THE RIDER WITH THE SWORD FROM HIS MOUTH

I.   Scenario -- End Times -- the Rider on the white horse -- the
        Rider on the white horse comes in splendor and glory and
        strikes down the nations with the Sword from His mouth

     A.   Revelation 19:11-21  

           "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a
           white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True.
           With justice, He judges and makes war. ... Out of His
           mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the
           nations..."  -- Revelation 19:11, 15a

     B.   Questions to keep in mind:  

          1.   Who is the Rider?  (Jesus)

          2.   What is the Sword? (God's Word)

II.  Sword of the Spirit -- Word of God

     A.   Ephesians 6:17 -- the Word of God is the Sword of the
          Spirit

     B.   Deuteronomy 8:3 -- God's Word -- Man lives by every word
          that proceeds from the mouth of God.

     C.   How do these two verses tie in together and to the
          Scenario above?

          1.   The Sword of the Spirit is God's Word.

          2.   God's Word proceeds from His mouth.

          3.   Hence, the Sword of the Spirit proceeds from God's
               mouth.

          4.   So, Jesus returns to bring justice and to slay the
               wicked with a sword from His mouth?!  Well consider
               Deuteronomy 8:3 when it says that man doesn't live
               by bread alone but by every WORD that proceeds from
               the MOUTH of GOD.
               Now recall Ephesians 6:17:
               "...the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of
               God."  Jesus returns to strike down the nations
               with the sword from His mouth.  This sword is the
               Sword of the Spirit.  Jesus will strike down the
               nations with the Word of God.  You, too, draw your
               sword; get into the Word of God.

III. God's Word is a Weapon -- Other verses besides Ephesians 6:17
        that support this truth.

     A.   Hebrews 4:12 -- How does this apply to what we have read?

          "For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than
          any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing
          soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts
          and attitudes of the heart."  -- Hebrews 4:12

     B.   Hosea 6:5 -- "Therefore I cut you in pieces with my
          prophets.  I killed you with the words of my mouth; my
          judgements flashed like lightning upon you."

IV.  Questions to conclude:

     A.   What scripture supports that His Word is God's Word?
          What scripture supports that the Bible is God's Word?
          What scripture supports that the Rider is Jesus?

     A.   Jesus is God (John 10:30)

     B.   The Bible is God's Word -- II Timothy 3:16

     C.   The Rider on the white horse is Jesus.

          1.   II Thessalonians 2:6-8 

               "And now you know what is holding Him back, so He
               may be revealed at the proper time.  For the secret
               power of lawlessness is already at work; but the
               one who now holds it back will continue to do so
               till he is taken out of the way.  And then the
               lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus
               will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and
               destroy by the splendor of His coming."

          2.   Revelation 1:16 --  Describes Jesus having a sharp
               double-edged sword coming from His mouth

          3.   Revelation 2:16 -- Jesus calls for the Church at
               Pergamum to repent lest He strikes it down with
               the Sword from His mouth.

     D.   John 1:1 

V.   Conclusion

     A.   There should be no question of what the sword from the
          mouth is and who the White Horse Rider is.  He is Jesus!
          He is coming back and will slay the wicked with His Word
          -- the Sword from His mouth.

     B.   And as T-Bone, a Christian rapper says, "I'm a lyrical
          assassin and my lyrics go boom, boom, boom, and another
          demon gets struck."  T-bone understands that Christians
          are called to fight the good fight of faith and use
          Christ's Word as a sword that penetrates the hearts of
          men.  The Word of God is a weapon.