Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
This passage of scripture teaches us that there will be a change in Christ's robes, when the High Priestly garmentss of mediation, will be changed in favor of robes of vengeance. This change of garments on the part of Christ is scheduled to take place at a time when most of the world will not be looking for it, for according to the Bible, the close of probation will occur when it is least expected. This is the reason why we read over and over again in the scriptures, where Jesus says He will come as a thief at midnight, when the world is asleep in spiritual darkness.
Now, if Christ were coming just to take His own out of the world to the heavenly mansions, it might not have been cause for heightened alarm, but the passage above states that He is coming to wage war, a scenario which would disturb our carnal security. Christ is referred to in the Bible as The lamb of God, and in many passages of scripture, His lamb-like qualities shine radiantly through, as His characteristics of love, mercy, and grace, call the wayward sinner to repentance. Let's read:
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
However, Christ is not only described in the Bible as being a Lamb, for He is also described as being the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and as we all know, the Lion is the king of beasts. It is well documented, that when a lion roars, all the beasts of the forests freeze with fear, for the deep, terrible tones of his voice cause all animals to tremble. In like manner, Christ the lion of the tribe of Judah will roar, and when He does, it will signal to the world that He has changed His garments of mercy for those garments of vengeance, by which he will mete out judgment against the enemies of truth and righteousness, in unprecedented ways, the likes of which the world has never seen. Let's read:
Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
To this time we are now hastening, and although most of earth's inhabitants may not be aware of it, the fact is that we are standing on the very brink of eternity, and while the earth slumbers on in darkness and wickedness, The Lord of heaven is quietly preparing to change His robes, after which there will be no room or time for repentance and forgiveness of sins. This solemn thought is encapsulated in the words of the prophets as they dwelt upon the closing scenes of earth's history, when remorse and regret for having trifled with God's grace, will grip the hearts of billions of earth's inhabitants with fear and consternation. Let's read:
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
1st Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Let us therefore live in readiness, keeping faith and hope alive, for it wont be long before the consummation of our dearest hopes will be realized. We therefore end with a caution from the pen of inspiration, advising us not to become careless or indifferent, for The Lord's coming, and His sudden change of garments will take place unexpectedly, just as predicted in the Bible. Let's read:
[Great Controversy pp. 491] The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [Matthew 24:39.] Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.
“Watch ye therefore; ... lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” [Mark 13:35, 36.] Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” [Daniel 5:27.]
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!