Hey everyone! Hope you are doing well during this Corona Virus  ‘quarantine’ season.  I am still battling a virus (but not the Corona thankfully). I had a very strong encounter with God today and its hard to put into words everything I felt. So here is a very short attempt to put into writing something of what I felt God was stirring in me today.

[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:11–16)

JESUS WILL RETURN!

Every Christmas we celebrate the birth of of Christ. As much as I love Christmas I have to be honest, the story of Christ’s birth doesn’t catch my heart as much as I feel it should. Its a humble story of a little baby entering the world. Yes, this baby is the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for a rescue mission on earth, but it is nonetheless a humble and backstage kind of story. Nothing glamorous. Very much hidden in the outskirts of Bethlehem. Born in a animal stable with just a few people coming to visit. This baby is weak. There is no apparent glory in his coming. BUT that was just the first coming…

Get ready! If you think this Jesus of Nazareth who was meek and mild is returning like the first time you are in for a shock! That baby who was born in a manger is coming back but this time with ‘fire in his eyes’! He is coming on ‘white horse’ and with a ‘sword!’ He is returning with the crown of heaven! And he is coming with ALL the ‘armies of heaven’ following Him! Do you know this? Are you ready for this? Are you excited? The King of all Kings is returning and this time his rule will be absolute! There will be no messing. Are you ready?

A WHITE HORSE!

Not a donkey but a white horse!

The first time John used the word ‘behold’ was when he saw Jesus for the very first time as a meek ‘lamb’ in John 1:29

“Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

But in his second vision of Jesus here in Revelation he sees something different…

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!” (Rev 19:11)

John who was in awe (‘behold’) of the lamb of God now is in awe of the King riding out on a white horse. And the first time Jesus entered into Jerusalem he came riding on a humble donkey… but get ready… for Jesus is returning but this time on a glorious ‘white horse’! 

Victory

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:54-55)

A white horse was symbolic of victory and how fitting for the second coming of Jesus!! Jesus has overcome sin, death and the Devil through his shed blood on the cross. He then was raised and is now seated on the throne of heaven in all glory. Sickness will bow down to the coming of the King. All viruses will be gone forever. Death will be swallowed up in victory!

FIRE IN HIS EYES!

[12] His eyes are like a flame of fire…

Wow! Eyes are an amazing thing. You can tell a lot about people when you look them in the eye. I have met people with beautiful eyes, I have met people with strong eyes, loving eyes, joyful eyes, sad eyes. But I have never met someone with eyes like John is describing here!

Passion for my sons

Have you ever felt intense rage against something that was so wrong and unjust? When you love someone passionately you will quickly find righteous anger brewing when someone is hurting that loved one. If one of my children tells me a story about them being bullied, I want to fight! I want to protect my son! I want to run in there and defend him. I quickly feel a passion rising and a rage against anything evil that might come against my dear children.

Jesus’ passion for his Bride!

I think that these eyes of fire tell us something of God’s rage against evil and his intense love and passion for his bride, the Church! As I worshiped in my living room today I began to jump with this sense of  ‘he is coming back for his Church, Hallelujah!’

Jesus would want to encourage us today if we are feeling forgotten or lost during this corona virus season. If you are feeling scared. If you are feeling ‘bullied’ by evil in some way… He is coming for you! Can you feel his passion burning? We are not a forgotten people! So take courage Church. 

Evil is coming to an end!

Jesus burns with rage against the demonic powers of this world! He has fire in his eyes and a sword in his hand! He is coming for Satan and all his little minions! Satan’s days are numbered and he knows it.

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:9–11)

Make no mistake about it – every knee is going to bow before Jesus Christ. For some they will ‘have’ to bow and for others (the Church) we will ‘get’ to bow!

Take up your shield

So take up your shield and your sword for the Lord shall return! Stand firm therefore.

Do not be dismayed about the current events in this passing world. There are wars. Evil runs rampant. Sickness and death are present realities… but not for long! The kingdoms of this world will soon fall beneath the feet of Jesus Christ! All evil will be ended and his Kingdom shall reign forever. 

Jump for joy!

Clap your hands oh you people. Shout unto God with a voice of triumph! Hallelujah to the Lord! (Psalm 47:1) Jump for joy and sing to the Lord. Get ready for the wedding feast, for the bridegroom is returning! He is wearing the crown of heaven and all the angels are applauding the King! Make way for his return.

Will you ride with Him?

I am going to leave you with this song – ‘we will ride’. Its from the worship time at the Brownsville Revival some years back (one of my favorite revivals!) and its the spontaneous live version. This is the song I began to jump for joy to earlier today. I hope it does the same for you.

Now just pause and breath for a minute… can you hear the sound of the horses and the armies of heaven? Can you hear the rumble in the distance? He is coming…