Where Are the Shepherds? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: February 13, 2022 by RR7

The history of Israel found in Scripture is a very important study. We can see what worked out well for Israel, but we can also learn from mistakes. Israel is a nation that was chosen by God, but they didn’t always behave properly towards Him. When they rebelled against Him, they were judged, but when they walked in obedience to Him, they prospered. In Old Testament times, God chose certain men, known as prophets, to speak His words to His people. Prophets like Ezekiel and Daniel told exciting prophecies of what’s happening today. Among other things, Ezekiel told of dry bones coming together, which foretold that Israel would come back to life, and in Daniel, we read prophecies about the coming Messiah, the Tribulation, and much more.

God had given His chosen people the land we now call Israel, and when they entered it under the leadership of Joshua, God blessed them. Israel was a nation intended to be under the authority of God; He gave them His Law, but they wanted a king like other nations. God gave them Saul, a man who proved to be an inferior king. Saul wasn’t the king God had desired for them but is an example of running ahead of God with selfish desires. After King Saul committed suicide in battle, David became king. David was the one God had chosen, and from his lineage, the Messiah would be born.

David ruled well, but many years after David died, war divided the nation. The Northern Kingdom, known as Israel, turned to idolatry. They were ruled by very evil leaders, especially King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who led the nation into idolatry. This didn’t surprise God, who had the prophet Hosea speak to the nation. God knew that it was the shepherds (the priests) who were to blame, not the sheep (the people). The priests allowed idolatry to invade the places of worship. Idolatry and worship of false gods would destroy the Northern Kingdom.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I also will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).

It was the religious leaders who didn’t stand firm upon God’s laws and allowed Ahab and Jezebel to force their pagan ways, including child sacrifice, upon the nation. God knew that if the shepherds had been true followers of the Lord and strong leaders of the people, evil wouldn’t have been an issue. History shows that the Northern Kingdom did fall; they were taken captive by the Assyrians. Allowing evil leaders to legalize sin and idolatry can only cause God to bring judgment.

The Southern Kingdom didn’t practice the level of idolatry that the Northern Kingdom did, but they did forsake God. Even a little idolatry is evil. These people didn’t learn from the mistakes of their northern brothers, and they neglected God’s law. Once again, God had a prophet speak to them and point out that it was the shepherds who allowed the sin. This time it was the prophet Jeremiah who spoke for God.

“My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place” (Jeremiah 50:6).

Jeremiah obeyed God and did all he could to turn the people and the religious leaders back to the right path of God, but his words weren’t heeded. Because they turned from God, the Southern Kingdom fell to the Babylonians. Once again, it was those who should have been standing upon God’s word and leading the people in His ways who were to blame.

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1-2).

Instead of following the Law, they began compromising and cutting corners. Soon God allowed them to be taken captive to Babylon. History repeated itself. Those who should have stood strong for God failed in their leadership.

The nation of Israel was created by God when He called Abram (Abraham) out of the pagan life that surrounded Him.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee” (Genesis 12:1).

He had to leave all pagan ties behind in order to serve the Lord, and that’s true today. It may not be easy to break ties with family and friends, but if those ties hinder your walk with the Lord, they will stop you from serving Him. God further promised Abraham (Abram) that he would be the father of a great nation.

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Indeed, in his old age, Abraham fathered Isaac, who in turn fathered Jacob (renamed Israel), who was the father of twelve sons… the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel became a great nation. In spite of struggles, the entire world is blessed because of Israel. Jesus Christ was born from the tribe of Judah, and anyone who places their faith in Him will have eternal life. Don’t get the idea that God has turned His back on His people, Israel.

Other prophets of God spoke prophecies, making it clear that Israel will be reunited and re-established in their God-given land. That miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel began in 1948. Since then many, many prophecies regarding Israel have been fulfilled, and more are on the verge of fulfillment as we watch Russia gaining military strength and nuclear power in the hands of Israel’s enemies. We are swiftly moving to the final stage of earth’s history, and it will take the Tribulation period to bring Israel around to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is their Messiah. He will fight their final battle. Of course, He wins.

Prior to the Tribulation, Christians will be called Home in the Rapture. If you study prophecy, you’ll understand just how close we are to that long-awaited event. Does the shepherd of your congregation teach about that? If not, then you need to do your own study.

Just as in the days of the Northern and Southern Kingdom, many shepherds of today are failing in their leadership. Christians are turning to pagan ways, such as Yoga. In the name of tolerance, pastors seldom speak out against sin, withhold Biblical knowledge, and false doctrine enters into congregations. Most pastors are happy to obey the pagan laws and keep silent on “controversial” issues, such as abortion and sexual diversity. God’s word isn’t silent, but pastors can’t run the risk of jeopardizing the tax-exempt status by speaking God’s truth and standing against evil. The shepherds of today seem to be the same as the shepherds of the Kingdoms of Israel.

Peter followed Christ, but when Christ was crucified, Peter hid. After the Resurrection, Jesus met with the disciples on the shores of Galilee and fed them a meal of fish and bread. After they ate, Jesus talked with Peter.

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).

Peter needed to feed the flock the word of God. Twice more, Jesus put that question to Peter and told him, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:16). Lambs need to learn to turn from the ways of the world and serve the Lord. “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Peter was not the first pope; he did obey Jesus and fed the flock. Sheep need to be fed on the deeper things of God to keep them strong and healthy. Many preachers today don’t get past feeding lambs. God’s words through Hosea were, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6a), and many pastors today are OK with that.

It’s a great calling for a man to be called as a preacher, but it’s a great responsibility. Scripture must be taught in truth and in its entirety—line upon line and precept upon precept. Too many preachers teach the ideas of the particular denomination they serve, even if those ideas aren’t consistent with Scripture. When asked about the end of the age, Jesus warned about deception. “And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4). The shepherds need to feed truth to the flock, but the sheep need to study God’s word in order to be properly fed and to recognize false teachers.

What’s missing in our pulpits today? The Gospel truth. It seems more important to keep the pews and offering plates full than to feed healthy food from Scripture to the congregation. The Apostle Paul could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he would have compromised and tickled ears rather than spreading God’s truth. He chose straightforward truth. In his farewell talk with the elders of Ephesus, he had a clear conscience.

“And now, behold I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:25-31).

Paul was driven by the purpose of sharing the Gospel. If the shepherd of your flock is driven by any purpose other than Scriptural teaching of God’s truth, then he isn’t feeding the sheep with nutritious food. The Holy Spirit inspired the men who penned Scripture, but that’s not true of most of the books written by men. Paul declared the Gospel and therefore had done what was asked of him. He didn’t use gimmicks to share the Gospel; he just spoke God’s truth. If people rejected it, at least Paul had declared it.

In his second epistle, Peter assures us that signs and wonders are nice, but the word of God in prophecy is a light that shines in the darkness. We need to learn from the past and study Scripture. Remember, it was the shepherds (the priests) who allowed the downfall of both Kingdoms of Israel.

There were two kinds of prophets. God’s prophets are true prophets, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:1-3). Those blasphemers are working their evil today.

Jesus warned against false teaching, as did the men who wrote the epistles. If false teaching is coming from the pulpit, how can the flock know God’s truth? Study Scripture yourself. All Bibles are translations, but not all translations are true to the meaning of the original language. Use a good concordance in order to understand what the original language means. Jude wrote about contending for the faith and spotting false teachers.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

Even when Jude was alive, there were false teachers who perverted Scripture. Many of the false prophets of today write books that become bestsellers because they tickle ears.

“Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (Jude 8).

I remember when I was researching a best-selling author, I learned that one Thanksgiving, he had his flock host a dinner where Muslims and Mormons were the honored guests and were served with turkey and all the trimmings. Really? In his second letter, the Apostle John warned the “elect lady” not to invite anyone in that does not confess the doctrine of Christ. Muslims and Mormons agree that someone named Christ walked the earth, but they have far different doctrines than those taught by Scripture. Jude also addresses this.

“These are spots in your love feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees without fruit withereth, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 12-13).

Beware of false teachers, even from your own pulpit.

The congregation in Corinth was being taught many false doctrines, and that concerned Paul. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is Christ. For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

Some false doctrines of today include: a different Jesus preached than what is found in Scripture, a different spirit than the Holy Spirit, and a different gospel than the Gospel of Truth. Mormons and Muslims may talk about Jesus, but they don’t worship Christ as God incarnate. Some shepherds promote “holy laughter.’ That isn’t the Holy Spirit leading those poor deceived people. Christian Yoga? The same Old Serpent, Satan, who deceived Eve, is deceiving many people today. Woe to the shepherds who lead the sheep down these paths.

If sound doctrine isn’t taught, deception will run rampant. Paul’s words to a young pastor named Timothy are important today. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-3).

The flock may want to feed on junk food, but woe to the shepherd who continually feeds them popcorn and chocolate. Unlike Paul, who spoke God’s truth no matter what, many shepherds today will have the blood of the congregation on their hands because they won’t teach truth. As time goes on, things will get worse. Paul warned Timothy, “But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Be careful who you follow.

God didn’t blame the sheep but held the shepherds accountable for the fall of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. What deception and idolatry are the shepherds feeding the flock today?

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

We are living in the last days. Be a wise sheep, even if the shepherd is a poor leader.

Where are the shepherds? Many are frolicking with the wolves. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Make it your goal to be a part of His flock.

God bless you all,

Nathele Grahams

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Faithful And True :: By Bill Pierce

Published on: February 13, 2022 by RR7

FAITHFUL: ‘Firm in adherence to the truth. Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject. Observant of compact, treaties, contracts, vows or other engagements; true to one’s word. True; exact; in conformity to the letter and spirit; as a faithful execution of a will. Conformable to truth. True; worthy of belief’ (Noah Webster, 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language).

TRUE: ‘Conformable to fact; being in accordance with the actual state of things; as a true relation or narration; a true history. A declaration is true when it states the facts. In this sense, true is opposed to false. Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated or false. Free from falsehood; as a true witness. Exact; right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; as a true copy; a true likeness of the original. Not false or pretended; real; as, Christ was the true Messiah’ (Ibid.).

INTRODUCTION

Holy borders — The written word of God and the incarnate Word of God are like holy borders for all the paths of God (Psalm 16:11; 17:4; 23:3; 25:10; 119:35; Proverbs 2:8, 20). These borders are inseparable (John 3:34). “For he [the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God] whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” (John 3:34).

Amazing parallels — In the Holy Bible, both the written word and Jesus Christ the incarnate Word—God manifest in flesh:

1) live and abide for ever (Psalm 33:11; Matthew 24:35; 1Peter 1:23/Revelation 1:18),

2) give light (Psalm 119:130/John 1:4),

3) create all things (Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3; 2Peter 3:5-7/John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 3:9; Revelation 4:11),

4) uphold all things (Hebrews 1:3/Colossians 1:17),

5) reconcile (2Corinthians 5:19),

6) bring salvation (Acts 13:26/Acts 4:12),

7) build up (Acts 20:32/Hebrews 3:4; Colossians 2:7),

8) sanctify (1Timothy 4:5; John 17:17/Hebrews 13:12),

9) beget children (James 1:18/Psalm 89:29; Isaiah 53:10),

10) save souls (James 1:21; Romans 1:16; 2Timothy 3:15/John 4:42; Acts 13:23; 1Timothy 4:10; 2Peter 3:18),

11) prophesy (2Peter 1:19/Revelation 19:10),

12) dwell and abide in believers (Colossians 3:16; 1John 2:14/Colossians 1:27),

13) have martyrs (Revelation 6:9; 20:4/Revelation 2:13),

14) work in believers (1Thessalonians 2:13/Philippians 2:13),

15) give comfort (Romans 15:4; 1Thessalonians 4:18/John 14:16),

16) heal (Psalm 107:20/Matthew 4:23),

17) bring joy and rejoicing (Psalm 119:162; Jeremiah 15:16/1Samuel 2:1; Psalm 32:11; 35:9; Nehemiah 8:10),

18) wash and cleanse (Ephesians 5:26; Psalm 119:9; John 15:3/Ezekiel 36:33; Matthew 8:2-3); Both the words and the Word are:

19) holy (Romans 1:2; 2Timothy 3:15/Acts 4:27, 30),

20) light (Psalm 119:105/Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-20; Micah 7:8; Acts 13:47),

21) immutable (Hebrews 6:17-20; Isaiah 55:10-11),

22) pure (Psalm 12:6-7/1Peter 1:19),

23) truth (John 17:17/John 14:6),

24) exalted (Psalm 138:2/Colossians 1:18),

25) magnified (Psalm 138:2; Isaiah 42:21/Ezekiel 38:23; Acts 19:17; Philippians 1:20; Psalm 69:30),

26) praised (Psalm 56:4/Psalm 18:3; 1Peter 4:11),

27) to be received (Acts 11:1; 17:11; 1Thessalonians 2:13/John 1:12),

28) to be preached (Romans 1:15; 2Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:3; 1Corinthians 1:17-18, 23),

29) not to be blasphemed (Titus 2:5/Philippians 2:9),

30) quick (Hebrews 4:12/Jeremiah 23:36; Revelation 1:18),

31) powerful (Hebrews 4:12/Matthew 28:18),

32) to be tasted (Hebrews 6:5/1Peter 2:3),

33) bread (Isaiah 55:10-11/John 6:33, 50),

34) stumbling stones (1Peter 2:5/1Peter 2:8),

35) of life (Philippians 2:14-16/1John 1:1),

36) spirit (John 6:63; 1Corinthians 15:45),

37) faithful and true (Revelation 22:6/Revelation 3:14; 19:11),

38) living (Hebrews 4:12/Jeremiah 23:36; 1Timothy 4:10),

39) to be eaten [ingested] spiritually (Jeremiah 15:16/John 6:54-61),

40) a witness (1John 5:9; Romans 3:21; Deuteronomy 31:26/Revelation 3:14; Jeremiah 42:5; Micah 1:2; Romans 1:9; 8:16),

41) great (Psalm 119:162; Matthew 22:36-38/Psalm 48:1; 145:3; Titus 2:13).

Text: Revelation 19:11-16

Around AD 96, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle John on the isle of Patmos and commanded him: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:19). The entire book of Revelation is John’s faithful record of what the Lord revealed to him. This study is a commentary on John’s vision of the glorious second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ — “The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).

TWO WHITE HORSE RIDERS

Revelation 19:11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True…”

THE FAITHFUL RIDER

Outstanding names—The Lord Jesus Christ is given many names and titles in “the record that God gave of his Son” (1John 5:10). “Faithful and True” is one of the most descriptive names given to “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13), “…who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1Timothy 4:10)! He is God manifest in flesh (John 1:1, 14; 1Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8), who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2)! Jesus Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

The Lord Jesus also declared himself to be “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14) and not “[a] faithful and true witness.” To change the definite article [the] to the indefinite article [a] would suggest that there are also others who are faithful and true—which is false, “For all [created men] have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Two other names are given to the faithful rider: “The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) and “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). The scriptures clearly declare that “the Word was God” (John 1:1), that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14; 1John 1:1). The Word is a member of the Godhead (1John 5:7; Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20). He is also “the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

There is none like him! — God himself declared: “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One” (Isaiah 40:25); and, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:5-9). Also “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Peter 1:21), and declared: “There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky” (Deuteronomy 33:26; 2Samuel 7:22; 1Chronicles 17:20; Psalm 86:8-10; Jeremiah 10:6-7); “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1Samuel 2:2; Psalm 89:6-8; Micah 7:18).

Solomon commanded his son: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The “man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5), who is God made flesh (John 1:1-14), is the only man among men who can be confidently and safely trusted! Some teach that all men have a ‘divine spark’: ‘The idea of a divine spark, most common in Gnostic and mystical religions, is that every human being possesses either a connection with God or a “part” of God… is not biblical…. Without the truth and life of Jesus Christ (John 14:6), there is no “spark.” Without a relationship with the light of the world (John 8:12), there can be no light (2Corinthians 4:4)’ (Gotquestions.org)

THE UNFAITHFUL RIDER

Known by many names — Earlier in the book of Revelation, when the first of the seven seals were opened, John wrote: “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). This white horse rider is not to be confused with the white horse rider in Revelation chapter nineteen! The first white horse rider represents the “antichrist” (1John 2:18), who “by peace shall destroy many” (Daniel 8:25). He is called “a king of fierce countenance” (Daniel 8:23), “that man of sin…the son of perdition” (2Thessalonians 2:3), “that wicked” (2Thessalonians 2:8), and many other names.

The first horse rider is a Satanic counterfeit! He only wears one crown on his head. But the rider called Faithful and True wears “many crowns” (Revelation 19:12)! The Satanic counterfeit carries a bow without arrows. But out of the mouth of the rider called “Faithful and True” “goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations” (Revelation 19:15)!

THE CONQUERING KING

Revelation 19:11 “…and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

He doth judge—The people appealed to Jeremiah, saying, “The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us” (Jeremiah 42:5). When a man was examined regarding the death penalty, Moses’ law declared: “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death” (Deuteronomy 17:6). Two or more witnesses were necessary because one man could lie and be a false witness (Matthew 26:60).

But “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). The Lord Jesus Christ is “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14), who “shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth” (Psalm 96:13; 98:9; 9:8; Acts 17:31). No other witness will be necessary to establish your guilt when you stand to give account of yourself to God (Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:12; 1Peter 4:5)! The Lord “needeth not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25; John 5:27; 1Chronicles 28:9; Acts 1:24)!

God’s judgment was executed for all sinners — The prophet testified, “I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness” (Micah 7:9). Micah said that the LORD will “execute judgment for [on the behalf of] me: not “to me“! This happened when Christ Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).

The glorious gospel of Christ, “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3-4), was executed perfectly on the cross almost two thousand years ago, when “…once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26; 7:27). “Who [Jesus Christ] his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1Peter 2:24). Born-again believers “are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…. This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10-14).

Foretold — Details of the gospel were prophesied by Isaiah more than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ. He wrote: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…. The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all…. He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken…. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:1-11).

The only acceptable sacrifice — God the Father said to his Son: “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47; 2Corinthians 5:14-15). The Son of God came into the world in a body prepared for him by his Father (Hebrews 10:5). Believers “are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Any other sacrifice can “never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11)! And after the Lord Jesus “had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, [he] sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14).

Therefore, believers are commanded: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1Corinthians 5:7): “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2; 2Corinthians 2:15; Leviticus 1:13, 17).

The sin of the world — The Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The one “sin of the world” is unbelief. The Lord Jesus said that the world is judged “Of sin, because they believe not on me” (John 16:9). Jesus said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5), and commanded, “…repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The Lord Jesus declared to John: “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh [all born-again believers “are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37)] shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:6-8; 14:11). There the unbelieving will suffer “the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7); “And the smoke of their torment…” (Revelation 14:11) will ascend up for ever and ever!

He makes war — The heathen kings and rulers of this earth are spiritually blind and foolish! In their wicked imaginations, they believe they can stand against and resist the LORD forever. But the psalmist declared: “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision” (Psalm 2:1-4). The Lord will take the world’s kingdoms by force! Read Isaiah 63:1-5; 13:6-18; Jeremiah 46:10; and Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31.

When the Lord Jesus Christ has conquered all the nations of this world at “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14), the seventh angel will sound, and there will be “great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15)!

DESCRIPTION AND NAME

Revelation 19:12 “His eyes were as a flame of fire…”

The all-seeing eyes of the LORD — “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3; Zechariah 4:10). “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings” (Proverbs 5:21). “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:15). “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

The LORD sees and rewards faithful men: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” (2Chronicles 16:9; 2Chronicles 14:2). The LORD also sees the evil and judges them: “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth…” (Amos 9:8; Isaiah 3:8; 1Kings 16:25).

Revelation 19:12 “…and on his head were many crowns…”

The Lamb is worthy — John the apostle saw “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:10-11). The only truly good work any saint of God accomplishes is the result of God working in them (Philippians 2:13). Christ in us, “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) did the good work; therefore, he is worthy to receive all the crowns!

Revelation 19:12 “…and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”

Only one saving name! — The Lord kept his name secret (Genesis 32:29; Judges 13:18) until “…the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:19-21). Speaking of “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, [Peter declared]… Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).

The name of God! — The name “Word” for the everlasting Son of God was not revealed until the apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Revelation 19:13 “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood…”

Whose blood? — John saw the Lord’s vesture dipped in blood before he gathered the rebellious people to Armageddon, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14-16). Isaiah prophesied: “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment” (Isaiah 63:1-3).

Therefore, whose blood was the Lord’s vesture dipped in before he tread the winepress alone? Considering that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26), and “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37), I speculate that the vesture dipped in blood could be the same vesture worn by the Lord Jesus when “he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst” (John 19:17-18). Simon was compelled to carry the cross “unto a place called Golgotha” (Matthew 27:22-23). Then Jesus bore his own cross into the place where he was crucified.

Before Jesus was crucified, Pilate had him scourged. Afterward, the soldiers led Jesus away into a hall where the whole band put a crown of thorns on his head and smote him with on the head with a reed. After they had mocked the Lord, “they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him” (Mark 15:16-20). As a result of his scourging and mocking by the soldiers, the Lord’s vesture would have been stained with his own blood! Before he was nailed to the cross, the soldiers parted his garments and cast lots upon his vesture (Matthew 27:35; Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).

Revelation 19:13 “…and his name is called The Word of God.”

See comments under THE FAITHFUL RIDER above.

THE LORD’S ARMIES

Revelation 19:14 “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

All the saints — Zechariah prophesied: “…the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee” (Zechariah 14:5). “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 1:14). At his second coming, “all the saints” will include all of God’s children—which have received “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” (Romans 3:22). “For he hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2Corinthians 5:21). “…This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).

The Lord’s armies include all believers from Adam unto the last believer in “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7): the “great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14). All the saints before the law, during the law, during Christ’s earthly ministry to Israel, during the age of the church, and also those who will become saints during the great tribulation [who will be gathered by the angels (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27) shortly before Christ’s second coming].

The apostle John wrote of these tribulation saints and said, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-14).

OUT OF HIS MOUTH

Revelation 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations…”

The sharp sword—The sharp sword is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17); “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). “And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel 2:11). “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6)!

Flaming fire—The scripture declares: “For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). The scriptures have much to say about God’s consuming fire. David prophesied of the Lord’s second coming: “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it” (Psalm 18:7-8; 97:5; Psalm 68:2; Isaiah 34:2).

To the church of the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul wrote: “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power…” (2Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Isaiah prophesied: “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many” (Isaiah 66:15-16; Psalm 50:3; 97:3; Daniel 7:10; Nahum 1:5-6; Habakkuk 3:5; Malachi 4:1).

John the Baptist prophesied of the Lord Jesus Christ and said: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:11-12; Revelation 14:10). The wicked are the “chaff” (Job 21:17-18; Isaiah 5:24).

The LORD’S VENGEANCE — Believers are commanded: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19; Psalm 94:1-4; Hebrews 10:30). The command, “avenge not yourselves,” and to know that our righteous God will take perfect vengeance by himself in every situation, should be a great blessing to every believer!

THE HOLY MONARCHY

Revelation 19:15 “…and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…”

The Father said to his Son — “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:7-9). And in his letter to the church in Thyatira, the Lord said, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27). Believers will be “joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

Revelation 19:15 “…and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

The Lord alone takes vengeance — God, “who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17), prophesied: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me [none of the armies which will come with him will take part in his vengeance]: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment” (Isaiah 63:3; Nahum 1:2; Jeremiah 46:10).

Of his vision of this future event, the apostle John wrote: “And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs” (Revelation 14:20).

The righteous will see the Lord’s vengeance — “The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth” (Psalm 58:10-11; Isaiah 2:11, 17; Deuteronomy 32:43). “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked” (Psalm 91:7-8).

THREE GREAT TITLES FOR GOD

Revelation 19:16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

I AM—The “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6) spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows…. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt…. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:1-14).

Many years later, after God was made flesh, the Lord Jesus said to the Jews, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:56-58).

Potentate — Being KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, the Lord Jesus is also “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1Timothy 6:14-16). In his 1828 dictionary, Noah Webster wrote that by giving Jesus the title of Potentate, the word of God is ‘exalting him not only above earthly princes and potentates, but above the highest of the celestial hierarchy.’ As he fulfilled all prophecy concerning his first coming, the Lord Jesus is coming the second time to fulfill all prophecies concerning “the day of the LORD,” which “shall come as a destruction from the Almighty” (Isaiah 13:6).

Almighty God — “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). The Lord Jesus declared to John, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

SUMMARY

The greatest of all calamities — The Lord Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). At his first coming, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1Timothy 1:15) and reconcile them to God: “For it pleased the Father that in him [Jesus Christ] should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:19-20).

It is extremely horrible to know by the word of God that the great majority of the people of this world will reject him. They are rebels who will not listen to God’s word. Therefore sin, wickedness, wars, and fightings continue (James 4:1-4). Christ rejecters do “not like to retain God in their knowledge…” (Romans 1:28-32). Because they reject the words of “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14), they are easily deceived by the false witnesses and teachers in the world. They continue down the broad way, “that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). They deny [reject] “the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2Peter 2:1): “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2Thessalonians 1:9)!

Because they refused to hear and obey God’s counsel, the calamity of hell will come upon unbelievers at their death. When this happens, the word of the Lord says: “When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof” (Proverbs 1:24-30). After death, the soul of the unbeliever cannot be saved!

Personally — I believe that God has kept his words pure, true, and preserved for my generation because he promised that he would (Psalm 12:6-7), and that the sayings of “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14) “are faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6). After his glorious resurrection, the Lord Jesus said: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 24:18)! He, unlike we frail men of dust who have no power to speak of, has the power to keep and perform all of his wonderful promises.

I have been walking in the light of God’s word since 1979, and although I know that I will never understand all of God’s words, I can trust them with all my heart, as I am commanded (Proverbs 3:5-6). Thanks be to God, I have plenty of light to show me all the way through this “waste howling wilderness” (Deuteronomy 32:10) because God’s word is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105)!

WHO ARE YOU TRUSTING?

Natural men cannot be trusted — If you are trusting in “man,” or your own “heart,” you have been deceived, and remain under God’s curse: “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD…. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is…. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:5, 7, 9). And in the book of Proverbs, it is written: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Pr. 28:26).

If you have not received and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you have not been born of his Spirit (John 3:3-8). The wrath of God abides upon you (John 3:36), and you are “condemned already…. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19). The Lord does not will for you to perish and go to hell (2Peter 3:9). You are reading about the Lord Jesus Christ, “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14), who alone can save you from the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:33)! Will you trust him? One “man” can be trusted. He is “the man Christ Jesus” (1Tim. 2:5-6), “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

According to the scriptures, God’s word, the Holy Bible, is “faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6), and the Lord Jesus Christ is “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14; 19:11). It has been recorded that Mahatma Gandhi was refused entrance by one of the Christian churches in Calcutta because ‘He was neither high caste, nor was he white.’ Because of his rejection by this church that acted contrary to the word of God (James 2:1-9), ‘the Mahatma turned his back on Christianity… [and said] I’d be a Christian if it were not for the Christians.’ (vvdailypress.com). Gandhi was not a wise man. Wise men look unto Jesus, “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14): “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jeremiah 17:7).

No Christian is yet perfect, so please do not judge the Lord Jesus by any of our flawed testimonies! Rather believe “the record that God gave of his Son” (1John 5:10), the incorruptible word of God (1Peter 1:23)!

Today is the day — “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)” (2Corinthians 6:1-2). God promises every sinner: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).