Resilient – A Revelation Daily Devotional – Day 41
Cedar Creek Church September 6, 2025

Day 41 – September 6

Read or listen to the audio version of the Bible Reading and Daily Devotional.

 

Read Revelation 19:11-21

The Rider on a White Horse
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His 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. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

So often in this 6-week journey, the commands to “look,” or “behold,” have been issued. Each time, the reader is invited to see the unveiling of a past, current, and future reality at play in the world. This was true for the first-century churches receiving John’s letter, and it remains true for those who read these words today. Today’s passage calls us to behold an interesting battle scene that has already been won, yet will also play out in finality.

Have you ever witnessed the moments just before a fight breaks out? The tension is thick. Words will no longer settle the debate; blows have become the means by which the conflict will be resolved.

John sees Jesus on a horse. The imagery is a king ready for battle, and the scene is tense. He has eyes like fire, many crowns on His head, a blood-drenched robe, and a sword coming out of His mouth. This is a scene so intense not even Russell Crowe could have directed it, yet no battle ensues.

The enemy’s forces are there and ready, but no shots are fired. Why? John has been showing us the answer throughout the book. Jesus has already won this battle, and each part of His image reminds us how He did so.

Jesus has conquered death, Hades, the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet with His immense, indescribable (to steal a description from the Apostle Paul) power. His all-knowing eyes have seen all; nothing is hidden. The many crowns on His head remind us that He is sovereign, not just over one kingdom or aspect of creation, but over all. His word is a sword that reveals the needs and refines the character of those who follow Him. Those same words that calmed storms, resurrected deceased friends, and spoke light into existence will vanquish the enemy, but note that this is not with some earthly measure of might. This is made evident by the robe Jesus wears. Whose blood is on it?

Again, no shots have been fired in this particular scene, but this image is meant to hearken back to another moment where this battle was won before it started. The blood on that robe is His own. His victory was not achieved in the power of the other images alone, but rather in all that power and glory making the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of those now revealed in the army behind Him.

The army with Jesus is also of great interest to the reader. They are not arrayed in armor with weapons of battle. Rather, they are clothed as priests. The weapon they are given will come into greater focus in the reading ahead, but it is their testimony. Their objective is not to fight the battle against the beast with power and might, but to fight against him and his followers by continually reminding themselves and the world of the victory afforded to them through the King of Kings they follow into battle.

For the follower of Christ, resiliency is not anchored to religious performance and earthly power. It is promised and refined in full view of who Jesus truly is. As you conclude today, think about why Jesus has a name written on Him that no one knows. Perhaps, the invitation is to find resiliency in a God whose glory and power are so expansive we can never fully grasp them through our limited lens, yet it is this same God who heralds us to come and know Him. It is this same God, who so longed for us to know Him that He stepped out of being the author of creation and into creation to reveal Himself and His love for humanity. Truly, there will never be an act of love worth comparing with this. It is in this love that ultimate victory is assured in a battle that was fought 2,000 years ago on a hill outside of the city of Jerusalem.

Pray: God, help me to see and build my life on your victory on my behalf. Humble me to remember my testimony, and allow this remembrance to call me into evangelistic zeal and a life marked by passionate worship. Amen.