The Return of the King of Kings

Often, in discussing prophecy of the end times, the focus is on the devastation alone. That is an easy thing to do considering how much detail that Revelation gives of each part of the final judgment. Sometimes it is easy to forget what the outcome will be when the King of Kings returns. That is why it is good to read such passages in the Old Testament like Zechariah 14:1-9, because in such passages one can see a summary of the very end of all that end-time strife, as well as the return of the King of Kings.

Zechariah began with the persecution of Jerusalem and her people, but did not leave out their ultimate salvation. Zechariah wrote, "Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You." (Zechariah 14:1-5, NKJV) As Antichrist moves the world against Jerusalem and the Jews, Christ the LORD will return to keep His covenant with them. Though Jesus came first to suffer and to die, He will come this time to conquer and to rule!

Those who know Him and have followed Him down through the ages will stand with Him on that day. The Bible has often mentioned the coming of "the saints" with the King at His return. Jude affirms that the Enoch of Genesis 5:18-24 said, concerning the return of the King, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all..." (Jude 14b-15a, NKJV). One of the psalmists praised God for the same, saying, "Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment -- This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 149:5-9, NKJV) Revelation confirms that when the King returns, He will not be alone! The Bible says, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called 'Faithful and True,' and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called 'The Word of God.' And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: 'KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.'" (Revelation 19:11-16, NKJV) That sword coming out of the King's mouth is the same sword with which His saints will execute judgment on the earth. That sword is the Word of God and is far more powerful than any sword of metal ever could be. The Bible says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:12-13, NKJV)

Back in Zechariah 14, he completes the summary of the King's return by describing what it will be like after the King's victory in battle. Zechariah writes, "It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. It shall be one day which is known to the LORD -- neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light. And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be -- 'The LORD is one,' and His name one." (Zechariah 14:6-9, NKJV) This is just a glimpse at the glory that Revelation promises will occur when the King has returned. Revelation says of New Jerusalem, the King's capital, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of earth bring their glory and honor into it... There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever." (Revelation 21:23-24; 22:5, NKJV) As for the stream of "living waters," John the Apostle mentions, "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." (Revelation 22:1-4, NKJV)

When all else is said and done, the best part of it all is that those who believe now will see Him then, the One who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The Bible puts it best at the end of Revelation, when it says, "...the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17, NKJV)

"Lord, Jesus, I simply want to join with John the Apostle and all those who have gone before me in saying, 'Come, Lord Jesus!' I long to see the fulfillment of the promise that I will see Your face, though I don't deserve to. Make Your face to shine upon us today, our Lord and King, for our King will live and reign forever! Amen."