Revelation 19 21

Revelation 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.

Revelation 19:21 nkjv

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 19:21 niv

The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 19:21 esv

And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Revelation 19:21 nlt

Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

Revelation 19 verses

Revelation 19 21 Meaning

Revelation 19:21 describes the complete and decisive destruction of all who remained in rebellion against Christ after the defeat of the Beast and the False Prophet. This final judgment is executed by the power of Christ's own word or divine decree, emanating from His mouth, leading to such absolute slaughter that birds of prey gorge themselves on the corpses of the vanquished. It signifies the triumphant conclusion of Christ's return, leaving no living enemies on Earth as He prepares to establish His righteous reign.

Revelation 19 21 Context

Revelation 19:21 concludes a momentous passage describing the return of Christ, riding a white horse, accompanied by the armies of heaven (vv. 11-16). He is revealed as the "Word of God" and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." This triumphant arrival directly leads to the decisive battle against the Beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies who are gathered to make war against Him (v. 19).

Verses 19 and 20 depict the capture of the Beast and the False Prophet, who are cast alive into the lake of fire. Revelation 19:21 then focuses on the fate of the remaining human forces who allied with the Beast against Christ. This final and swift eradication of all opposition establishes Christ's uncontested sovereignty before the 1,000-year reign described in chapter 20 begins. The imagery reinforces the absolute nature of God's victory and the divine authority of Jesus Christ as the ultimate judge. Historically, it would have offered immense encouragement to early Christians facing persecution, assuring them that ultimate justice belonged to God and His Christ, and that their oppressors would face unavoidable divine retribution.

Revelation 19 21 Word analysis

• And the remnant (Greek: `καὶ οἱ λοιποί`, kai hoi loipoi): `καὶ` (kai): "And," linking this verse to the preceding actions. `οἱ λοιποί` (hoi loipoi): "the rest," "the remaining ones." This refers to all the individuals among the earthly armies (kings, commanders, mighty men, horses, etc. from v. 18) who had gathered to oppose Christ and were not explicitly dealt with in the immediate capture of the Beast and False Prophet in v. 20. It emphasizes that no one from the opposing forces escapes this judgment.
• were slain (Greek: `ἀπεκτάνθησαν`, apektanthēsan): Derived from `ἀποκτείνω` (apokteinō), meaning "to kill," "to slay," "to murder." The aorist passive indicative implies a completed action carried out upon them. It signifies a decisive, overwhelming, and non-negotiable death for all the "remnant."
• with the sword (Greek: `ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ`, en tē rhomphaia): `ἐν` (en): "by," "with," indicating the instrument. `ῥομφαίᾳ` (rhomphaia): A large, broad, often long sword; a javelin or lance. In Revelation, this Greek term is consistently used to refer to the divine, judicial, and authoritative "sword" associated with Christ's mouth, symbolizing His power of judgment and destructive decree (Rev 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15). It is not a literal physical sword in His hand, but the power of His divine pronouncements.
• of Him who sat on the horse, which sword came out of His mouth; (Greek: `τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου, τῆς ἐξελθούσης ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ;`, tou kathēmenou epi tou hippou, tēs exelthousēs ek tou stomatos autou): "Of Him who sat on the horse" (`τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου`): Identifies the rider of the white horse introduced in Rev 19:11, who is Christ, also called "Faithful and True," "The Word of God," and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." He is the one executing the judgment. "which sword came out of His mouth" (`τῆς ἐξελθούσης ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ`): Reiterates and clarifies the nature of the "sword." It is His powerful, decisive Word or command. This links directly to Old Testament prophecies (Isa 11:4) and New Testament descriptions of Christ (2 Thes 2:8) where divine judgment is executed by a spoken word or decree, not necessarily physical action. It denotes irresistible, divinely empowered destruction.
• and all the birds (Greek: `καὶ πάντα τὰ ὄρνεα`, kai panta ta ornea): `πάντα` (panta): "all," emphasizing completeness. `τὰ ὄρνεα` (ta ornea): "the birds," specifically birds of prey, eagles, vultures, carrion-eaters. This explicitly references the "Great Supper of God" invitation (Rev 19:17-18) for these birds to gather for a feast.
• were filled with their flesh. (Greek: `ἐχορτάσθησαν ἐκ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῶν.`, echortasthēsan ek tōn sarkōn autōn): `ἐχορτάσθησαν` (echortasthēsan): "were filled," "were satisfied," "were glutted." This is a strong verb indicating satiation. The imagery is graphic and serves to emphasize the sheer number of dead bodies and the finality of the slaughter. `ἐκ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῶν` (ek tōn sarkōn autōn*): "from their flesh," referring to the corpses of the slain enemies.

• Word Group Analysis: "the sword... out of His mouth": This phrase highlights Christ's authority and the nature of His judgment. It's not a struggle of physical might but a divine decree. The omnipotent word spoken by Christ is sufficient to achieve complete destruction of all His enemies. It signifies that Christ’s power and authority are absolute; He only needs to speak to bring about devastating judgment, underscoring His identity as the living Word of God (Jn 1:1,14; Rev 19:13).
• Word Group Analysis: "the remnant were slain... and all the birds were filled": This sequence graphically illustrates the completeness and undeniable finality of the judgment. The "remnant" suggests that all who remained were subjected to the same fate, ensuring no one escaped. The image of the birds being "filled" underscores the vast number of fatalities and the total victory, serving as a solemn end to human rebellion. It echoes prophetic scenes of divine judgment, emphasizing the utter desolation of the defeated.

Revelation 19 21 Bonus section

• Reversal of the Great Supper: This verse culminates the grim "Great Supper of God" mentioned in Rev 19:17-18. While human rulers prepare their "supper" of war against Christ, God prepares His own "supper" where creatures of the air feast on the flesh of those very rulers and their armies. This highlights the absolute sovereignty of God over human arrogance and rebellion, twisting the human war banquet into a feast for carrion.
• The Logistical Aspect: The image of birds consuming the bodies addresses, in a prophetic and symbolic way, the sheer scale of the corpses left by such an overwhelming judgment, emphasizing a cleansing of the earth before the subsequent era.
• Holiness of the Rider: The depiction of the "sword from His mouth" underscores the divine holiness and separation of Christ. Unlike earthly warriors who are physically stained by battle, Christ achieves His ultimate victory through the unblemished power of His spoken, holy Word. This action purifies the earth of rebellion without defiling His sacred person.

Revelation 19 21 Commentary

Revelation 19:21 acts as the stark conclusion to the final human rebellion against Christ upon His second advent. It follows the dramatic events of Christ's return, His confrontation with the Beast's forces, and the immediate casting of the Beast and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire. The verse focuses on the fate of the remaining rebellious humans, revealing their total and utter destruction. This judgment is presented not as a prolonged battle but as a swift, overwhelming act of divine authority. The "sword" from Christ's mouth signifies the irresistible power of His spoken word, a declarative judgment that immediately brings about the demise of all His foes. No physical struggle is necessary; His decree is absolute and devastating. The ghastly scene of carrion birds being "filled" with their flesh paints a vivid picture of the sheer magnitude of the slain, leaving no survivors and underscoring the absolute triumph of the Son of God. This judgment is the definitive end of direct human rebellion against God prior to the millennium, paving the way for Christ's undisturbed reign.