Rev 19:20 | KingComments | STEP | . Once more a reference is made to a written name of the Lord Jesus and also to the place where that name is written. His name is written “on His robe”, which refers to His outward appearance. Clothes are what people see of one another. Clothes represent the conduct a person shows and which others observe. With Him, His name can be read from His deeds. His name is also written “on His thigh”. The thigh is the place of power and strength. He who is struck on the thigh, is struck in his strength and will be limping ( ). His name is the title that God also has ( ), yet another proof that the Lord Jesus is God. He is the “King” par excellence, the supreme Ruler. He is also the “Lord” par excellence, the supreme Lord. . Even before the war has started – the war is described only in –, the outcome is already announced. This result is announced by an angel standing in the sun. The sun forms the decoration, the background of his words. This decoration gives his words the power of the glory of Christ Himself, Who soon will shine like the Sun in the kingdom of peace. All the birds of heaven are allowed to feast on the victims of the war. They are invited for this “great supper” God has prepared for them. This supper is in huge contrast to the marriage supper of the Lamb ( ). In the one supper you see a delicious supper in heaven, in the other supper you see a horrible supper on earth. . The flesh that the birds is given to eat is mainly human flesh. There is furthermore only mention of “flesh of horses”. The emphasis of the word ‘flesh’ – this word is repeated five times – reminds that all human and natural strength can do nothing against God, for “all flesh is like grass” ( ). During their lifetime, these people were distinguished from one another by all kinds of ranks and positions. There is no such distinction in death. The birds only see corpses which means food for them. By being given as food to the birds means that they will have no burial. And having no burial means that these enemies will be given up to lasting disgrace ( ; ). The angel mentions the different categories to make clear that this supper has been effected by the judgment of God that He has executed without discrimination. His judgment has come on all these different ranks and classes and the horses of which they made use, because everything was in the service of sin. By the way, there will be another judgment where distinction will be made and where every person will be judged according to his deeds. That is the judgment before the great white throne ( ). . John sees how the beast and his followers with their armies are preparing for war against Christ and His own. Christ is the Captain, He is at the front. Their battle is mainly focused on Him. But also those who are with Him are the target of their hatred. They think in their arrogance that they are ready for war against the Lamb and His followers. In their audacity they fool themselves to be unconquerable and are blind for His almighty power. . Without a single action of war, the two hostile captains are caught and thrown in hell, without them having died the bodily death. The beast, who is the political leader of antichristian Western-Europe, and the false prophet, who is the religious leader of apostate Israel, have no defense at all. In their lives they were closely connected and so they are in the judgment that Christ executes on them. The false prophet was the cunning henchman of the beast to deceive people to receive the mark of the beast and to worship his image. It all seemed successful, but here all their bragging and every impression of invincibility ( ) are utterly destroyed in one act full of impressive power. They form an exception to all other unbelievers. They are thrown into the lake of fire without any form of trial, while other unbelievers will first be sentenced before the great white throne. An opposite exception, in the circle of the believers, are Enoch and Elijah who as the only ones were caught up to heaven without dying. . The enemy armies suffer a different fate than their two captains. The Lord Jesus kills them “with the sword”, that is His Word, that goes out of His mouth. By His Word He creates ( ) and by His Word He shatters ( ). After this judgment, the event happens what the angel called for in . There is so much to eat that all the birds are filled. Now read Revelation 19:16-21 again. Reflection: Which people are being judged in this portion and what is their judgment?

‏ Revelation of John 19:20

The Beast and the Antichrist Are Judged

Rev 19:16. Once more a reference is made to a written name of the Lord Jesus and also to the place where that name is written. His name is written “on His robe”, which refers to His outward appearance. Clothes are what people see of one another. Clothes represent the conduct a person shows and which others observe. With Him, His name can be read from His deeds.

His name is also written “on His thigh”. The thigh is the place of power and strength. He who is struck on the thigh, is struck in his strength and will be limping (Gen 32:25 ; 31). His name is the title that God also has (1Tim 6:15), yet another proof that the Lord Jesus is God. He is the “King” par excellence, the supreme Ruler. He is also the “Lord” par excellence, the supreme Lord.

Rev 19:17. Even before the war has started – the war is described only in Rev 19:19 –, the outcome is already announced. This result is announced by an angel standing in the sun. The sun forms the decoration, the background of his words. This decoration gives his words the power of the glory of Christ Himself, Who soon will shine like the Sun in the kingdom of peace.

All the birds of heaven are allowed to feast on the victims of the war. They are invited for this “great supper” God has prepared for them. This supper is in huge contrast to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7). In the one supper you see a delicious supper in heaven, in the other supper you see a horrible supper on earth.

Rev 19:18. The flesh that the birds is given to eat is mainly human flesh. There is furthermore only mention of “flesh of horses”. The emphasis of the word ‘flesh’ – this word is repeated five times – reminds that all human and natural strength can do nothing against God, for “all flesh is like grass” (1Pet 1:24-25). During their lifetime, these people were distinguished from one another by all kinds of ranks and positions. There is no such distinction in death. The birds only see corpses which means food for them. By being given as food to the birds means that they will have no burial. And having no burial means that these enemies will be given up to lasting disgrace (Rev 11:9; 1Sam 17:46).

The angel mentions the different categories to make clear that this supper has been effected by the judgment of God that He has executed without discrimination. His judgment has come on all these different ranks and classes and the horses of which they made use, because everything was in the service of sin. By the way, there will be another judgment where distinction will be made and where every person will be judged according to his deeds. That is the judgment before the great white throne (Rev 20:12).

Rev 19:19. John sees how the beast and his followers with their armies are preparing for war against Christ and His own. Christ is the Captain, He is at the front. Their battle is mainly focused on Him. But also those who are with Him are the target of their hatred. They think in their arrogance that they are ready for war against the Lamb and His followers. In their audacity they fool themselves to be unconquerable and are blind for His almighty power.

Rev 19:20. Without a single action of war, the two hostile captains are caught and thrown in hell, without them having died the bodily death. The beast, who is the political leader of antichristian Western-Europe, and the false prophet, who is the religious leader of apostate Israel, have no defense at all. In their lives they were closely connected and so they are in the judgment that Christ executes on them. The false prophet was the cunning henchman of the beast to deceive people to receive the mark of the beast and to worship his image.

It all seemed successful, but here all their bragging and every impression of invincibility (Rev 13:4) are utterly destroyed in one act full of impressive power. They form an exception to all other unbelievers. They are thrown into the lake of fire without any form of trial, while other unbelievers will first be sentenced before the great white throne. An opposite exception, in the circle of the believers, are Enoch and Elijah who as the only ones were caught up to heaven without dying.

Rev 19:21. The enemy armies suffer a different fate than their two captains. The Lord Jesus kills them “with the sword”, that is His Word, that goes out of His mouth. By His Word He creates (Psa 33:6) and by His Word He shatters (Jer 23:29). After this judgment, the event happens what the angel called for in Rev 19:17. There is so much to eat that all the birds are filled.

Now read Revelation 19:16-21 again.

Reflection: Which people are being judged in this portion and what is their judgment?