Blessed Are Those: A Journey through Revelation – Part 19

The Great King – Rev 19:11 – 20:15

Crosspoint – Dave Spooner – May 18th, 2025

Intro:

• At the end of the age, there will be a final war that will end all wars. In this war, the Great King of glory will take His rightful place, and His kingdom and His rule will have no end. The one who spoke all things into existence, the One who had the first word, will have the final word, and all will give an account and receive their just reward from Him.
• This morning, we will focus on our Great King, His final war, His millennial reign, His final battle, and His white throne. We are “blessed” to know these things, that good will overcome evil, all wrongs will be made right, and all those who love the King will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps 23:6). Knowing these things brings courage to persevere in living for and following Christ and conviction to hold fast to what and to whom we believe.
• Please open your Bibles to Revelation 19:11 (pew Bible, page 1075), as we will cover the rest of this chapter and the next before concluding our series next week with the final two glorious chapters.

 The Great King’s Final War

Revelation 19:11-16 NIV

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 wages 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 Coming out of his mouth is 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.

 I don’t know what your understanding and image of Jesus is, but I do know that your understanding and image of Jesus must include this image and these titles.

• • He is the rider on the white horse – the returning mighty king.
  • He is faithful and true – what He is and says is the truth.
  • He is the just judge – His judgement is right and just.
  • He is the one who wages war – no one can stand against Him.
  • He is the one with eyes like blazing fire – who sees and discerns all things.
  • He is crowned with many crowns – the greatest ruler of all.
  • He is named with a breathtaking name – which none can know and understand.
  • He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood – the one who defeats the enemies.
  • He is the Word of God – the most powerful and profound of all.
  • He is the leader of the armies of heaven – all will follow and fall behind Him.
  • He is the one who strikes down the nations – none can oppose Him.
  • He is the one who will rule with an iron scepter – His strength is unmatched.
  • He is the one who treads the winepress – He metes out the wrath of God Almighty.
  • He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords – there is none greater than Him.
• There is none like Him. He is your God, your strength, your shepherd, your provider, your protector, your champion, the sovereign and savior of all who are His.

 Rev 19:17-20 NIV

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 the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

 All who oppose Him and fight against Him and follow and worship the beast will be destroyed once and for all. He is the only one who fights, and with His word, all fall before Him. There will be none left, not even to bury the dead. The beast and the false prophet are nothing before Him, and they will be given over to the second death – the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

 The Great King’s Millennium Reign

 Rev 20:1-6 NIV

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

 This passage describes the “thousand years of peace” that theologians have been arguing about for thousands of years. *The four major views are represented in the chart below. All of the views have their strengths and weaknesses.

• From this passage, we know that Christ will return, the devil is on a chain and is (will be) bound. Those who have died in or for their faith will reign with Christ for this period of time. There is a first and second resurrection, and the “second death” will have no power over those who follow Christ.

 The Great King’s Final Battle

 Rev 20:7-10 NIV

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 Satan can only deceive those who, through their unrighteousness, choose to suppress the truth (see Rom 1:18-31). Even with Christ reigning, there will be those who harden their hearts to Christ because of sin.

• God will use Satan one last time to do the work of deceiving and gathering the nations to join together to fight against Christ. Those who choose to do so will be destroyed by fire, and the devil will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, and this is where he will be forever and ever. Christ will win the final battle, once and for all.

 The Great King’s White Throne

 Rev 20:11-15 NIV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

• Christ sits on His “great white throne” of purity, power, and authority. All will stand before Him. This is the common and consistent witness of Scripture. Romans 14:10-12 says, “We will all stand before the judgment seat of God. . . . Each of us will give an account of himself to God.” And 2 Cor 5:10, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
• There is a book, called the “book of life,” that is referenced in the Bible in various places. Moses refers to it in Exodus 32:32, and Jesus said to His disciples, who were marveling about their power over demons, “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
• The “books” mentioned in verse 12 are a record of the deeds of every person. Pastor John Piper explains that they work in this way: “What is written in the books is condemnation for those who are not connected to Christ, but it will be confirmation for all who are joined to him by faith” (“We will all stand before the judgment of God” sermon found at desiringgod.org).
• The “book of life” contains all the names of those who have entrusted themselves to Christ, and the “books” are the evidence or “proof” of that decision. This means that those who have trusted in Christ will have evidence of their faith as seen in their actions or “fruit,” and those who have not will be seen by their actions or “fruit.”

Conclusion

• As we conclude today’s message, let’s remember that our hope is anchored in the certainty of Christ’s victory, His righteous reign, and His final judgment. Revelation teaches us that evil does not have the final word, our Great King does.
• Knowing this, let’s remain steadfast, faithful, and courageous, proclaiming the good news and demonstrating Christ’s lordship in every aspect of our lives. May our anticipation of Christ’s return inspire us to live lives marked by grace, obedience, faithfulness, and hope.

Communion – Call those who are serving down (Prayer Team) Kee will lead

Our prayer team is available to pray with you after the service near the “Prayer” sign at the front of the sanctuary and also in the prayer room, next to the offices.

 Questions for Growth Groups

1. Which description of Jesus from Revelation 19:11-16 most impacted your understanding of Him today, and why?
2. How does knowing the final victory of Christ influence the way you approach struggles or injustices in your life?
3. What comfort and encouragement do you gain from the reality of Christ’s millennial reign and ultimate authority?
4. Discuss how the binding and eventual defeat of Satan influences your view of spiritual warfare today.
5. How does the teaching about the great white throne judgment impact your daily choices and actions?
6. In what practical ways can you live more intentionally, knowing your actions reflect your faith recorded in the “books” mentioned in Revelation 20?
7. How can our group support each other in maintaining a faithful witness to Christ as we await His return?

 *Major Views of the Millennium Reign of Christ