Revelation of John 19:15-21
19:15 a From his mouth ... a sharp sword: See 1:16 b; Heb 4:12 c; see also Isa 49:2 d; 2 Thes 2:8 e.• The iron rod represents Christ’s power as ruler and as supreme shepherd (see Pss 2:9 f; 23:4 g).
• God, the Almighty: See Rev 1:8 h; 4:8 i; 11:17 j; 16:7 k, 14 l; 21:22 m.
• His fierce wrath will crush his enemies like grapes in a winepress (Isa 63:2-4 n).
19:16 o King ... and Lord: See 1:5 p; 15:3 q; 17:14 r.
Summary for Rev 19:17-19: 19:17-19 s Gather together for the great banquet: This feast upon the flesh of the armies gathered together to fight against Christ is contrasted with “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (19:7 t). The enemies that form for battle are quickly destroyed (19:20-21 u; see also 14:17-20 v; 16:16-21 w). Two feasts—the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:7-8 x) and the “great supper” of God’s judgment (19:17-18 y, 21 z)—provide two perspectives on the end of time. They illustrate the two sides of the Good News: grace and judgment, reward and punishment (cp. John 3:16-18 aa).
19:20 ab beast ... false prophet See 13:1-10 ac.
• The fiery lake of burning sulfur provides a picture of eternal punishment (see 20:10 ad, 14-15 ae; 21:8 af; see also Isa 66:24 ag; Matt 13:41 ah, 49-50 ai; Mark 9:43 aj, 48 ak).
• God’s enemies are thrown into the fiery lake. The two beasts (Rev 19:20 al) are followed by the dragon (20:10 am) and then by death (20:14 an) and unsaved humans (20:15 ao).
19:21 ap The entire army of enemies is dispatched by the sword from Christ’s mouth (see 1:16 aq; 2:12 ar, 16 as; see also Isa 11:4 at; 49:2 au; 2 Thes 2:8 av). While one side of God’s word (grace) leads to repentance, the other side (judgment) carries out the death sentence.
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