17And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, "Come, gather for the great evening banquet of God, [19:18] to eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of the mighty and the flesh of horses and those seated on them and the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great." [19:19] And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. [19:20] And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the branded mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur. [19:21] And the rest were killed by the broad sword that proceeded from the mouth of the one seated on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
REV 19:17-21
Defeat of the Beast and False Prophet
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman imperial context, the imagery of a great supper would evoke associations with both divine judgment and imperial feasting. Roman elites often hosted lavish banquets to display power and wealth, while the gods were imagined as hosting cosmic feasts. The invitation to birds to consume the flesh of kings, commanders, and soldiers draws from ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman traditions of divine retribution, where scavenging birds symbolize the ultimate humiliation of defeated enemies. The inclusion of all—free and slave, small and great—reflects the Roman social hierarchy, where status distinctions were rigidly maintained. The beast and false prophet, marked with (a mark of ownership or allegiance), represent imperial or cultic systems demanding loyalty. The , a Thracian sword, underscores the violent and decisive nature of divine judgment, contrasting with Roman military dominance. This vision subverts Roman imperial ideology, portraying God’s ultimate triumph over earthly powers.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
REV 19:17
- KJV
- And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
- BSB
- Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
- Koinōnos
- And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, "Come, gather for the great evening banquet of God,
REV 19:18
- KJV
- That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
- BSB
- so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”
- Koinōnos
- to eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of the mighty and the flesh of horses and those seated on them and the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.
REV 19:19
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.
- Koinōnos
- And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.
REV 19:20
- KJV
- And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
- BSB
- But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
- Koinōnos
- And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the branded mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.
REV 19:21
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
- Koinōnos
- And the rest were killed by the broad sword that proceeded from the mouth of the one seated on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 19:17
- unto:The word translated 'unto' here refers to a formal meal, often an evening banquet, which in this context is a grim feast for carrion birds.
REV 19:18
- slaves:The term used here for 'slaves' refers to individuals who were born into servitude or captured, indicating a complete lack of freedom and ownership by another.
REV 19:20
- mark:The word translated 'mark' originally referred to an engraved or branded impression, like a seal on a document or a brand on an animal, signifying ownership or authenticity.
REV 19:21
- sword:The word translated 'sword' here denotes a large, broad sword, often associated with foreign warriors like the Thracians, suggesting a weapon of significant power and destruction.