Revelation 19:17-21 – And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,” Earlier in this chapter we saw that the Lord had gathered His saints for the wedding supper of the Lamb (V9). The wedding supper of the Lamb is a great celebration for all the saints of God. They come to celebrate the victory of Jesus over evil and also the completion of the marriage of Jesus to His bride the church. Now we see a different calling happening. The flesh of all the armies who come to fight the Lord shall lay as carrion in the fields. Remember that the birds who are called to feed on human flesh are not called to kill and feast, but merely to feast. Just as angels and saints of God are not present to help Jesus fight evil, so the birds shall not kill people but only to eat the flesh of their dead bodies. Remembering that for believers, when not in the flesh they shall be with the Lord forever, conversely it is true that the spirit of unbelievers if not in the flesh shall be in hell or the lake of fire. The birds are not called to eat the flesh of people who are alive, but to eat the flesh of those whose spirit has left and is now in a place of torment. This supper that the birds flying in midair are having is not the wedding supper of the Lamb, but is a supper for birds to come and feast on the dead and empty bodies of those who opposed God. Such is the end for the bodies of those who follow the Antichrist and the devil. Their spirits, however, are in a place of torment. The flesh of mankind is a shell for the soul. All flesh dies, but the soul of a man lives eternally. Where the soul of a man eternally lives depends on the choices of the man. If the man has loved God, then it lives forever with Him. If the man has not loved God, then it lives in torment. God did not create the place of eternal torment for mankind (Matthew 25:41), but for the devil and his demons. By choosing to side with the devil, unbelievers become one with him and will follow him to his eternity. By choosing to follow God through faith in the works and person of Jesus, then believers have chosen to receive all the eternal blessings of God that He wants to impart to us.
“so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” When Jesus speaks the words of justice and judgement, all flesh that participates in the rebellion will die and become fodder for the birds of the air. Notice that the Lord is not a “respecter of persons (Acts 10:34.” What a position a man is considered here on earth is of no import when the man stands before God. God is not partial (Romans 2:11). The only fact that matters is has one loved the Son. If so then when their body dies they will forever live with God (2 Corinthians 5:8). For those who don’t love Jesus, and so have not been obedient, they will pass from the life they have had here on earth to living in eternal torment, with no hope of having their position change. Where a man will spend his eternity is decided during his life here on earth. In the afterlife, the final position of a man is forever unchangeable. The Word of God declares that today, in this life, is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The wise heed this call.
“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army.” John’s attention is turned to the Antichrist and to all the armies of the world that are with him. He clearly states that they are gathered there, by order of the Antichrist to wage war against the “rider on the horse and His army.” We have already reviewed that the rider on the horse is Jesus and the army of the Lord are the angels and us. Let’s remember that the army with Jesus do not fight this battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. Praise God! Jesus will be glorified!
“But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” V15 has already informed us that the victory over all that oppose Him is by the Word spoken from Jesus. Here is the utter and complete defeat of the Antichrist and those who follow Him. Their flesh is eaten by the birds and the souls shall burn forever. How horrible! How unnecessary! It is their choice.
Let us notice that John moves from the gathering of the Antichrist and his armies to oppose God to telling what has happened after the battle. He does not describe the battle. There really is no battle because nothing, whether devil, demons, the Antichrist or all the people of the earth can oppose God (Job 23:13, 2 Chronicles 20:6). The gathering of forces against God is no obstacle. It does not cause God to pause, the forces are instantly and completely defeated as soon as He speaks the Word. The Word of God is more sure and complete than then a nuclear bomb. Jesus will utter His Words and they are simultaneously completed. Family, those who shake their fist at God think themselves brave. It is just foolishness. We who submit to God with all that we are, and in increasing measure, are safe in His love. Those who have not sought the refuge of His love, shall instantly perish. Praise God who loves and protects us, who has always had only the best plans for us. Praise our God whose will cannot be stopped or defeated (Deuteronomy 32:39, Isaiah 43:13) as always has been and always will be! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.