Glorious Appearing
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, I join with heaven and all creation to hail You as Lord of lords and King of Kings.
Read REVELATION 19:11-21
[11] I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. [13] He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, [18] so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” [19] Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. [20] But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. [21] The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Who do you think is the rider on the horse?This is some vision—a mighty white horse with a rider whose eyes are like blazing fire! The Lord and his armies are now arrayed to make war. But there’s no battle to speak of: victory is immediate. No power of darkness can stand against Jesus and his Word.
It’s fearsome—the beast and the false prophet are thrown without mercy into the bowels of hell. As for everyone else, the summoning of birds down from the sky to feast on the newly butchered flesh is a macabre detail and a gruesome contrast to the bounteous feast enjoyed by the guests of the Lamb (9). But it’s not meant to be pretty. Those who have aligned themselves with evil have now gone too far, and just retribution is due them. It is swift and total, executed by the one who is “Faithful and True” (11).
Jesus on a white horse is a vivid contrast to the picture of him going into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. One was Jesus, fully humble and on his way to be slaughtered for our sins. Now we see him risen and exalted, triumphantly putting an end to sin once and for all. Hallelujah!
Apply
Ponder Jesus as the rider on the white horse and on the donkey. What do these images say to you?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, You chose to be humiliated. Soon You will be magnificently and publicly vindicated. I give You glory.
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