Revelation 19:17–18

The angel, standing in the sun, acts in the power and supreme authority of God. He acts in judgment against the one who stands in opposition to God.

An angel speaks, obedient to His word and the instrument of His power. He stands in the sun — the symbol of supreme authority. For it is not now a thing done in a corner. There are no terms of forbearance: all must be thoroughly open. Nor is it now a partial, but a complete and final judgment.

We have had the joyous marriage supper of the Lamb; here we have the great supper of God. The word great is attached to the supper, not to God.

God prepared a great supper before, a banquet of grace and love. He sent out His servants to call those who were invited. For nearly two thousand years the table has been spread. Still men turn a deaf ear, and go, one to his farm, and another to his business... But God will not be mocked forever. The day of judgment has now dawned... And now another supper is spread, the supper of the great God. The flesh of kings and captains, the despisers alike of grace and judgment, is the dreadful meal.

There was an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. But there is another and very different supper, the great supper of God. Here it is not the blessed whom God's grace invites.

The supper to which he invites the ravenous birds of prey comes after the battle. But the birds are summoned in vision before the fight. The great supper is of the dead. Kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, free and bond, small and great, lie in the silence of death. Their bodies are a prey to the birds of Heaven. They have been slain by the one sharp sword in the heavenly army. Christ speaks, and at once judgment overtakes the gathered opposing hosts.

There is no doubt as to the issue. The call of the angel to the birds of heaven declares it in no uncertain terms. There may be kings and captains and mighty men and horses, but all of them will be but food for vultures.

A sad and humbling end for human pride at any time. It is saddest of all after the corruption of the church and the turning away from law and gospel, when modern civilisation will have proved itself faithless and hostile to God and His Son.

The prophet Ezekiel refers to it. Like other prophets, he shows us that judgment comes before Israel's blessing on the earth. He first tells us that the birds and the beasts of the field will eat the flesh and drink the blood of the princes of the earth. Then he adds, "I will set my glory among the nations... and have mercy on the whole house of Israel... neither will I hide my face from them any more."

Revelation 19 sets out two suppers: the supper of "the Lamb," and the supper of "the great God." The supper of the Lamb is a scene of joy in heaven. Blessed are those who are called to it. It is a marriage supper. The supper of the great God is the fruit of the solemn, terrible judgment that closes the history of the earth as it now is. It is the judgment of this present world in its revolt against God. The bodies of the Lord's allied enemies become food for the birds of the air.

This chapter is full of contrasts. Here are two women, two suppers, two armies, and two kings. The great prostitute stands in contrast with the Lamb's wife, the supper of the great God with the marriage supper of the Lamb, the armies of heaven with the armies of the beast, and the beasts and kings of the earth with the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

We have had the joyous marriage supper of the Lamb; here we have the great supper of God. The word great is attached to the supper, not to God.

Here it is not the blessed whom God's grace invites. An angel speaks in obedience to His word, as the instrument of His power. He stands in the sun — the symbol of supreme authority. For it is not now a thing done in a corner. There are no terms of forbearance: all must be thoroughly open. Nor is it now a partial, but a complete and final judgment.

A sad and humbling end for human pride at any time; saddest of all after the corruption of the church and turning away from law and gospel, when modern civilisation will have proved itself faithless and hostile to God and His Son.

Five times we read of "flesh" as the food of the birds of heaven. What a humiliating end to the pride, pomp, strength, and chivalry of Europe! The vulture, eagle, and other birds of prey feed on the great and mighty. Their very names may fill the history books of that time. "All the birds were gorged with their flesh" (v. 21), filled to the full. How awful the slaughter! How immense the number of the slain!

God prepared a great supper before, a banquet of grace and love. He sent out His servants to call those who were invited. For nearly two thousand years the table has been spread. Still men turn a deaf ear, and go, one to his farm, and another to his business... And now another supper is spread, the supper of the great God. The flesh of kings and captains, the despisers alike of grace and judgment, is the dreadful meal.

If the Lord invites the creatures of prey to a great sacrifice, will He not make good His word! A similar call is made in Revelation 19:17-18, but there only to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven. It is in view of the slaughter that is to fall on the armies of the west at the end of this age. I suppose only the birds are named there, in keeping with the judgment of those who have abandoned the heavenly testimony of Christianity.

He first tells us that the birds and the beasts of the field will eat the flesh and drink the blood of the princes of the earth. Then he adds, "I will set my glory among the nations, … and have mercy on the whole house of Israel … neither will I hide my face from them any more."