sword

 This week we begin worship with:

Revelation 19:14-16

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following

him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike

down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the

winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his

thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Why does a sword come out of the mouth of the victorious Christ?  It can be understood this way, that out of the mouth of God comes the Word of God and we are told that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:16-17

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  

We are also told this sword is sharp!  It divides what is indivisible.  Soul from spirit.  Joint from marrow.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

But note the change in words.  The "thoughts" and "intentions" are not divided, they are discerned (kritikos).  They are not divided from each other but rather divided between truth and error, for each word spoken by the victorious Christ will be true.