Parousia and Kingdom Pt 3: Back to the Future

Parousia and Kingdom Pt 3: Back to the Future 

Text Revelation 19:12 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[b] 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. 

Here is a description of Christ, focusing on His physical appearance.

• None of the Apostles ever wrote even a few lines about Jesus’ physical appearance. 
• Could someone have described what he looked like? 
• Unfortunately, it is not recorded anywhere in Scripture. 
• However, there is a spiritual description of Christ that emphasizes three key aspects: his eyes, his head, a new name, and his robe.

Revelation 19:12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, 

When meeting someone for the first time, you often shake hands and look them in the eyes. 

• Eyes are considered the windows to the soul, offering insight into a person’s inner being. 
• Some people avoid eye contact entirely,
• While others may stand too close, making it difficult to focus on them. These individuals are “space invaders,” 

For instance, Scripture recounts how he saw Matthew at his tax collection booth, looked at him, and said, “Follow me.” 

• The phrase “looked at him” could be translated as “looked right through him,” suggesting an ability to perceive deeply into one’s soul.
• Have you ever had someone look right through you? 
  • Let me rephrase the question. Have you ever had a mother? 
  • Mothers have this ability! 
    • A mother’s discerning look when asking where we’ve been?
    • Mothers have a unique ability to see through excuses with their piercing gaze, often saying, “Look me in the eyes,” as they seek the truth.

Similarly, Christ’s eyes are described as being like flames of fire, symbolizing his divine insight and judgment as he returns. His gaze is both captivating and searching, revealing not just love but also a deep understanding of the soul

I. The coming King’s eyes will bring purity and judgment. 

• Greek: “Flame” is phloz, which describes swirling, whirling, flickering flames. 
• Greek: “Fire” is puros, the Greek word for a purifying, burning fire.

 With sharp and penetrating insight, Jesus can see all things everywhere.

• This, then, is not a depiction of heat but of the character of fire.
  • Think about the effect that a campfire or a fire in a fireplace has upon a person who stares at it for any length of time. 
  • The longer a person looks into a fire, the more the flickering flames have a magnetic, mesmerizing effect on his eyes, mind, and senses. 
• The fire has its character, both drawing and dangerous!

John looked into Jesus’ eyes and became transfixed by what he saw.

•  Although he had looked into those eyes thousands of times nearly 60 years earlier, something was different about these eyes. 
• “Fire” is an important symbol in Scripture and frequently represents purification or judgment. 

• The first type will look at those who have humbled themselves and repented with purification 
• But there is a second type of fire that burns up the chaff and consumes everything that stands opposed to God. 

God is said to be a consuming fire.

• Whatever is not of God will be destroyed in His sight
• Whatever is of God will remain and be purified. 

Difference: Our eyes need light to see in the darkness, 

• His eyes are like flames of fire and provide their light to expose the darkness. 

Conclusion: We must understand that Jesus is not coming in the Parousia the way that he came the first time. His divinity was limited in His humanity. In His second coming, Jesus will be in a fully glorified body. This time his divine attributes are on full display. Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence are all fully 

• The eyes of Jesus can see everything, every place, and all at once, both present and future,  even though the world is shrouded in darkness. 
• In the sky, you will see Jesus as the escaton, the fullness of the end, even before the end is fully experienced here  
• Some would say that the eschaton or the fullness of the end is the restoration of all creation. 
• But even after the restoration of creation and the 1,000-year millennial reign is over, there is a new heaven and a new Earth. 
• But John would say the proper eschaton is Jesus. In His return in the sky, you see the fullness of God the Father’s plan all at once, and until the end! 

Revelation 19:12 …and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

II. The King is already coronated and crowned ruler of all. 

• He is not coming to get a crown – He is coming crowned! 
  • A diadem is a crown, a symbol of royal power and authority
  • This original dominion was given to Adam and stolen from Him by Satan 
  • The second Adam came and gave his life as the Son of Man to restore this dominion. 

• We are to enforce this regained authority (Greek – exousia) on Earth spiritually 
  • Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
    • And we are to occupy (military term)  until he comes in power (Greek- dunamis) 
    • Luke 19:13 Occupy till I come.

1. When David defeated the Ammonites, that king’s crown was placed on David’s head (1 Chronicles 20:2). 
2. The “many diadems” on his head are evidence of his numerous victories over every king.

• There are two words translated as “crown” 

• διάδημα (diadeema) 
• And στέϕανος (stephanos). 
  • Stephanos is used by Greek writers to indicate the wreath awarded to a conqueror, the prize awarded to a victorious athlete in the Grecian games.
  • The wreath was composed of leaves at the Olympic Games. 
    • Such crowns were perishable. 
    • In a few hours, they began to fade. 

Peter writes in contrast to “a crown (stephanos) of glory given by Jesus that fades NOT away” (1 Peter 5:4). Five separate Crowns – Stephanos- are given in heaven as rewards. 

Revelation 4:10 speaks of the 24 elders casting their crowns before Jesus. The church is mentioned in chapters 1-3. And then it is represented in heaven by these Elders who are worshipping Jesus. 

1. Elders in the Bible have always represented human government, never heavenly counsel. God does not require counsel 
2. This does not mean that He is opposed to counsel
3. God receives counsel inside the Trinity. And is always one and in perfect agreement. 
   1. Example: Gen. 1:26 “Let us make man in our own image.” This is God speaking to Himself inside the Trinity and acting in agreement on His own counsel. 
   2. Interesting that the word for “God” is plural, Elohim. 
   3. So the personal pronoun is plural 
   4. But the verbs near the personal pronoun are always singular! 
   5. So when God speaks to Himself, it’s plural, but when He acts, it’s a singular act! 
4. When the Human Elders bow and cast their crowns, they are not diademes, they are wreaths that do not fade. 

Conclusion: The Second Coming of Christ shows Christ wearing all the crowns of Heaven and Earth all at once before Armageddon begins. No one is crowned in that present or future but Him! 

Revelation 19:12 …and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

III. The Kingdom will be a Place of New Identity 

• When a conquer finished a battle, he would be celebrated by being given a new name. 

• • Genesis 32:29 (KJV) And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
  • Judges 13:17-18 17 (KJV) And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor? 18And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

• Jesus was not named on Earth until the incarnation! 

• • And then called Emanuel – God with us
  • And Jesus – Savior
  • But just days before he went to the cross He was called by Peter at Ceserea Philippi – The Christ, the Son of God. 

Believers get a New Name because they are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus! 

• To the one who overcomes or conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Rev. 2:17, ESV, emphasis added)
• In the A.N.E., the line of reasoning is: conquerors (overcomers) receive a new name, 
  • We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, Romans 8:37  
  • Jesus is a conqueror, therefore, Jesus receives a new name. 
  • Right now, your name represents something of Earth, but Jesus will appear with a new name unknown because from our point of view, the battle is yet to be won. 
  • But from heaven’s point of view, the battle is already over! 

• The giving of a new name is elsewhere recorded in the Bible to signify a change in one’s life. 
  • Thus, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham (Gen. 16:5), 
  • Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Gen. 32:28), 
  • and Simon’s name was changed to Peter (Matt. 16:17-18).
  •  A new name relates to the character of the person receiving it. 

Conclusion: In the case of Jesus, his new name was bestowed post-resurrection, and the individual Christian is given a new name post-mortem. 

The names that Jesus and his followers receive, however, are like names known only within the family. They are never given out publicly.

• Thus, the victorious rider of Revelation 19:12 (ESV) “has a name written that no one knows but himself.”

Revelation 19:13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood,

IV. Jesus Returns in a Robe that Tells a Story. Of His finished Kingdom on Earth. 

1. Before those who opposed Him and attempted to attack Jerusalem. They gather together in the Megido Valley – A place called “Har Megiddo,” which translates to “Mount Megiddo.” 
   • The term “Megiddo” itself is associated with a strategic location and a series of historical battles due to its position along key trade routes.
   • The 1799 campaign in the Levant recognized the strategic importance of the Jezreel Valley (also known as the Plain of Armageddon) for military operations. Napoleon famously stated that it was “the most natural battleground of the whole Earth”. 

1. Dipped in blood. – This bloody robe is put on in Heaven, and He returns with it before there is a bloody fight on Earth. 
   1. The fight is over before the fight has begun. Satan is finished not becuase there is a fight to come. 
   2. The battle is already over and already won! This is why Jesus appears with a robe dipped in blood before the battle ever begins! 

Gen.37:31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.

• This is one of the beautiful pictures of Christ painted for us in the Old Testament by the Holy Spirit. 
• Joseph’s coat of many colors was a picture of the calling of God on Joseph’s life.
• The calling of God is performed and confirmed by the invisible coat, the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 
• This anointing is despised by the natural man and will bring persecution upon anyone who wears it. 
• Joseph’s brothers hated Joseph because of this coat, rather, they hated what this coat represented.

Have you received a coat of anointing from your Heavenly Father? 

• If so, do you wear it in respect of your Father or hide it? 
• In today’s world, even in the Christian world, wearing a supernatural coat is not very popular. 
• Christians are more comfortable with popular empowerment slogans rather than walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Why should I bear the stigma of this bloody coat? Why did Joseph wear it despite the criticism it brought? 

• We choose to wear this coat because of its supernatural nature. 
• When Joseph put on this coat, he stepped into the world of spiritual visions and dreams. 
• When I wear the mantle of the presence of the Lord, I too step into the world of the supernatural.

Do you want to experience the power of God in your life and ministry? 

• Would you like to see people you are praying for come to Christ? 
• Would you like to be used by the Lord to win someone to Christ? 
• If your answer is yes, you must put on the coat. 

Jesus said we would be “clothed with power from on high” Lk.24:49. 

• He was describing the effect of the multi-colored coat upon our lives.
• This coat is valuable, after all, it was purchased with the price of blood, purchased with the precious blood of Jesus. 

While others may be playing games at the foot of the cross, like the Roman soldiers, many other Christians are deciding to put on the coat. 

• • Even though I can’t buy this coat, it was already purchased for me, 
  • It will cost me to wear it. 
  • It may cost me friends or even more, but the benefits far exceed the costs.

Revelation 19:14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

• Notice we are behind Him and the Blood and the enemy is BEFORE HIM. 
• Notice, His name is the Word of God 
• Right now, Jesus’ blood speaks a better word than Abel’s 

Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

• Numbers 6:24-26 states: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”. 
  • No man can see God’s face and live! 
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
  • A consequence of being on the wrong side of the blood and showing up to the wedding without a covering. 
• The Groom doesn’t wear the same color as the bride

This groom does not wear black but red, 

• Because he wears red, his bride follows in White!
• Revelation 19:6-9 We are clothed in His Righteousness, we have just come from a wedding and a marriage supper with the Lamb.
  • We are one flesh, and His body and His bride wear what? WHITE
  • These robes are washed in the blood of the lamb. Revelation 22:14
  • We are riding home with Christ to take our place next to Him to rule and reign. 

Conclusion: We are not coming to be clothed in WHITE! We are behind our Lord and Savior and are ALREADY CLOTHED IN WHITE. We are protected and covered in purchased robes of righteousness dipped in the blood of Christ.