11 And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon [a]called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. 13 And he is arrayed in a garment [b]sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. 15 And out of his mouth proceedeth 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 [c]winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
17 And I saw [d]an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God; 18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of [e]captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and 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 upon the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that [f]worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: 21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:11 Some ancient authorities omit called.
- Revelation 19:13 Some ancient authorities read dipped in.
- Revelation 19:15 Greek winepress of the wine of the fierceness.
- Revelation 19:17 Greek one.
- Revelation 19:18 Or, military tribunes. Greek chiliarchs.
- Revelation 19:20 See marginal note on 3:9.
The Final Winner – The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
Jesus descending majestically to judge in righteousness and rule in power (11-12). He is robed in blood, which signifies his triumph through death on the cross. His secret name indicates his authority (11-12).
From His mouth comes a sharp sword so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will do so (verse 15). John sees Jesus as a living Word who expresses God’s will and carries it out.
Armies of angels follow Him
The saints – those who have overcome sin and temptation through faithful obedience, being a witness, and not fearing rejection or loss – are also with Him.
This is a group of believers, including those who died for their faith in Christ and those whose righteous works fail them at the judgment. They are clothed in fine linen, white and clean, as they have been since 19:14
These believers are not involved in the battle of Revelation 19. They are gathered to worship Him and to reign with Him at His coming.
This apocalyptic book is full of events that will take place during the time between the first and second comings of Christ.
