SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/2/2015 8:53 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Regiments of the Conqueror
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Revelation 19:14
Message of the verse: "14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses."
I am going to say that this SD will be very short, but all verses in the Word of God are important and thus this one is also important in our ongoing study of the book of Revelation. On November 9, 2005 I wrote the following short paragraph on verse fourteen: "The armies that are mentioned are the Church and probably the tribulation saints, but this army is without weapons because it will be Jesus Christ and His angels who will do battle with His enemies." We will have more to say on this verse in the rest of today’s SD.
When we look at the phrase "the armies which are in heaven" we want to look at Revelation 17:14 for some comparison: "14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.’" Now we have to look at who we believe will be the chosen and faithful ones coming with the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming. We see that those are coming are pictured as wearing "fine linen, white and clean," and this gives us a hint as to who some of these who accompany Him are. Earlier in chapter 19:7-8 we read "7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." These verses speak of the bride of the Lamb as we studied in an earlier SD. This is the first group of believers that will come with Christ, the resurrected church that took place at the Rapture of the Church and have been in heaven for these seven plus years. John MacArthur writes "So will the Tribulation believers, who are also pictured in heaven wearing white robes (7:9)." "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands." These are the ones who were crying out to the Lord for vengeance on those who have killed them during the Tribulation and the Lord told them to wait, well the wait is over as they come back to earth to be a part of the army accompanying the Lord Jesus Christ. MacArthur goes on to write "The third group is the Old Testament saints, who are resurrected at the end of the Tribulation (Daniel 12:1-2). Finally, the holy angels will also accompany Christ (Matthew 25:31)." "31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne." When we speak of the Tribulation Saints we are speaking of those who have been killed for the cause of Christ during the Tribulation Period. There will also be Tribulation Saints who are still alive at the second coming of Jesus Christ and these will be the ones who go into the Millennial Kingdom to repopulate the earth.
John MacArthur once again brings up the point about the white horses as not being literal horses and says that they are no more literal "than those ridden by Hell’s cavalry in 9:7 and 16. Unlike the Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly army is unarmed; He alone will destroy His enemies. The saints will come not to fight with Jesus, but to reign with Him (20:4-6; 1 Cor. 6:2)."
So here we have the group who will accompany our Lord on His return to planet earth to take back control of planet earth and begin the process of re-doing the earth and also judging the evil ones left on planet earth who are alive including Satan, his demons, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I am not positive of whether or not the horses are real for I was looking forward to riding on a white horse during this time, but will have to wait and see. I am thankful that Jesus Christ has given us the book of Revelation as it surely tells the church what will happen in the future.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I trust that the Lord will use me to tell others about what I am learning from my study in Revelation.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question: "Seven years" (1 Kings 6:38).
Today’s Bible question: "Who were the disobedient and obstinate people?"
Answer in our next SD.
10/2/2015 9:23 AM
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