JESUS’ ROYAL PROCESSION: THE HIGHLIGHT OF HISTORY
A. The main theme of Revelation is Jesus’ return to earth to rule all the nations (Rev. 1:5-7).
5 Jesus Christ…the ruler over the kings of the earth…7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…and
all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. (Rev. 1:5-7)
B. Jesus’ second coming will be in context to a military conflict around Jerusalem. He will make a royal procession to
His throne in Jerusalem, which will involve a 3-stage process which will include many events. First, His procession will be
across the sky in great glory that will be seen by every eye. Second, His procession will be on the land as He marches up
through Jordan. Third, His procession will be into Jerusalem (and the Mount of Olives) to be crowned King.
C. I refer to these events as Jesus’ royal procession because He will come in great glory and flaming fire and trumpets
blasts with billions of angels and saints as He travels on clouds across the earth for all to see the overwhelming power of
His kingship (Mt. 16:27; 24:29-31; 25:31; 1 Thes. 3:13; 4:14-16; 2 Thes. 1:8). The Father planned this so that Jesus’
reign over all the nations will be introduced in a very dramatic way so that no one could possibly miss it.
D. Paul taught that the rapture will occur at the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52). It is the last in the series of seven
numbered trumpets in Revelation (Rev. 8-9; 10:7; 11:15). Then, the mystery or the plan of God to raise up a mature
Church to rule the earth with Jesus will be finished (Rev. 10:7).
E. The Bible gives us three different descriptions of the rapture and events related to it at the last trumpet. They
show us different facets of the one great diamond of Jesus’ return.
1. Jesus gave us a cosmic view of His coming with great glory in the sky (Mt. 24:29-31).
2. Paul gave us a pastoral view of Jesus’ coming by emphasizing its effect on the saints —transforming our
physical bodies and bringing us together (1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Thes. 4-5).
3. John gave us a political view of Jesus’ coming by emphasizing what will happen in the nations as it impacts
world governments when He takes over all the kingdoms of this world (Rev. 11:15). John highlighted the political
view since the theme of the Revelation is Jesus returning to reign as the King of kings over all nations
(Rev. 1:7; 19:16).
F. There will be three types of people on earth when Jesus appears in the sky:
1). The redeemed will be raptured during Jesus’ worldwide procession across the sky.
2). The reprobate who took the mark of the Beast will be judged and then killed (some executed).
3). The resisters are the unsaved survivors of the Tribulation who refuse to worship the Antichrist and yet were
not saved. The Scripture refers to them as those who are left or those who remain (Isa. 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6;
65:8; 66:19; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:38-42; 36:36; Dan. 12:1; Amos 9:9-10; Joel 2:32; Zech. 12:14; 13:8; 14:16).
These will have an opportunity to be saved after Jesus returns to the earth. They are those who will populate
the millennial earth.
G. Stage 1: Jesus’ royal procession across the sky over every nation will be seen by every person on the earth as
His kingship is announced and asserted over each nation (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7).
7 He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…all the tribes of the earth will mourn. (Rev. 1:7)
H. Each unbeliever will see Him clearly enough to cause them to mourn or to have a deep response. In other words,
Jesus will travel slowly enough across the sky and close enough to the earth for every unbeliever to see Him clearly
enough to understand what is happening so that they mourn.
30 The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the
Son of Man coming on the clouds…with great glory. (Mt. 24:30)
I. Stage 2: Jesus’ royal procession on the land as He marches through Edom or modern-day Jordan will destroy His
enemies (Isa. 63:1-6, Hab. 3:12; Ps. 45:3-5; 110:5-6) on His way to Jerusalem.
1 Who is this who comes from Edom (Jordan)…this One traveling in the greatness of His strength?...2 Why is Your
apparel red…? 3 I have trodden them (nations) in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon
My garments, and I have stained all My robes. 4 The day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed
has come. (Isa. 63:1-4)
11 The sun and moon stood still…12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people… (Hab. 3:11-12)
3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. 4 And in Your majesty ride
prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness. (Ps. 45:3-4)
5 He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead
bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. (Ps. 110:5-6)
J. As Jesus marches up through Edom (Jordan), He will function as the “greater Moses” as He releases the bowl
judgments on the Antichrist, as the “end-time Pharaoh”.
K. Jesus will lead Israel across the Jordan River into the promise land as the “greater Joshua”. As He marches on
the land, He will gather captive Israel as He opens prison doors and liberates Jews in prison camps (Ps. 102:20;
Isa. 27:12-13; 40:11; 42:7, 16, 22; 49:9-12, 21, 24-26; 61:1; Jer 30:3, 8, 10, 17; 31:16, 23; Ezek. 39:23-29; Joel 3:1-2;
Amos 9:14; Mic. 2:12-13; 4:6-7; Zeph. 3:19-20; Zech. 9:11-12; 10:10; 13:8; 14:2; Mt. 25:43; Lk. 21:24).
12 It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will thresh, from the channel of the River (Euphrates) to the Brook of
Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel. 13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will
be blown; they will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt,
and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem (in the Millennium). (Isa. 27:12-13)
L. Stage 3: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives is followed by His coronation (Rev. 19:16;
Ps. 24:7-10). Jesus will win an astounding victory over the armies that will gather around Jerusalem (Joel 3:2, 12;
Zeph. 3:8; Zech. 12:3; 14:2; Rev. 16:13-14; 19:19).
M. He will march into Jerusalem as the “greater David” to destroy the Antichrist, as the “end-time Goliath” and his
armies (Rev. 19:11-21) to fulfill the fullness of David’s prophecy in Ps. 2:1-9.
19 I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him (Jesus)…
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet…21 The rest were killed with the sword which proceeded
from the mouth of Him… (Rev. 19:19-21)
N. Jesus will be celebrated as the Son of David in a coronation parade. The gates of Jerusalem will be opened to
Jesus as they receive Him as their messianic King (Ps. 24:7-10; Mt. 23:39).
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates (Jerusalem)! The King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD
strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (Ps. 24:7-8)
O. Jesus will lead a royal procession through Jerusalem as David did when he bought the ark into Jerusalem
(2 Sam. 6). In Ps. 68:24-33, David merged the account of his procession into Jerusalem with the ark with a prophecy of
Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem in the end times.
24 They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary...29 Because of
Your Temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to You...till everyone submits himself...scatter the peoples (nations)
who delight in war…32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth...33 To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens...
(Ps. 68:24-33)
P. The saints will be with Jesus after the rapture as He marches on the land and into Jerusalem. Some saints may be
in the air while others may be on the ground, but all will witness the events. The saints will be raised from the dead or
raptured and will forever be with Jesus (1 Thes. 4:17).
3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet
will stand on the Mount of Olives…5 Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You. (Zech. 14:3-5)
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes. 4:17)