Revelation 19: A Preterist Commentary

 

The Phantom Army in the Sky of A.D. 66 and the Second Coming 

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A Preterist Commentary on Revelation 19: Summary and Highlights

In this Preterist commentary on Revelation 19 the reader will be exposed to compelling historical evidence suggesting that the second coming occurred in the first century in fulfillment of Mark 14:61-16, John 21:22-23, and Matthew 24.  The most detailed description of the second coming is found in Revelation 19.  Here Jesus leads an angelic army in the clouds.  Two first century non-Christian historians Josephus and Tacitus record an angelic army in the clouds at the start of the Jewish War in A.D. 66.  This army in the clouds seen in A.D. 66 LITERALLY fulfills Biblical descriptions of the second coming exactly as it is described in Revelation 19.  Then in v. 19 John sees the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with Jesus and His army.  This was fulfilled when the king Agrippa II and Queen Berenice, the kings of Israel, the earth, accompanied the Roman army and provided thousands of auxiliary troops in the assault on Israel and siege of Jerusalem during the Jewish War. In the following commentary on Revelation 19, the reader will be exposed to the complete fulfillment of this chapter during the Israel’s war with Rome.

Preterist Commentary Revelation 19:11-14 the army in the sky

An artistic depiction of the army of angels in the clouds in A.D. 66.

The following may seem unbelievable.  However, most information is taken from unbiased historical records and all information is easily verifiable.  Sources listed at the end.

The Phantom Army in the Sky of A.D. 66 and the Second Coming

Revelation 19 Preterist Commentary Intro: The Fall of Babylon Continued . . .

John’s present vision concerning the fall of Babylon comes to a close in v. 10 of this chapter.1  Then in v. 11, John is given another vision beginning with the second coming.  Here he sees Jesus leading the armies of heaven over the skies of Israel.  Is there any historical evidence of such an event?  This question will be answered shortly.  But before doing so, John’s vision of the fall of Babylon will be discussed.

1After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for true and just are his judgments.  He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.  He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.  3And again they shouted: “Hallelujah!  The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

A Realized Eschatological View and Commentary of Revelation 19:3: The Expression used in v. 3 is also used to describe the Historical Destruction of Edom.

Referring to the destruction of the city of Babylon, John uses the expression, “The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”  Similar imagery is found in Isaiah 34:9-10 referring to the destruction of the land of Edom.  Here Isaiah threatens, “Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!  It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever.”

Revelation 19:3 burning of city

Robert, Hubert. The Fire of Rome, 18 July 64 AD. Musee des Beaux-Arts Andre Malraux Le Havre, France.

Revelation 19:3 Full Preterist Commentary: Aion and Olam mean Age or Age Lasting, not Forever.

The Greek word used for, “for ever and ever” in v. 3 is aion.  This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Olam found in Isaiah 34:10.  Both words signify an unknown interval of great length.  These words are frequently translated age, though they may be used to signify an eternal duration if the subject or context in which they are used requires it.2  The subject and context of these verses do not require these words to be translated forever.  In Isaiah 34:9-10, the prophet states that the fires in the land of Edom will not be quenched.  Because Isaiah is talking about the destruction of the land of Edom at the hands of its enemies, an actual historical event, the fact that the fire will not be quenched seems to indicate that it will not be intentionally put out, not that it will literally continue to burn forever.  Unquenchable fire is an expression that is used to describe fires that become so great that they cannot be put out.  This expression implies that the fire will only stop burning once it has run out of fuel.  These verses might more accurately be translated “its smoke will go up for the age of ages.”  Both Edom and Jerusalem are described in this way in order to draw a poetic connection between the lake of fire in the realm of the dead and the current state of Edom and Jerusalem after their destruction.

Revelation 19:3 commentary burning of Jerusalem

The city of Jerusalem burned to the ground in A.D. 70.

A Preterist Interpretation and Commentary of Revelation 19:3: Eternal Recollection of a Fallen City . . .

As predicted in v. 3, the city of Jerusalem and its temple were razed and burned to the ground.  Many Jews today still lament this tragic loss.  During Jewish weddings, the groom breaks a wine glass after saying his vows.  This custom is meant to signify the destruction of the second temple and is still performed to commemorate this war.

burning of the temple Revelation 19:3 commentary

While the Temple burned, an idol of Caesar Vespasian was worshipped in the Jewish Temple in A.D. 70 in fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne.  And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”  5Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”  6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”  (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)  9Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb!’”  And he added, “These are the true words of God.”  10At this I fell at his feet to worship him.  But he said to me, “Do not do it!  I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus.  Worship God!  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Covenant Eschatology and Revelation 19:4-10: A New Vision Begins . . .

In v. 10, John falls at the feet of his angelic guide.  At this the angel rebukes him and instructs him to worship God.  This verse in which John interacts with the angel indicates a break in John’s vision.  From this point, John is given another vision starting at the second coming and progressing one thousand years into the future to another war echoes of which still linger in the collective minds of people today.  But before commenting on Gog and Magog, John sees Christ coming in glory with the armies of heaven behind him.

the crusades Gog and Magog:

Signol, Emile. Taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders. 1847

11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  14The armies of heaven were following him, riding white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Revelation 19: A Preterist Commentary

An artistic depiction of the second coming as it is described in Revelation 19.

Preterism Explained, A Revelation 19:11-14 Commentary: The Army Seen in the Clouds in A.D. 66 . . .

Compare the rider on the white horse in vs. 11-14 with horseman of Revelation 6:2.  Both horsemen are wearing a crown or crowns and both are riding a white horse.  Interestingly, Milton Terry notes that the word translated crowns in v. 11 may be a composite crown. “The same word in the same plural form is employed in Job xxxi, 36, as if it were singular.”3  Thus this plural form of crown seems to denote the fact that the rider on the white horse is the King of Kings.

Furthermore, both horsemen are armed with weapons often linked to God.  The horseman of Revelation 6:2 holds a bow.  The bow is a weapon of God according to Psalm 21:12, Lamentations 2:4, Lamentations 3:12, Habakkuk 3:9 and Zechariah 9:13.  The horseman of Revelation 19:14 has a sword in his mouth.  The sword is also an often-mentioned weapon of God according to Psalm 17:13, Isaiah 27:1, Isaiah 34:5-6, Isaiah 66:16, Jeremiah 12:12, Jeremiah 47:6, Ezekiel 5:2, Ezekiel 12:14 and Ezekiel 21:3-5.  The fact that the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6 carries a bow while the rider on the white horse of Revelation 19 has a sword does not imply, as some suggest, that they are different.  The fact that this horseman has a bow and sword seems to allude to the rider of Psalm 45:1-6 who also carries a bow and sword which Hebrews 1:8 quotes in reference to Christ.

Because of the similarities between Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 19:11-16, it appears that these two horsemen are the same being—Jesus Christ.  Not only do these similarities imply that these horsemen are the same being, they also suggest that Revelation 6:2-8 and Revelation 19:11-16 are describing the same event.  Because Revelation 6:1-8 transpired before the unleashing of the seven trumpets and bowls, this army of horsemen described in Revelation 6:1-8 and Revelation 19:11-16 seem to have made their appearance at the start of the Jewish Revolt in A.D 66.  Interestingly, an angelic army of horsemen was reportedly seen at precisely this time–the start of the Jewish revolt in Iyyar of A.D. 66:

[O]n the twenty-first day of the month of Artemisius [Jyar], a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.4

Preterist Commentary Revelation 19:11-14 the army in the sky

An artistic depiction of the army in the clouds in A.D. 66. Notice the similarities between this historical event and Revelation 19’s description of the second coming.

The Jewish historian Josephus describes a heavenly army in the clouds much like the army Jesus led in vs. 11-14.  The pagan historian Tacitus also mentions this event: “In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armour.”5  Above is a painting of the army in the clouds at the start of the Jewish War as it is recorded by Tacitus and Josephus.  Notice the similarities in the image above and the second coming as it is depicted in Revelation 19 in the image above it.  This army in the clouds in A.D. 66 literally fulfills Biblical descriptions of the second coming.  For a detailed discussion of how this event and other appearances and manifestations of Christ during the Jewish War literally fulfill all Biblical descriptions of the parousia see Historical Evidence that Jesus, the Son of Man, was LITERALLY SEEN in the Clouds in the First Century.

Revelation 19:11-16 Preterist Commentary: Do Differing Features Between Revelation 19:11-16 and Revelation 6:2 Suggest that the Horseman of Revelation 6:2 is Not Jesus Christ?

It is occasionally argued that because of some slight differences in physical appearance between the soldier riding the white horse of Revelation 6:2 and the soldier riding the white horse of Revelation 19:11-16 that this implies that these two riders are not the same individual.  If the rider of Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 19:11-16 is Jesus Christ, then this argument is tenuous—to say the least—especially in a book that is a series of symbolic visions.  In Revelation 1:12-16 Jesus is pictured as a being of light holding seven stars with a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth.  In Revelation 5:5 Jesus is called the Lion from the tribe of Judah.  Then in v. 6 He is depicted as a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes.  It would be absurd to argue that the Lamb and Lion of Revelation 5 and the human-like being of light in Revelation 1 are not all Christ because they are each described with different physical attributes.  Here one can see that because Jesus is depicted in so many diverse ways in Revelation and the rest of the Bible, it cannot be argued that the horseman of Revelation 6:2 cannot be Jesus because his appearance is slightly different from the horseman of 19:11-16.6

If Rome is the beast of Revelation, why would Christ use a wicked kingdom to enact His justice on Palestine?  Would this not imply that the Romans are the protagonists in Revelation?  Absolutely not!  The Romans are not the protagonists in the Apocalypse, the saints fulfill this role.  The Romans are similar to the Babylonians who besieged wicked Judah in the sixth century B.C.  One would never argue that the Babylonians were “good guys” in this act (Jeremiah 51:6-8), yet they were also guided by God to attack Judah as were the Romans who besieged Palestine in the first century A.D. The apostate Jews and the Romans are pitted against each other at the end of the age as a form of mutual punishment as God often pits his enemies against each other so that they destroy themselves (Judges 7:19-23; 1 Samuel 14:16-23; 2 Kings 3:13-27; 2 Chronicles 20:20-23).  See How Could Rome be the Beast if Rome is God’s Army to Punish Israel and Israel is Guilty of All the Blood Shed on the Earth (Mt 23:35)?.

Preterism commentary, the new Jerusalem

Descriptions of heaven in near-death experiences resemble the New Jerusalem.

15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.  “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

Revelation 19:15 A Full Preterist Commentary: At the Same Time in Which the Angelic Army was seen on the Clouds in Iyyar of A.D. 66, A Sword-Shaped Star like the Sword said to Come out of the Mouth of Christ was Visible that Evening.

Revelation 19:15 says that when Christ rode His horse at the head of His heavenly army a sharp sword came out of His mouth: “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.”  At the same time in which the vision of the army of angels was seen in the clouds in Iyyar of A.D. 66 a sword-shaped star appears to have been visible over Jerusalem that evening: “Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year.”7

Throughout Jesus’ ministry one of the central points of His teaching was to warn His followers of the coming war and in doing so, save them from it.  In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus described the magnitude of the tribulation and provided His followers with signs indicating when they should flee Jerusalem to avoid it.  One of these signs is mentioned in Matthew 24:30.  Here it says, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky.”  What could this sign be?  See Matthew 24 Commentary: THAT Generation Shall Not Pass. Commentary on Revelation 19:15 sword is word of God

Realized Eschatology and Revelation 19:15 Commentary: The Sword that Comes out of the Mouth of Christ in v. 15 is the Word of God.

According to Ephesians 6:16 the sword of the Spirit is the word of God.  Furthermore, in John 1 Christ is said to be the living Word of God.  Thus the sharp sword coming out of the mouth of the Messiah in v. 15 is a symbol of himself. This interpretation is bolstered by the fact that the rider on the white horse is called the Word of God in v 13.

Perhaps the sign of the Son of Man in the sky mentioned in Matthew 24:30 is this celestial sword mentioned by Josephus which was seen at the time in which the angelic army was also seen in the clouds. Could this sword-shaped star like the sword of Revelation 19:15 represent the Word of God?  This symbol of Christ and His message would seem to remind Jesus’ followers of His teachings concerning the coming tribulation.  Upon seeing this omen in the sky, perhaps these Jewish Christians were reminded of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 24 warning them that the end is at hand and that now is the time to flee?

Furthermore, it would not be surprising if the zealots, eager to overthrow their Roman oppressors, saw in this sword-shaped star a divine call to arms.  Perhaps this omen indicated to them that God would also take up his sword against Rome and aid them in their struggle?  In truth, I believe the sword of Revelation 19 had another function.  As indicated in v. 15, it is Christ’s tool to strike down the nations and that includes both Rome and Judea.

Jewish War Revelation 19:19 commentary preterism

Israel’s war with Rome (A.D. 66-A.D. 74)

Revelation 19:15 A Preterist Commentary: How did Christ “Strike down the Nations” in the First Century?

Revelation 19:19 and Revelation 17:14 appear to be describing the same event:

“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army (Revelation 19:19)[.]”

“They [the beast and the ten horns] will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14).”

In both verses there is a war between the beast and Christ.  The ten horns appear to be the kings of the earth and there is also a war between these figures and Christ in both vs. as well.  In light of these similarities, it appears that the “called, chosen and faithful followers” who are “with” Christ during this war is Christ’s “army” mentioned in Revelation 19:19 who are also mentioned with Christ in v. 14: “The armies of heaven were following him [Christ], riding white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.”  In light of these similarities Revelation 17:14 suggests that Christ’s army mentioned in vs. 11-16 and v.19 are comprised at least in part by the early Christian martyrs.  This idea is echoed in Revelation 19:14 these soldiers are “dressed in fine linen, white and clean.”  According to Revelation 19:8 “[f]ine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.”  The fact that the army Christ leads in Revelation 19 is composed at least in part by the saints is explicitly stated in the Ascension of Isaiah 4:14: “And after . . . the LORD will come with his angels and with the hosts of the saints from the seventh heaven . . . and will drag Beliar [Satan], and his hosts also, into Gehenna.”  Revelation 19 is ultimately a motif presenting Christ and the saints of His army conquering the nations in order to establish their reign over the nations depicted in Revelation 20, the Millennial Reign.

If the Book of Revelation climaxes in the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, how is it that Jesus is said to “strike down the nations” in Revelation 19:15?  The striking down of the nations in v. 15 appears to be fulfilled in A.D. 69, the year before the fall of Jerusalem.  In A.D. 69, the Year of the Four Caesars, Rome suffered through three civil wars and perhaps experienced its most tumultuous year in its long history.  That year it was widely believed that the empire though at the peak of its strength would ultimately collapse.

16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.  17And 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, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”

Preterism, A Revelation 19:17-18 Commentary: In Violation of the Law, the Jews did not Bury the Dead during the Siege of Jerusalem resulting in a Feast for Carrion Birds.

V. 18 is the prophetic fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:26: “Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air.”  Deuteronomy 28 lists a series of curses, like the one quoted above, that God promised to inflict on his people if they failed to follow the Law.  The curse mentioned in v. 26 is perhaps the most logical.  According to Mosaic Law, the Jews were commanded to bury the dead.  The Jewish rebels fighting in the city of Jerusalem failed to obey this law, and as a result untold numbers of dead bodies littered the streets of Jerusalem during the Roman siege.  As might be expected, these bodies would have been a feast for carrion birds.

The main ensign was the eagle the Aquila which stood high above the Roman legions on long poles held by Roman standard bearers.

The main ensign was the eagle the Aquila which stood high above the Roman legions on long poles held by Roman standard bearers.

But there is more to this imagery. The “birds flying in midair” which are presumably vultures or eagles are also a symbol of foreign invaders as is the case in Hosea 8:1. The eagle of Hosea 8:1 is a metaphor for an invading nation. The eagle in Hosea 8 represents the Assyrian army. These birds in v. 17 which are presumably vultures or eagles may represent Rome. This bird or eagle imagery also calls to Matthew 24:28: “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures [eagles] will gather.”

Interestingly, the symbol of Rome was the eagle, the Aquila. The eagle, the Aquila, was the main ensign of the Roman legions and would have been visible high above the heads of the soldiers at the top of long poles held by the Roman standard bearers. Thus when the Roman army arrived to besiege the cities of Israel during the Jewish War metal eagles would have been seen held up above and amidst the ranks of the various legions. These eagles held high by their standard bearers are also “the birds flying in midair.” And like eagles viciously attacking their prey, Rome slaughtered their Israelite enemies. “[T]he flesh of the kings, generals and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great” is the flesh of the apostate Jews that these eagles representing Rome consumed.

revelation 13 commentary standard bearers

The eagle, the Aquila, was held up on a pole by a Roman standard bearer depicted above. Here one can see how these birds flew in midair.

19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army,

Preterism Explained, A Revelation 19:19 Commentary: In the First Century, both Israel and Rome Killed Christ and His People.

As explained above, when we compare Revelation 19:19 with vs. 8 and 14 together with Revelation 17:14 we learn that Christ army is composed at least in part by the saints. In Revelation 19:19 we see the beast and the kings of the earth gathered together to make war with Christ and His army. How did the beast and the kings of the earth make war with Christ and His army of saints?  Acts 4:25-27 and Matthew 25:40 appear to answer this question.

Acts 4:25-27 and Revelation 19:19 describe the same event:

Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’ “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed [emphasis mine].

The kings of the earth of v. 26 are identified in v. 27 as Herod and Pilate.  Here we see that in Acts 4:25-27 the kings of the earth are the kings of Israel. This is presumably also true in Revelation 19:19. Also notice that Acts 4:27 says that the gathering of the Gentiles and kings of the earth was fulfilled in the successful plot to kill Jesus: “In fact, this has happened here in this very city!” (Acts 4:27.)   Revelation 19:19 is a recapitulation of Acts 4:25-27 where we see the beast and the kings of the earth gathered together to make war on Christ during His crucifixion.

Not only did the beast and kings of the earth wage war on Christ by killing Him on the cross as stated in Acts 4:25-27 they also made war with Christ by killing His people.  In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, “‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine [the Christian saints], even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”  The murders of the first century Christian saints is, of course, also how the beast and kings of the earth made war with Christ’s army.

If the beast and kings of the earth “make war” with Christ by killing Him, then it follows that they also “make war” with Christ’s army, the saints, by killing them as well.  In Revelation 14:8 we see Babylon, Jerusalem, sharing her cup of the blood of the saints with the nations: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” Thus though the persecution of Christians began in Jerusalem, this persecution spread throughout the Roman Empire before it climaxed in the Nero’s persecution of A.D. 64.  Here we see in this joint persecution how the beast, Gentile Rome, the kings of the earth and Israel together made war with Christ’s army.

persecution of Christians

Revelation 19:19 Preterist Commentary: Titus intended to put an End to the Religion of the Jews and Christians according to Sulpicius Severus.  In Literal Fulfillment of Revelation 19:19, Titus also openly challenged God to War after He thought He killed God at the Destruction of the Temple according to the Talmud.

Above we explained how the beast and the kings of the earth waged war against the Lamb and His people by killing Jesus and His people per Matthew 25:40 and Acts 4:25-27.  That having been said, the beast’s war on Christ and His people may have also been quite a bit more deliberate and literal.  The beast’s war with the saints appears to have continued throughout the Jewish War.  Revelation 13:5-7 says that the beast waged war on the saints for 42 months, the exact length of time in which Titus and Vespasian besieged Israel: “It was also given to him to make war with the saints (Revelation 13:7).”  The fact that Titus waged war on the saints of Christ’s army and seemingly did so intentionally is stated by Sulpicius Severus in Chronica 2:30.7:

But others, on the contrary, disagreed–including Titus himself. They argued that the destruction of the Temple was a number one priority in order to destroy completely the religion of the Jews and the Christians: For although these religions are conflicting, they nevertheless developed from the same origins. The Christians arose from the Jews: With the root removed, the branch is easily killed. [Emphasis mine.]

Above one can see that Titus made “war against the rider on the horse and his army” by trying to destroy the religion of the Jews and Christians.  This, however, is not the only way in which Titus declared war on God.  According to Gittin 56b of the Babylonian Talmud, Titus LITERALLY and EXPLICITLY challenged God to war after he allegedly thought that he had killed God at the destruction of the Temple:

This was the wicked Titus who blasphemed and insulted Heaven. What did he do? He took a harlot by the hand and entered the Holy of Holies and spread out a scroll of the Law and committed a sin on it. He then took a sword and slashed the curtain. Miraculously blood spurted out, and he thought that he had slain God himself . . .” [Emphasis mine.]

Shortly thereafter, Gittin 56b of the Babylonian Talmud also records Titus saying, “If he [the rider on the horse, the God of Israel] is really mighty, let him come up on the dry land and fight with me.”

Why would Titus, a seemingly pragmatic person, wish to “destroy completely the religion of the Jews and Christians” as stated by Sulpicius Severus?  Both the Jews and Christians hoped in a future Messiah who they believed would overthrow Rome and build an empire centered in Jerusalem.  Titus appears to have wanted to destroy these two religions because as long as Judaism and Christianity taught the hope of a Messiah there would never be lasting peace with Rome.  (For an explanation as to why Titus would have also felt like he “needed” to blaspheme God see Why it Benefited Titus to Blaspheme God and also Credit God for his Success.)

But did Titus and Vespasian kill Christians during the Jewish Revolt?  Revelation 13:7, Matthew 24:17-22, Revelation 7:9-14, Revelation 12:13-17 and Revelation 6 all strongly imply that they did!  Remember, Revelation 13:5-7 says that the beast waged war on the saints for 42 months, the exact length of time in which Titus and Vespasian besieged Israel: “It was also given to him to make war with the saints (Revelation 13:7).”  Also recall that the woman of Revelation 12 and the 144,000 of Revelation 7 are the Christian saints of Jerusalem who fled to Pella and survived the war.  Yet after mentioning the 144,000 who are persevered from the plagues in Revelation 7 and the woman who is kept safe from the beast in Revelation 12 both chapters clearly state that there were a vast number of other Christian saints who did not escape the tribulation imposed upon Israel.  After mentioning the sealing of the 144,000, Revelation 7:9-14 says that “a great multitude” of saints “from every nation, tribe, people and language” came “out of the great tribulation.”  Similarly, after the woman escapes the dragon’s assault, the dragon afterwards “went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commandments and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17.)  Revelation 7 and 12 strongly imply that there must have been many Christian from all over the Roman world celebrating Passover in A.D. 70 who were trapped inside Jerusalem and ultimately killed by the Zealots and besieging Romans.  Matthew 24:17-22 and Revelation 6 also imply that Christians were killed during Titus’ siege of Jerusalem since the “great distress” of Matthew 24:21 fulfilled in the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 had to be “cut short” “for the sake of the elect” (Matthew 24:21-22). Similarly in Revelation 6:11 the martyrs are told “to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed.” The martyrs are told that other Christians were going to be killed in the fifth seal which appears to have been fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 since this seal follows the “famine” induced by the third and fourth seals. Through Titus’ blasphemous desire to fight with God and destroy the Jewish and Christian religions as well as his killing of Christians throughout his 42-month-long military campaign we see how the beast and the kings of the earth literally waged war on Christ’s army who as stated above are at least in part comprised of the saints. In Revelation 19 we see Jesus winning this war by coming in judgment on His murderers, the Romans and kings of the earth, who gathered together to “make war” with Him and His people by putting Him and His people to death both before and during the Jewish War.

Tiberius Alexander

Having addressed how the kings of the earth and the beast waged war on Christ and His army, let us now turn our attention to the identity of the kings of the earth of Revelation 19:19.  It is interesting to note that Titus’ army was led in a large part by former and current kings of Israel: Marcus Antonius Julianus, Tiberius Alexander and Agrippa II are three examples.  After Vespasian became emperor, Titus appointed Tiberius Alexander his second in command over the entire Roman army during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  Tiberius Alexander was procurator of Judaea during the reign of Caesar Claudius.  Marcus Antonius Julianus was procurator of Judaea during the Jewish revolt (A.D. 66-70).  Agrippa II was governor of large swaths of what is now modern Israel.  Agrippa II presided over the tetrarchy of Philip, Lysanias (Abilene), and Varus.8  Then when Nero became emperor he bestowed upon Agrippa large tracts of Galilee and Perea.  Agrippa II was also responsible for appointing the Jewish high priesthood, a position which he sold to the highest bidder.  When the Jewish War broke-out, Agrippa II allied himself with the Romans.  And after the capture of Jotapata, Agrippa II accompanied the Roman army throughout the remainder of the war and in explicit fulfillment of v. 19 even assisted them with his troops.9  After Vespasian was crowned emperor, Agrippa II also accompanied Titus during the Roman siege of Jerusalem.10  It should also be mentioned that Queen Berenice, the human embodiment of the whore of Babylon, also accompanied the Roman army during the Jewish War and during which had an adulterous affair with Caesar Titus in fulfillment of Revelation 17.11

Herod Agrippa II

Although the kings of the earth may be these former kings of Israel who helped lead Titus’ army, the kings of the earth could also be the ten horns in light of the similarities between Revelation 19:19 and Revelation 17:14.  Above we addressed how the kings of Israel and Rome waged war against the Lamb by killing Jesus and His people.  Did the ten horns, the ten Zealot leaders, also kill the saints?  Yes.  Well, at least one of them did.  One of the ten Zealot leaders listed by Josephus is Ananus II.12  Ananus II was responsible for killing James, Jesus’ biological brother as well as the leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem.13  Recall that according to Matthew 25:40 whatever one does to any Christian, they do this act to Christ: “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine [the Christian saints], even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Interestingly, James was not just a “brother” to Christ because he was a Christian, James was also LITERALLY Jesus’ brother in a biological sense.  The fact that Ananus II killed James, the leader of the church of Jerusalem and Jesus’ biological brother, shows how the ten horns also waged war against Christ in fulfillment of Revelation 17:14 and 19:19. 

20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.14  With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.  The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 

Revelation 19:20 Preterist Commentary: The Beast is Vespasian and the False Prophet is Titus.  The Miraculous Sign that Titus Performed is calling down Fire from Heaven.  The Image of the Beast is the Image of Vespasian on the Ensigns that the Roman Army Worshiped in the Temple in Jerusalem.

legion 12 revelation 19:20 commentary preterism

Under the leadership of Caesar Titus, the 12th Legion whose emblem is a lightning bolt aided in the burning of Jerusalem and its temple. This Legion is the “fire from heaven” mentioned in Revelation 13:13.

The two people mentioned in this verse are the two Roman generals of the Jewish War, Vespasian and Titus.  The beast mentioned in this verse is Vespasian.  The false prophet is Titus.  Titus is called the false prophet because of what he did to fulfill Revelation 13:11-18.  On the 9th of Av of A.D. 70, the Romans worshipped the ensigns in the temple in Jerusalem.  When the Romans worshipped these ensigns; one of which was the Imago, a three-dimensional image of Caesar; Titus presided over the worship of the ensigns as he was granted the title Caesar at his father’s coronation and thus would have also likely had his own image engraved on the phalerae cum imagines.  The phalerae cum imagines were coin-shaped images of the emperor and his favorites commonly attached to various ensigns of the era.15 Because Titus was both general and Caesar it was expected that he would preside over the false worship of his father, the emperor, and Rome in the Temple in Jerusalem, Titus is called the false prophet in this verse as stipulated by Deuteronomy 13:1-5:

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.  It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.  That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God[.]

Titus is called the false prophet because he presided over the worship of foreign gods in the Temple while providing a sign that these gods were real gods while YHWH was a false god.  This sign was the fire from heaven mentioned in Rev 13:13.  As explained in the commentary on Rev 13, this fire from heaven was fulfilled in the fact that the Roman army launched firebrands into Jerusalem during the siege of the city as they had done earlier in the war (Wars 3.7.9).  This fire from heaven was also a symbol of one of the legions which aided in the siege of Jerusalem, Legio XII Fulminata, the 12th Lightning Bolt Legion in addition to being a symbol of Rome itself.  The symbol of Rome was Aquila, the eagle that carried Zeus’ lightning bolt.  Aquila was the main ensign Titus’ army carried into battle.

When after displaying this sign of fire from heaven, Titus showed the Jews that these Roman gods that they worshiped on the ensigns were the true gods, not YHWH who allowed His Temple to be destroyed in addition to allowing foreign gods to be worshipped there.  Then after providing this sign, Titus ordered all the Jews left in the city to be killed: “So he [Titus] ordered this proclamation to be made to them, that they [the Jews of Jerusalem] should no more come out to him as deserters, nor hope for any further security; for that he would henceforth spare nobody, but fight them with his whole army.” (Wars 6.6.3) Thus Titus acted as a dark reflection of the prophet Elijah who after calling down fire from heaven also ordered everyone who would not worship his god, YHWH, to be killed (1 Kings 18:38-40).  It is also because of this similarity with the prophet Elijah that Titus is called the false prophet in this verse.

imago preterist commentary on Revelation 19:20

The Imago, or Image, was an ensign with a three dimensional image of Caesar. An imago or image of Caesar Vespasian was worshipped in the Jewish Temple in A.D. 70.

Revelation 19:20 Preterist Commentary: How Those Jews Who had received the Mark of the Beast were deluded by the Sign of Verse 20 . . .

Revelation 19:20 says that with this sign of Roman victory, the false prophet “had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.” Josephus says that many of the Jews of Jerusalem who were trapped in the city during the Roman siege of A.D. 70 hoped that the Romans would come and deliver them from the Zealots who threatened their lives during the siege.16  Given the fact that the Romans had seized the Temple, those Jews who had received the mark of the beast and were thus loyal to Rome thought that they were soon going to be saved from their zealot persecutors.  The following verse accurately predicts that they were deluded. As explained in the commentary on Revelation 13 when Titus seized the Temple, he ordered his troops to indiscriminately kill everyone they encountered in the city. Thus the Romans went on a killing spree killing everyone in Jerusalem without discriminating between those who were Roman rebels and those Jews who were loyal to Rome who had received the mark of the beast and were trapped in the city at the start of the war. Those Jews who had received the mark of the beast and were thus loyal to Rome were also killed alongside the zealot rebels and everyone else in Jerusalem. Before discussing who these Jews were who had the mark of the beast, let us first take a look at how the beast was cast alive into the lake of fire.

Revelation 19:20 Preterist Commentary: The Relationship between the Capture of the Beast and False Prophet and Ezekiel 38:3-8

Revelation 19:20 says that the beast and false prophet were “captured.”  The word translated “captured” here is epiasthē which means “taken” or “seized.” In translating this word “captured” gives one a sense of imprisonment. However, in Ezekiel 38:3-8 God puts “hooks in the jaws” of Gog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal, to bring him and his army to fight against the land of Israel.  When God puts “hooks in the jaws” of Gog it gives the readers a visual picture of Gog as a fish “captured” in a hook and line by the Lord.  When God “seized” or “captured” Gog in Ezekiel 38, He did not imprison the leader of this army. Instead, Gog was seized or “taken” to bring his army against Israel. Perhaps similar meaning is intended in v. 20?  Gog’s departure with his army is depicted as if Gog were “captured” by God.  Similar language is used in Revelation 19:20 perhaps also denoting another departure?

Revelation 19:20-21 Preterist Commentary: Why Revelation 19:20-21 Implies that the Beast and False Prophet Survived.

It generally believed that the beast and false prophet were killed in Revelation 19:20-21. However, the way in which Revelation 19:20-21 is worded seems to imply the opposite.  If the beast and false prophet were also killed along with the “rest” in v. 21, why is there a distinction made between the “two of them” (i.e. the beast and the false prophet) and “the rest who were killed”? “The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse” (Revelation 19:20-21).  The “sword coming out of the mouth of” Christ is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16).  Why does it say the “rest” were killed by the Word of God, were the beast and false prophet not killed by the Word of God? No. At least not at that time. If the beast and false prophet were also killed the text would be expected use an inclusive term, perhaps saying something like, “And the rest were also killed[.]”    In the absence of an “also” or some other nonexclusive term, this text implies that the beast and false prophet were not killed at that time. Interestingly, the author of Revelation seems to again imply their survival by stating that the beast and false prophet were thrown “alive” into the lake of fire: “The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 19:20).”

But what about Daniel 7:11?  “I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.”  At first glance Daniel 7:11 and Revelation 19:20-21 seem to be talking about the same event.  However, there appears to be a distinct difference between these two verses which seems to imply that they may be speaking of different, though related, events.  Revelation 19:20 reads, “The two of them [beast and false prophet] were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” [Emphasis mine.]  Yet the opposite appears to be suggested in Daniel 7:11: “I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.” [Emphasis mine.] In Revelation 19:20 the beast is explicitly said to be thrown “alive” into the fire. While in Daniel 7:11 the beast appears to already be “slain” or dead before it was cast into the flames.  This difference implies to me that there are two distinct events mentioned here.  In Daniel 7 we learn that the every member of both the Caesar and Flavian Dynasties was burned on a funeral pyre at death. But what about the casting of the beast into the fire in Revelation 19:20?

Revelation 19:20 Preterist Commentary: How were the Beast and the False Prophet Cast into the Abyss?

Some preterists believe that the lake of fire in which the beast and false prophet are cast is the burning city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  This verse is used as a selling point for those who believe the beast is apostate Israel. However, Rev 19:19 mentions the army of the beast.  It is important to remember that the Roman army was also present in this burning city. The Jews were not alone at that time.

That having been said there is more to the lake of fire of v. 20 than just the burning of Jerusalem.  This lake of fire is mentioned again in Revelation 20:10: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever [lit. “age of ages].”  Here we see that the devil, beast and false prophet are thrown into the same lake of fire where they are each tormented for the age of ages.  Regardless one’s view of the millennium, this “age of ages” refers to an era—presumably a lengthy one–after A.D. 70.  This means that the beast, false prophet and Satan are tormented in the lake of fire after A.D. 70 which means that this lake of fire cannot refer to the burning of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or at least there is more to this lake of fire than just the burning of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

The fact that there is more to the lake of fire than just the burning of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is also implied in Revelation 20:14 “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”  How was death and Hades thrown into a burning city?  Here we see that according to Revelation 20:14 “[t]he lake of fire is the second death.”  In other words, the lake of fire is at its root and core a spiritual realm of punishment.

Like Daniel 7:11, Revelation 19:20 appears to be an omen prophetically symbolizing the fate of the beast in the realm of the wicked dead after death (Luke 16:23-24, Rev 11) where according to Rev 20:10 they are tormented day and night for the age of ages.  One omen pointing to the fate of the beast in the realm of the wicked dead may be the burning of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 which they were “alive” amidst as predicted in Rev 20:10.  There appears to also be a second omen or portent that transpired during the Jewish War which also foreshadowed to the ultimate fate of the beast in the fiery realm of death (Luke 16:23-24, Rev 11).

As explained in In the Bible “Earth” Signifies the Specific Land Addressed While “Sea” Symbolizes Foreign Nations and The Poetic Biblical Link Between “Sea” and “Abyss” the Abyss is a dual metaphor for foreign nations and the realm of the dead concurrently throughout Revelation and much of the rest of the Bible.  If Rome is the Abyss then when the beast and false prophet are cast into the Abyss in v. 20 this would appear to denote Vespasian’s and Titus’ ultimate return to Rome, the Abyss, in A.D. 70.  Recall the beast and false prophet are cast “alive” into the Abyss (Rev 19:20).  Thus the fact that Vespasian and Titus survived the war appears to be implied in v. 20.

This interpretation is solidified by Revelation 9.  Here Apollyon and his locust army are said to rise out of the Abyss (Rev 9:1-3).  The fact that the Abyss is the lake of fire is implied in Rev 9:2: “When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.” Where there is smoke there is fire. Furthermore, Rev 19:20 refers to the lake of fire as burning SULFUR.  The fact that the Abyss is this lake of burning sulfur is again implied in Rev 9:17-19 which mentions this army from the Abyss producing FIRE, smoke and SULFUR.  Thus the Abyss is a synonym of the lake of fire.

As explained in the commentary on Revelation 9 Apollyon is a play on words for “Apollo” (Apollon in Greek) and “destroyer” a perfect description of Titus, the general of Legio XV Apollonaris (the 15th Apollonian Legion) who destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple in A.D. 70.  Apollyon is called “the angel of the Abyss.” (Revelation 9:11) Here Titus as Apollyon is said to rise out of the Abyss (the lake of fire) when he arrives at Jerusalem in A.D. 70 with his army.  Notice Titus was ALIVE before he arrived in Jerusalem to besiege the city.  In other words, Titus was ALIVE when he was previously in the Abyss (lake of fire).  So if Titus was PHYSICALLY ALIVE before he ROSE out of the Abyss (lake of fire) obviously he would still be ALIVE when he was cast back into Abyss (the lake of fire) just as is stated in Rev 19:20: “The two of them were thrown ALIVE into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”  Also the fact that Titus is called “the angel of the Abyss” in Rev 9:11, of course, also implies that he was alive while in the Abyss and thus would remain alive when he was cast back in Rev 19:20.

This is because as explained in In the Bible “Earth” Signifies the Specific Land Addressed While “Sea” Symbolizes Foreign Nations and The Poetic Biblical Link Between “Sea” and “Abyss”  the Abyss is a metaphor for Rome and the realm of the dead concurrently.  So if Titus as general of the 15th Apollonian Legion was alive before he arose out of the Abyss prior to his arrival at Jerusalem in A.D. 70, why would one expect him to be killed when he is cast back into the Abyss after the fall of Jerusalem in Revelation 19:20?  The reason Titus did not die at the fall of Jerusalem is because throughout Revelation and much of the rest of the Bible Gentile nations (i.e. the Roman Empire) are signified by the Abyss. So if Titus’ arrival in Jerusalem from Egypt, a Gentile nation which was part of the Roman Empire, is represented in Revelation 9 as Titus rising out of the Abyss, then if we are to remain consistent when Titus is cast back into the Abyss which is synonymous with the lake of fire (Rev 11, Luke 16:23-24) this must denote his return to the Gentile nations (i.e. Rome) after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

The same symbolism is denoted in Isaiah 28:14-18 and Ezekiel 37:1-14.  In Isaiah 28:14-18 the leaders of Judah are said to have made a “covenant with death” and an “agreement with Sheol.”  Like the Abyss/lake of fire, Sheol is also the realm of the dead.  This “covenant with death” and “agreement with Sheol” poetically refers to the treaty Ahaz, king of Judah, made with Assyria to destroy the king of Israel, Pekah, and the king of Syria, Rezin.  Thus in Isaiah 28:14-18 foreign nations like Assyria are called “Sheol” and “death.”

Ezekiel’s vision of the resurrection (Ezekiel 27:1-14) conveys the same message of foreign nations denoting death.  Here Ezekiel sees a valley of dried bones.  He then prophesies to these bones and they resurrect from the dead. The meaning of the vision is then explained to Ezekiel where this resurrection is a metaphor for the return of the Jews from exile: “Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” (Ez 37:12.)  If the return of the Jews from foreign nations is an omen of the resurrection of the dead, what does that imply when one leaves Israel?  This departure out of Israel to foreign nations according to Ezekiel 37 represents the metaphorical death of the Jews.  The same meaning is found in many other verses in the Bible and even appears in the Midrash Psalm 116:3 where “the power of the netherworld [Sheol/Abyss]” of Hosea 13:14 is interpreted as “the kingdoms” of the world.17  The same meaning appears implied in Rev 19:20 where the beast and false prophet are thrown into the Abyss (lake of fire) in A.D. 70.  Here the departure of the beast to Rome, the Abyss/death/lake of fire, is an omen denoting the death of the beast, as is often the case in the Bible and Jewish tradition.18

The fact that Titus and Vespasian “were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” is echoed in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 which literally reads, “And then the Lawless One will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will take away with the breath of his mouth and do away with by the splendor of his coming.”  (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12: A Preterist Commentary–The Man of Lawlessness Revealed!) Echoing this interpretation of Revelation 19:20 Titus is taken away and done away with in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 having left Jerusalem for Rome, the Abyss, at the fall of the city in A.D. 70.  Thus Revelation 19:20 and 2 Thessalonians 2:8 are both fulfilled in Titus’ departure to Rome, the Abyss, in A.D. 70 after Jerusalem fell.

It is sometimes thought that the casting of the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire must be fulfilled in the geopolitical fall of a kingdom.  The lake of fire is the Abyss (Rev 9).  The kingdom of the beast never fell geopolitically when it received its fatal wound (Rev 13:3) and was originally cast into the Abyss (Rev 9; 11:7; 17:8) and the outer darkness of death (Rev 16:10).  If the beast never fell geopolitically when it was originally cast into the Abyss/lake of fire, why would it suddenly fall when it is cast into the Abyss/lake of fire again in Rev 19:20?

In fact, the kingdom of the beast could not fall even at the death of the beast in light of Daniel 7:11-12: “I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.  (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to LIVE for a period of time.)”  The “other beasts” of Dan 7:12 are Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece which all fell long before the fourth beast came to power.  Notice that these three empires “were allowed to live” after they “had been stripped of their authority.” In other words, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece were still alive after they had fallen geopolitically. If “death” symbolizes the geopolitical fall of a kingdom, why are these three empires explicitly said to live after they had fallen?

A similar message is conveyed in the shattering of the statue of Daniel 2.  The shattering of the statue of Daniel 2 is equivalent to the death of the beast.  Yet according to Dan 2:35 all four metals of the statue are said to be “shattered at the same time.”  Since Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome all fell at different times this means that the shattering of the statue of Daniel 2, like the death of the beast in Dan 7:11-12, also cannot signify the fall of Rome (see Daniel 2: A Preterist Commentary and Daniel 7: A Preterist Commentary).

The second omen which foreshadows the casting of the beast and false prophet into the fiery realm of the wicked dead appears to be Titus’ and Vespasian’s living presence amidst the burning of Israel during the Jewish War which they themselves ordered as part of Rome’s scorched-earth policy. Notice that Revelation 19:20 says that the beast and the false prophet are cast “alive” into the lake of fire (for details see also Since the Abyss is Rome, the Abyss is Continually Present with the Beast and False Prophet.)  (Furthermore, in light of some interesting historical coincidences and peculiarities it appears that Jesus also came in judgment after A.D. 70 at the deaths of each member of the Flavian Dynasty from Vespasian to Domitian. For a detailed explanation of this evidence see The Miraculous Historical Appearance of Christ at the Death of the Beast Fulfills 2 Thessalonians 2:8 and Revelation 19:19-20.  See also The Fact that Israel Fell in A.D. 70 means Israel CANNOT be the Beast in light of Daniel 2:34-35 and 7:11-12 and Why All Prophecy Need Not be Fulfilled by A.D. 70 as Long as it All Wraps-Up Within the First-Century.)

Many Preterists are blind to Vespasian’s and Titus’ role in Revelation 19 and elsewhere because they assume that whoever the beast and false prophet are they must have been killed at the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.  This notion that the casting of the beast and the false prophet into a literal/symbolic lake of fire in A.D. 70 could be a sign of their impending fate in the true lake of fire after death sometime after A.D. 70 may seem foreign to many. However, this concept of employing omens symbolizing future realities is common in the Bible.

One example is Isaiah 7:12-16.  Here Ahaz, king of Judah (735–720 B.C.), is told that the Lord would give him a sign which would precede his deliverance from the two kings he dreaded.  That sign was a virgin who would bear a child (Isaiah 7:14).  This sign was fulfilled soon thereafter in Isaiah 8:3-4 when the prophetess bore a son which preceded Ahaz’s deliverance from his two enemies yet Isaiah 7:14 was also an omen ultimately pointing to the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:23).

A very similar example is found in the custom of baptism.  Romans 6:4-5 reads, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”  Obviously Christians do not physically die in baptism.  Though the Bible sometimes uses death as a metaphor for repentance, baptism is an act that ultimately symbolizes the future, literal death and resurrection of the saint as is made clear in Romans 6:5.  The same can be said concerning the beast and false prophet being cast into the lake of fire/Abyss.  Just as the Christian saint does not literally die the moment he or she is cast into the waters of baptism, the beast and false prophet also did not literally die when they were cast into the Abyss or lake of fire (notice the aquatic imagery in both omens).  Both aquatic submersions are symbols of a future death, not a literal physical demise at the moment of immersion.  The fact that the beast and false prophet do not die when they are first cast into the Abyss/lake of fire is, I believe, why the beast and false prophet are said to be cast into the Abyss/lake of fire “alive” (Rev 19:20)–just as is the saint in baptism who is also obviously submerged alive and thus does not physically die at the time.

We see death equated with departure from the Promised Land even as far back as Genesis 2-3.  In Genesis 2:16-17 God says to Adam, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die [emphasis mine].” When Adam ate the fruit he received the knowledge of good and evil that day. However, Adam did not die physically until hundreds of years later. The death that Adam was threatened with appears to have been exile from the Promised Land of God as Adam was, in fact, expelled from the Garden that day (Gensis 3:23). This exile from the Garden, like the Jews’ exile from Jerusalem in Ezekiel 37, appears to be the kind of death Adam experienced that day according to Genesis 2:16-17 and seemingly the kind of death the beast and false prophet experience in Revelation 19:20 as well.

21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 19:21 Preterist Commentary: The Sword in v. 21 is the Word of God.  The Unburied Dead became Food for Carrion Birds.

The sword that came out of the mouth of the rider of the horse is the Word of God.  Ephesians 6:16 indicates that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God.  Furthermore, in John 1 Christ is said to be the living Word of God.  Thus the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the Messiah in v. 15 is a symbol of Himself and His predictions concerning the coming judgment.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus warned the people of Israel of the coming war; those who failed to heed this warning were likely killed.  Though Titus and Vespasian survived, both the Jewish and Roman armies suffered heavy casualties throughout the course of the war.  The Jews, for the most part, did not bury the dead; thus the bodies of many Israelites were eaten by carrion birds according to v. 21.

Revelation 19:21 Preterist Commentary: Who were the “Rest” referred to in v. 21?

If the “rest of them” in v. 21 refers to the beast and his army, then this is a prime example of apocalyptic hyperbole. In the same way that “all” or “every” does not always mean “all” or “every” in the Bible (Matthew 2:1-3; 4:8 and 10:22), “rest” does not necessarily mean every single person other than the beast and the false prophet in these two armies. There were plenty of Jewish rebels and Roman soldiers who survived the war.

In fact, because there were so many survivors on both sides of this war it seems unlikely that the rest of the people referred to in v. 21 who were killed by the word of God were all the soldiers in the armies of the beast and the kings of the earth. Instead, it seems that the “rest” who were to be killed are the people who were deceived into receiving the mark of the beast mentioned in the previous verse. Let’s look at Revelation 19:20-21 again:

But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

It seems from the immediate context that the “rest” who were killed by the word of God appear to be those who were deceived by the false prophet into receiving the mark of the beast, not the entire multitude of Jewish rebels and Roman soldiers. Keep in mind that the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider is the Word of God. Declaring the Word of God, an angel warns the people of Jerusalem that if anyone receives the mark of the beast or worships his image they will be cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 14:9-11. (Recall that the earthly reflection of the Abyss, the lake of fire, was reflected on earth in the burning of Israel during the Jewish War.) Revelation 14:9-11 reads:

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”

Notice that worshiping the image of the beast and receiving the mark of the beast, the same two sins mentioned in Revelation 19:20, are mentioned in Revelation 14:9-11. And as stated in Revelation 14:9-11, those who do those things were to be cast into the lake of fire. This punishment sounds a lot like what happened to the “rest” of the people of Revelation 19:21.19  I believe God did, in fact, kill those in Israel who received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.20  But what is the mark of the beast, and why was it so bad?

imago cy prophecies fulfilled yet to be fulfilled

The Roman ensign called the Imago (image) was an image of the emperor.

Realized Eschatology and Revelation 19:21 Commentary: What is the Mark of the Beast, and Why was It so Bad?

In Revelation 13: A Preterist Commentary I explain in detail how there is an important link between the mark of the beast and its image and the death of Christ and His people (Revelation 17:6) that explains why those who have the mark of the beast and worship his image were to be punished.  Christians often assume that Jesus was simply killed for making divine claims (Matthew 26:65-66). However, the Gospels make it clear that there was a much more sinister motive underlying Jesus’ death.

The Jews had a lengthy history of killing potential Messiahs like Jesus (Matthew 2:3).  The reason they did this was because the Messiah was expected to rule over a sovereign Israel.  Israel was a Roman province.  Therefore if Jerusalem made Jesus or any other potential Messiah its sovereign king, this would be seen by the Romans as a declaration of independence which would result in an inevitable war (John 2:19-20;11:47-50; 19:15).  The civil and religious authorities and wealthy merchants of Jerusalem owed their wealth to the lucrative Temple economy in Jerusalem.  Not only would a war with Rome threaten to destroy the Temple, the source of their great wealth, it would also further impoverish them through pillaging and destruction of property.

Thus Jesus was killed by the rich in order to prevent a war with Rome that would threaten all that they possessed (Matthew 2:3; 19:24; Luke 11:39; 16:13-15, 19-31; James 5:6).  The mark of the beast is a spiritual mark of greed placed on the wealthy elite who horded Roman money and plotted to kill the Messiah in order to stay wealthy.  It is also a physical mark since according to Revelation 13:16-17 no one could buy or sell without the mark of the beast.  Roman money was also said to be marked with the image of Caesar in the front of the coin and often arrayed in deified form on the back as well.  Thus these coins also literally contained the “image of the beast.”  Roman money perfectly represents Israel’s ultimate spiritual sin, greed. This is why Jesus says “[T]he love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10).”  This was certainly true of first century Israel.  It was money marked with the deified images of Caesar that was the true God of the Jewish elite.  This idolatrous love of money (Colossians 3:5-6) is how the Jewish elite had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.

Caesar Augustus coin Explain Daniel 11, Daniel chapter 11 commentary, Daniel 11 prophecy fulfilled, the willful king, daniel king of the north

A denarius minted c. 18 BC. Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS; reverse: DIVVS IVLIV[S] (DIVINE JULIUS)

Revelation 19:21 Full Preterist Commentary: How were the “Rest” of Them that received the Mark of the Beast and Worshipped Its Image Killed?

Having established the crime for which the “rest” were killed in Revelation 19:21, let us now focus on how the “rest” of those who have received the mark of the beast were killed.  The “rest” namely the rich and greedy who took part in the deaths of Jesus and His people were largely killed in v. 21 by their own people, the Zealots.  Recording the fulfillment of Revelation 19:21, Josephus says the following concerning how the wealthy people of Israel who had the mark of the beast were killed by the Zealot rebels:

Now when these were quieted, it happened, as it does in a diseased body, that another part was subject to an inflammation; for a company of deceivers and robbers got together, and persuaded the Jews to revolt, and exhorted them to assert their liberty, inflicting death on those that continued in obedience to the Roman government, and saying, that such as willingly chose slavery ought to be forced from such their desired inclinations; for they parted themselves into different bodies, and lay in wait up and down the country, and plundered the houses of the great men, and slew the men themselves, and set the villages on fire; and this till all Judea was filled with the effects of their madness. And thus the flame was every day more and more blown up, till it came to a direct war [emphasis mine].21

During the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the rich people who survived and remained in Jerusalem were pillaged and often killed by the Zealots.  Josephus says the following concerning the slaughter of the rich people of Jerusalem by the combined forces of the Zealots and Idumeans:

But for the noblemen and the youth, they [the Zealots and Idumeans] first caught them and bound them, and shut them up in prison, and put off their slaughter, in hopes that some of them would turn over to their party; but not one of them would comply with their desires, but all of them preferred death before being enrolled among such wicked wretches as acted against their own country. But this refusal of theirs brought upon them terrible torments; for they were so scourged and tortured, that their bodies were not able to sustain their torments, till at length, and with difficulty, they had the favor to be slain. Those whom they caught in the day time were slain in the night, and then their bodies were carried out and thrown away, that there might be room for other prisoners. . . .  and there were twelve thousand of the better sort who perished in this manner.22

Again mentioning the slaughter of the rich people of Jerusalem by the Jewish rebels, Josephus writes the following:

[F]or he [John] permitted them to do all things that any of them desired to do, while their inclination to plunder was insatiable, as was their zeal in searching the houses of the rich; and for the murdering of the men, and abusing of the women, it was sport to them. They also devoured what spoils they had taken, together with their blood[.]23

The Zealots hated the rich because of their loyalty to Rome, the Zealots’ seemingly invincible enemy.  For this act of “treason” and out of desperation, the Zealots often killed and robbed the wealthy out of both hatred as well as the need for provisions to feed the war effort: “But as for the richer sort, it proved all one to them whether they staid in the city or attempted to get out of it, for they were equally destroyed [by the Zealots] in both cases; for every such person was put to death under this pretense, that they were going to desert [to the Romans],–but in reality that the robbers might get what they had [emphasis mine].”24  Many of these rich Israelite Roman sympathizers were outright and opening killed by the radical Zealots and their Idumean allies as were Ananus, the high priest; Jesus; and Zacharias. However, many were also indirectly killed by famine as a result of losing all their food, money and provisions to these Zealot robbers during the siege of the city.25  Thus it was primarily by the hands of the Zealots that the “rest” of those who had worshiped the mark of the beast and its image were killed according to the word of God in fulfillment of v. 21.

Though those Jews loyal to Rome who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped its image were largely killed by their own people, they were also ironically killed by the Romans whom they adored. When Titus called down fire from heaven acting as a type of Elijah, an act that resulted in the Roman’s seizing the strongest fortress in Jerusalem, the Temple, those Jews who had received the mark of the beast thought that the Romans were soon going to save them from their mutual enemies, the zealots. However as predicted in Revelation 19:20 these people were deluded. Revelation 19:19 reads, “With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.” As explained in the commentary on Revelation 13 when Titus seized the Temple, he ordered his troops to indiscriminately kill everyone they encountered in the city. Thus the Romans went on to kill everyone in Jerusalem without discriminating between those who were Roman rebels and those Jews who were loyal to Rome who had received the mark of the beast. Thus those Jews who were deluded into thinking that they were going to be saved by the Romans in v. 20 were ultimately killed by them alongside the zealot rebels and everyone else in the city.

As punishment for their roles in the death of Christ and His people, God seems to have put it in the hearts of His enemies to gather them together to kill one another as God had also done for his people in Judges 7:22 and 2 Chronicles 20:21-23. This great slaughter in v. 21 was a consequence of the word of God. Here Christ is the puppet master whose sword, His word, causes this great slaughter. In fact so many people were killed by the famine induced by the Roman siege of the city that the people of Jerusalem did not bury the dead. Eventually, so many corpses piled up that the people of Jerusalem ended up throwing these dead bodies over the walls of the city to become literal food for literal carrion birds.

The fact that birds literally gorged themselves on the dead in v. 21 also appears to convey a symbolic message. This image of the dead being cast out of the city to the carrion birds is also a picture of the dead who received the mark of the beast being hurled out of Jerusalem to the Roman army encamped outside the city. Recall that the symbol of Rome was the eagle Aquila. Thus the birds feasting on the flesh of the unrighteous in v. 21 appears to symbolize the Roman army represented by the eagle Aquila figuratively feasting on the flesh of the dead who received the mark of the beast. This image of Rome depicted as an eagle feasting on a corpse is echoed in Matthew 24:28 when Jesus said, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” The word translated vulture in Matthew 24:28 also means eagle. Revelation 19:21 and Matthew 24:28 were both fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. See the preterist commentary on Matthew 24.

Revelation 19:21 preterist commnetary: eagles eating

The symbol of Rome was the eagle–here depicted feasting on carrion.

In the next chapter, John is given a glimpse of a distant war.  One thousand years after the war with Rome, Satan is released.  With the help of his servant Alp Arslan, Satan deceived the nations; and Israel was again engulfed in war.  Revelation 20 describes what happened.

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Interested in THE PRETERIST VIEW OF ESCHATOLOGY, or are you a PRETERIST struggling with a prophecy or verse?  It DID happen just like the Bible says!  If you liked this essay, see PRETERIST BIBLE COMMENTARY for a detailed explanation of the FULFILLMENT OF ALL MAJOR END TIME PROPHECIES IN THE BIBLE. The more unbelievable the prophecy, the more amazing and miraculous the fulfillment! Also see Historical Evidence that Jesus was LITERALLY SEEN in the Clouds in the First Century. For an explanation of how the end of the age and its fulfillment during the Jewish War mirror Genesis 1-3; how the Bible teaches that the resurrection of the dead is a resurrection of heavenly bodies to heaven, not a resurrection of perfected earthly bodies; and how the resurrection is a mirror opposite of the fall see How the Jewish War and Resurrection to Heaven Mirror Genesis and the Fall; and How Preterism fixes the Age of the Earth Problem and unravels the Mysteries in Genesis. Previous                                                                                                                                          Next

Preterist Commentary on Revelation 19: Conclusion

            As stated in this preterist commentary on Revelation 19, the army in the clouds in A.D. 66 meets all Biblical criteria concerning the second coming and is the literal fulfillment of Revelation 19:11-14.  Previous                                                                                                                                          Next

A Preterist Commentary on Revelation 19

  1. The chapter divisions in the Bible are almost entirely random.  The original manuscripts contained no chapters or verses.  These were added later for ease in looking up verses.
  2. John Wesley Hanson, A.M., The Greek Word Aion—Aionios Translated Everlasting—Eternal in the Holy Bible, Shown to Denote Limited Duration (Chicago: Northwestern Universalist Publishing House, 1875), 3.  This book may be viewed online at http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Aion_lim.html (7/1/2006).
  3. Milton S. Terry, Biblical Apocalyptics: A Study of the Most Notable Revelations of God and of Christ, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), 157.
  4. Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.5.3.
  5. Tacitus The Histories 5.13.
  6. H. B. Swete argues that the rider on the white horse is not likely to be Christ because “[a] vision of the victorious Christ would be inappropriate at the opening of a series which symbolizes bloodshed, famine, and pestilence.” (Henry B. Swete, D.D., F.B.A., The Apocalypse of St. John: The Greek Text With Introduction Notes and Indices, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1908), 86.)  This is a fallacious objection. As explained in the preterist commentary on Revelation 6, the seven seals climax in the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70 which led to “bloodshed, famine, and pestilence.”  This siege fulfilled the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) and the Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27).  In the Parable of the Ten Minas the Jews who rejected Christ and killed His people shortly afterwards are represented by subjects who did not want a prince (Jesus Christ) to be their king who later returned as king (during the Parousia) to kill those people (Luke 19:11-27).  According to the Parable of the Wedding Banquet this vengeance upon Christ’s enemies was accomplished by an army led by Christ (Matthew 22:7), similar to the armies implicitly led by the four horsemen of Revelation 6.  Thus not only is the argument that the rider on a white horse cannot be Jesus Christ because he leads an army causing bloodshed, famine and pestilence false, the fact that this rider brings on these calamities is actually evidence that this rider is, in fact, Jesus Christ in light of Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 19:11-27.  For further evidence that it is Christ who ultimately leads and guides the Romans to enact His judgments on Palestine during the Jewish War see Revelation 10: A Preterist Commentary.
  7. Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.5.3.
  8. Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 20.7.1.
  9. Sir Charles Moore Watson, The Story of Jerusalem, 2nd ed. (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1918), 109.
  10. Tacitus The Histories 5.1.
  11. It is important to note that the kings of the earth in v. 19 are also the kings of the earth who mourn over Babylon’s fall in Revelation 18:9.  Agrippa II and Berenice allied themselves with Rome in the hope that the Romans would aid them in regaining their lost kingdom after it had been stripped from them by rebels during the revolt.  Thus these kings of Palestine no doubt hoped Jerusalem would peacefully surrender to Rome as Jerusalem was the crown jewel of Palestine being a city of great wealth and splendor.  It would be a great honor to rule this city and thus these kings did not wish to see it destroyed.  Furthermore, as stated above Agrippa II would have mourned the destruction of the Temple in particular as he profited greatly off of it having sold the position of high priest to the highest bidder.

    That having been said one might object to the idea that the ten horns of Revelation 17 are included among the kings of the earth mentioned in Revelation 18:9 or 19:9 since they are said to hate the whore of Babylon and sought to bring her to ruin (Revelation 17:16).  This is the exact opposite response of the kings of the earth who mourn over the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18:9. (G.K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2013), 883.) The former kings of the Palestine (i.e. Agrippa II, Queen Berenice and Tiberius Alexander) certainly did not hate the whore of Babylon as did the ten horns of Revelation 17:16 as they were themselves two of its most prominent members.

    But does the fact that the kings of the earth having mourned the fall of the whore of Babylon preclude these men from being the ten Zealot leaders?  Not necessarily, the whore of Babylon is Jerusalem and she is depicted as a whore because of her adultery against God with Rome.  However, like any whore, Babylon is also expected to have many lovers.  During the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, those who were trapped in the city were divided into two camps: those loyal to Rome and those who wanted independence.  If one defines the whore of Babylon as just those people of Jerusalem whose loyalty to Rome inspired them to kill Jesus and the saints, then certainly the majority of the Zealot leaders, though not all as will be explained below, would not mourn their deaths.  If the whore of Babylon is understood to refer to the entire city of Jerusalem that was afflicted with the plagues of Revelation (which I think is more likely to be true), then the zealot leaders would certainly mourn the fall of this city.  Even though they did not wish this city to fall, it is still not be inaccurate to say that they hated this whore or city (Revelation 17:16) since they robbed, plundered and killed so many people therein relatively indiscriminately throughout the siege in addition to those they killed out of suspicion of being Roman traitors.

  12. Josephus The Wars of the Jews 2.20.3-4.
  13. Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 20.9.
  14. A few manuscripts read “the beast was seized and the ones with him, the false prophet.”  G. K. Beale believes it is likely that this textual variant occurred as a scribal error though it is possible that it may be early evidence of “an early corporate interpretation of the false prophet.”  (G.K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2013), 969.)  Could the false prophet be more than one person as is the case with the Lawless One of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9?
  15. Raffaele D’Amato, Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1) 112BC-AD 192 (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2018), 26; Andrew Macgeorge, Flags (Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Outlook, 2020), 13; Varusschlacht im Osnabrucker Land Museum und Park Kalkriese website: https://www.kalkriese-varusschlacht.de/en/the-varus-battle/the-romans/the-roman-army/legionary-eagle-and-army-standards/ (6/16/2021).
  16. Josephus The Wars of the Jews 5.1.5.
  17. G.K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2013), 387.
  18. It could be argued that the beast does die in A.D. 70 at the fall of Jerusalem when Titus departs back to the Abyss after all the beast completes its seven heads at that time as Nero is the sixth head and Vespasian, the seventh head.  However, the fact that Titus left Jerusalem does not mean that is when the beast truly died.  Recall that the beast does not die until the end of the Flavian Dynasty, I believe it is only an omen of its impending death.  The same meaning is implied in Rev 9 which speaks of the beast rising out of the Abyss (lake of fire) when Titus arrived in Jerusalem. Here again the arrival of Titus to Jerusalem to besiege the city is probably not the precise time in which the beast rises out from the dead, this when the beast starts to show signs of life and is thus a sign of its resurrection at the fall of Jerusalem 5 months later when Rome’s last pocket of resistance was crushed.  Also it is important to note the frequent use of “already, but not yet” in the Bible.  In other words, the Bible often conveys that something is a present reality although it is understood to not truly be present but rather impending (Mt 23:38, Rev 14:8). A very similar example is the fact that the saints are said to be alive in Christ at a time up to almost forty years prior to the resurrection of A.D. 70.  Another very similar example is Genesis 2:17 where Adam is told that if he ate of the tree of knowledge that the “day” he ate it “he would surely die.”  Of course Adam died physically 930 years later (Genesis 5:5). The same meaning is likely intended by the implicit death of the beast in Rev 19:20.  Here the beast is implied to die at Titus’ departure to Rome but does not truly die until the death of Domitian twenty-six years later in A.D. 96 at the end of the Flavian Dynasty.
  19. I believe the Abyss and the lake of fire are one and the same.  Notice that in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus it is the rich man who is cast into the Abyss (Luke 16:19-31).
  20. Perhaps it is also possible that the rest of them who were killed by the sword is a reference to the death of the beast when the beast was cast into the Abyss, the realm of the dead, mentioned in Daniel 7:11; Revelation 9:1-3; 9:11; 11:7; 13:3; 16:10; and 17:8?
  21. Josephus The Wars of the Jews 2.13.6.
  22. Ibid., 4.5.3.
  23. Ibid., 4.9.10.
  24. Ibid., 5.10.2.424.
  25. Ibid., 4.5.

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