Revelation 19:13; Clothing and Name (3)

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Revelation 19:13 (KJV)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

The last part of v13 gives an additional name to help identify the rider – and His Name is called The Word of God.

This is the only place where the full expression applies to Christ, though “word” or “logos” alone refers to Him in John 1:1, 14.

John 1:1 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John 1:14 (KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

The use of the same title is an important factor linking the authorship of Revelation to that of the gospel of John. In Revelation “the words or word of God” includes the revelation of God’s purpose (Revelation 1:2; 17:17; 19:9).

Revelation 1:2 (KJV)  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 

Revelation 17:17 (KJV)  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 

Revelation 19:9 (KJV)  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 

The expression also represents the message for which antichristian forces persecute the saints (Revelation 19:9; 21:5; 22:6) as Christ is (Revelation 19:11).

Revelation 21:5 (KJV)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

Revelation 22:6 (KJV)  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 

Revelation 19:11 (KJV)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

So the word of God finds its full expression in His person, and appropriately He bears the Name “The Word of God” (Johnson). The same “word” that brought the creation into existence (John 1:3; cf. Psalm 33:6) is powerful enough to subdue satanic powers whom the warrior-Messiah is about to confront (Kiddle). In Hebrew thought, the “word” is not a lifeless sound, but an active agent (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9; Hebrews 4:12) (Mounce).

John 1:3 (KJV)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

Psalm 33:6 (KJV)  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

Genesis 1:3 (KJV)  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 

Genesis 1:6 (KJV)  And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 

Genesis 1:9 (KJV)  And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22, Moody, 1995, 387]