Revelation 19:19 - Exposition

And I saw the beast; viz. that described in Revelation 13:1 , typical of the hostile world power. And the kings of the earth, and their armies. The kings summoned by the unclean spirits of Revelation 16:13 , Revelation 16:14 , typical of the forces which the beast employs in his spiritual warfare with God. The armies are the adherents of the beast, described in Revelation 13:1-18 .—the ungodly, those who follow the world rather than God. Gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Gathered as described in Revelation 16:14 and Revelation 16:17 of this chapter. Again (as in Revelation 16:7 ) a double operation. The gathering is voluntary on the part of the wicked ( Revelation 16:14 ), and yet it is overruled by God, and made to serve his ends ( Revelation 19:17 ). Him that sat on the horse; Christ (see Revelation 16:11 ). "His army" consists of the faithful followers of Christ. They are here pictured as a heavenly army ( Revelation 16:14 ), because the victory which they achieved is the leading feature here depicted, but their warfare took place while they were on earth (cf. Revelation 14:13 ). The war (with the article); viz. that war which is perpetually waged between the powers of light and darkness, and which will not be terminated until the great judgment.