Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 19:11-21

"And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war. And his eyes [are] a flame of fire, and upon his head [are] many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. And he [is] arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure. And out of his mouth proceedeth 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 of the wrath of God, the Almighty. And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come [and] be gathered together unto the great supper of God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, [even the sword] which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh." — Revelation 19:11-21 (ASV)

Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a garment dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator, and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is “The Word of God”—a name no one fully knows but himself; we know only this, that this Word was God manifest in the flesh, but his perfections cannot be fully understood by any creature.

Angels and saints follow and are like Christ in their armor of purity and righteousness. The threats of the written word he is going to execute on his enemies. The signs of his authority are his name—asserting his authority and power, warning the most powerful princes to submit, or they must fall before him. The powers of earth and hell make their utmost effort.

These verses declare important events, foretold by the prophets. These persons were not excused because they did what their leaders commanded them. How vain will be the plea of many sinners at the great day! "We followed our guides; we did as we saw others do!" God has given a rule to walk by in his word; neither the example of the majority, nor of the leaders, must influence us contrary to it: if we do as the majority do, we must go where the majority go, even into the burning lake.