As we saw in the first part of this chapter, those who trust in Christ will experience His coming with the joy of a bride at the coming of her groom, with the happiness of guests who are invited to a wedding feast. But in today’s passage, we learn that those who have rejected Christ will have a completely different experience. For them, Christ will appear as a mighty conqueror, leading all the hosts of heaven and slaying all who would dare to oppose His righteous rule.

But notice how He is described: His many diadems or crowns indicate his authority over every tribe and tongue and nation (19:12). His title indicates the same truth, for He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16). No one and nothing can correctly claim to be outside His jurisdiction.

And unlike all of the powerful rulers throughout human history, His judgment never errs. He is called “Faithful and True” (19:11), and with His flaming eyes He can see through all the lies and excuses we make for our disobedience (19:12). Moreover, it is with the sword of His mouth that He puts down all opposition to Him – it is His unerring Word that will always be the only infallible and sufficient measure of truth for all people for all time (19:15, 21).

And those who have rejected His Word and His authority, those who have instead embraced the lies of the beast and the false prophet, those who have placed their trust in godless governments or cultures will be invited to a different sort of feast. For instead of sitting down at the wedding feast of the Lamb, they will find themselves to be nothing more than food for vultures and other birds that eat carrion (19:17-18, 21). As Isaiah also predicted, it is Christ Himself who will trample down all His foes, spattering his garments with their blood (19:13; see Isaiah 63:1-6).

It’s a truly horrible thought. But there’s still time for us to allow the sword of His Word to discern “the thoughts and intentions” of all our hearts (Hebrews 4:12), and to bring our own lives into greater obedience to Him. And there’s still time for us to allow His Word to unmask the lies of Satan and to urge others to surrender to His righteous rule. It’s not too late – yet.

Revelation 19:11-21 (ESV)

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.
15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God,
18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.