Revelation 19:16

THE ALMIGHTY REDEEMER

‘And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.’

Revelation 19:16

Who is this? It is the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. The title here given to Christ denotes—

(a) His divinity.

(b) His dominion.

As long as such a Sovereign reigns in our hearts and guides our footsteps, we may feel assured that He will subdue all our foes, both temporal and spiritual, and bring us safely to His eternal kingdom. ‘Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.’ The Lord His God is with him, and the shout of a King. The King of kings and the Lord of lords is among them. The gates of hell shall not prevail against Thee, nor shall any weapon formed against Thee prosper.

II. The way in which that title is displayed.—The inscription of the title upon His thigh shows that the name was written upon the sword that hung upon His thigh. The meaning appears to be this: ‘His vesture dipped in blood’ denotes His past victories, and His sword hanging upon His thigh implies His being prepared for future exercise of His power.

(a) Note His past victories.

(b) His future triumphs. ‘All nations shall do Him service.’ We see not this promise yet fulfilled, but, amid much that is discouraging and would tend to damp our exertions, we perceive the triumphs of Christ’s spiritual kingdom steadily advancing.

III. This subject has a dark side as well as a bright side, like the cloudy pillar, that while it foretells the triumphs of the gospel, it also predicts the destruction of those who neglect and despise it, and who oppose its progress.

—Rev. Dr. E. J. Brewster.