These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and elect and faithful.”

— Revelation 17:14

15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the wrath of the rage of God, the Almighty.

16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with Him who sits on the horse and with His army.

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who did the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sits on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

— Revelation 19:15-16; 19-21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

John’s Revelation gives us a clear picture of how , at Jesus’s return, God’s enemies, the beast and the false prophets, joined by the kings and their armies, gather to attack the Lord of the universe. As a matter of fact, the battle is over before it begins for the battle was already won on Calvary. The beast and his false prophet are captured. Their followers-all who do not follow the Lamb-are killed by the sword of the rider on the white horse. The two deceivers are thrown alive into “the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”

Those who rely on falsehood and evil will fall before the truth and goodness of the Word of God. In the mighty acts of His Son, God’s fierce and perfect justice prevails on earth. Neither power nor position nor property can protect anyone from God’s awesome justice. Everyone who rejects God’s Son can expect the just and full measure of punishment that their sin deserves. Revelation promises a certain end to evil’s deadly reign on earth. Jesus will return to conquer His enemies and claim His people as His bride.