Revelation 19:17; Supper of the Great God
Revelation 19:17 (KJV) 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;
God responds graciously to those who respond to His call, but He must deal in severe judgment with those who do not (Mounce). This is the battle at Harmagedon as anticipated in Revelation 16:16.
The description of this angel “standing in the sun” probably means that the physical position of the angel was in the sky either directly in front of or upon the sun. So looking at the angel would be as blinding as looking at the sun itself. This angel makes his proclamation from the skies, “in the sun,” and he calls to those who swim the skies, “the birds.” He summons the birds to a great feast.
Note that the call for the birds to come happens before the battle, announcing the certainty of the victory. There are two feasts in chapter 19. There was the marriage feast of the Lamb in verse 9, and now there is the great feast of God here in verse 17.
The guests at the marriage supper are those who trust Christ, those redeemed from their sins by his blood. The guests at the great feast of God here in 19:17 are the birds, who will feast on God’s enemies. Refuse the grace and love and goodness of God, and you deserve to be eaten by great birds of prey. The point of 19:18 is that neither status, influence, nor insignificance will exempt anyone from God’s justice.
The gospel is a leveler of persons because neither wealth nor status brings anyone closer to God than another—everyone is in need of justification by faith in Christ. The judgment is also a leveler of persons because neither advantage nor disadvantage will affect the justice of God.
If you are not one who by faith in Jesus will ride with Him, remember that, as He said, those who are not for Him are against Him (Matthew 12:30). Not to give Him the trust and faith of which He is worthy is to rebel against His authority and goodness. And the rebels will be punished. [James M. Hamilton, Revelation]