Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Understanding And Applying the Text
John saw heaven opened there was a white horse. And on the horse was Christ. John describes Christ in many ways. He is Faithful and True, King of kings and Lord of lords. And on He has a name that no one knows except Him. This is a reference to the holiness of Christ. This is a reference to the glory of Christ. This is a reference to the incomprehensibility of God. Being finite being we have only partial comprehension of the Infinite.
On His head were many diadems or crowns. The beast had many heads. The rider has only one. But on the one head are many crowns. From His mouth comes a sharp sword. This brings to mind the beginning of the book. “In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Revelation 1:16)
The chapter ends with the final judgment of the beast. The beast and false prophet are captured. An angel invites all birds to feast. The birds feast on the dead flesh of the kings of the earth, their armies, and all who received the mark of the beast.
Remember we saw earlier this mark was not a physical mark. God put His mark on the forehead to His people. Both are symbolic of the mark of ownership. Those who belong to the beast have his mark. And those who belong to God have His mark.
There is no description of the battle. There is only a description of the end. The beast and false prophet are captured and thrown into the lake of fire. And the rest of the army is slain. So great is the destruction the birds gorged themselves on the caucuses
Why is there no description? It is because the end is a foregone conclusion. The end is never in doubt. There was no ebb and flow. There was no struggle. Christ wins each and every time.
Leave a Reply