Revelation 19:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The name King of kings indicates the inseparability of the natures after the Incarnation. He suffered in the flesh while being God, and, while being Man, He is King of kings, that is, of those who reign over the passions. He is Lord of lords, that is, of those who have received authority over sin through the cooperation of Christ. He is the Lord of those who will receive the Kingdom in the age to come.

Christ is the beginning. Christ is the foundation on which Paul the architect builds. Christ is the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (Jn 10:15). Christ is the head of every principality and power (Col 2:10). He is the Head of the Church. Therefore it is said: "The head of the man is Christ" (1 Cor 11:3), because He is the Head of the Church. Consequently, He is father, because in Him the nations of the whole earth are born anew through Baptism. His thigh, on which His name is written, is the faithful, whom the Son of God, that is, Christ, wished to call sons through adoption by faith. His garment is the humanity He assumed. Since Christ is one hypostasis of two natures, we acknowledge the Godhead in the garment, that is, in the Mystery of the Lord's Body.

The garment allegorically signifies the flesh of the Lord, endowed with a rational soul, according to the holy angels who speak in Isaiah: "Why is Thy garment red, and Thy vesture like that of one who treads in the winepress?" It is wholly covered with trodden grapes (Is 63:2). The thigh signifies birth in the flesh, for it is written in Genesis: "All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who came from his loins" (Gen 46:26). Therefore, by displaying the inscription on the garment and on the thigh, the allegory shows that Emmanuel is King of all. It indicates that the Word, having been united hypostatically with the flesh and having undergone fleshly birth from the Virgin, remains no less King and Lord of all in heaven and on earth. He is not made lesser in dignity because of His becoming man. For even in this form He was, is, and will be God.

By the sword, some interpreters understand the word of God that condemns sinners, which, according to the Apostle (cf. Heb 4:12), is sharper than any sword. Others understand by the sword the punishment of the ungodly and sinners, which will be carried out upon them according to the righteous judgment of God. The iron rod signifies the scourge of endless torments appointed for sinners. "He treads the winepress of the wine of the fury and wrath of God Almighty," because the Father judges no one, but has entrusted judgment to Him as the Son of Man. He possessed this judgment from the beginning as the Son of God (cf. Jn 5:22-29). That is, as the God-man He is the full King and Master over all heaven and earth. He is Master over all men who rule over passions and sins, and they will reign with Him in the age to come.