes grapes. This euphemism of God's wrath is similar to the ones found in Lamentations 1:15 and Revelation 14:19-20.

"KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (19:16) - Another reference to Jesus Christ showing His complete authority over the world and mankind.

"All the fowls." (19:17) - "All the birds."

"I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse." (19:19) - This is the battle of Armageddon.

"The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles." (19:20) - "The beast (the Antichrist) was captured and with him the false prophet who performed miracles." As prophesized over 2500 years ago in Daniel 7:11 and by Jesus 2000 years ago (Matthew 13:40-42).

Both the Old Testament (Isaiah 66:15-16; Ezekiel 39:3-5) and the New Testament (Matthew 25:31-34; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) prophesized Armageddon.

New Living Translation

Revelation 19:11-21
The Rider on the White Horse

11 Then 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. 12 His 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. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. 18 Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great."

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast-miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Application thought for the day:

Vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35-36; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30-31).

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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