Jesus really is coming back astrid a white horse

It’s funny the things you wonder about when you mind is out of gear and just kind of drifting around in the clouds (where my mind stays about 80% of the time).

The other day I was thinking about the battle of Armageddon and when Jesus comes back on a white horse leading the armies of heaven, all astride white horses.

And I wondered, “Are there horses in heaven?” I looked at some commentaries and a lot of them think the horses are not real, but symbolic. Someone else said that Jesus rode a spiritual horse.

A spiritual horse? What could that be? Is it like that old song, “Ghost Riders In the Sky”? (Here’s Burl Ives singing the original “Ghost Riders In the Sky” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2klh2cTa_Q)

I really don’t know too much about it. Spiritual, symbollic or a real as Trigger, whatever. (Trigger was Roy Rogers’ horse for you young readers. Roy Rogers was a famous cowboy for you young readers)

But heavenly horses have a precedent.  

A chariot of fire and heavenly horses swooped down and scooped up Elijah to take him to heaven. (I’ll be that was more exciting than the Space Mountain roller coaster at Disneyland Paris).

And Elisha’s servant was shaking all over because of an enemy army which had come to take the prophet. That is until the Lord opened his eyes and “… he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings 6:15-17, NIV)

But that still leaves a lot of questions. What do heavenly horses eat? Do they eat? Would serious Bible commentators say that since they were spiritual horses, they were eating spiritual grass in spiritual pastures?

And Jesus? Here was a former carpenter on a battle horse! Even more incredible—he had been a preacher and now he was astride a battle charger, roaring into battle. Most of us preachers roar a lot, but not usually from atop a horse.

Israel didn’t have many warrior kings—Saul and David and maybe a few others. After those two, they seemed to have had quite a few sissies and spoiled brats.

But there’s coming a time when the King of kings, Jesus Christ, will swoop into battle and finally defeat that enemy who plagues us so.

I wonder where He got that horse.

You know, if you don’t mind, I’m just going to believe that there are horses in heaven.

So what?

David, could you get your mind back into gear and answer an important question? “So what? Symbolic, ghost horses in the sky, or real stallions, what difference does it make?”

You’re right. The horse isn’t the important part of this story. Here is the crux of the matter: This world isn’t made for hurt, pain and injustice. Men aren’t made to live without their Heavenly Father. Satan isn’t the rightful king of this world. He’s an usurper. Selfishness and egotism causes men to line up on the wrong side of the battle.

And just when things seem to be lost, there is a King who is coming to set things right.

When I read Tolkien’s, “The Lord of the Rings” books for the first time one scene moved me about as much as any I have read in literature. The key city of Minas Tirith is about to fall. Hordes of orcs and foul men break into the city and it seems that all is lost when suddenly in the distance, a war horn sounds. The Rohirrim, allied warriors astride powerful stallions, had come to help.

I had chill bumps when I heard that trumpet in my imagination the first time. (Watch the charge of the Rohirrim: Charge of the Rohirrim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tgi-j56ueU)

But, that’s nothing compared to the real thing. One day, Antichrist and the nations of the world align themselves against God. The plain of Armageddon in Northern Israel fills with soldiers from all nations. All will seem lost when suddenly:

“Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! A white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that’s known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as “Word of God.” The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.” (Apocalypse 19:11-16, the Message)

In case you missed it, the King is Jesus. And the story isn’t about the horse, it’s about Him. This isn’t a “Lord of the Rings fairy tale.” It’s history programmed for the future. He’s coming. Let’s be looking for that Day. Injustice has a date with destiny and the Lord will destroy it eternally.

I wouldn’t mind riding one of those white horses myself.

Image: Dreamstime (Bjakko)
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Hmmm …
“And I cry, because I do not feel courageous. I feel downright defeated sometimes. Maybe courage is not at all about the absence of fear but about obedience even when we are afraid. Courage is trusting when we don’t know what is next, leaning into the hard and knowing that it will be hard, but more, God will be near.  Maybe bravery is just looking fear in the face and telling it that is does not win because I have known The Lord here. I have known The Lord in the long, dark night.”  Katie Davis, missionary to Uganda

Smile …

A young boy was looking through the family picture album and asked his mother, “Who’s this fellow on the beach with you with all the muscles and curly hair?”

“That’s your father.”

“Then who’s the old bald-headed man who lives with us now?”