East Rockingham Campus
Newborn King: Tomorrow
Welcome to the third message in our Advent Series The Newborn King
As we continue in our series today, we are going to look at the plans that are already in place for Jesus to come again.
Luke 12:40
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
To celebrate Christmas as the arrival of a King, is not only to look back in remembrance of his first coming and what he has done, but it is every bit as much about looking ahead for his coming again.
Our teaching text for today is found in Revelation 19:11-16
At first glance, Revelation 19 may not seem like much of a Christmas story for us today. This may not even “feel” like a Christmas message, but perhaps it should.
To rightly know Jesus as king, according to the scriptures, demands that we see His coming again as part of his story.
The Apostle John in writing Revelation, has been given glimpses into the unfolding of the last things, of the coming Judgement and Rule of God over all creation. As with most of Revelation there is a rich, almost perplexing mingling of symbol and reality.
As we begin to unpack our text today, we must hold together the use of symbols, and the reality of what they tell us of the coming King.
Revelation 19:11-12
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. 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.
You can already tell that Christmas part 2 is going to be different.
Upon his return, there will be no crown of thorns, only the royal crown of victory.
Revelation 19:13-14
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
His name is “the word of God”
This is reminiscent of John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Revelation 19:15
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.
The imagery of the winepress takes us back to Isaiah 63 and the picture of a man stomping grapes in a wine press to symbolize God’s wrath against evil.
Revelation 19:16
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords.
The victory is won, Christ is King.
As followers of Jesus and students of the bible we are stuck within this tension that the images of Revelation 19 of a mighty warrior are of the same Jesus we see in a manger at Christmas time.
They are not two different people, they are not two different stories. It is one story, it is THE story of who Jesus is.
The Newborn King we worship at Christmas will be the Returning King that will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that he is Lord.
What does that change this Christmas?
It gives us profound HOPE.
Revelation 21:3-5
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”