Jesus is Coming Again!

The return of Christ is a vital part of the Christian faith. It's so important, that's not only people that have spoken about it: in Acts 1:10-11 angels spoke about Jesus' return. And when the angels spoke, they taught that Christ would return suddenly, visibly, personally and bodily. But the fact that Christ would return wasn't some new revelation that the angels were bringing, for Jesus Himself had spoken of it (John 14:3), as had the Old Testament prophets.

So let's have a brief look at this cardinal doctrine. Revelation 19:11-16 describes Jesus' return to the earth, and in these verses we can learn four very important things about how Jesus is coming back.



1. Jesus is coming as King.
Rev. 19:11 describes a Triumphal Entry, but this Triumphal Entry is rather different from the one to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode in on a donkey, but at His return the description is of a war horse. And not just any warhorse, but a white one. In the book of Revelation, white is the colour of victory (see Rev. 2:17). So what we see, is Jesus who enters triumphantly, having already won the victory.

Not only has He won the victory, but He is wearing 'many crowns' (Rev. 19:12). In the New Testament there are two types of crown. One is the victor's crown, the wreath given as the prize to the winner in a competition (like our gold medal today). But this isn't the victor's crown; this is the diadem, the royal crown. So, yes, Jesus is triumphant and victorious, but He's coming as much more than a conquering hero; He's coming to reign as King!

And there's not just one crown upon His head, but 'many'. Jesus isn't just coming to reign in one kingdom of this earth, but to reign over the whole world. No earthly King can compare to Jesus. After all, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16).

2. Jesus is coming as God. 
But there's something more to this King than simply His great power and authority, for this great, triumphant King is God Himself. Where do we see that in the text? Well, first of all, He's called Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11). Faithful is an important Old Testament description of the LORD. Deuteronomy 7:9 describes the LORD as 'the faithful God' (see also Ps. 31:5; Isa. 49:7; and in the New Testament, see 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18; 1 Thess. 5:24; 2 Thess. 3:3; Heb. 10:23; 1 Pet. 4:19). Deuteronomy also calls the LORD 'a God of truth' (Deut. 32:4), and when God reveals His name to Moses, part of it is 'abounding in goodness and truth' (Ex. 34:6). John 3:33 teaches us that 'God is true' (see also John 7:28; John 8:26). So, in the Bible the One who is Faithful and True is God Himself.

Jesus also has 'a name written that no one knew except Himself' (Rev. 19:12). If it's written, how can no one else know it? This again points us to the reality that this coming King is God Himself. You see, because Jesus is God we can't grasp everything about His infinite being. Only God can fully comprehend God. So, if we think we've completely grasped everything about Jesus with our finite minds, then we're putting some sort of limitations on the Infinite God.

Jesus is also called 'the Word of God' here (Rev. 19:13), and as John, the one who received this vision, well knew, 'the Word was God' (John 1:1).

It's also Jesus who expresses the 'wrath of Almighty God' (Rev. 19:15). Who can express the wrath of Almighty God? Only Almighty God Himself!


To see the third and fourth points you'll have to come back tomorrow...