Revelation 19 17

Revelation 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;

Revelation 19:17 nkjv

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,

Revelation 19:17 niv

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

Revelation 19:17 esv

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God,

Revelation 19:17 nlt

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.

Revelation 19 verses

Revelation 19 17 Meaning

Revelation 19:17 vividly portrays an angelic proclamation summoning carrion birds to a gruesome feast – the "supper of the great God." This feast signifies the complete and total judgment and destruction of God's enemies, who will be slain by the returning Christ. It is a macabre inversion of a celebratory supper, instead symbolizing the comprehensive defeat and consumption of those who rebelled against God's sovereign authority, preparing the earth for Christ's reign.

Revelation 19 17 Context

Revelation 19:17 is positioned as a pivotal moment immediately following the glorious return of Christ as the Warrior King (Rev 19:11-16), described with His sword (Word) and wrath. The verse sets the stage for the climactic battle where Christ will decisively defeat the forces gathered against Him – namely, the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies (Rev 19:19). It prepares the audience for the severe and ultimate judgment that is about to fall upon those who opposed God, demonstrating the horrific outcome for those arrayed against the divine King. The preceding verses portray the Lamb's victory; this verse highlights the consequence for His foes. Historically and culturally, the sight of carrion birds feeding on battlefields was a common, gruesome indicator of total defeat and ignominy for the fallen, a deeply shameful end for enemies in the ancient Near East.

Revelation 19 17 Word analysis

• And I saw: `καὶ εἶδον` (kai eidō) – Common opening for John's visions in Revelation, emphasizing direct divine revelation. It signals a new, important scene or segment within the ongoing prophetic narrative.
• an angel: `ἄγγελον` (angelon) – Greek for "messenger." Angels frequently serve as heralds of divine judgments or revelations throughout Revelation. This specific angel is not named, signifying its role as an agent of God's universal decree.
• standing in the sun: `ἑστῶτα ἐν τῷ ἡλίῳ` (hestōta en tō hēliō) – The sun is the most visible and central celestial body. This positioning implies supreme visibility and authority, making the angel's proclamation universally seen and heard. It suggests the message comes with divine approval and illumination, often associated with judgment and revelation (Mal 4:1-2).
• and he cried with a loud voice: `ἔκραξεν ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ` (ekraxen en phōnē megalē) – A powerful, undeniable announcement, characteristic of divine pronouncements in Revelation (e.g., Rev 6:10; 7:2; 10:3; 14:7, 9, 15; 18:2, 18). It underscores the gravity and public nature of the impending event.
• saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven: `λέγων πᾶσιν τοῖς ὀρνέοις τοῖς πετομένοις ἐν μεσουρανήματι` (legōn pasin tois orneois tois petomenois en mesouranēmati)
  • fowls: `ὀρνέοις` (orneois) – Specifically refers to carrion-eating birds or birds of prey, like vultures and eagles. These are scavengers by nature, instinctively drawn to decaying flesh.
  • in the midst of heaven: `ἐν μεσουρανήματι` (en mesouranēmati) – "Midheaven" implies the highest point visible from all directions, emphasizing the universal reach and visibility of this call. It denotes an action happening openly and publicly for all creation to witness.
• Come and gather yourselves together: `Δεῦτε συναχθήτε` (Deute synachthete) – An imperative command and invitation, signaling that the ensuing destruction is by divine orchestration. It’s a divine summons for a unique "gathering."
• unto the supper of the great God: `εἰς τὸ δεῖπνον τὸ μέγα τοῦ θεοῦ` (eis to deipnon to mega tou theou)
  • supper: `δεῖπνον` (deipnon) – A main meal, usually eaten in the evening. Here, it is ironically contrasted with a celebratory banquet, specifically the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9), where believers feast with Christ.
  • great God: `τοῦ θεοῦ` (tou theou) – The definitive article and epithet emphasize God's absolute sovereignty, power, and might, particularly in executing judgment. This is God's own "supper" of justice.
  • the great God: `τὸ μέγα τοῦ θεοῦ` (to mega tou theou) - The epithet "great" emphasizes the magnificent scale and universal implications of this divine judgment, matching the infinite greatness of God Himself. It denotes the absolute finality and significance of the event.
  • unto the supper... God: This entire phrase forms a grotesque and horrifying feast of judgment. It is not a feast of fellowship, but one of righteous divine retribution where the bodies of the slain enemies of God and His Christ become the provisions. This imagery underscores the complete humiliation and desecration of the vanquished.

Revelation 19 17 Bonus section

The "supper of the great God" explicitly parallels the "feast" prophesied in Ezekiel 39:17-20 concerning God's judgment upon Gog, offering the slaughtered armies as food for the birds and beasts. This deep connection confirms Revelation's reliance on Old Testament prophetic imagery to describe final eschatological events. The dramatic contrast with the "marriage supper of the Lamb" accentuates the duality of divine feasts: one of joyous fellowship for the redeemed, the other of horrifying retribution for the condemned. This passage also showcases the full authority delegated to the angels in carrying out specific divine pronouncements preceding the ultimate demonstration of Christ's power and righteous judgment. The vision ensures the reader comprehends the complete, final, and ignominious end of those who choose to fight against the King of Kings.

Revelation 19 17 Commentary

Revelation 19:17 acts as a shocking prophetic prelude to the decisive defeat of the anti-Christian forces at Armageddon. The angel's prominent position "in the sun" highlights the inescapable and universal nature of this divine decree. By calling the birds of prey to "the great supper of God," the scene underscores the total and utter destruction awaiting those who oppose the returning Christ. Unlike the blessed "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9) where believers share in communion and victory, this "supper" is a feast of divine judgment, a gruesome spectacle of consumed enemies. It vividly conveys God's unwavering justice, His ultimate victory over all rebellion, and the complete degradation of His adversaries. The powerful imagery serves as a final, dire warning against resistance to God's sovereign rule.