Revelation 19:17-21 - The enemy’s defeat

Now, in these closing scenes, an angel is heard inviting all the birds, the vultures, and eagles in midair, to join in God’s great supper. The occasion is in deep contrast to the jubilant wedding celebration in Heaven. In the earlier verses of Revelation 19, we saw how the multitudes sang their praises at the marriage of the Lamb and His bride. Right here, the birds are being summoned to an entirely different type of feast. It is for the invited birds to clear away the total devastation of rebellious men who gathered to attack the forces of God.

In verse 19, John saw another scene. This time the beast and all the kings of the earth form a great coalition to fight against the Lord and His army dressed in white. It was a great conflict although John did not really describe it. However, we are told of the outcome. The beast is seized together with his false prophet, who performed signs in his presence and deceived people into accepting the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. Both of them are thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning Sulphur. All of the rest, the faceless, unidentified “kings of the earth” and “their armies” and mighty men and all kinds of people, free and slave, small and great, who are not thrown into the lake of fiery Sulphur, are destroyed by the sword that comes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.

Notice that the hosts of Heaven who followed Jesus did not even need to lift a finger. The Word from the mouth of Jesus determines the conclusion of the conflict. We see the vultures go about busily filling themselves with the flesh of those who are deluded by the beast, worshiped him, and received his mark but are not thrown into the lake of fiery Sulphur. What a great devastation!

Many today are still oppressed and troubled and being lured by the evil forces still operating on the behest of the evil one. Lies and deceit are still spreading in our day. Until they are vanquished, we need to be on guard. There must be no compromise if we are to stand and be named among the faithful, true and righteous. Let’s give our very best, with the help of the Spirit of the Living God!