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Lexham English Bible

Revelation 19:17

And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come! Assemble for the great banquet of God,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Feasts;   Horse;   Lamb of God;   Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena;   Sun;   Vision;   War;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Armageddon;   Day (of Christ);   Day (of Jehovah);   Summary;   The Topic Concordance - War/weapons;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Birds;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Armageddon;   Dead Sea Scrolls;   Funeral;   Nahum, Theology of;   War, Holy War;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Antichrist;   Armageddon;   Fowl;   War;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Armageddon;   Army;   Birds;   Flesh;   Revelation, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antichrist;   Bird;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Ascension of Isaiah;   God and Magog;   Suffering;   Supper ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Fowl;   Horse;   Prophets, the;   Supper;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Angel;   Antichrist;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Supper;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Angel;   Birds;   Fowl;   Peter, Simon;   Revelation of John:;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
King James Version (1611)
And I saw an Angel standing in the Sunne, and hee cried with a lowd voyce, saying to all the foules that flie in the midst of heauen, Come and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God:
King James Version
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
New American Standard Bible
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great feast of God,
New Century Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called with a loud voice to all the birds flying in the sky: "Come and gather together for the great feast of God
THE MESSAGE
I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, "Come to the Great Supper of God! Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all—free and slave, small and great!"
English Standard Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
Berean Standard Bible
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
Contemporary English Version
I then saw an angel standing on the sun, and he shouted to all the birds flying in the sky, "Come and join in God's great feast!
Complete Jewish Bible
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds that fly about in mid-heaven, "Come, gather together for the great feast God is giving,
Darby Translation
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come, gather yourselves to the great supper of God,
Easy-to-Read Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. In a loud voice the angel said to all the birds flying in the sky, "Come together for the great supper of God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I sawe an Angel stand in the sunne, who cryed with a loude voyce, saying to all the foules that did flie by the middes of heauen, Come, and gather your selues together vnto the supper of ye great God,
George Lamsa Translation
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together for the great supper of God;
Good News Translation
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair: "Come and gather together for God's great feast!
Literal Translation
And I saw one angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great God,
Amplified Bible
Then I saw a single angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he shouted to all the birds that fly in midheaven, saying, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
American Standard Version
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;
Bible in Basic English
And I saw an angel taking his place in the sun; and he was crying with a loud voice, saying to all the birds in flight in the heavens, Come together to the great feast of God;
Hebrew Names Version
I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,
International Standard Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, "Come! Gather for the great supper of God.Ezekiel 39:17; Revelation 19:21;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And I saw an angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come, gather to the great supper of Aloha;
Murdock Translation
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven: Come ye, assemble unto this great supper of God;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I sawe an angell stande in the sunne, and he cryed with a loude voyce, saying to all the fowles that flee by the myddes of heauen: Come, and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God:
English Revised Version
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;
World English Bible
I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, Come, and gather yourselves together to the great supper of God,
Weymouth's New Testament
And I saw a single angel standing in the full light of the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds that flew across the sky, "Come and be present at God's great supper,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y say an aungel, stondynge in the sunne; and he criede with greet vois, and seide to alle briddis that flowen bi the myddil of heuene, Come ye, and be ye gaderid to the greet soper of God,
Update Bible Version
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come [and] be gathered together to the great supper of God;
Webster's Bible Translation
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come, and assemble yourselves to the supper of the great God;
New English Translation
Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: "Come, gather around for the great banquet of God,
New King James Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, [fn]
New Living Translation
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.
New Life Bible
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out with a loud voice to all the birds flying in the sky, "Come and gather together for the great supper of God!
New Revised Standard
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, gather for the great supper of God,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And I saw one messenger, standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, unto all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, - Hither! be gathered together unto the great supper of God, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I saw an angel standing in the sun: and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that did fly through the midst of heaven: Come, gather yourselves together to the great supper of God:
Revised Standard Version
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, "Come, gather for the great supper of God,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I sawe an angell stonde in the sunne and he cryed with a lowde voyce sayinge to all the fowles that flye by ye myddes of heve come and gaddre youre selves to gedder vnto the supper of the gret god
Young's Literal Translation
And I saw one messenger standing in the sun, and he cried, a great voice, saying to all the birds that are flying in mid-heaven, `Come and be gathered together to the supper of the great God,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And I sawe an angell stonde in the Sonne, and he cryed with a lowde voyce, sayenge to all the fowles that flye by the myddes vnder the heauen: Come and gaddre youre selues togedder vnto the supper of the gret God,
Mace New Testament (1729)
I saw likewise an angel standing upon the sun; and he cryed with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, "come and gather your selves together to the supper of the great God;
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then I saw an angel standing on top of the sun. He called out to the all the birds of the air and said, "Come, for a great feast awaits you!

Contextual Overview

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and the one seated on it was called "Faithful" and "True," and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 Now his eyes were a flame of fire, and on his head were many royal headbands having a name written that no one except he himself knows. 13 And he was dressed in an outer garment dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 And the armies that are in heaven, dressed in clean, white fine linen, were following him on white horses. 15 And out of his mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it he could strike the nations. And he will shepherd them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the wine of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. 16 And he has a name written on his outer garment and on his thigh: "King of kings and Lord of lords." 17 And I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come! Assemble for the great banquet of God, 18 in order that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military tribunes, and the flesh of the powerful, and the flesh of horses and those seated on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!" 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with the one who is seated on the horse and with his army. 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an angel: Revelation 8:13, Revelation 14:6, Isaiah 34:1-8

saying: Revelation 19:21, Isaiah 56:9, Jeremiah 12:9, Ezekiel 39:17-20

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:29 - the king 1 Samuel 17:46 - carcases 1 Kings 14:11 - that dieth 2 Chronicles 32:21 - the leaders Psalms 45:4 - right Psalms 63:10 - a portion Psalms 68:12 - Kings Psalms 68:23 - the tongue Psalms 76:12 - terrible Isaiah 13:9 - cruel Isaiah 18:6 - General Isaiah 29:2 - and it shall Isaiah 34:6 - the Lord hath Isaiah 43:17 - they shall Isaiah 66:24 - and look Jeremiah 7:33 - General Jeremiah 15:3 - I will Jeremiah 16:4 - meat Jeremiah 25:33 - the slain Jeremiah 34:20 - and their Jeremiah 46:10 - the sword Jeremiah 50:27 - bullocks Ezekiel 29:5 - I have Ezekiel 31:13 - General Ezekiel 32:4 - General Ezekiel 39:4 - I will Ezekiel 39:18 - eat Daniel 2:45 - the great Micah 4:3 - and rebuke Zephaniah 1:7 - for the Lord Zephaniah 3:8 - to gather Zephaniah 3:19 - I will undo Zechariah 10:5 - and the riders on horses shall be confounded Zechariah 14:12 - the plague wherewith Luke 17:37 - wheresoever James 5:5 - as in Revelation 11:9 - and shall not Revelation 16:16 - he

Cross-References

Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the whole plain of the Jordan, that all of it was well-watered land—this was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar.
Genesis 18:22
And the men turned from there and went toward Sodom. And Abraham was still standing before Yahweh.
Genesis 19:13
For we are about to destroy this place, because their cry has become great before Yahweh. Yahweh sent us to destroy it."
Genesis 19:14
Then Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law who were taking his daughters and said, "Get up! Go out from this place, because Yahweh is going to destroy the city!" But it seemed like a joke in the eyes of his sons-in-law.
Genesis 19:15
And as the dawn came up the angels urged Lot saying, "Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are staying with you, lest you be destroyed with the punishment of the city."
Genesis 19:16
But when he lingered, the men seized him by his hand and his wife's hand, and his two daughters by hand, on account of the mercy of Yahweh upon him. And they brought him out and set him outside of the city.
Genesis 19:18
And Lot said to them, "No, please, my lords.
Genesis 19:22
Escape there quickly, for I cannot do this thing until you get there." Therefore, there name of the city was called Zoar.
Genesis 19:26
But his wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:31
And the firstborn daughter said to the younger one, "Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to come in to us according to the manner of all the land.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I saw an angel standing in the sun,.... By whom is meant, not the angel of the fourth vial, who poured it on the sun, taken in another sense than here, and therefore could not stand in it; nor the archangel with the last trumpet, for as yet the dead rise not, nor does the judgment come on; nor one of the ministering spirits; nor Christ himself, for he is the great God, to whose supper this angel invites, but a minister of the Gospel; or rather a set of Gospel ministers, such as in Revelation 14:1 who may be said to stand in the sun, in like manner as the woman, the church, was seen clothed with it, Revelation 12:1 and may denote the conspicuousness of Gospel preachers; for, as the church now will be established upon the top of the mountains, so her teachers shall not be removed into corners any more, but her eyes shall behold her teachers; and also the clear sight they shall have of the doctrines and mysteries of the Gospel, who shall now see eye to eye; and particularly the further breakings forth of the glory of the latter day, and the ensuing victory of Christ over all his enemies; and also shows the great strength of their sight, who, far from being like moles and bats, will be able both to look upon the sun, and to stand in it: and it may likewise signify the glory and majesty of Christ's kingdom; the comfortable influence of him, the sun of righteousness, who will now arise upon his people with healing in his wings; and the steadfastness of Christ's ministers to him, and his pure Gospel, and the glorious truths of it.

And he cried with a loud voice; that he might be heard far and near, having something of moment and importance to publish:

saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven; meaning not the barbarous nations, the Goths, and Vandals, and Saracens, which overrun and destroyed the western and eastern empires; these times are too late for them, they rose up under the six first trumpets; nor devils and unclean spirits, which will prey upon and torment antichrist, and his followers, in hell; nor military and avaricious men among Protestants, but Christian princes, and their people, are designed; they are such as are in heaven, the church, and of note there, who will share the spoils of the antichristian people, and possess their kingdoms, substance, and estates: these are invited by the angel, saying,

come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God. The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions, read, "to the great supper of God"; and so the Complutensian edition; not the Lord's supper, where not the flesh of men, but the flesh of Christ is eat, by faith; nor the marriage supper of the Lamb, which will be of another kind than this; nor is any spiritual repast intended, such as living by faith on Christ, and supping with him, being entertained with his promises, presence, and the discoveries of his love; but the slaughter of Christ's enemies, and his victory over them, which is his sacrifice; and these are the guests he bids, see Zephaniah 1:7 and whom he calls to share in the conquest and spoils, and to express their joy on this occasion: "the great God" is no other than Christ, the general of the armies in heaven, called before the Word of God, and King of kings, and Lord of lords; who will gain this victory, and will be known to be the great God by the judgment he will execute. This is a proof of our Lord's divinity; see Titus 2:13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I saw an angel standing in the sun - A different angel evidently from the one which had before appeared to him. The number of angels that appeared to John, as referred to in this book, was very great, and each one came on a new errand, or with a new message. Everyone must be struck with the image here. The description is as simple as it can be; and yet as sublime. The fewest words possible are used; and yet the image is distinct and clear. A heavenly being stands in the blaze of the brightest of the orbs that God permits us here to see - yet not consumed, and himself so bright that he can be distinctly seen amidst the dazzling splendors of that luminary. It is difficult to conceive of an image more sublime than this. Why he has his place in the sun is not stated, for there does not appear to be anything more intended by this than to give grandeur and impressiveness to the scene.

And he cried with a loud voice - So that all the fowls of heaven could hear.

Saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven - That is, to all the birds of prey - all that feed on flesh - such as hover over a battlefield. Compare the notes on Isaiah 18:6; Isaiah 56:9. See also Jeremiah 7:33; Jeremiah 12:9; Ezekiel 39:4-20.

Come and gather yourselves together - All this imagery is taken from the idea that there would be a great slaughter, and that the bodies of the dead would be left unburied to the birds of prey.

Unto the supper of the great God - As if the great God were about to give you a feast - to wit, the carcasses of those slain. It is called “his supper” because he gives it; and the image is merely that there would be a great slaughter of his foes, as is specified in the following verse.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 19:17. An angel standing in the sun — Exceedingly luminous; every part of him emitting rays of light. From this representation, Milton has taken his description of Uriel, the angel of the sun. Paradise Lost, b. iii. l. 648:-

"The Archangel Uriel, one of the seven

Who, in God's presence, nearest to his throne

Stands ready at command and are his eyes

That run through all the heavens, or down to the earth

Bears his swift errands over moist and dry,

Over sea and land."


All the fowls that fly — The carcasses of God's enemies shall be food for all the fowls of heaven. This is according to a Jewish tradition, Synopsis Sohar, p. 114, n. 25: "In the time when God shall execute vengeance for the people of Israel, he shall feed all the beasts of the earth for twelve months with their flesh and all the fowls for seven years." It is well known that both beasts and birds of prey are accustomed to frequent fields of battle, and live upon the slain.


 
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