Revelation 19:11-16 Glory and honour must be earned not inherited
Revelation 19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down 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. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Background
Following the destruction of Babylon, Christ weds His bride and goes on to conquer the whole earth. Christ is worthy to reign not because of His divine status as the Son of God, but rather, He earned this title during His time as a human. Amid great trials, He refrained from using His divine privileges choosing to suffer as a mortal man. Because He is faithful and true in every way, God elevated Him and called Him “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Today’s devotion teaches us that glory and honour must be earned not inherited.
Observation
After the marriage feast of the Lamb, John saw Christ riding on a white horse. The white horse is a sign of Christ’s ultimate victory over darkness. Christ is named, “Faithful and True”. His robe, dipped in blood symbolizes His selfless sacrifice for humanity. He is also named, “The Word of God”.
The multitude of the armies of heaven dressed in fine linen, white and clean is none other than His bride. Only the bride is appointed to join Christ in the dominion over the earth. The sharp sword that emerges from Christ’s mouth is the word of God which He wields to defeat the nations. This marks the final battle that heralds the thousand-year reign of the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Truth
Glory and honour must be earned not inherited.
Christ earned the title, “Faithful” because He is ever faithful to God and to humanity. So faithful was He that He did not abandon humanity in their sin, but took the punishment on behalf of sinners. He is also “True” because all His intentions are benevolent. Christ earned the title, “the Word of God” because everything He says and does embody the values of God. And whatever He sees the Father does, He does likewise. So much so whoever has seen Christ has seen the Father (John 14:9).
Therefore, God exalted Jesus and called Him, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” not because He is God’s Son, but rather because He triumphed over sin and temptation while as a mortal being. Thus, He was worthy of it. It is important to note that Christ had remained faithful, true and perfect amid great temptations, all while choosing not to use His divine privileges (Philippians 2:6-7).
Many supposed that Jesus attained the title, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” because He is God after all, not because He earned it while as a mortal being. Consequently, they assume that upon choosing to embrace a new identity as a child of God, their salvation is granted unconditionally. As a result, numerous “Christians” today persist in leading lives characterized by self-centeredness and sin, thinking they are already saved. The Jews made the mistake in believing that they being Abraham’s descendant hold special privileges to God’s kingdom. However, Jesus made it clear to His disciples by saying,
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – Luke 22:28-30
Only after they completed the journey of the cross would they receive the authority to govern. In fact, the armies following Christ acquired their right to reign through their righteous deeds, as evidenced by their fine linen (see Revelation 19:8). Glory and honour is not granted unconditionally; instead, it is through grace that we endeavour to demonstrate Christ-like qualities in the face of challenges, thus making ourselves worthy.
Application
Seize every chance to serve God without expecting anything in return. Refrain from complaining when your contributions go unnoticed, as our God in heaven acknowledges your good deeds.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, You bore our punishment and revealed the Father’s heart. Faithful and True, You embodied God’s Word and earned worthiness through obedience. Teach me to endure trials with grace, and serve without complaining. May I reflect Your faithfulness, striving daily to honor You. Amen.