Revelation, Chapter 19
A "great supper" of flesh was prepared by the kings, their military men, their warriors and horses; themselves! The supper of flesh was the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies, who gathered together to war against "The Word" and his host of the heavens. The supper is wholly consumed by its gruesome carrion eating 'guests.'
In anticipation of this victory, in heaven a service of giving praise is assembled around the throne of God. "The Word" who is the embodiment of everything spoken in the Old Testament concerning the manner of conduct, speech and life of "the holy one" of the LORD, now becomes the earth's "King of kings," and its "Lord of lords." He has sat beside the Father until this time when his enemies are literally made his footstool. The time of the marriage of the Lamb has come; his wife is ready to follow him.
John, like Elishah, sees the heaven open, showing the "armies" which
follow the Word of God as he - the Word - now with his redeemed holy ones,
begins his rule on earth - to smite and to tend the nations; and to judge
righteously for God, the Almighty One.
1 And with these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in the heaven saying, Hallelujah! The salvation and the glory and the honor and the power of the LORD, our God.
"With these things;" meta tauta. "Meta," 3326. Concurring with the end of the things which John has just reviewed.
"Voice;" phonee, 5456. When John hears the "voice" obviously the sound is what impresses him.
"Loud;" megas, 3173. It is a great sound!
"Multitude;" oklos, 3793. A crowd of groups; a company.
"Great;" polus, 4183. Many, much people.
"Heaven; ouranos, 3772. Above the mountain. The sound travels through the sky and onto the earth below.
"Hallelujah." Praise to Yah! The phrase is Hebrew, meaning "Praise to Yah." Most probably the translators transliterate the phrase because its singular concept does not fit into accepted Christian doctrine of a triune Godhead. YAH is the supreme king of kings and supreme lord of lords in His heavenly realm. He did the strange work on behalf of the Son in order to establish his throne for the millennial rule.
"Salvation;" soteria, 4991. Safety! For the blessed and for the redeemed.
"Glory;" doxa, 1391. Both are generated by His light and absorbed through praise and thanksgiving from His creatures!
"Honor;" timee, 5092. Receiving both respect and obedience to His commands.
"Power;" dunamis, 1411. Having the ability to perform with strength. These four majesties are exhibited for all to see.
"The LORD, our God." Kurios, our
theos. This assessment
is the witness of the great heavenly multitude who are the fellow servants
of the holy prophets and apostles and disciples of the Christ. YAH
is the name of the Lord who is God over all. The LORD's fellowship
with the Son, and His corroborating witness from heaven on his behalf is
noted in many places in the N.T.
2 For true and righteous are His judgments, for He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and He did avenge the blood of his servants from her hand.
"True;" aleethinos, 228. See the word list. Patterns and lines that are exact in their representation are "true."
"Righteous;" dikaios, 1342. Being just and a justifier of right actions.
"His." The pronoun refers to Yah, who is "the LORD, our God." Verse four is explicit as to whom this God is, while verse five and six imply that "the voice" (the "voice" of His councilors) from beside the throne also acquiesces in praise of Yah, Who is the Almighty God and LORD of all new creation.
"Judgments;" krisis, 2920. The outcome of the critical times in life are judgments. These crises are usually not easily subject to change once they are commenced. Often they change the course of one's life. One can only be positioned in safety within, or outside, the matter of the crisis!
"Great harlot." The "great harlot" was examined in detail in Chapter Seventeen.
"Corrupted;" phthiro, 5351. To cause to be destroyed through wasting of content; Daniel 11:32.
"Earth;" gee, 1093. Primarily "the Land;" from there "the lie" spreads into all parts of the earth.
"Fornication;" pornia, 4202. Whoredom or unclean acts that follow as a result of "the lie" being accepted as truth. The most likely thing disseminated is tacit approval of amoral acts and work, with anti-Semitic activity.
"Avenge;" ekdikeo, 1556. In the opening of the fifth seal the question was asked, 6:10: "How long, O LORD holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" The answer has come at last. Vengeance has been fully repaid to the earth's dwellers.
"Blood;" haima, 129. The harlot's deeds of fornication produce the bloodshed. The placement of "the abomination" of the desolation was the last deed calling for judgment during the "great tribulation - of Jacob's trouble."
"Servants;" doulos, 1401. This is the word that is continually used to define the worshipper of the One true God. This is pointed out in Romans 14:4, and certainly is a point that is emphasized in the Law of Moses. Even Abraham's experience showed the triumph of faith outside the experience of any law. There is no demeaning in being labeled as a "servant" of God; the angels are also fellow servants of God with us!.
"Her hand;" kir, 5495. From the drink in her hand holding the
golden cup, 17:4, with its contents. See Zechariah 12:2 - since the prophecy
of The Revelation treats "the secret Babylon" as a city that pours
out astonishment and desolation, and abominations all over the land. Read
the other Hebrew prophets too, concerning "the cup of His fury."
3 And a second time they said, Hallelujah! And her smoke goes up for the ages of the ages.
"Second time." The repetition legally confirms the first statement.
"Hallelujah." "Praise to Yah" is the gist. The glory for the work now accomplished belongs to the Father Who purposed and created all these things for His son's dominion.
"Smoke;" kapnos, 2586. By metaphor the smoke of the "burning" of the chaff and tares as they continue to be gathered and thrown onto the fire.
"For the ages of the ages." Aion, 165. The smoke from the consumption
rises during all the years that mortals will yet exist during the thousand
years.
4 And the twenty-four elders fell down and the four living creatures, and worshipped the God who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen. Hallelujah.
"Elders;" presbuteros, 4245. Individuals of ancient age.
"Creatures;" zoon, 2226. The elders and the creatures of life are parties of the council of the LORD. Throughout the days of the revealing of Jesus Christ the elders are active assistants in the events of the judgment.
"Worshipped;" proskuneo, 4352. They pay their respect and do obedience to Him.
"God;" theos, 2316. The "Mighty One" named Yah, Whom they praised and praise again.
"Throne;" thronos, 2362. The seat of God's power and authority.
"Amen;" ameen, 281. "Verily" is the word favored in the translation of the Gospel records of the speech used by the Lord, Jesus Christ. In John's gospel the word is doubled, and in all four books the word is usually followed by the phrase, "I say unto you..," showing the full authority from the Father which he had from the Father to speak what, and how, he did. By commandment of God, instructed as his Father's "scribe," he spoke and revealed "new teaching" concerning the kingdom of heaven.
"Hallelujah." 239. In 19:1,3,4,6 only. "Praise to Yah."
5 And a voice came forth from the throne saying, Praise our God, all His servants and you who fear Him, both the small and the great.
"Voice;" phonee, 5456. The voice surely belongs to Someone New who sits at the Father's right hand.., or else it is (in all instances) the court crier's voice.
"Saying;" lego, 3004. Telling.
"Praise our God..." The voice therefore commends the whole community to "our" God.
"Servants;" doulos, 1401. These are they who give their life, or have literally shed their blood, in faithfulness to the Heavenly Master.
"You who fear..." Is there, then, some subtle distinction between the servant and "you who fear?"
"Him." Him Who is Yah.
6 And I heard as a voice of a great multitude, and as a sound of many waters, and as a sound of strong thunders saying, Hallelujah, for the LORD, the God Almighty has ruled.
The response to the command comes as the greatest sound.
"Hallelujah, for the LORD the God Almighty has ruled." The responding
sound is that voice of great praise and great joy in the work
that has
been completed and done on their behalf.
7 We should rejoice and should exult and should give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife did make herself ready.
The joy and the praise are to be immediately celebrated in the Lamb's marriage supper!
"Rejoice;" kairo, 5463. To be made glad and happy. See 11:10, a definite contrast with the happy event seen here!
"Exult;" agalliao, 21. Literally leaping with joy, as the root 242 indicates.
"Give glory." The phrase "to give him glory" might also read "to produce him his glory" (which is about to indeed happen).
"Marriage;" gamos, 1062. The final binding act that makes two individuals into one. The marriage is the good fulfillment of the engagement or espousal contract. The marriage is legitimatized upon the positive affirmation of the worthiness of the good faith returned on the "earnest" of the Spirit - which was given in earlier times in order to assist in fulfillment of the elected one's vow.
"The Lamb." The Lamb of God was the sacrifice offered for the redemption of the Holy Spirit's "earnest." Whereas adversity to the spirit of God entered the world through the serpent's evil thinking, the work of the Lamb of God nullified that power and brought righteousness, salvation and eternal life to earth.
"His wife;" gunee, 1135. The character of his latter day "wife" is shown somewhat in Chapter Twelve, where she is shown being subjected to the persecutions of the dragon, beast and false prophet. "Many of the last shall be (the) first," Jesus said.
"Ready;" hetoimazo, 2090. She is prepared. See 1 Corinthians
2:9; Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 12:6. There is a point, and conditions,
at which all earthly physical things become spiritual.
8 And it was given to her so that she should be clothed in fine linen, pure and bright; because the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the holy ones.
"It was given to her." The acknowledgment of her judgment for doing good work. "Well done, good and faithful servant..." The servant's robe removed, she is given a dress of pure, bright fine linen.
"Clothed.., pure and bright." Like the pure and bright clothing of the angels, who wear a clothing of heavenly Light. She is glorified with the Lord.
"Fine linen." The quality of the "cloth" is indicated. The weave
of cloth and its color and ability to reflect light always affects the
price paid for it! Like pearls or gems of great value, what one agrees
to pay is the right price. One parable is based on this principle. Her
dress is made the righteousness of the holy ones; the angels. Made like
the angels, as Paul wrote, resplendent in Light. "Clothed about with the
sun," per Rev. 12:1.
9 And he says to me, Write, blessed are they who are called to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb. And he says to me, These are the true words of God.
"Write;" grapho, 1125. This is one of a number of times that John is urged to put his pen to the paper, with words of good news!
"Blessed;" makarios, 3107. The happy time has come to mark the 1,335th day, per Daniel 12, when each redeemed person shall stand up in his appointed lot!
"Supper;" dipnon, 1173. The evening meal; the wedding feast. See John 2:1-2 (and related parables) for the context of the wedding meal.
"True;" aleethinos, 228. As in verse two and eleven. All the words which God has uttered have now come true; having been put to the test, they are proved.
"Words;" logos, 3056. An utterance; a speech. The literal substance of what He said; the combined word substance and their Spirit; the gist of His words demonstrated in the speaking; particularly in reference to all the documents of the Old Testament which contain the full Word of God according to His purpose in the earth. In Hebrews 1:3 the King James Authorized Version text defines "logos" as, "the express image of His person;" whereas the Greek text quite literally says "the character of His understanding." Hence, Paul often uses the expressions "the mind of Christ" and "mind of the LORD." See verse thirteen.
"God;" theos, 2316. The Father; the One Existing in Light who
bears the Name of Yahweh. The Almighty GOD.
10 And I fell before his feet to do homage to him. And he says to me, See not! I am fellow servant of you and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Do homage to God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
"Fell ...to do homage;" proskuneo, 4352. In the Oriental custom that Islam practices during prayer.
"See not;" optanomai, 3700. Do not "observe the custom" toward himself; i.e., do not worship him for he, the angel, with John and his brethren, is also a fellow servant, serving under the command of Christ.
"Do homage to God." John's error is rebuked and redirected toward true worship.
"For;" gar, 1063. "Always translated as 'for' except when it
is not." Used to indicate a cause, an explanation or to explain reason.
There is an ellipsis here. John is admonished to worship God because the
spirit of all Biblical prophecy is a witness toward Jesus Christ who is
the "Son whom He appointed heir of all things on account of whom He made
the ages," Hebrews 1:2.
11 And I saw the heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and he who sits upon it called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
Since the opening of the sixth seal of Revelation 6:12-17, when the signs in the sun, moon and stars became openly evident just before the first of the five major worldwide earthquakes, the world knows that the day of the LORD has come. Beside being the warning signs of the Lord's coming, as expressed by Jesus in the Gospel writings, these same earthquake signs were prophesied by John the Baptist (when he quoted Isaiah 40:4-5) about the coming day of the Lord.
In that day Jerusalem's "warfare is accomplished, her iniquity (is) pardoned; she has received double of the LORD's hand for all her sins," Isaiah 40:2. The Revelation's truly "opened heaven" reveals His judgment through the One promised of God. There is no question but that "every eye shall see it."
"Heaven opened." The Lord once promised Nathaniel that he should see the heaven opened, and the angels of heaven descending and ascending upon him. In the context of the day of the Lord, as indicated by Isaiah's prophecy of the time, "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all flesh shall see together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Thus the text of Revelation 1:7 affirms His Word: He comes with the judgments of wrath, and to claim his throne.
"Behold." Again, this is the word that says, "PAY ATTENTION!"
"White horse." The white horse, with its rider, was first introduced under the first seal of Revelation 6, along with the tokens of authority describing the rider's commission. The identity of the rider was confirmed in the fifth seal in the plea, "O Master, holy and true, how long until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the Land?" The holy and true Master goes forth judging with vengeance following the signs of his coming, as per the accounts. Meanwhile, the unholy and the untrue False Prophet, present and opposing the LORD's purpose, is busy subverting the people and the land to his evil end. The end for the dragon and the beast is quite near. Verse fourteen shows how it will come about.
"Faithful and True." Following the interpretation above, the name of the horseman is revealed during the unfolding of the prophetic commission of events as the last hour of the day of the LORD progresses to its climax. (The continuous historical identity of Constantine as the horseman of the fifth seal absolutely has no place here; its adherents are beguiled.) Only the Lamb - the Lion of Judah - is worthy to open the contents of the seven sealed book.
"In righteousness; he judges and makes war." (Nor could this
ever be said of Constantine!) Only One faithful and true makes righteous
wars. See Jeremiah's prophecy: 23:5-8; 33:14-18. Verses 11-16 agree with
Jeremiah's assessment of the whole panoply of the Name. The Name of the
LORD will come from his "far country" one day soon to do the judgment and
the vengeance, Isaiah 61:2b.
12 And his eyes were as a flame of fire and upon his head many diadems, having a name written which no one knows but him.
"Eyes;" ophthalmos, 3788. The ophthalmic organs of sight are first noted in 1:14; having the same eyes as the Son of man who stands in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands, hot and flashing eyes that resemble the tongues of fire as they flicker or glitter in the darkness. The Lord prefers fiery eyes that burn, (contrast with the temperature parameter stated in Revelation 3:16). "The light of the body is the eye," says he, Matthew 6:22; Luke 11:34. It can be either a cold light, or hot eyes; single, never lukewarm or tepid.
"Upon his head many diadems;" diadeema, 1238. The true crown (not the stephanos). The word appears only three times in the Christian Scriptures: Revelation 12:3; 13:1 and here in 19:12. Its significance is found in the Hebrew Scriptures, root of all true Christian hope. "Many" signifies a plural number of offices within the crown.
"Having a name written." Everyone has a name, written or spoken; this name is an exceptional name among men.
"Which no one knows but him." Because, his perception of his
Father's Name and the Word concerning it, was exclusive to him alone. The
definition points to "the son (of man) whom Thou made strong for Thyself,"
Psalm 80:15,17.
13 And clothed with a garment dipped in blood and his name is called the Word of (the) God.
"Clothed;" periballo, 4016. Wearing about himself one article of dress.
"Garment;" himation, 2440. The Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word is found in Psalm 22:18 (which is quoted in John 19:24; "they part my garments.")
"Dipped in blood;" bapto, 911. This singular garment is thoroughly saturated with blood, as the verb bapto indicates, again and again plunged into blood, and stained with it. The description of the garment is both literal and metaphorical, according to what has been written concerning his unique Name.
"Name;" onoma, 3686. His cognomen. The mystery of the name confounds many Christians and Jews. See 2:3,13; 3:8,12; 14:1; 22:4.
"Called;" kaleo, 2564. From 2753, keluo, to urge on or to command; invite.
"Word of (the) God." According to the definition, this is the name which identifies "the origin, nature and destiny" of the appellant. The "word" is epitomized in the logos, 3056; which includes the whole of the commandments (1785) given to mankind, and those given personally to the Lord by the Father. As revealed in verse nine, the "word" is much more than just a name or speech.
A white horse is the beast that is reserved for a king's sons
to ride upon, per O. T.
14 And the armies in the heaven were following him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
"Armies;" stratuma, 4753. The "army" of the heaven seems associated with horses as the power propelling the forces, 9:16; but Matthew 22:7 shows one "army" destroying and burning without "horses" being present. The figure of the "horse" is evidently a metaphor of the characteristics of the royal "horse."
"In the heaven." "This honor have all the holy ones." These armies now include the 144,000 from Israel's tribes, and the "great multitude" of the redeemed from the earth.
"Were following;" akoloutheo, 190. Taking the same path. The armies go forth to establish the "voice" of the "seven thunders" over an earth that is at last become subdued to the Lord. And, obviously they do not come from Sinai, but are seen first appearing upon Mt. Zion, the hill of God.
"White horses." As noted in verse eleven. "Armies" of "more than 12 legions of angels" were (before) available under his command, as Jesus noted at Matthew 26:53.
"Clothed;" enduo, 1746. By an endowment, not clothed in an array, as in verse thirteen. Both the armies and their horses are clothed in white...
"Fine linen, white and pure." The linen described is the endowment
given to the "armies," and pertains to the "horses" which provide the army's
mobility, etc. An endowment provides the means whereby all the work spelled
out in a grant is to be done. Upon application approval, a grantor makes
the endowment.
15 And from his mouth goes forth a sharp sword so that by it he might smite the nations, and he shall shepherd them with an iron rod, and he treads the press of the wine of the fury and of the wrath of God the Almighty.
"His mouth." The sharp sword that goes forth from the mouth obviously is not a literal one, but a simile of the powers of the Holy Spirit at work - judging and avenging - under the Lord's direction.
"Nations;" ethnos, 1484. Whom the dragon, beast and false prophet had called out to war against Him, at Armageddon.
"Shepherd;" poimaino, 4165. A poimeen is the shepherd who tends to all the needs of his flocks; a pastor who superintends with firmness, cares for, leads and serves them for their good welfare. The word is rich in significance from the Hebrew Scriptures.
"Treads;" pateo, 3961. Whence comes the modern English word, patio; what is walked upon. Literally, the picture shows the Word of God walking upon a press that forces out the "blood" of the grape! The vineyard, the vine, the cluster, the branches, and the fruit are all words that were constantly used by the Lord when he made an analogy or spoke a parable concerning the new Israel to come. The kingdoms of men are ruled by the heavens, but the kingdom of God is to be restored on earth and ruled by Christ and his king priests. How wide the application becomes is left for the reader to consider, but the "treading" always seems to begin near Jerusalem.
"Fury;" thumos, 2373. A quick generation of temper; the heat or fire (of anger). These bursts of temper are contained in the vials.
"Wrath;" orgee, 3709. The slow build of and longer lasting passion of anger.
"God the Almighty." The Word of God performs (or directs the
army of heaven in the work of) the outpouring of the anger of the Almighty
God.
16 And he has upon the garment and upon his thigh the name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
"Garment;" himation, 2440. The one that is dipped in blood, verse thirteen.
"Thigh;" meeros, 3382.
"The name written." See verse 12-13. The name is fulfilled in
its application upon his garment and his thigh.
17 And I saw one angel standing in the sun and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid-heaven, Come and gather yourselves to the supper of the great God.
Not all the scenario of the book of The Revelation is in the abstract; this is what is so confusing. Some cannot differentiate the abstract word from the plain picture. Men, (like those leaders "who seemed to be somewhat" in the assemblies, Gal. 2:4-6) who are beguiled away from a good understanding in Old Testament prophecy, and who have a different vision of the glory to come in mind, are chiefly the cause of others stumbling in the reading of this book.
"Angel standing in the sun." Toward the East. The angel is obviously not standing upon the actual orb of the sun; he is standing in the hot sunlight of the mountain and valley site where the scheduled "feast" is under preparation.
"Cried with a great voice." The enormous amount of flesh that is to be served up to the invited fowls of the air requires that the invitation be proclaimed loudly and to a great extent, to the whole world!
"Saying to all the birds." To the carrion eaters among all the birds of the air! Great Babylon is an unclean "cage" of these birds.
"Come and gather yourselves to the supper of the great God." The supper for the birds is closely followed in time with the marriage supper of the Lamb. The lapse between the 1,260, to the 1,290; then to the 1,335 days would seem to indicate the "real time" of the final "hour" of the judgment "day;" thirty days and the added six weeks and three days...
The traditional "judgment day" of the Hebrew calendar occurs in the
seventh month of the civil year, Tishri; and is associated with Yom Kippur
and Succoth.
18 So that you may eat flesh of kings and flesh of chief captains, and flesh of the strong and flesh of horses and of those who sit upon them and of all flesh, free and bond, and small and great.
Flesh. The "flesh" is provided by the activity of the wrath and the fury of the Almighty God, who brings "swift destruction" upon all the ungodly, and from the Word of God who treads the winepress of His fury alongside the Father.
The last event of unnatural heavenly phenomenon occurs at the Lord's coming. It combines or coincides with the joining of these armies against the LORD, and results in the greatest slaughter of flesh that the present world will ever witness. Only 185,000 men were destroyed by "the blast" from the LORD in the days of Hezekiah, but surely the nations of the Middle East, urged on by the kings of the north and of the south - who fear the coming of the kings of the new day's dawning - will gather together the greatest masses of flesh ever congregated in the Jezreel valley area, but to their own destruction.
The power and authority to control the world's economic system is about
to end. The control of the 666 system by the beast and its image, aided
by the dragon and the false prophet, for control of Middle East oil and
spoil, and the greed impels them all toward the place where Death awaits
them, at Armageddon.
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war with him who sits upon the horse and with his army.
"Beast;" theerion, 2342. The beast prominently displayed its activities and associates in Chapters 13 and 17.
"Kings of the earth and their armies." Presumably the seven heads of the surrounding nations; these rulers and the armies come from near and far.
"Gathered together;" sunago, 4863. They are gathered together in response to the earlier call, 19:17; and in response to the call for war from the three unclean spirits, 16:14,16.
"To make war;" polemos, 4171. To do battle as a confederacy of the nations, because "the nations were angry and Thy wrath is come."
"With him who sits upon the horse and with his army." With
is meta, 3326. In war against all the powers of heaven. At this
juncture of time, - when all the world is in great distress and anguish;
men cold-hearted in fear of what is coming on the earth through the gloom
and darkness of the aerial perturbation, men still arrogantly deny the
power of God. They are not willing to save any man from the power of the
armies of Death. The beast and its associates are confidently prepared
to go forward to the "bitter" end.
20 And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet who worked the signs before him, by which he misled those who received the mark of the beast and those who do homage to his image. The two were cast alive into the lake of the fire which burns with brimstone.
This verse does not rely upon parable or allegory in order to state the outcome of the battle. According to 16:17-18, "It is done."
There are sounds, and thunders and lightnings, and there is a great earthquake, the greatest ever earthquake since there was the creation of Adam; so mighty and so great is this earthquake.
"The beast... false prophet... him." There is no reason to refer
to the beast as a "him," except that the "beast" represents a body of men
who exhibit the characteristics of the natural brute animals, who show
no moral or ethical responsibility to their Maker. The "beast" is misled
by the false prophet, who is its spiritual master. The fact that the beast
and its image worshippers were misled does not release them from culpability,
nor from their gathering to do battle against God. The beast's accomplices
die together in the "lake of fire" that is fueled by Abaddon's last falling
volley of brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed by the sword (of him who sits upon the horse) which goes forth from his mouth, and all the birds were filled from their flesh.
"Rest;" loipoi, 3062. The ones remaining alive out of the battle.
"Killed by the sword..." I.e., like war criminals brought to trial, and quickly executed by judicial order (of the Commander, of the army riding upon the white horses).
The rest of the ungodly are slain following the verdicts individually handed down against each one for the lack of respect toward God.
Condemnation against Edom and Moab comes because of their lack of regard for the fleeing survivors of the beast's warfare against Israel.
Jesus spoke of this very incident concerning the judgment on the nations at his coming, see Matthew 25:31-34.
"All the birds were filled from their flesh." The bones are picked clean and left to bleach in the sun, in the place where the angel called them to the feast.
The prophet Ezekiel has somewhat to say about the matter of searching out the bones for burial, in order to cleanse the land. See Ezekiel 39:4,9,14-15,17-22.
Read the details of the end time, from Chapter 36 through Chapter 39. While all these things are done, according to the Word of God, the house and sanctuary of the LORD's house - as outlined and detailed in the prophecy by Ezekiel in Chapters 40 through Chapter 48 - is constructed as the visible center of the world's government for the ensuing 1,000 years.
The Middle East is particularly subject to severe tremors and earthquake activity because of its location along the Jordan Rift Valley.
Other Old Testament evidence - Peter follows its lead - indicates that "strange" celestial bodies are at work, coming in volleys of strange "horse locust" scourges that emit fire, smoke and brimstone, biting and stinging before they kill ungodly men.
It is unlikely that the orbiting passage overhead, with the activity of these strange celestial bodies, is confined to the Middle East only. The whole earth and the world are affected by the disastrous approach of the celestial vehicles of the LORD.
As prophesied by Isaiah 40 and by John the Baptist, at the coming of the Lord, the lands of the whole earth are leveled. The leveling of all human structures "made with hands" breaks the ground, shaking; making way for the construction of a new order and for new building throughout the earth.
The new government sits in a new Jerusalem, whose governing "heads" are crowned with eternal light and glory. From there, on Mt. Zion in a "new Jerusalem," all the nations are ruled by the kings-and-priests who were earlier prepared for their Lord's service.