Revelation 19:17-21: a reflection

17I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, 18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.” 19I 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. 20The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. So all the birds were filled with their flesh.

In this vision near the end of Revelation, the forces of evil, the beast and the false prophet who had deceived the world, gather with the kings of the earth to make war against Christ, the rider on the white horse. But the battle is no contest. The beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown down, decisively defeated; the rebellion against God is crushed. However fearsome evil had appeared, arrayed for war against God, it is overthrown in the end.

Notice the certainty and completeness of evil's defeat. Throughout Revelation, evil appears formidable, deceiving the nations, seeming for a time to prevail. But here it meets its end: the beast and false prophet are decisively judged, and the long rebellion against God is brought to nothing. Evil does not win; it is defeated, finally and completely, by the returning Christ.

That is a profound reassurance for those living in a world where evil often seems to have the upper hand. We see evil deceive, oppress, and seem to triumph, and we can wonder whether it will ever be stopped. Revelation's answer is unwavering: evil will not have the last word. It will be judged, decisively defeated by Christ, and brought to its end. When you are discouraged by the strength of evil in the world, lift your eyes to this vision of its certain defeat. However formidable evil seems now, its end is sure. Christ triumphs, evil is judged, and those who trust him will see the day when it is overthrown for good.

Lord, in John's vision the beast and the false prophet, for all their power to deceive, were decisively defeated when they made war against Christ; evil met its certain end. When I am discouraged by the strength of evil in the world, when it seems to deceive and oppress and triumph, lift my eyes to this vision of its sure defeat. Evil will not have the last word; it will be judged and brought to nothing by the returning Christ. Thank you that you triumph, that the long rebellion against you ends in your victory. Help me live in the certainty of that hope, trusting that evil's end is sure and your kingdom will stand.