Revelation 19:11

The heavens had already opened at His baptism by John, when He began His public ministry as God's anointed Servant. They opened again so that the dying Stephen might see the Son of Man in the glory of God. Now they were opening for the last time. The mighty Conqueror on the white horse returns to earth, no longer as the lowly Nazarene, but to claim His right, and to "strike down the nations, and rule them with a rod of iron."

But now heaven is opened for far graver facts, of immeasurable weight for man, for the universe, and for the enemy. It is Christ Himself about to be displayed in His rights as King of kings and Lord of lords, and this in the face of the world.

The horse is always the symbol of power connected with the earth, and it has the colour of prosperity: it is a white horse. I trust no one would be so foolish as to imagine that, when this scene comes, it will be about literal horses. It is the symbol that passed before the prophet's eye, used to show certain realities that will take place later on... In the next chapter he does not see a white horse, but a throne, a symbol of an altogether different character. The throne is for rule, not conquest; the horse is for conquest, not a reign.

This horse does not come out of heaven, as the one in Revelation 19 does. Next, nothing said about the rider in Revelation 6 has to mean Christ. In Revelation 19, though, He is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. Of whom could this be said except One?

There was one seated on it called "Faithful." That is what He had always been, at any cost, to God, in the testimony of righteousness. He glorified God even to death, so that His name might be made good. He was obedient until it was given Him to rise up and take the power. He is also "true," so that the witness He gave of God was a perfect witness of all God was and all His thoughts.

Now notice the contrast with the purpose of His first coming. Then, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17). Now, "in righteousness He judges and makes war." Grace marked His first appearing in this world. Righteousness, and therefore judgment, will mark the second... for the day of grace will have closed, and the era of righteous government will have begun.

He is called "Faithful and True," and everyone can see that this is what He is. In righteousness He judges and wars: His warring is itself a judgment. For this, His eyes pierce like a flame of fire; nothing escapes them.

The word mentions two kinds of judgment. One is the warrior judgment. The other is the judgment where the Judge sits as supreme and recognised authority. So Revelation 19 is the warrior judgment. In chapter 20 the judicial session begins. It is held when the power of the King has established His throne, and He sits there to judge.

In the vision the prophet saw armies following Him out of heaven, clothed in fine linen. They are not angels. The text says that the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints... So they were in heaven before the way opened for Christ to come out in judgment. They had been caught up to meet Him earlier.