Preface
This is the second part of a two part article covering Daniel’s prophecy in chapter 11 and John’s vision in the book of Revelation, chapter 19.
If you have not read part 1 yet, go to Christ vs Antichrist -Part 1.
In part 1, we learned that the Antichrist is being described in Daniel 11 during his last great battle with Christ. Daniel’s prophecy uncovers the nature and character of Antichrist.
Here in part 2, we will see the same battle revealed in John’s vision from the book of Revelation, chapter 19. John’s vision reveals the nature and character of Christ.
I will give the passage, then list the 5 areas using phrases taken from the text:
- The King
- The King’s Character
- The King’s Army
- His Weapons
- The Outcome
Revelation 19:11-21
11 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”1
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God; 18 in order that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat upon the horse, and against His army.
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
The King
(Christ/Jesus/God)
12 “His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems.”
13 “His name is called “The Word of God””
16 “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
His eyes are a refining fire and full of judgment. He wears crowns of universal royalty and is distinguished from all others, being the true supreme King of all. His power is irresistible, His Kingship is universal.
The King’s Character
11 [He comes to battle on] a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”
12 “He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself.”
13 “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood.”
The white horse symbolizes purity. He is faithful, true, and acts righteously in all He does. Only He understands the depth of God. His robe is dipped in His lifeblood, and their lifeblood, denoting His sacrificial life and His role as judge.2
The King’s Army
14 “And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
His army is with Him not to battle, but to be heavenly witnesses of His justice. They are white and clean having been purified by His righteousness.
His Weapons
15 “And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations.”3
He only needs one weapon -a sharp sword.
The Outcome
15 “He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.”
20 “[The beast and the false prophet] were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”
21 “And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
Christ executes judgment on the Antichrist and his followers without one word in the text of any battle. The beast and his false prophet were judged immediately, being thrown alive into the lake of fire. The rest of his followers were put to death without the honor of burial, being further disgraced by birds.
“It has, in particular, one exquisite beauty, that, after exhibiting the two opposite armies, and all the apparatus for a battle, then follows immediately the account of the victory, without one word of an engagement or fighting. Here is the most exact propriety; for what struggle can there be between Omnipotence and the power of all the creation united against it?”4
Comparison Chart
To see the comparison just given more easily, I made a chart and summarized the information. The first column is the Antichrist (beast) and the second column is Christ.
| Antichrist | Christ | |
|---|---|---|
| The King | ||
| Magnifies himself above all and rejects the true King | Jesus is the one true supreme King of all | |
| The King’s Character | ||
| He receives honor and worship reserved for Christ | He is faithful, true, and acts righteously in all He does | |
| His Army | ||
| Large number of followers who also reject the true King | Not to fight, but to be heavenly witnesses of His justice | |
| His Weapons | ||
| Bribery, extortion, favors, wealth, anger, intimidation | Just one weapon -a sharp sword | |
| The Outcome | ||
| Will prosper a short time, then all are destroyed | Complete victory and immediate judgment | |
Conclusion
We examined two passages of Scripture: Daniel chapter eleven; and, John’s vision in the book of Revelation, chapter 19. We learned of the last great battle between Christ and Antichrist ending in judgment for the beast and his followers.
In the end, Christ is victorious without a battle. The beast and his followers are destroyed! Complete victory. Jesus wins, therefore, we win!
Appendix
The phrase ‘His lifeblood, their lifeblood’ demonstrates two things. ‘His lifeblood’ is the sacrifice of Christ’s blood for us on the cross. ‘Their lifeblood’ denotes the judgment of God on sinners who reject Christ’s salvation. As Isaiah records God’s response written in Isaiah 63:2-6, answering the question,
“Why is Your apparel red and Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?”
Christ says,
“I have trodden the wine trough alone and from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments and I stained all My raiment. For the day of vengeance was in My heart and My year of redemption has come. And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me; and My wrath upheld Me. And I trod down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”
Matthew Henry explains, “He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails.”5
The life of Jesus has been given for us to pay our debt to God. Those rejecting His payment will pay their own way. The cost is either His lifeblood or our own lifeblood.
End of article.
To go to part one of the article, go to Christ vs Antichrist -Part 1.
1 All caps in the New Testament indicate an Old Testament quote.
2 See the Appendix for an explanation ‘His lifeblood, their lifeblood.’
3 Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
4 Benson Commentary
5 Matthew Henry’s Commentary