HERE THEY COME!

We’ve heard, read and seen much about extraterrestrials invading planet Earth. True-life episodes have been alleged, just as some bold and interesting attempts have been made to capture such scenarios in books and movies. While some of these fictional works could be really enlightening when viewed the right way, the ultimate encounter is just around the corner for the world. It will, however, not be happening in a corner, but on a scale so large and so grand that, as the Scriptures predict, “every eye shall see him”! (Revelation 1:7.)

The scene is set. Like a blazing meteor, they shoot out of the sky: "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. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns… And the ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 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 hath on His vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelations 19:11-16)

What we see in the lead Horse Rider – none other than the resurrected Christ, the crowned King – is absolute and righteous power personified. His spectacular appearance in the skies is the return “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” that He promised towards the end of His last mission to Earth (Matthew 24:30).

He has come to demonstrate, even as He claimed at that former time, that “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). He has come to fulfill what was announced to King Nebuchadnezzar centuries and millenniums ago: “In the days of these kings [the world rulers of the “last days”] shall the God of Heaven SET UP A KINGDOM” (Daniel 2:44). Yes, He has come to perfect what was witnessed, as in a shadow, in the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar: “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength and glory. And WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWELL, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee RULER OVER THEM” (Daniel 2:37,38). It’s the return of absolute dominion!

The Great Warrior is not on a solo mission. His armies ride in His trail, His faithful followers that He promised a “hundredfold” reward “in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory” (Matthew 19:28,29; to read THE PROMISE). Raptured shortly before, they return as joint rulers with their King!

There will be an attempt by the world powers of this future time to resist the invasion of the Armies of Heaven: “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army” (Revelation 19:19). The outcome of the resulting showdown has, however, also been decreed: “The Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). Great things are indeed ahead of the world!

 But these things might unsettle some. They might wonder what Christ the “Lamb” would have doing with a confrontation like this. Truth is, He had to become a sacrificial Lamb to redeem the joint rulers of His kingdom, and we have become accustomed to the tag. With the work of redemption completed, however, He sheds the meekness, so to say, and reveals His other side, the “Lion” of the royal and warrior tribe of Judah! (Revelation 5:5,6.) It is written, “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isaiah 42:9).

We would naturally be interested in the kind of weapons that the invading Armies of Heaven use to take on their enemies. Of course, you can’t imagine them carrying Israeli Uzis, wielding Russian Kalashnikovs, or shooting targets from American Apache helicopters. Rather, those same sci-fi and fantasy movies and books that we have seen and read give us excellent thoughts. In them we see superhuman characters with supernatural weapons, thrusting out the hand to the release of grenades and bombs, and launching missiles from the mouth.

That’s actually Scripture for you! “Fire proceedeth out of their mouths [and hands, I can imagine], and devoureth their enemies” (Revelation 11:5). As we also read about the Leader of the invasion, “out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,” an allusion to “firepower,” and also the potent “word of influence and instruction” – talk about a persuasive and yet decisive leader!

Whatever the weapons of the invading horsemen may be, one thing is certain. As it was during their last mission to planet Earth, so would it be once again. The weapons of their warfare will be “mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,” “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” (II Corinthians 10:4,5).

Notice “the knowledge of God” there. That’s a very good one! That’s where the deeper revelation of the weapons of the Armies of Heaven’s long-term warfare in the kingdom lies. We know from the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar that the Great Stone in which they were represented will grow into a great mountain, the millennial kingdom, that “filled the whole earth” (see Daniel 2:31-44). But elsewhere, where the same things are spoken of, it is said, “For the earth shall be full of the KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, as the waters cover the sea”! (Isaiah 11:9.)

This is a really remarkable agenda unfolding before us. As we will see next week, it is much more than the world coming to “know God.” It’s a really “big idea”! So keep the faith, and remain posted.

God bless you always.

In the King’s Service,

David Olagoke Olawoyin.