Revelation 19:19

Rev_19:19-21. The Lords judgment and war are accomplished. This act of judgment John beholds, as it proceeds not only from the καὶ εἰδον (Rev_19:19), but also from the mode of representation itself (ἐπιάσθη, Rev_19:20; ἐχορτάσθησαν, Rev_19:21). Cf., on the other hand, ch. 18

τὸ θηρίον καὶ τούς βασιλεῖς, κ.τ.λ. With the beast, representing the secular power,[4127] his confederates appear, the kings of the earth,[4128] and their armies, consisting of the entire number of the dwellers on earth,[4129] who now carry into effect the conflict proclaimed already in Rev_16:14;[4130] its result, however, is described in Rev_19:20 sq., in such a way as to correspond to the significant name of Rev_16:16. For the conflict which is to be described is not one that is painful, or as to its issue possibly doubtful, but the result of an unconditional victory over enemies, won by the justice and omnipotence of the Lord.

Κ. ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΟῦ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΎΜΑΤΟς ΑὐΤΟῦ. The sing. is chosen here,[4131] in order to mark the holy unity of the entire army of Christ, in contrast with the rent body of his enemies.[4132] ΚΑῚ Ὁ ΜΕΤʼ ΑὐΤΟῦ ΨΕΥΔΟΠΡΟΦΉΤΗς. The position of the false prophet as the auxiliary of the beast is designated in harmony with the description (Rev_13:11 sqq.). The allusion also to the peculiar function of the false prophet (Ὁ ΠΟΙΉΣΑς, Κ.Τ.Λ.) points back to Rev_13:13 sqq.

The manner in which the judgment is fulfilled is in conformity with the nature of the enemies:[4133] the beast, together with the false prophet, was taken, and both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Who does this, is not said; but the act dare not be referred to Christ, for the reason that he does not execute his various acts of judgment by his own hand.[4134] It is evident that the victorious result of the war of judgment[4135] is determined by Christs power; but according to the analogy of Rev_12:7 sqq., we must regard the ΣΤΡΑΤΕΎΜΑΤΑ of the Lord, as the executors of the judgment.[4136]

ΖῶΝΤΕς. For only human enemies could suffer bodily death (Rev_19:21) before the eternally condemning judgment of the world.[4137]

ΤῊΝ ΛΊΜΝΗΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. Rev_20:10; Rev_20:14 sq., Rev_21:8.

ΟἹ ΛΟΙΠΟῚ. See on Rev_19:17 sq.

ἈΠΕΚΤΆΝΘΗΣΑΝ ἘΝ Τῇ ΡΟΜΦΑΊᾼ, Κ.Τ.Λ. To seize the enemies, and thus to cast them into hell (Rev_19:20), is not befitting the Lord himself; but it is something else, when the sword which proceeds from his mouth slays the enemies. This gives the idea of the victory entirely without laborious effort, and presupposing no proper conflict of Him who, according to the prediction of the ancient prophets, destroys his enemies with the breath of his lips.[4138]

Κ. ΠΆΝΤΑ ΤᾺ ὌΡΝΕΑ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. Rev_19:17 sq.

[4127] Rev_13:1 sqq.

[4128] Rev_16:12 sqq., Rev_17:12 sqq.

[4129] Rev_13:4; Rev_13:8; Rev_13:16.

[4130] Notice the art. τὸν πόλεμ.; also the συνηγμένα here repeated.

[4131] Cf., on the other hand, Rev_19:14.

[4132] Beng., Hengstenb.

[4133] Cf. Beng., De Wette, Hengstenb.

[4134] Cf. Rev_20:2.

[4135] Cf. Rev_19:11.

[4136] Cf. Rev_20:9 sqq., 14 sq.

[4137] Rev_20:14 sqq.

[4138] Cf. Isa_11:4.

The allegorical exposition, when applied with consistency to ch. 19, must be regarded untenable in the degree that it arrays itself against the context. The fowls (Rev_19:17 sq., 21) are, according to Hammond, the Goths and Vandals, who desolated the Roman Empire; according to Coccejus, the Turks, who, after the capture of Constantinople, afflicted the Catholic West; according to Hengstenb., the Huns, who prepared grievous calamities for the Germanic nations, the destroyers of the Roman Empire. Wetst. found the prophecy fulfilled in the assassination of Domitian, the last of the Flavians,[4139] and in the conquest of his soldiers (Rev_19:21). Grot. understands by the ΒΑΣΙΛΕῖς (Rev_19:19), Julian with his nobles, and remarks on Rev_19:20 : Theodosius the Great abolished the public sacrifices of the heathen, and on Rev_19:21 : By the decree of Christ, who used Justinian for this purpose, to punish idolaters with death. Others, as C. a Lap., have thought that the fulfiment of the prophecy could be shown by the horrible death and burial of many heretics. So C. a Lap. cites authors who report of Luther that he committed suicide, and that at his burial not only a multitude of ravens, but also the Devil, who had come from Holland, appeared.

Luther, gloss on Rev_19:11 : The word of God is opposed to the defenders of the Pope, and none of their defence is of any avail.

[4139] Rev_19:20.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The third member (as was said, verse 11) of the victory obtained by Christ. Unto this apppertaineth two things: his bucking with the beast and his forces in this verse: and the event most magnificent, described after the manner of men, in the verses following. All these things are plain.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

gathered together--at Armageddon, under the sixth vial. For "their armies" in B and ANDREAS, there is found "His armies" in A.

war--so ANDREAS. But A and B read, "the war," namely, that foretold, Rev 16:14; Rev 17:4.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 19. I saw the beast] See the notes on chapters xii., xiii., and xvii. Rev 12-13; Rev 17:1-18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

19. the beasts and the kings] Their confederacy under his leadership has been already intimated, Rev_16:14; Rev_16:16, Rev_17:12-14. The so-called battle of Armageddon, there foretold, is here described.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And l saw the beast,.... Not the devil, for after this he is taken and bound for a thousand years, and then loosed, and laid hold on again, and cast into the lake of fire; not but that this war will be by his instigation, and under his influence, Rev 16:14 not the Roman Pagan empire, which has been destroyed long ago, under the sixth seal, and was the issue of the battle between Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his; but the antichristian civil powers, or antichrist in his civil capacity; and which, though it may chiefly regard the western antichrist, and the remains of the Latin idolatry, yet may take in the eastern antichrist, or the Mahometan powers, which may all join together in this battle; the beast will survive for a while the downfall of his seat, Babylon or Rome.

And the kings of the earth; these, as they stand distinguished from the beast, or the antichristian kings, and civil states, may design as many of the Pagan kings and princes, as the pope and Turk by their emissaries can persuade to assist them in this war; See Gill on Rev 16:14.

And their armies gathered together; at Armageddon, or in the valley of Jehoshaphat, Rev 16:16

to make war against him that sat on the horse; the white horse, Rev 19:11 as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, which must be downright folly and madness, since he is the Word of God, the great God, the King of kings, and Lord of lords:

and against his army, Rev 19:14 who, though unarmed, and only clothed in fine linen, have nothing to fear, since Christ, the Captain of their salvation, is at the head of them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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.

Ver. 19. And I saw the beast] The Church’s enemies are even ambitious of destruction. Judgments need not go to find them out; they run to meet their bane.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I saw the beast - notes on Rev 13:1, Rev 13:11. Compare Rev 17:13.

And the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together - There is allusion here to the same assembling of hostile forces which is described in Rev 16:13-14, for the great decisive battle that is to determine the destiny of the world - the question whether the Messiah or antichrist shall reign. There can be no doubt that the writer in these passages designed to refer to the same events - the still future scenes that are to occur when the Roman, the pagan, and the Muhammedan powers shall be aroused to make common cause against the true religion, and shall stake all on the issue of the great conflict. See the notes on Rev 16:13-14.

Against him that sat on the horse - The Messiah - the Son of God. notes on Rev 19:11.

And against his army - The hosts that are associated with him - his redeemed people. See the notes on Rev 19:14.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

We have just now seen the heavenly captain on horseback, at the head of his holy troop, marching to battle; and now we see who are the enemies he comes to encounter. Here is the beast, or antichrist, with prodigious armies gathered from all parts of the earth, and headed by their kings and princes. (Pastorini)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The beast, whether by it be understood the dragon, or the beast with seven heads and ten horns, or the beast with two horns, or all of them, shall before this time be all destroyed, that is, as to their power and dominion; but there will be relics left, both of pagans, and Turks, and papists, of whom it is probable that this is to be understood; viz. that after God, upon the pouring out of the fifth vial, shall have deprived the papacy of their dominion; and by the pouring out of the sixth vial, shall have deprived the Turk of his dominion; that yet such pagans, Turks, and papists, as shall be left, shall be gathered together, and make one or more great armies, with whom the Jews and Gentiles (now united in one church) shall fight under the conduct of Christ, as the Captain general of his church, by whom they shall be overcome; and that this shall be the great battle in Armageddon, mentioned Rev 16:16.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

19. And—Though the adverse armament and array seem to be fearfully great, the battle seems to be no battle.

Make war—Nobody seems to be slain of the armies of heaven.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I saw the beast; viz. that described in Rev_13:1, typical of the hostile world power. And the kings of the earth, and their armies. The kings summoned by the unclean spirits of Rev_16:13, Rev_16:14, typical of the forces which the beast employs in his spiritual warfare with God. The armies are the adherents of the beast, described in Re 13 the ungodly, those who follow the world rather than God. Gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Gathered as described in Rev_16:14 and ver. 17 of this chapter. Again (as in ver. 7) a double operation. The gathering is voluntary on the part of the wicked, (Rev_16:14) and yet it is overruled by God, and made to serve his ends. (Rev_19:17) Him that sat on the horse; Christ (see ver. 11). "His army" consists of the faithful followers of Christ. They are here pictured as a heavenly army (ver. 14), because the victory which they achieved is the leading feature here depicted, but their warfare took place while they were on earth. (cf. Rev_14:13) The war (with the article); viz. that war which is perpetually waged between the powers of light and darkness, and which will not be terminated until the great judgment.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I saw the kings of the earth - The ten kings mentioned chap. xvii, 12; who had now drawn the other kings of the earth to them, whether Popish, Mahometan, or pagan. Gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse - All beings, good and evil, visible and invisible, will be concerned in this grand contest. See Zech. xiv, 1, &c.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

make war

The day of Jehovah (called, also, "that day," and "the great day") is that lengthened period of time beginning with the return of the Lord in glory, and ending with the purgation of the heavens and the earth by fire preparatory to the new heavens and the new earth Isa 65:17-19; Isa 66:22; 2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:1. The order of events appears to be:

(1) The return of the Lord in glory Mat 24:29; Mat 24:30

(2) the destruction of the Beast and his host, "the kings of the earth and their armies," and the false prophet, which is the "great and terrible" aspect of the day Rev 19:11-21.

(3) the judgment of the nations Zec 14:1-9; Mat 25:31-46.

(4) the thousand years, i.e, the kingdom-age Rev 20:4-6.

(5) the Satanic revolt and its end Rev 20:7-10.

(6) the second resurrection and final judgment Rev 20:11-15 and

(7) the "day of God," earth purged by fire 2Pe 3:10-13.

The day of the Lord is preceded by seven signs:

(1) The sending of Elijah Mal 4:5; Rev 11:3-6

(2) cosmical disturbances Joe 2:1-12; Mat 24:29; Act 2:19; Act 2:20; Rev 6:12-17

(3) the insensibility of the professing church 1Th 5:1-3

(4) the apostasy of the professing church, then become "Laodicea" 2Th 2:3

(5) the rapture of the true church 1Th 4:17.

(6) the manifestation of the "man of sin," the Beast 2Th 2:1-8

(7) the apocalyptic judgments (Revelation 11-18.).

make war Armageddon (battle of). See note, Rev 16:14; Rev 19:17 (See Scofield "Rev 19:17")

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Observe here, 1. The final issue of this great battle, namely, The total ruin of all the enemies of the church: the beast and false prophet were taken, and cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Behold the punishment of idolaters and idolatry; the false prophet had cheated credulous princes and peoples, with his pretended miracles, into idolatry; he had cast others into a bed of fornication, and God casts him into a bed of flames.

Lastly, It is added concerning the remnant, that they were slain with the sword of his mouth: that is, by Christ’s judicial sentence they were righteously adjudged to be slain, and, when they were so, all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Where note, That these persons were not excused because they followed their leaders, and did what they bade them; Christ commands, for all that, that they also should be slain.

Lord! how vain will the plea of many sinners be at the great day; we followed our guides, we did as we saw others do before us; Remember we, that God has given us a rule to walk by, the infallible and inflexible rule of his word; and neither the example of the most, nor of the best, must influence us to act contrary thereunto; for if we will do as the most do, we must be contented to go where the most go, even into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19–21. I saw the beast. See notes on 13:1–10. This beast represents the world power opposed to Christ under its changing forms. The Roman Pagan Empire, and the Roman Papal secular power, are two forms. But it continues even after these forms pass away. The form in which it will manifest itself in this conflict will be better known when the fulfillment takes place. The beast marshals the kings of the earth as his supporters to oppose the Lamb and his armies.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

The beast was captured and with him the false prophet

This can be stated in active form. AT: "The rider on the white horse captured the beast and the false prophet" (See: Active or Passive)

the mark of the beast

This was an identifying mark that indicated that the person who received it worshiped the beast. See how you translated this in Revelation 13:17.

The two of them were thrown alive

This can be stated in active form. AT: "God threw the beast and the false prophet alive" (See: Active or Passive)

the fiery lake of burning sulfur

"the lake of fire that burns with sulfur" or "place full of fire that burns with sulfur"

translationWords

beast

king

earth

horse

false prophet

sign

deceive

receive

worship

image

life

hell

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

19. τὸ θηρίον, καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς. Their confederacy under his leadership has been already intimated, Rev 16:14; Rev 16:16, Rev 17:12-14. The so-called battle of Armageddon, there foretold, is here described.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.