Rev 19:10 "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

The following verses of scripture teach us that we are to worship God and not man:

1. Acts 10:25 "And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man."

2. Rev. 22:8 "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God."

3. Matt. 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This is not to say that only the words that Jesus spoke are the spirit of prophecy. All of the scriptures are the testimony of Jesus. We read in 2 Peter about the spirit of prophecy as follows:

2 Pet. 1:16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

We note in 2 Peter that we have a more sure word of prophecy and that we ought to take heed to it. We also read that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. This certainly teaches us that scripture must be used to interpret scripture. To use information outside of scripture to interpret scripture would make the scripture of private interpretation. It seems that many people hold to this principle until they come to the book of Revelation. They bring in their own private interpretation when they take historical events not mentioned in scripture and try to interpret scripture by those historical events recorded in man's uninspired documents.

Rev 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."

"And I saw heaven opened." The following verses illustrate what is revealed when heaven is opened:

1. Gen. 7:11 "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights."

2. Ps. 78:23 "Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full."

3. Lk. 3:21 "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

4. Acts 10:11 "And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."

5. Rev. 4:1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter."

All of the above signaled significant events when "heaven was opened." In No. 1, the opening of the windows of heaven signaled God's judgment of a flood to destroy the earth. In No. 2, the opening of the doors of heaven signaled God's provision for his people. In No. 3, the opening of heaven signaled God's pleasure at the baptism of Jesus Christ. In No. 4, the opening of heaven signaled God's election of a people among all nations and the opening of the church to the Gentiles. No. 5 signaled the opening of the door of revelation unto us. Our text verse signaled the opening of the door of God's judgment and warfare.

" And behold a white horse" is a phrase used to indicate a warrior going forth to war. In the scriptures, the horse is an instrument of warfare:

1. Ex. 15:1 "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea."

2. Ex. 15:19 "For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea."

3. 1 Kings 10:29 "And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means."

4. 1 Kings 20:20 "And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter."

5. Ps. 76:6 "At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep."

6. Prov. 21:31 "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

7. Is. 43:17 "Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow."

8. Jer. 8:6 "I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle."

9. Jer. 51:21 "And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider."

10. Amos 2:15 "Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself."

11. Zec. 9:10 "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth."

12. Zec. 10:3 "Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle."

As we have previously shown, white is associated with righteousness in the scriptures. Therefore, one who rides a white horse would be a warrior that goes forth fighting a righteous war. Since we know that the rider is Jesus Christ, we know that he is the one who fought the battle of righteousness on behalf of his people.

" And he that sat upon him was called Faithful." The following verses of scripture speak to God's faithfulness:

1. Deu. 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

2. 1 Sam. 2:35 "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever."

3. Is. 49:7 "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee."

4. Jer. 42:5 "Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us."

5. 1 Cor. 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

6. 1 Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

7. 1 Thes. 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

8. 2 Thes. 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

9. 2 Tim. 2:13 "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

10. Heb. 2:17 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

11. Heb. 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;"

12. Heb. 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

13. Heb. 11:11 "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."

One of the things that all the referenced verses show is that God is faithful to his promises. He keeps his promises. God promised before the world began to save his elect from their sins and because he is faithful they will all stand before God saved from their sins.

"He that sat upon him was called True." The word "True" comes from the Greek word "alethinos" meaning truthful. It also carries with it the meaning of being genuine or authentic. Certainly all of this applies to our God. There are not shades of truth. God is said to be true in the following ways:

1. John 1:9 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

2. John 6:32 "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

3. John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."

4. John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

5. 2 Cor. 1:18 "But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay."

6. 1 Thes. 1:9 "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"

7. 1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

8. Rev. 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

9. Rev. 6:10 "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"

In the above verses Christ is described as being the true light, vine, branch, bread, and God. When coupled with the fact that Christ is faithful we see that he will keep his promises and accomplish everything that he sets out to do.

"And in righteousness he doth judge and make war." There is an old saying that anything goes in love and war. That certainly is false when it comes to our Lord Jesus Christ. What he does, he does in righteousness. The Lord said, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." All God's judgments, both timely and eternal, are righteous judgments. God is just. Similarly, all God's warfare is righteous warfare. When he did war against our sins, he restricted himself to keep the whole law and to fulfill all prophecy. Likewise, when he leads us in our daily battles, he does so in righteousness. There are no shortcuts with God.

Rev 19:12 "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself."

The flame is the sign of God's executed judgment:

1. Ex. 3:2 "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed."

2. Num. 21:28 "For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon."

3. Judg. 20:38 "Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city. 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle. 40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven."

4. Ps. 106:18 "And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked."

5. Is. 5:24 "Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

6. Is. 10:17 "And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;"

7. Is. 29:6 "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire."

8. Is. 30:30 "And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones."

9. Jer. 48:45 "They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones."

10. Dan. 3:22 "Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego."

11. Dan. 7:9 "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame."

12. Lk. 16:24 "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

13. Heb. 1:7 "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."

14. Rev. 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire."

With his eyes, the Lord watches over all and executes righteous judgment.

"And on his head were many crowns." The Lord wears many crowns. A few of these crowns are set forth in the following verses:

1. Ex. 39:30 "And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

2. Lev. 21:12 "Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD."

3. Ps. 8:5 "For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."

4. Prov. 14:18 "The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge."

5. Is. 28:5 "In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,"

6. Matt. 27:29 "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!"

"He had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself."

It would be foolish for me to say that I know what that name was because it says that no man knew, but he himself. Some things God does not tell us. For instance, I cannot give you a lengthy description of the glory world, because there is not one in the scriptures. God has reserved some things to himself and when and if he decides to reveal it to us he will at his appointed time. According to Deuteronomy Chapter 29:29 we read, "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."