BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusنموونە

Fasten your sandal straps and sharpen your swords. Today we go to war … sort of. The Day of the Lord, a time of revealing and removing all evil, has so far been depicted as fire, earthquake, or harvest. But now John sees it as a final war. In today’s reading, John retells the battle to end all battles. The final showdown between good and evil, between light and darkness, between the Lord and the beast.

War means bloodshed, loss of life, chariots, spears, and swords. And Jesus, the Messiah and ferocious warrior-king, arrives at the battlefield in glory, riding a white horse and wielding an intimidating sword. But Jesus’ sword comes from his mouth, an image hyperlinking to Isaiah (Isa. 11:4, 49:2). Notice that blood covers Jesus before the battle even begins (Rev. 19:13). This is a reminder that Jesus already poured out his own blood when he died for his enemies.

John is not envisioning Armageddon as a bloodbath. Instead, Jesus the slain lamb now comes armed with words of justice, rescuing humanity and holding accountable those who refuse to turn from evil. In his death and resurrection, Jesus dealt the final strike to the serpent’s head, as first predicted in Genesis 3:15. John now shows that it was truly the fatal blow. Jesus’ battle at Armageddon brings justice and peace on Earth.

Victory belongs to the Lord. Good triumphs. Light triumphs. The Lord triumphs. In the last battle, all shall be well and every tear will be wiped away.

Reflection Questions

• Compare the final battle in today’s reading to God’s judgment of evil in Daniel 7. What similarities do you notice? How might these visions comfort God’s people?
• Compare Isaiah’s poem about the king from David’s line in Isaiah 11:1-9 with the depiction of Jesus in today’s reading. Where do you see Jesus enacting God’s righteousness and justice?