The Coming King

“11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13)

I wanted to start with this topic because I felt it was very relevant to my experience over the summer. We all think about the “apocalypse” or the end of the world from time to time- its hard not to, given how many movies, books, and TV shows use it as a premise. “The end is near!” is a popular, satirical phrase in the media, attributed often to the crackpot wearing a sandwich board in the movies and cartoons, shouting frantically while he stands on the side of the road or in front of a business. Frequently, the one speaking it is a disheveled individual, likely homeless, and looks nearly delirious due to overexposure and malnutrition. It is easy to write someone like this off solely based on their appearance- at least at first. The words, though, really are haunting: the end is near. What end? The world? Civilization? My country? My life? For many, the end comes every day, thousands and thousands of times a day; it’s enough to make your head spin thinking about it. What happens to those that die? What will happen to you and me when we die? It is chilling to contemplate our mortality for too long; to realize that, in many of our cases, our memory may cease to exist within one to two short generations. That no matter what we do, old age, illness, or tragedy will come for us all in the end. It feels unfair. It feels uniquely petrifying. And for many, that terror runs even deeper as they wrestle with the void that yawns before them- they ask themselves, “Is this it? Is this life all there is?” The less existential might be more inclined to brush off such thoughts, comfortable living in a silent, accepting resignation that oblivion may be all that awaits them. Others still seek a carnal paradise, or a karmic dissolution, or one of a myriad of other, unique endings. When all is said and done, though, we come back to that simple, poignant thought: the end is near. But what is the “end,” exactly?” To someone with a more atheistic persuasion, to end is simply that: to end. To cease. No more, no less. In this life, our purpose is to find our purpose; we exist to exist, and one day we will cease to exist, just as our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. before us. A more agnostic attitude is moderately more optimistic; surely there is something on the other side of the veil, you just aren’t sure what exactly it might be. If you’re is moral enough, though, you’re sure you will be received favorably, though. Many religions also prescribe a moral lifestyle, though they center on more definitive, concrete ideals regarding the hereafter. I won't try to pretend that I don't have a particular angle in writing all of this; I obviously adhere to biblical/Christian beliefs on the subject. With that in mind, what does a biblical perspective have to say on the matter? What is there after that final breath? 

What is “The End?”

The book of Hebrews gives a succinct outline in chapter 9, verse 27: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” telling us that, following our death is a judgement of some kind. (Strong’s G2920 shows that the Greek word here, Krisis, gives several uses for judgement, including separation, selection, and the giving of an opinion or ruling.) This seems straightforward, but it merits consideration- a judgement that has a ruling (as in a legal proceeding) necessitates that there be a standard to be upheld or metric to abide by. What, then, is the metric by which we must abide? From whence is this standard derived? For a Christian, the answer is this: perfection. Yes, that is correct: perfection. And it comes from God, maker of Heaven and Earth (and everything else, for that matter.) And according to that standard, we all fall short and are worthy of a negative judgement. Now, you may read that and think that I am referring to Hell, which is partially correct. Hell is the first stop, though the mental image you likely have is not accurate. Most people think of Hell as everlasting torment, the opposite of Heaven, or a place of fire and brimstone, and this is also partially correct. The traditional idea of Hell, which is more accurately described as Hades, is more like a holding cell for those who have died and received a negative judgement already, but who are awaiting final judgement for their ultimate sentence. The book of Revelation outlines clearly what the final stop- real Hell- will be for those who receive a negative judgement, describing it in Revelation 20:13-15, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Is that the extent of it, then? We live, we fail, we die, and we are cast into either Hades or Hell? The book of Romans says that our own conscience informs us that we are not perfect, and thereby fail to meet the standard of perfection required to evade such a harsh judgement: “14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:14-16) The idea of being defended by our conscience may sound hopeful, but in reality it is a very grave thing to be made aware of; our own conscience and thoughts will also accuse us before God! I can’t speak for you, but in my life I have been an idolater, a blasphemer, a breaker of the Sabbath, a disrespectful son, a murderer at heart, (1 John 3:15) an adulterer, a thief, a liar, and a coveter. I committed each of these sins with the knowledge that I was committing them, and I tried to justify them, though I knew in my heart that it was in violation of and direct rebellion against the standard set by God. This isn’t even the full list of my sins; we could add drunkenness, the devising of evil schemes, disrespect of my elders, twisting of scripture, fearfulness, condoning others in their sin, destruction of property that was not my own, outright hypocrisy- the list goes on and on. I committed many of these acts after making a profession of faith and after being raised in a home which valued and preached the gospel of Christ, so my conscience would bear a greater witness against me than some of you who may be reading. (Matthew 11:21-24)  

Our Great Hope

Returning momentarily to Hebrews, this time in chapter 10, verses 26-29, there is a haunting admonition shared by the author that might seem to indicate that there is no hope for those such as myself, and possibly you as well: “26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29) Does this mean that there is no hope? I don’t think so. Look again at the section that I have bolded: For if we go on sinning willfully. Go on; that describes a continuation of willful sins that does not cease. In Ezekiel, there is a passage that I think offers further clarity on this subject, showing to us that the idea of “too far gone” (prior to death) is a notion that seems to go against the heart of God: “10 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’12 And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, ‘The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.’13 When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die. 14 But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, 15 if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live.” Furthermore, Jesus Christ states in the gospels of Matthew and Mark, “28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin…” (Mark 3:28-29) This demonstrates that, although there is a zero tolerance policy against unrepentant sin, God is also consistent in His absolution for those that turn away from their evil ways and turn to Him.

Why is This Relevant?

Now, you may ask, “why do I need to concern myself with all of this?,” or, “why should I be in any rush to worry about all of that? I’m only such-and-such age.” I would tell you that this is a short-sighted attitude to have towards eternity. I was in great health at the start of this year, 2025, and over the summer became really ill, which we assumed at the time was due to the heat (I work in landscaping) and several other factors. I began to experience migraines and frequent, intense, anxiety attacks that left me non-functional for hours at a time in some cases. I barely ate or drank for weeks, and I was scared that I was going to die. Mercifully, the Lord used it to make me realize that I was not living a life that was actually honoring to Him and, through my fear and the realization of the great danger I was in, He called me to repentance- true repentance. Prior to this, I largely did as I pleased, very “culturally Christian” in my finances, relationships, words, and thoughts. I knew who God was, believed in His Son, but outside of the flickerings of my conscience which led me to occasional demonstrations of belief, I spent much of my time pursuing my own desires. How many of you do the same? As I said, it was a mercy that God allowed me to experience temporary hardship, that I might learn to rightly fear Him and cling to Him for grace. Not everyone has that same mercy given to them; as I said at the beginning, thousands and thousands die every day, many of those stepping into eternity with no regard for or knowledge of their Savior or the weight of their sins. You are not too young and innocent, nor are you too old and wise, to be called to account by God, and while this world may seem like it will last forever, this too will pass away. When it does, there will be a final judgement, as we spoke of before; here is the full passage from Revelation 20, verses 11-15: “11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” How does one avoid the condemnation of the lake of fire, the second death, according to the Bible? Through repentance and faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the only way; He is the only way, and the truth, and the life, and no man will come to the Father except by Him. (John 14:6) If you aren’t familiar with how this works, then I will share with you now: you must believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, repent/turn away from your sins, ask God to have mercy on you, and then live a live that produces fruit worthy of/demonstrating that repentance and belief. Each component is necessary to evidence the salvation of a Christian; without belief, there is no acceptance of the Lordship of Christ. Without repentance, your belief- however sincere- is irrelevant. Without the humble acknowledgement of the authority of God and an appeal to God for mercy, then you have belief and repentance, but have not sought to establish a relationship with Him. Without evidentiary fruit, there is no way to prove oneself to be in relationship with God, which is a dangerous place to find oneself in. Many Christians possess at least one of these traits, commonly belief, but an unfortunate number lack in repentance, a genuine appeal to God, or in the production of evidentiary fruit. This all too often results in “cultural Christians,” those possessed of knowledge but who have not undergone the change of heart necessary to truly produce the other necessary components.

The Coming King

Why is this important? Well, as the name of this post states, the King is coming. Who is this King? Jesus Christ, and unlike on His previous visit, when He came preaching repentance and salvation, when He returns He will bring judgement on the whole world. When He returns it will no longer be optional to believe in Him, nor will it be optional to obey His instructions. He will reign for all to see, “11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”” (Revelation 19:11-16) When the Lord first came to be with us, it was, as I said, to bring salvation. When He returns, it will be time for the world to give an accounting to Him. Even though we don’t know when He will return, (Matthew 24:36-51, Mark 13:32-37) we are told by scripture to be ever ready for that day, whenever it will come. Jesus may return in twenty years, or it may be in a thousand years- it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that He will return, and His people are to remain vigilant until that day. You who are reading this may not be a Christian, but let me ask you something: where will you be in a thousand years? Ten-thousand? Whether Christ returns in our lifetimes or not is irrelevant to the question, because one day we will all stand before Him. Will you be found faithful, repentant, and obedient? Will you one day find yourself at the gates of Hell? Only you and God can know the answer to that, but I hope you will take a moment to reflect on some of what I have shared with you today.