The Beast, His Armies And False Prophet (Land Beast) Are Defeated Series

Tom Lowe

9/5/17

Book of Revelation Commentary

Lesson: IV.D.2: The Beast, His Armies and False Prophet (Land Beast) are Defeated (Revelation 19:17-21)

Revelation 19:17-21

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Introduction

The day of Jehovah has finally come. The Bible refers to this event as “that day,” and also as “the great day.” God is setting the stage and preparing for the Millennium, the glorious reign of peace on earth. Read Isaiah 65:17-19{3] 66:22; 2 Peter 2:13; Revelation 21:1.

This passage depicts the final vanquishing of all of Christ’s enemies on earth. It is the long-looked-for conflict of Armageddon (16:16). All of the demon-inspired nations are completely overthrown.

The order of events concerning this gigantic episode is:

The return of the Lord in Glory (Matthew 24:29, 30).

The Beast and his hosts will be destroyed: The Kings of the earth and their armies, and the false prophet which is the “great and terrible” (Revelation 19:11-21).

The judgment of the nations (Zechariah 14:1-9; Matthew 25:31-46).

The thousand years of peace, the Kingdom Age (Revelation 20:4-6).

Satanic revolt—the little season when Satan will be released after the Millennium to try them that are upon the earth (Revelation 20:7-10).

The second resurrection—the resurrection of the wicked, and the final judgment of the wicked (to see Revelation 20:11-15).

The DAY OF GOD—the time when the earth will be purged by fire (2 Peter 3:10-13) and we will have a new Heaven, a new Earth, and the Pearly White City.

Let me point out something very significant: the description of the battle is mentioned very briefly, while many verses are given over to the description of the Great Conqueror, the Lord Jesus Christ, riding upon the great white charger. The battle is simply mentioned in verse 19, while many verses are given to the description of the conqueror. Jesus is worthy of all honor, praise, adoration and worship.

Commentary

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

John saw another “angel”; this one described as “standing in the sun” and calling out “to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven”—referring to the eagles and the vultures; carrion birds. This angel could be none other than the angel of the Lord. “Standing in the sun” denotes the center of governmental authority. He stands where all can clearly see Him, and where He can survey the whole scene of conflict. This will be the most gruesome single act of carnage ever in the history of mankind; the entire army will come to do battle, and they will be totally annihilated with the word of Christ. [ The scene described here and to the end of the chapter is a true and literal one.]

As the rulers of the earth converge on the city of Jerusalem in their last strenuous effort to destroy the Jews; their end will come suddenly with the descent of the King of kings. The flesh of the hundreds of thousands of fighting men from Europe and Asia is called here a “supper.” The great supper to which He invites the birds of the air immediately follows the battle of Armageddon. John, while in the Spirit, sees what will literally take place when this great battle is fought. The great supper to which the birds are invited will be the bodies of the kings, captains, mighty men, horses, the riders of the horses, the bond, the free, the great and the small. Their bodies will be lying upon the blood drenched ground and the birds of prey will devour the flesh from their bones. This great multitude of human beings were slain by one sharp sword—the sword of the Christ who sits on the great white horse leading the teeming millions of white horses out of heaven. In this one chapter there are two suppers one of joy which follows the wedding, and one of judgment which follows the war.