Christ is King

Over the years, this passage has been subject to various efforts to tie it into global events and circumstances--and all of these efforts have fallen flat when global events and circumstances changed.  It is better to avoid those sorts of sensationalized, politicized, "ripped-from-the-headlines" interpretations of this passage, and of other parts of the book of Revelation.

Note that the desciptions of Jesus in this passage, with a sharp sword and eyes like blazing fire, are echoes of two of the seven letters that Jesus commanded John to write to the churches of Asia Minor in the beginning of this book (Revelation 2:12-29).  The message in those letters, and in this passage, can be summed up in one sentence: Jesus Christ will one day return with power, and will destroy the evil in the world once and for all.  This message would have been a comfort to the early Christians, who were suffering from persecution and other evil acts; however, it would also have been a warning to those Christians who themselves indulged in evil acts.  For the same reasons, this passage is also a comfort and a warning to us today.

Also note that blazing eyes and a sharp sword are not the only things that are associated with Jesus in this passage.  His name is the Word of God, for he is the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  He is wearing a robe dipped in blood--not the blood of his enemies, but his own blood, which was shed on the cross for our salvation.  He is riding a white horse, which is a symbol of victory; he has already defeated sin and death, before the final battle has even begun.  And he wears many crowns, which symbolize his authority as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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