The Beast and His Armies Defeated
January 23, 2020
Commentary
A description is given of the most frightening holocaust in human history, the Battle of Armageddon (vv. 17-21). The name “Armageddon“ means that mount of slaughter. The place is in Palestine on the edge of the plain of Esdraelon. The participants are several hostile groups led by the beast and the false prophet who converge to meet the Son of God in battle (Rev. 13:1). We see in these verses the vultures are summoned to attend and they will feed on the bodies of those who were slain by the Lord (v. 17). “Both small and great” means people from all walks of life (v. 18).
In a final attempt to prevent Christ from taking the reins of his government, the beast joins with the armies of the world to make war against the Lord and His army (v. 19). But the battle is a useless attempt. Both the beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire with burning brimstone (v. 20). The rest of the followers of the beast and the false prophet will be killed with the sword of the Lord and their bodies consumed by the vultures (v. 21). The slaughter will be so great that an angel will call together the fowls of heaven to eat the flesh of those who fall in the battle. The victims will include kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, slaves and freemen. The former miraculous demonic power of the beast and the false prophet will no longer be sufficient to save them. Both will be thrown alive into the lake of fire and brimstone and will burn forever (v. 21). Once their leaders are gone, the rest of the people will be quickly conquered. Christ’s victory will be completer (v. 21).
Application
After reading and meditating on this portion of Scripture it motivates me to want to be a better witness.
Revelation 19:17– 21 (NET)
17 Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: “Come, gather around for the great banquet of God,
18 to eat your fill of the flesh of kings, the flesh of generals, the flesh of powerful people, the flesh of horses and those who ride them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!”
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army. 20 Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf —signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur. 21 The others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
Illustration: Battles that took place in the Jezreel Valley
This area was the scene of many battles in the history of Israel. Since Mt. Megiddo overlooks the Jezreel Valley and the plain of Esdraelon, Armageddon represents this entire strategic valley in North Israel. It is the gateway through the mountains from the North to Jerusalem. Here Gideon defeated Midian (Judges 6:33). Here Saul died fighting the Philistines; Saul and Jonathan died on Mt. Gilboa in the eastern portion of Megiddo’s Jezreel Valley (1 Samuel 31:1; 2 Samuel 1:6, 21). And here Josiah was slain fighting against Pharoah-Necho (2 Kings 23:2930). (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #415).