Christ's Triumphant Return and the Defeat of the Beast
Revelation 19:11-21
Rev.19.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ηνεωγμενον: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: PART
- ιππος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- λευκος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- καθημενος: PART,nom,sg,m
- επ᾽αυτον: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,3,m
- πιστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- καλουμενος: PART,pres,mp,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αληθινος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- δικαιοσυνη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κρινει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- πολεμει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Revelation 6:2 (verbal): Earlier vision of a rider on a white horse; verbal and imagery parallel (white horse, conquering rider) contrasting the eschatological warrior in 19:11.
- Revelation 3:14 (verbal): The phrase 'faithful and true' (or 'faithful and true witness/Amen') is applied to Christ in the Laodicean letter, echoing the title given to the rider in 19:11.
- Isaiah 63:1-3 (allusion): Messenger/warrior imagery—one coming from Edom with blood-stained garments who has trodden the winepress—provides a prophetic precedent for the Lord as righteous judge and warrior.
- Psalm 2:9 (allusion): Messianic language about breaking the nations with a 'rod of iron' undergirds Revelation's portrayal of Christ’s sovereign, judicial rule and violent victory (cf. Rev 19:15, conceptually linked to 19:11).
- Isaiah 11:4 (thematic): The Messianic judge who 'judges with righteousness' and acts decisively against the wicked parallels Revelation's depiction of the rider who 'judges and makes war' in righteousness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I saw heaven opened, and behold — a white horse; and its rider is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and wages war.
- Then I saw heaven opened, and behold—a white horse; and the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.
Rev.19.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οφθαλμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- φλοξ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πυρος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κεφαλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- διαδηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- γεγραμμενον: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Revelation 1:14 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel: the description 'his eyes were like a flame of fire' appears earlier in Revelation as a characteristic of the risen Christ, echoed here.
- Revelation 2:17 (verbal): Very close verbal/theme: promises a 'new name written' which 'no one knows except the one who receives it,' paralleling the motif of a mysterious, privately known name written on the crowned figure.
- Daniel 7:9-14 (thematic): The Daniel vision shares throne-room and fiery-imagery (thrones and fiery flames) and the exaltation of a heavenly figure given sovereign dominion—background imagery for Revelation’s crowned, judging figure.
- Revelation 12:3 (verbal): Uses the same crown/diadem imagery (diadems on heads); the repetition of διαδήματα in Revelation links royal/cosmic authority to the figures portrayed, here applied to the dragon and elsewhere to the crowned ruler.
- Zechariah 6:11-13 (allusion): Crowns are made and set on a leader's head (Joshua/branch) combining priestly and kingly roles; echoes the motif of coronation/diadems and the idea of a divinely instituted ruler.
Alternative generated candidates
- His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
- His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and a name is written on him that no one knows but himself.
Rev.19.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- περιβεβλημενος: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- ιματιον: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- βεβαμμενον: PART,perf,pass,dat,sg,n
- αιματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- κεκληται: VERB,perf,mid,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Λογος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:1 (verbal): Uses the title 'Logos' (the Word); Revelation 19:13's designation 'the Word of God' echoes John's identification of Jesus as the preexistent Word.
- John 1:14 (allusion): John's statement that the Word became flesh provides the Johannine background for calling the eschatic warrior 'the Word of God'—the incarnate agent of God's revelation and action.
- Isaiah 63:1-3 (verbal): Isaiah depicts a figure coming 'from Edom' with garments stained/dipped in blood who has trodden the winepress—an explicit Old Testament source for the blood‑dipped robe imagery and divine vengeance motif in Rev 19:13.
- Revelation 19:11 (structural): Immediate context: verse 11 introduces the rider 'Faithful and True' on a white horse; 19:13 continues the same apocalyptic warrior portrait and helps identify him as the same Christ‑figure.
- Revelation 19:16 (structural): Nearby verse that assigns royal titles ('KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS') and, like 19:13, emphasizes identifying names/titles on the eschatic warrior, linking his identity and authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God.
- He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev.19.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- στρατευματα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ηκολουθει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εφ᾽ιπποις: PREP+NOUN,dat,pl,m
- λευκοις: ADJ,dat,pl,n
- ενδεδυμενοι: PART,perf,mid/pass,nom,pl,m
- βυσσινον: ADJ,acc,sg,nt
- λευκον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- καθαρον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 19:11 (verbal): The rider on a white horse (Christ) is introduced here; Rev 19:14 describes the heavenly armies following that rider on white horses, echoing the same white-horse imagery and martial procession.
- Revelation 6:2 (thematic): The first-seal rider appears on a white horse (conquering rider). Both passages use the white-horse motif to convey victory and conquest, inviting comparison and contrast between the riders.
- Revelation 19:8 (verbal): Uses the same language of 'fine linen, bright and clean' and explicitly identifies the fine linen with the righteous deeds of the saints—directly parallels the clothing description of the heavenly hosts in 19:14.
- Revelation 3:4-5 (thematic): speaks of believers who 'have not defiled their garments' and will be clothed in white—connects the motif of white/clean garments as a mark of the faithful, paralleling the armies' white linen in 19:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- The armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, pure and white.
- And the armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
Rev.19.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εκπορευεται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
- ρομφαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- οξεια: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- παταξη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- ποιμανει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ραβδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- σιδηρα·και: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- πατει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ληνον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- οινου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θυμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οργης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- παντοκρατορος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Psalm 2:9 (verbal): Explicit verbal parallel: 'You shall break them with a rod of iron' echoes 'he shall rule them with a rod of iron,' both depicting sovereign, iron-rule over nations.
- Revelation 1:16 (verbal): Direct verbal repetition within Revelation: 'a sharp two-edged sword' coming from the Messiah's mouth parallels 'from his mouth comes a sharp sword' as an instrument of judgment.
- Revelation 2:27 (quotation): Nearly identical phrasing — 'he will rule them with a rod of iron' — the promise to the faithful echoes the same imagery of messianic, iron rule over nations.
- Revelation 14:19-20 (thematic): Shared imagery of the 'winepress' of God's wrath: the angel treading the great winepress prefigures/echoes 'he treads the winepress of the fury of God's wrath' in Rev 19:15.
- Isaiah 63:3-6 (allusion): Isaiah portrays the Lord treading the winepress and trampling nations in anger — thematic and verbal background for Revelation's winepress-of-wrath motif and the imagery of divine vengeance.
Alternative generated candidates
- From his mouth issues a sharp sword, to strike down the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron; he treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of the Almighty.
- From his mouth proceeds a sharp sword to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Rev.19.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιματιον: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- μηρον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- γεγραμμενον·Βασιλευς: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,n + NOUN,nom,sg,m
- βασιλεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κυριων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Timothy 6:15 (verbal): Paul applies the exact title 'King of kings and Lord of lords' to Christ (the 'only Potentate'), a direct verbal parallel and early Christian Christological confession.
- Revelation 17:14 (verbal): The same formula is used of the Lamb there—'Lord of lords and King of kings'—linking Christ's victory and supreme authority over earthly powers.
- Deuteronomy 10:17 (allusion): The OT background uses the phrase 'God of gods and Lord of lords'; Revelation recasts this supreme divine title as 'King of kings and Lord of lords,' echoing and transforming the older designation.
- Psalm 95:3 (thematic): Affirms Yahweh as 'a great King above all gods,' thematically underpinning the idea of divine supremacy expressed by 'King of kings.'
- Daniel 4:34-35 (thematic): Declares the Most High's sovereignty over earthly kings and kingdoms, providing an Old Testament thematic precedent for the portrayal of Christ as supreme over all rulers.
Alternative generated candidates
- On his robe and on his thigh he bears this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.
- On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev.19.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- αγγελον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εστωτα: PART,perf,act,masc,acc,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ηλιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκραξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μεγαλη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- λεγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg
- πασι: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ορνεοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πετομενοις: VERB,pres,mp,ptc,dat,m,pl
- εν: PREP
- μεσουρανηματι·Δευτε: NOUN,dat,sg,n+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- συναχθητε: VERB,aor,pass,imp,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- δειπνον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μεγα: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Ezekiel 39:17-20 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic echo: Ezekiel summons every sort of bird to a great sacrificial feast on the slain—language and imagery (assemble, gather, eat flesh) are echoed in Revelation’s call to birds to the 'great supper of God.'
- Isaiah 34:6-8 (allusion): Isaiah depicts the LORD’s sacrificial slaughter and the desolation where the slain become food for birds; Revelation’s imagery of a divine 'supper' for birds recalls this prophetic motif of divine vengeance and carrion-feasting.
- Matthew 24:28 (thematic): Jesus’ saying 'Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather' parallels Revelation’s motif of birds gathering to feed on the dead—both use scavenging birds as a symbol of judgment and aftermath.
- Revelation 19:21 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within Revelation: verse 21 continues the same scene, describing the birds filling themselves with the flesh of the defeated—completes the feast imagery introduced in 19:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice to all the birds that fly overhead: "Come, gather for the great supper of God,
- Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midheaven, 'Come, gather for the great supper of God,'
Rev.19.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- φαγητε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- σαρκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- βασιλεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- σαρκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- χιλιαρχων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- σαρκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ισχυρων: ADJ,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- σαρκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ιππων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- καθημενων: PART,pres,mid,gen,pl,m
- επ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl
- και: CONJ
- σαρκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- ελευθερων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- δουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- μικρων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- μεγαλων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Ezekiel 39:17-20 (verbal): Near-verbatim antecedent: lists eating the flesh of captains, mighty men, horses and riders, and 'all men, free and bond, small and great'—the same catalogue and imagery echoed in Rev 19:18.
- Ezekiel 39:4 (thematic): Judgment scene where fallen enemy corpses are given as food to birds and beasts—background motif for the feast/eating imagery in Rev 19:18.
- Revelation 19:21 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within Revelation: verse 21 describes the beast and the kings slain and the birds/beasts filled with their flesh, completing the meal imagery introduced in 19:17-18.
- Isaiah 34:6-8 (thematic): Oracle of judgment on the nations where the sword and scavenging birds/beasts consume the slain—uses similar language of corpses as food to portray divine retribution.
- Ezekiel 39:21-22 (allusion): Continues the Ezekiel temple/judgment tableau—birds eating flesh and blood on the mountains are signs that God has executed judgment and revealed his holiness, an idea alluded to in Revelation's feast-of-the-flesh imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- to feast on the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, 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, small and great."
- 'to eat the flesh of kings, of captains, of the mighty, of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.'
Rev.19.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- βασιλεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- στρατευματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- συνηγμενα: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,pl,n
- ποιησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πολεμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καθημενου: PART,pres,mid,gen,m,sg
- επι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ιππου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- μετα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στρατευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rev.17:14 (verbal): Speaks of the beast and the kings of the earth making war — explicitly says they will make war with the Lamb, closely paralleling the scene of hostile rulers arrayed against the rider on the horse.
- Rev.13:7 (verbal): The beast is granted authority to wage war against the saints and to overcome them; connects the beast’s violent conflict with God's people to the climactic battle in Rev 19:19.
- Rev.16:14-16 (thematic): Describes demonic spirits assembling the kings of the earth for the battle at Armageddon — a prior depiction of the gathered kings and armies who oppose God’s forces.
- Ezek.38:16 (allusion): Gog is brought against the land of Israel with the nations gathered for a decisive end-time battle — a prophetic prototype of nations gathering to fight God’s forces.
- Dan.7:21 (allusion): The horn (a persecuting power) makes war against the saints in Daniel’s vision, providing an earlier apocalyptic motif of a ruling power warring against God’s people like the beast in Revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the one who sat on the horse and against his army.
- And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the one who sat on the horse and against his army.
Rev.19.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- επιασθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- μετ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ψευδοπροφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ποιησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- σημεια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ενωπιον: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- οις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- επλανησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- λαβοντας: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- χαραγμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θηριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- προσκυνουντας: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,acc,m,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εικονι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου·ζωντες: PRON,gen,sg,m+VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εβληθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- λιμνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πυρος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καιομενης: VERB,pres,pass,part,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- θειω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 13:11-18 (verbal): Describes the second beast (false prophet) who performs signs, deceives people into receiving the beast’s mark and worshiping its image—the same actions attributed to the false prophet in Rev 19:20.
- Revelation 14:9-11 (verbal): Pronounces judgment on those who worship the beast and receive its mark, depicting their torment with fire and sulfur—language and themes echoed in the punishment of Rev 19:20.
- Revelation 20:10 (structural): Depicts the final fate of the devil—thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur and tormented—paralleling the lake-of-fire punishment meted out to the beast and false prophet in Rev 19:20.
- Revelation 20:14-15 (allusion): Describes death, Hades, and the unrighteous being thrown into the lake of fire; parallels Rev 19:20’s motif of decisive, final consigning of evil to the lake of fire.
- Matthew 25:41 (thematic): Speaks of eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels as the destined place of punishment—thematic background for Revelation’s imagery of fiery retribution (cf. Rev 19:20).
Alternative generated candidates
- The beast was seized, and with it the false prophet who had done signs before it, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
- And the beast was seized, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had performed signs by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Rev.19.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- λοιποι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- απεκτανθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ρομφαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καθημενου: PART,pres,mid,gen,m,sg
- επι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ιππου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εξελθουση: PART,aor,act,dat,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ορνεα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- εχορτασθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σαρκων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 19:15 (verbal): Same scene: the warrior-figure issues a sword from his mouth — 19:15 describes the sharp sword coming out of his mouth used to strike the nations, directly matching 19:21's 'sword... which proceeded out of his mouth.'
- Revelation 19:17–18 (structural): Immediate literary context: an angel summons the birds to a great feast on the flesh of kings, captains and mighty — 19:21 concludes that feast, 'all the birds were filled with their flesh.'
- Ezekiel 39:17–20 (thematic): Prophetic image of birds and beasts invited to feast on the fallen warriors of Gog and Magog; language and imagery of a sacrificial banquet of carcasses closely parallel Revelation's birds eating the slain.
- Isaiah 11:4 (allusion): Messianic image of judgment executed 'by the breath of his lips' (or the word of his mouth) slaying the wicked — parallels Revelation's motif of judgment effected by what proceeds from the ruler's mouth (a sword).
Alternative generated candidates
- The rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
- And the rest were killed by the sword that proceeded from the mouth of him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold—a white horse; and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, clean and white.
From his mouth issues a sharp sword to strike down the nations; he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midheaven, 'Come, gather yourselves for the great supper of God,'
to 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, both free and slave, small and great. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.