John tells us that he sees a rider on a white horse coming out of heaven (Revelation 19:11-12), which in the context of the Apocalypse simply means the Rider came out of the Most Holy Place of the Temple. In other words, the Rider came out of the place where God dwells, and from where he rules. As John observes this Rider, he says the Horseman’s eyes were as a flame of fire, which is also how John described Jesus earlier in the Apocalypse (Revelation 1:14; 2:18). So, the Rider seems to be Jesus, and this becomes clearer and incontrovertible, as we read on (Revelation 19:13-16).
In Daniel 7:8 we are told that a little horn that grew up out of the fourth beast had the ‘eyes of a man.’ Moreover, the Scriptures tell us that this little horn was a persecuting authority that made war upon the elect, and he was able to succeed until the day of judgment (Daniel 7:20-22). Proverbs tells us that all of a man’s ways are right in his own eyes (Proverbs 16:2; 21:2), and Jesus tells us that the eyes are illustrative of the mind, for they bring light or understanding to the whole body (cf. Matthew 6:22). So, if a man’s thoughts are evil or wrong, the light of the body is not light at all, but darkness (Matthew 6:23). In the context of Revelation 19:12, it is the light of God or the mind of Christ that we see unveiled before us.
The Scriptures use fire to illustrate several things about God. For example, fire can symbolize God’s protection (Numbers 9:16; Zechariah 2:5), his word (Jeremiah 5:14; 23:29) or his judgment (cf. Jeremiah 48:45; Lamentation 1:13; Ezekiel 39:6). Fire is a purifier that devours the wicked (Psalm 97:3) and evaluates the service of his elect (1Corinthians 3:13; Revelation 3:18). In the context of Revelation 19:11-16 fire seems to be used to express judgment. Jesus’ eyes of fire point to his coming to save or protect his Bride / church, which has been persecuted by the great harlot, whom he has come to judge. In a previous study, Jesus’ eyes of fire reminded me of Daniel 7:9-10.[1] There, the throne of God was represented as a flame of fire, and a fiery flame went out from before him, as the judgment was prepared and the books were opened. So, John describes Jesus in a manner that points to the authority of God, which is now coming to bear upon the wicked.
Thus, the Rider and his purpose are described, and he comes as a King with many crowns, alluding to his being Almighty, or having all authority (Revelation 19:12; Matthew 28:18). His clothing is dipped in blood (Revelation 19:18), which is an allusion to Isaiah 63:3, vividly expressing his judgment upon his enemies, for the blood on his garments is theirs!
Moreover, we are told that the Rider has a name, the Word of God (Revelation 19:13), which no man knows but Jesus (Revelation 19:12). This is an allusion to the Tetragrammaton, YHWH! It is the unpronounceable and unknowable name of God. Translators have attempted to insert vowels into it in order to translate it into Jehovah or Yahweh etc. However, I believe this is a mistake. I don’t think vowels were ever meant to be inserted into the Lord’s revealed name. If one attempts to sound out the consonants, y, h, w, h, all that comes from one’s lips is one’s breath! This is why the name cannot be pronounced. Nevertheless, it is not its difficulty in pronunciation that is the point. It is its unknowability that is at issue here. Jesus tells us that he is unknowable to mankind, and only the Father knows him (Matthew 11:27). Any knowledge of Jesus, therefore, that mankind has come to understand is revealed knowledge. That is, man was given that understanding by Jesus, himself. He couldn’t have acquired it on his own. We are utterly unable to derive a new understanding of Jesus on our own (Proverbs 3:4).
Those who are with Jesus (Revelation19:14) are arrayed in white, which is the righteousness of the saints (Revelation 3:4-5; 7:9, 14; 19:8). These are they who were called, and chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:14). They are the messengers of Christ who wage war by preaching the Gospel, and their message is opposed to that of the dragon and his messengers (cp. Luke 10:1, 17-18; Revelation 12:7-9).
In Revelation 19:15-16 John describes the Rider in terms that described Jesus in Revelation 1:16 (cp. Revelation 2:12, 16). With the great harlot judged and destroyed, Jesus now turns to the nations or the gentiles, and he attacks them with the Gospel—i.e. the sword of his mouth which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Moreover, the Scripture declares that the Lord, who is called King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) will rule the nations (gentiles) with a ‘rod of iron’ (Revelation 19:15). In Psalm 2:9 we are told the Messiah will “break them with a rod of iron” but according to Revelation 2:27 this means “he will rule them with a rod of iron.” In other words Jesus will rule the gentiles with a ‘scepter of iron’ That is, he will rule with impregnable power, governing the gentiles (the nations) in a manner that cannot be successfully opposed, and in this manner, i.e. through the Gospel, the nations will be successfully subdued (cp. Daniel 2:44).
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[1] See my study: The Glorified Christ as One Like God
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