Welcome back to our two-part series on Revelation chapter 19. In our first post of the series, we learned about the two groups of people that rejoiced when the whore of Babylon was judged. And we learned about an invitation being given out for a very special supper. In this post, we’re going to read about the battle of Armageddon, and more! Let’s read…

Chapter 19: The Whore of Babylon Is Judged

Second in a Two-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

REVELATION 19: ALL OF HEAVEN REJOICES AT THE WHORE’S DEMISE, THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB, AND THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

The Battle of Armageddon

Rev. 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The rest of chapter 19 describes to us the Second Advent of Jesus, when He returns to earth to fulfill His calling as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He returns to fight Antichrist and the ten kings that have assembled together to battle with Him in the place called Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).

The One Called “Faithful and True”

In verse 11, John says heaven opened, and he described seeing the Messiah come forth to do battle: “behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” We know the rider on the white horse is King Messiah; He is called Faithful and True. These are two adjectives said about Him at the beginning of Revelation 3:14 where Jesus is called the faithful and true witness. The phrase He comes “to judge and to make war” means He has come to judge and make war with Antichrist and the nations gathered against Him and His people.

Eyes Like Fire, Wearing Many Crowns

John continued his description of the one called Faithful and True: “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself (v. 12). His eyes looked like fire. This is exactly how Jesus’ eyes were described when John described his vision of Jesus standing among the seven lamp stands: “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire…” (Rev. 1:14). He wore many crowns; crowns symbolize royalty, victory, and authority.

A New Name

What is interesting is that John said He had a new name that no one knew; only Jesus knew the name and what it meant. Jesus isn’t the only one who gets a new name that no one else knows. Every believer that overcomes will receive a new name. A new name is one of the overcomers’ rewards. Revelation 2:17 says, “To him that overcometh will I give … him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Garment Dipped in Blood

Now we come to verse 13 where John describes to us His clothing: “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” He was wearing a garment dipped in blood. This is a fulfillment of one of the very oldest prophetic words about the Messiah. Genesis chapter 49 contains a prophetic word to each of Jacob’s (Israel) 12 sons. Let’s look at the prophetic word for his son, Judah. Israel prophesied well into the future concerning Judah. He prophesied about the rule of King David and Messiah, who is referred to in verse 10 as Shiloh: “Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes” (Gen. 49:9–11).

The name “Shiloh” is a reference to Messiah. Verse 11 makes mention of His garments washed in the blood of grapes, which is a prophetic word about the grapes of wrath being pressed in the winepress of God’s wrath. When the grapes of wrath were harvested and then thrown into God’s winepress of wrath, blood overflowed out of the wine press. Revelation 19:15 says, “he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Messiah Himself is treading the winepress, and that is why His garment is dipped in blood. It is the blood from the great winepress of God’s wrath.

He Is Called “The Word of God”

In verse 13, we are told He is called “The Word of God.” This is a name we already know. If we had any doubt as to the identity of the rider on the horse, this name unequivocally identifies Him as Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is called “the Word.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then verse 14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). That is Jesus, the Son of God, the true light, the Word of God made flesh. John sees Him as the rider on the white horse.

His Army on White Horses

Then in verse 14, John saw the army of heaven following after Jesus: “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” His armies were also riding white horses. Their clothing was the same as the bride’s new clothing: fine linen, white and clean.

A Sharp Sword to Smite the Nations

Verse 15 tells us the purpose of His return: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” This is not a literal sword that comes out of His mouth. It is symbolic of the words filled with power that He speaks. The book of Hebrews speaks of this mighty two-edged sword: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The words that Messiah will speak will be reflective of His name—the Word of God. When He comes on His white horse, He will be speaking the Word of God. The effect will be the devastation that a strong two-edged sword would bring.

He will use the sword of the Word of God to smite the nations, the nations that have gathered together with Antichrist at Armageddon. This is the same sharp sword we saw at the beginning of Revelation when John saw Jesus standing among the seven lampstands: “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword” (Rev. 1:16).

A Rod of Iron

It says, “he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” Iron is a symbol of strength. So when it says He will rule them with a rod of iron, it means He will rule them with strength. After Jesus defeats Antichrist at Armageddon, He will rule the nations from a position of strength. Ruling the nations with a rod of iron will be a fulfillment of a prophetic word in Psalm chapter two, which is a Messianic Psalm that prophesies Messiah’s calling as king. This portion of scripture describes how Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps. 2:6–9).

The Father God is saying to His Son that He has given Him the nations as His inheritance, even the uttermost parts of the earth for His own possession. He’ll break them with a rod of iron; He will bring them into submission. That’s what we see Him beginning to do at Armageddon—breaking them!

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Lastly, verse 16 gives us another name of the rider on the white horse: “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” John said the name was written on His clothing, and it was written in the area where His thigh would be. The name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Actually, it’s more like a title than a name. This name tells us that He will be king of an empire. He will be a king of kings, which means He will rule over nations. This is in harmony with what we just read in Psalms 2:8 that said Messiah’s inheritance would be the heathen (Gentile nations) and “the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” He will rule the entire earth. That, indeed, makes Him a King of Kings.

Another Supper Invitation

Rev. 19:17 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.

In these next two verses, we see God extending another invitation to a great supper. If you recall, the first supper invitation was to come to the wedding supper of the Lamb’s wife. Now we see a supper invitation for birds! An angel directs the invitation to “all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven.” He says, “Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 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” (vv. 17–18).

Before the battle of Armageddon even begins, the birds are invited to come and dine on the corpses that will pile up. The supper these birds will feast upon will be fine dining—a high-end meal, you might say. This feast will be no ordinary feast. They will feast upon the flesh of kings, captains, and mighty men. Actually, these birds will serve a very important purpose. They will be, in fact, part of the cleanup crew.

The End Result of Armageddon

Rev. 19:19 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 worshiped 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.

In the next scenario, John briefly described the battle of Armageddon. He said he 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” (v. 20). The battle of Armageddon isn’t about Israel. They’ve already destroyed Jerusalem. Their purpose in this battle will be to war against the one sitting on the white horse, Messiah, and His army. These kings will have been summoned to gather at Armageddon by the frog-like creatures that came out of the mouths of the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon to “go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:14). In preparation for this battle, the Euphrates River will have been dried up so the kings east of the river will be able to join the other nations in this Armageddon battle.

When the Antichrist beast and the ten kings with him gather together to make war against the Messiah, they will most likely be on a “huge high,” euphoric even. They will have just come from waging a successful war against Jerusalem, burning it down and killing the two witnesses. It’s after the two witnesses are killed that Antichrist will be able to enter the temple and declare himself to be God. Revelation chapter 11 told us that when the beast was finally able to kill the two witnesses, Israel’s enemies were so happy that they gave gifts to each other. I believe this victory will cause these armies to become delusional in their prospects of winning their battle with Messiah. They’ll actually believe they can win this battle with God. They won’t realize that their victory over Jerusalem was actually God’s plan (Rev. 17:17).

The battle of Armageddon will be over rather quickly. John said, “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 worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (v. 20). The Antichrist beast and his false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire.

It says the armies from the ten nations gathered to fight Messiah 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” (v. 21). With the sword that comes out of His mouth, the spoken Word of God, the armies will be slain. It is at this point that the time for the great feast for the birds will commence. The clean-up crew begins its task.

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