Names of Jesus: Faithful and True

This week’s name of Jesus is a bit intense. We have been exploring the names of Jesus that teach us about Him as the Truth, and in the book of Revelation, we learn quite a few different names for Jesus that increase in depth and lead us to a deeper understanding of Him and His role in our lives as well as in creation and eternity.

Toward the end of the book of Revelation, starting in chapter 19, we read about what it will be like at the End of the Age. At the end of the Age, Jesus will return, the marriage of the Lamb will take place, and then Jesus will bring His bride to make war on the enemy and defeat him once and for all. He will return riding a white horse, and bearing the name Faithful and True He will impart justice on the enemy because of his evil schemes. Satan will be bound, and the saints will reign over the earth with Jesus for 1,000 years.

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11 CSB

This 1,000 years will be called the Millennial Reign of Christ. During this time Satan will be bound and those who clung to Jesus and did not give in to the enemy will reign with Christ. This will be the first resurrection and those who died clinging to their faith or were martyred for their faith are those who will get to reign with Him in this time. Those who did not believe until Jesus and His armies went to war with Satan and his armies will have to wait for their resurrection.

During this time, there will be the opportunity for those who have yet to believe to turn to Jesus. Jesus will restore the earth. After the Millennial Reign of Christ, Satan will be released and will again deceive the nations, but will then be consumed by fire from Heaven and cast into the lake of fire to burn in torment for eternity, never to be released again. It is at this point that creation will be judged.

Why is it important that Jesus is named Faithful and True?

At the End of the Age, when Jesus returns with His bride to bind Satan and reign over the earth for His Millennial Reign, the name He is given is Faithful and True. He is also given the names King of King and Lord of Lords and the Word of God, both of which we studied a while back. We also get a glimpse of how Jesus will return atop His white horse.

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns^[a] were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp^[b] sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule^[c] them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 19:11-16 CSB

Atop His white horse as Faithful and True, Jesus has eyes of fire, many crowns on His head, robes dipped in blood, a sharp sword coming out of His mouth, and comes to strike the nations and rule with an iron rod. Every detail tells us a bit more about Jesus as Faithful and True. Back in Revelation 13:4, the question of who can make war against the beast is asked. Here in chapter 19, we see that it is Jesus, Faithful and True, who can defeat the enemy.

⁴ They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?”

Revelation 13:4 CSB

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Riding on a white horse

Not only will Jesus come riding a white horse, but so will His army of saints. White horses represent victory and are used here as a sign of Jesus’ victory over the enemy. Those riding and fighting with Him will be on white horses with Him as a symbol of our victory in Christ. He is the Victorious One, and every victory belongs to Him.

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven^[a] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer.^[b]

Revelation 6:1-2 CSB

¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen.

Revelation 19:14 CSB

In Revelation 6 we learn about the scrolls which only Jesus is worthy to open, and the first scroll reveals that the antichrist will also be on a white horse. This is an important reminder that the enemy seeks to deceive, and this is one of the methods he will do so. There are many other characteristics of Jesus that we must also know so that we will not be deceived. Christ tells us throughout the gospels that His sheep know His voice. Those who truly follow Jesus know Him intimately and will be able to recognize Him as opposed to an imposter.

Eyes like fiery flames

Jesus having eyes like fiery flames is an incredible image I cannot even fathom being in the presence of. This description coordinates with the very beginning of the book of Revelation where John is realizing who is speaking to him and revealing all of these things to him. It is Jesus Himself, with His eyes like a fiery flame.

¹² Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man,^[a] dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame.

Revelation 1:12-14 CSB

His eyes being like fiery flames is a reference to His holy righteousness and His judgment of everything that is corrupt and impure. He sees the truth of each person and their thoughts and deeds, He is Himself the Truth, and as Faithful and True He testifies about the truth of every soul. His testimony is what counts at the time of judgment.

Many crowns on His head

Jesus’ many crowns show that He is in fact the Faithful and True King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that He is more powerful than the enemy. This is vital because those of us who place our faith in Jesus can do so because Jesus is all-powerful. He can in fact defeat the enemy and is strong enough to conquer all evil and sin. These crowns on His head represent His strength and authority over all of creation, even Satan and sin.

³ Then another sign^[a] appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven crowns.^[b] 4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth it might devour her child. ⁵ She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule^[c] all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be nourished there^[d] for 1,260 days.

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, ⁸ but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 12:3-9 CSB

Robes dipped in blood

Jesus also came wearing robes dipped in blood. This is significant because it stands as a reminder of the blood He spilled on behalf of the world to defeat the power of sin and death. His blood washes clean those who believe in Him as Faithful and True. It also serves as a reminder of the wrath of God. The penalty for sin is death and Jesus will pour out the wrath of God, which is described as Him trampling the winepress of God’s wrath. Blood will be spilled and His robes will drip with the blood of those who are trampled for their evil. Those who choose to remain in their sin and side with the enemy will pay the ultimate price for their choice. His bride, on the other hand, will be clothed in pure white linen on white horses with Him in His victory.

⁷ If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 CSB

⁵³ So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves.

John 6:53 CSB

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— ²⁰ he has inaugurated^[a] for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Hebrews 10:19-22 CSB

Sharp sword coming out of His mouth

Jesus will also have a sharp sword coming out of His mouth. The Word of God is like a double-edged sword. Jesus is the Word, and the Word of God is active and living. The Word discerns the heart and judges thoughts and intentions. Jesus will come with a sharp sword in His mouth to judge and pierce souls and minds. By His sword, He will know, as Faithful and True, where our heart and intentions truly are – with Him, or with His enemy.

¹⁶ He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.

Revelation 1:16 CSB

¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

We are also given the sword of the Spirit as part of the Armor of God. This armor is given to all believers in order to fight the ongoing spiritual warfare of this life. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The same sword we are all given for combat against the enemy in this life is the sword that is coming from the very mouth of Faithful and True as He comes astride His white horse with eyes of fire.

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. ¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10-18 CSB

What will happen when creation is judged?

When Jesus returns with His bride all on white horses ready for His Millennial Reign, then conquers the enemy once and for all, the whole of creation will all be judged. His Faithful and True judgment will determine each of our eternal fates. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him will have their names written in the Book of Life.

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[a] He gave^[b] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17 CSB

On the day of judgment, those whose names are in the Book of Life will be forgiven, their works will be judged, and they will gain the right to enter the Kingdom of God. Those who have chosen to reject Christ and failed to enter a personal relationship with Him through faith will not have their names in the Book of Life and will be cast into the lake of fire, being eternally separated from God and all that is good because they did not place their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

¹² I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. ¹³ Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. ¹⁴ Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:12-15 CSB

⁵ “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

Revelation 3:5 CSB

How can I be prepared for judgment?

Jesus is Faithful and True. He keeps His promises, is able and willing to defeat the enemy, and is also able to defeat the giants we face in this life. He is faithful to His Word, and He is the Word. He is true, and He is Truth. Jesus is the answer and hope in all circumstances and is the only way to salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The only way to Heaven is through faith in the One who is Faithful and True.

All of us must get to know Jesus intimately within a personal relationship with Him by faith in Him in order to be saved on the day of judgment. Through a personal relationship with Him, we will get to learn more about Him and learn to tell the difference between Him and the antichrist, and things of God and things of the enemy. When we have faith in Jesus that He is in fact our Faithful and True Redeemer, our names are written in the Book of Life, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and are granted personal access to God the Father through Jesus the Son.

God then teaches us through His Word, the Bible, about Himself, His Son, and His Spirit, as well as His commission and plan for our lives. He guides and provides for us throughout our lives, and as we spend time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer we grow in our relationship as well as our knowledge.

We can prepare for what is to come by being diligent in our personal relationships with Jesus, making our faith and relationship with the Lord a priority, spending intimate time with Him daily in His Word and in prayer, and learning how to live out our faith and become vessels for the Lord and imitators of Christ in our lives. We must live in active and growing faith, learning every day more about Jesus Christ, and applying what He teaches and reveals to us so that we will be ready when He returns, and when we are in front of the Great White Throne of Judgment.

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