The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

the precise statement of the Apostle, who assures us that our Lord is not only 'the Head of
the Body, the Church,' and 'the first-born from the dead,' but also the beginning of all
creation--'that in all things He might have the preeminence.' His words are: 'He is the
image of the invisible God--first born of all creation; because by Him were all things
created, those in the heavens and those on the earth, visible and invisible--whether
thrones, or lordships, or governments, or authorities: all things were created by Him and
for Him, and He precedes all things, and in Him all things have been permanently placed.'
(Col. 1:15-18.) Hear also the word of prophecy concerning the Only Begotten, not only
declaring His coming exaltation as King of earthly kings, but describing Him as already
being Jehovah's first-born, saying, 'I will make Him My first-born, higher than the kings of
the earth.' (Psa. 89:27.) Note also that our Lord (referring to His own origin), declares
Himself to be, 'The faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.'--Rev.
3:14."
Armies in heaven followed him
"And the armies which were in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine
linen."--Ver. 14.
It would seem, when all the other features associated with this vision are taken into
consideration, that there could scarcely be room for any difference of opinion among
students of the Revelation regarding the thought that these "armies of heaven" represent
the glorified saints. The vision being seen by St. John after the announcement of the
Marriage of the Lamb, and the call of other of the consecrated ones who were left in the
tribulation to participate in the Marriage celebration, the "Marriage Supper," seems all
sufficient to prove this. The Scriptures seem to teach that it will be in connection with
some of the severest troubles of the "great tribulation" that the last of the joint-heirs with
Christ will meet their change. The overthrow of the great "mother" organization, the
Roman Catholic ecclesiasticism, as indicated by the visions preceding the Marriage of the
Lamb, seems to be an event that will be witnessed by some of these joint-heirs while in the
flesh. This vision of the descent of Christ and His armies from heaven follows immediately
this event. There is quite a general agreement among expositors that these armies of
heaven represent the glorified saints. We quote a few very striking comments which show
this:
"'And the armies which are in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clad in white,
pure, fine linen.' These are the veteran fighters that taking on them by faith the armor
[described in Eph. 6:10-18] while here, [in the flesh] have stood against principalities and
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this Age; against wicked spirits in the
heavenlies. They were seen as conquerors in chapter 12, when the dragon was cast out of
heaven, through their overcoming him; veteran warriors through the centuries since Christ
went on high, and the Holy Spirit came down. These are the overcomers of the different
conditions of the assembly of God [the seven Churches representing seven periods of the
Church's history] through the second and third chapters. And now they come down . . . to
take their place with Him in reigning."--M. Taylor.