John’s Testimony of Christ’s Second Coming (Revelation 19:10-21)

The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 19:10)

Revelation 19:10 provides a brief but important pause in John’s account of the Second Coming. Commencing in Revelation 17:1, an angel had been explaining to John the events of the Second Coming, including the fall of Modern Babylon (Rev 18), the marriage of the Lamb on heavenly mount Zion (Rev 19:7-8), and the marriage supper of the Lamb and his wife at earthly mount Zion at New Jerusalem in Missouri. (Rev 19:9) When the angel declares that “these are the true sayings of God,” John falls down and worships him. However, the angel rebukes John, saying: “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant.”

The lesson is clear. Worship belongs to God only—not to angels, prophets or saints. Worship of people or thing other than God is idol worship. Since the angel identifies himself as John’s “fellowservant,” this means that he once belonged to—and lived his mortal life on—this earth. Furthermore, he continues to serve God since the time of his death (D&C 130:5 and cf. Rev 14:13), either as a disembodied spirit or a resurrected person.

The angel then declares the important truth that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This means a person can only know that Jesus is the Christ by revelation through the power of the Holy Ghost. That same revelatory process allows everyone to have a testimony of Christ and that he will come again, which John describes in Revelation 19:11-21.

John’s Vision of Christ’s Second Coming Appearances (Rev 19:11-21)

Revelation 19:10 completes the sayings of John’s angelic guide concerning the Second Coming. Starting in Revelation 19:11, John actually sees the final events of the Second Coming, beginning with a vision of Christ’s appearance in highly symbolic terms. John sees Christ riding on a white horse to represent purity, triumph, and a righteous conquest. In Revelation 19:11-13, Christ is identified by four names and seven symbolic attributes that include: (1) Faithful, (2) True, (3) eyes as a flame of fire, (4) many crowns, (5) an unknown name, (6) a vesture dipped in blood, and (7) the Word of God.

This is how Christ symbolically looks to John when Christ makes his second and third appearances of the Second Coming. Keep in mind that Christ first appears at New Jerusalem for the marriage supper as mentioned previously. (Rev 19:9) He then makes his second appearance on the Mount of Olives at Old Jerusalem where he will save a righteous remnant of the Jews as he destroys the gentile armies that have overrun the city. (Rev 19:14-16) The destruction of the wicked at Jerusalem will be followed by the “supper of the great God,” when scavengers shall consume the bodies of the slain. (Rev 19:17-18)

Revelation 19:19-20 describes the first part of Spiritual Armageddon, when the Beast (Cain) and False Prophet (Judas), and all disembodied spirit sons of perdition are cast alive into the lake of fire. Preparations for this event began when all evil spirits gather to Armageddon during the sixth vial plague of the Third Woe in Revelation 16:12-14.

Revelation 19:21 describes Christ’s third appearance of the Second Coming when he will destroy the “remnant” of wicked people worldwide. Scavengers will again feast on the dead bodies of this remnant.

The Second Coming ends in Revelation 20:1-3, when Satan and his unembodied spirit sons of perdition are bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. This also concludes Spiritual Armageddon.

For a deeper dive into John’s vision of these last events of the Second Coming, check out my podcasts from August 30 and September 1, 2026.

August 30, 2026 — Podcast

September 1, 2026 — Podcast