Revelation 19:13; Clothing and Name (2)
Revelation 19:13 (KJV) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
The rider’s dress, a rider’s cloak, or the cloak of a Roman general (Swete) as the word means – And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood.
The epithet of the garment dipped in blood is proleptic as is the symbolism of the white horse and the white robes of His followers. It looks forward not backward (Beckwith, Ladd, Mounce). Also, the “many crowns” anticipate His assumption of full authority as King of the earth. Both this feature of His description and that of the blood on His robe anticipate the battle about to be fought and its outcome.
A shedding of the blood of His enemies is the picture presented in Isaiah 63:1-3, the source of the imagery of Revelation 19:15.
Revelation 19:15 (KJV) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Isaiah 63:1-3 (KJV) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Isaiah 63:1-6 is a context that prophesies how the Messiah will slaughter His enemies, with their blood splattering on His clothing during the process. It is comparable to grape juice splashing on the wine treader in the winepress.
Isaiah 63:4-6 (KJV) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
This meaning also matches the parallel scene in Revelation 14:9-11, 17-20 where John earlier also matches the parallel scene in Revelation 14:9-11, 17-20 where John earlier alludes to Isaiah’s prophecy.
Revelation 14:9-11 (KJV) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 14:17-20 (KJV) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
The two mentions of the blood of His enemies, here and in v15 enhances this scene’s emphasis on war and judgment (Hailey). The form of the verb tells locatively of the element in which His garment is dipped. This is a stern, militant figure wreaking vengeance upon the rebellious earth.
[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 386-387]