Revelation 19:17-21 (NKJV) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
V17 “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God…” Angels do not have a material body that would burn or be harmed. It also might be that the angel was standing in such a way to block the sun from John’s view. God commanded the angel to announce an order from the King of kings for all birds to come to Armageddon. The reason and purpose is in the next verse.
V18 “…that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” So many are going to die for their rebellion and attempt to seize Jerusalem and destroy all Jews. There is no status who will be exempt. The birds will eat the dead bodies of these evil people and make manure to fertilize the earth.
V19 “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” This must have been over a billion soldiers, of whom all are dedicated to the antiChrist. They are going to fight the Lord Jesus, the King of kings.
V20 “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” The battle was short. The victory complete with only a word from the Lord Jesus—“die.” AntiChrist and the false prophet were captured and brought to the Lord Jesus for His verdict and sentencing. They will be pronounced guilty and thrown alive into the Lake of Fire. They are not annihilated (Revelation 20:10). The Lake of Fire is described as 1) burning, 2) brimstone, and 3) torment.
Brimstone is liquid, boiling sulfur with the odors of sulfur dioxide.
V21 “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” This sword is the commanding words of the Lord Jesus to die for their rebellion. Compare Genesis 38:7-10 and Acts 5:1-10. The birds ate everything except the bones. Compare 39:15 for God’s plan for the bones of these rebels—burial.
We learn:
- Evil loses in the end.
- Jesus always wins.
- Judgment is always just.
Questions:
- Why did antiChrist think he would win the battle against the Lord Jesus?
- Why are these evil people going to suffer for eternal punishment and the wrath of God?
- Why did God use birds?