Warrior King

Jesus in the Book of Revelation (4)

Pray Psalm 45.3, 4.
Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
With Your glory and Your majesty.
And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.

Sing Psalm 45.3, 4.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God) 
Your sword gird on Your thigh, O LORD, in splendid majesty;
ride out, resplendent in Your Word, to glorious victory.

Read Rev. 6.1-11; 19.11-21; meditate on Rev. 6.1, 2.

Preparation
1. Who opened the first seal?

2. What did John see?

Meditation
This chapter looks down the corridors of history from John’s day to the day of wrath, and gives an overview of the ravages of sin. 

In this world we will have tribulation, as Jesus promised (Jn. 16.33).  Wars (v. 4), economic insecurity (vv. 5, 6), violence and famine and wild beasts (v. 8) and persecution (vv. 9-11). We should not think that we can avoid, escape, or eliminate it. We have already overcome every trial through Jesus, and, by trusting in Him, we can persevere in our calling as His disciples, come what may. 

The challenge to the Christian, living in a world where sin is everywhere present, is to persist in our witness through good works and true words, and to know that, in any generation, such bearing of witness can result in our becoming martyrs to Christ. We must prepare ourselves each day for this calling and be ready each day to live for Christ in the face of all manner of evil, without flinching, complaining, or fleeing. 

We must at all times remember that Christ daily goes forth, conquering and to conquer, with all the weapons of warfare we need for advancing His rule on earth as it is in heaven (Eph. 6.10-20). The Church is Jesus’ war horse (cf. Zech. 10.3-5), and Jesus, Who has called us to overcome and be blessed, rides forth daily to overcome with and for us. We must follow where He leads, and as He leads, seek His Kingdom and righteousness in every area of life where we are sent as He was sent (Jn. 20.21).

Because a day is coming when our Warrior King will return. And then we will be with Him (Rev. 19.11-21), following Him through the victory of His wrath into the new heavens and new earth, for eternal blessings, peace, and joy.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Through the ages, since the devil dropped his first lie, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” (Gen. 3.1), the battle has been raging between good and evil.

In Elijah’s day, only he was left to wage war against four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah. The people should have been following God, but they were waffling in their beliefs and trying to serve multiple masters. So, he had a showdown, not at the OK Corral, but on Mount Carmel where all the false prophets gathered with him, and all the congregation were there to observe.

So, he presented the quintessential question and summation to God’s people.

“How long will you falter between two opinions?
If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal follow him” (1 Kgs. 18.21).

The Presence of the Warrior King was there with Elijah, to bolster his courage and give him much wisdom, and even great humor, to see this showdown victoriously through to completion—the majestic power of God on display; and the execution of all the enemies of God (see 1 Kgs. 18.20-40).

Jesus, The Warrior King, called Faithful and True, The Word of God, rules and judges in righteousness, and makes war against the enemy of our souls (Rev. 19.11-13).
His is the Victory, and 
“He Himself will rule…with a rod of iron. 
He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
He Himself is “KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19.15, 16).

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn. 5.4, 5)

When we do not falter between two opinions, 
when we determine to serve the risen, victorious Savior, 
when we set our hearts to follow His commandments to the very end,
when we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,
then we too will be overcomers with our Warrior King.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 
In the world you will have tribulation; 
but be of good cheer, 
I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16.33).

“The Lamb will overcome…” (Rev. 17.14).
Jesus the Victorious Lamb, taught His disciples to pray:
“Deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the Kingdom
and the Power
and the Glory 
forever. Amen” (Matt. 6.13).

There He is! JESUS, leading His Own on to victory.

Reflection
1. We who believe are the means whereby Jesus advances His reign on earth. What does that mean for you today?

2. There will always be trials, troubles, naysayers, and even persecution. How should you prepare for this?

3. Whom will you encourage as Jesus’ “battle horse” today?

This white horse can be understood as the church of truth, represented in the persons of the apostles and preachers, which was made whiter than snow by grace. The rider upon the horse is Christ. Primasius (fl. 550-560) Commentary on the Apocalypse 6.2

Pray Psalm 45.4-8.
Pray that, as Jesus leads us out each day to advance His Kingdom on earth, we will be filled with love for Him and power in the Holy Spirit. Call on Him to make you a fragrance of Himself today.

Sing Psalm 45.4-8.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
For meekness and for righteousness Your Right Hand shall prevail.
Your foes shall come to deep distress when You their souls assail.

Your throne, O God, is evermore, and upright is Your reign;
though wicked men Your Name abhor, Your righteousness must gain.

Your God has thus anointed You with oil of gladness great.
Your robes are rich with sweet perfume; sweet music gilds Your gate.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Other columns of interest this week: Our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” turns to consider the work we’ve been given to do. In our Read Moore column, we continue working through the book, Understanding the Times. And I encourage you to follow our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, nicknamed “The Navigator.” Join us and find out why. Click the Articles tab on the home page to see all the selections available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.