The popular view of Jesus is that of a poor Rabi, a peaceful man who reminded people that religion wasn’t about rules but about learning how to love God and your fellow man. There is nothing wrong with this particular view, except it is incomplete. Jesus did everything he needed to do at that time --and more -- as the suffering servant, but he did not restore Israel at that time, reward the faithful or fully conquer the devil. One might say that Jesus’ mission was as incomplete as our view of him. If you want to know Jesus you need to know all of him, not just the comfortable parts.

Revelation 19.11-16 provides a very different picture of Jesus than we are used to:

Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war. His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself. He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God. The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

It’s a terrifying picture, but not half as terrible as what happens next. Jesus leads the armies of heaven not just against the beast and false prophet (whom are thrown alive into the lake of fire), but against the kings of earth and their soldiers. The slaughter is terrific and there is far more fallen than the carrion birds can consume. The devastation will be far greater than the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah combined.

While the death of people is nothing to make light of, especially so many people, it is important to remember that mankind is an eternal being. The death of our physical bodies does not indicate annihilation. All of the armies of the beast that die by the words of Jesus will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment with the rest of humanity. Death itself is a part of the curse of sin, and siding with the beast is not only a terrible sin but also a capital offense.

Jesus is God and therefore has the same righteous nature, the same level of wrath, the same right to judge and the same detestation of all uncleanliness. Jesus may be our shepherd who leads us beside still waters, but he is also a mighty force of holiness. Remember that every person of the Trinity is God and therefore has all character and all power and knowledge along with all the other attributes of God in equal and perfect measure. This understanding helps complete our knowledge of who Jesus is. He is our creator (John 1.1-3), our savior (John 3.16) and our judge (Revelation 20.1-15).

During Jesus’ earthly ministry no one knew Jesus better than John. John authored not only his gospel, but also the book of Revelation. It is safe to say John had a complete knowledge of Jesus, and loved him – all of him. We should do no less.