Revelation 17:14; Lord of lords

Revelation 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

The “for” clause assigns the reason for His triumph – he is the Lord of lords, and King of kings, the sovereign over all others who rule the earth. Paul applies the title to God the Father in 1 Timothy 6:15, but in Revelation the Son frequently has the same titles as the Father (Swete).

1 Timothy 6:15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 

The title “Lord of lords” occurs earliest in Deuteronomy 10:17 as a title for God.

Deuteronomy 10:17  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 

Daniel 2:47 quotes Nebuchadnezzar as calling Daniel’s God “a Lord of kings” (Psalm 136:3; Revelation 1:5).

Daniel 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 

Psalm 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

These two titles marking the Lamb as supreme over all earthly power recur in Revelation 19:16 where at His return to earth in triumph the name appears on the part of His cloak that covers His thigh.

He will not be alone in His triumph. The “called, and chosen, and faithful” who are with Him will overcome them.

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 302]