“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.’
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:17-21).
While it may seem ludicrous to believe that an armed force might actually prevail against Christ, one possible justification for this attack plan might involve Jesus’ first advent.
You see, Jesus’ death by crucifixion signaled an apparent victory for His enemies, and perhaps their intent is to finish the job they started earlier. This military confrontation thus reflects the enemy’s character, and fulfills one of Jesus’ primary objectives.
However, those who are expecting a titanic battle worthy of an epic movie will undoubtedly be disappointed. While these two great armies will square off against one another, there is something missing from these closing verses of Revelation nineteen. That missing element is an actual war between these forces. Instead, we’re simply told, “Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse” (Revelation 19:21 NLT),
Nevertheless, two specific members of this opposition force were apprehended: “…the beast was captured and so was the false prophet” (Revelation 19:20 CEV). These individuals were taken into custody and immediately sentenced: “Both of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (GW). Sulfur is alternately known as “brimstone” in some Biblical translations and typically emits the pungent odor of rotten eggs.
Much like the lava that flows from an active volcano, a molten lake of brimstone would radiate intense heat. It would smell awful as well. Thus, it represents an eternal destination we should seek to avoid.
Image Attribution: Nina R from Africa, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons