“A CLUSTER OF GLORIES”

M H Tucker

In a short passage of some six verses in the book of Revelation, viz., chapter 19: 11-16, we have four distinctive names given to the One who comes forth out of heaven seated on a white horse, to judge and make war in righteousness, and who, of course, can be readily identified as the glorious Son of God. These four names, suggesting as they do four distinct glories, seem to be introduced by way of blessed contrast to the fourfold description, in the following chapter, of the enemy of God and man, who is there referred to us as the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan.

The first name is that of “Faithful and True”, and this clearly brings out the moral glory of the Person who bears it, for it is a title of renown which He earned by reason of the perfections and excellencies that ever marked Him in His human pathway on earth. He is referred to by a similar appellation in the beginning of the book, chapter 1: 5, and He addresses Himself in this character also to the angel of the church in Laodicea. In chapter 19 the scene is, of course, future, but the three references together exemplify what is said in Hebrews 13: 8: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to-day and for ever”. What He was in moral perfection as a Man, He is now; and what He is now, He ever will be. This same Jesus, faithful amidst unfaithfulness, the One who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate, and who ever spake truth and stood for the truth, faithful unto death, commands from every heart that loves Him willing adoration for the moral worth suggested in the title, “Faithful and True”.

The second reference to His name occurs in verse 12, where we are told that He has a name written which no one knows but Himself. This suggests a glory that is inscrutable to mortal man. We would not have it otherwise. The very fact that we know there is that which is beyond us, and unknowable, commands our deepest worship.

The Father only (glorious claim) The Son can comprehend.

This does not, of course, mean that we know nothing about Him. We know as much as has been revealed, but there is that which has not been revealed and which the Father only knows. A real knowledge as opposed to a mere objective acquaintance with the Person of the Son is possessed only by the Father, see JND's note to Matt 11: 27. The question of the mystery of the incarnation no doubt enters into this.

Then thirdly, we are told in verse 13 that His name is called the Word of God. This title would suggest what He is as the mind of God expressed, and is of course reminiscent of the manner in which the same writer, John, speaks of Him in his gospel as the Word – the very expression of the Mind of God. None other than a divine Person could be this, and it is the Lord's peculiar glory to shine in this way. In keeping with this title, a sharp two-edged sword proceeds from His mouth – that potent weapon with which the word of God in a moral sense is compared in Hebrews 4: 12. The passage no doubt is intended to convey the unique glory of Christ as the One who, as none other, can bring to bear on the conscience the mind of God. This He did in grace on many occasions in the days of His flesh on earth, and this He will yet do in swift judgment at His appearing. 2 Thess 2: 8 is no doubt a parallel passage, in that the lawless one there referred to is said to be consumed with the breath of the mouth of the Lord Jesus.

Finally, we have in verse 16, “and he has upon his garment, and upon his thigh, a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords”. This suggests His official glory – a renown that is conferred upon Him in recognition of His humiliation here below when He was crucified as King. It is a striking fact that the very title that is predicted of God in absolute deity in the noble doxology in 1 Timothy 6: 15, 16 is also attributed to Christ as Man in connection with His coming again – His appearing in this world to cast out the usurper and to take His seat on a throne of righteousness in the very place where He was put to shame.

Copied from Words of Truth 1940