Revelation 19:21
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.
Revelation 19:21 (KJV)
Context
The book of Revelation is a prophetic book written by the apostle John. It unveils future events and provides a glimpse into the culmination of God’s plan for the world. Revelation 19 describes the victorious return of Jesus Christ, the conquering King, to establish His eternal kingdom.
Prior to verse 21, Revelation 19 describes the glorious return of Jesus on a white horse, accompanied by the armies of heaven. This Rider is identified as the Word of God (Revelation 19:13) and the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). He comes to judge and wage war against the enemies of God.
Meaning
In Revelation 19:21, the remnant refers to the remaining forces of the enemies of God, distinct from their leaders, the beast and the false prophet, who were captured and cast alive into the lake of fire in the preceding verse. This remnant represents all remaining enemies of Christ, described in the source commentary as the remains of Papists, Pagans, and Mahometans, in the several parts of the world, even all the enemies of Christ. They are slain not by conventional weapons, but by the sword that proceeds out of the mouth of the rider on the horse.
This rider is Jesus Christ, identified earlier in the chapter as the Word of God (Revelation 19:13) and King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). The sword from His mouth symbolizes the powerful, authoritative, and efficacious word of God, which alone is sufficient to execute judgment. The word of Jesus has the power to judge and bring about both physical and spiritual consequences.
The verse’s final image, that all the fowls were filled with their flesh, vividly depicts the totality and decisiveness of Christ’s victory, leaving no doubt about the outcome of the battle. This imagery connects to the angel’s invitation in Revelation 19:17-18 for birds to gather for the great supper of God, consuming the flesh of all men, both free and bond, small and great. The distinction between the leaders and the deceived multitudes is significant: the leaders are cast into the lake of fire, while the remnant armies are slain by the sword, not rescued for protracted torment.
Application
Revelation 19:21 serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning ourselves with the purposes of God and His Kingdom. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and trust in Jesus as the victorious Savior and Judge. It also highlights the urgency of sharing the Gospel with others, so that they may be saved from the judgment that is to come.
Remember, the book of Revelation contains highly symbolic language and imagery, and its interpretation can vary among scholars and theologians. It is essential to approach the book with humility and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and other reliable sources when studying its contents.
