Revelation 19:21; Him That Sat Upon the Horse

Revelation 19:21 (KJV)  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. 

It is eschatological in an absolute sense, a great historical event ending the regime of the false Christ and his forces (Ladd, Mounce). The fact that the instrument of destruction is the sword proceeding out from the rider’s mouth does not diminish the fact of the deadly result. Those opposing Him will probably use conventional weapons, but His weaponry will be of a different nature. The figurative way of referring to His spoken word does not change the literality of God’s verbal power. The account does not specify exactly how the warrior-King accomplishes the slaughter; but the actual destruction of the armies of evil is certain (Ladd). God has used unconventional means for bringing death before (Joshua 10:11-13; 2 Kings 19:35; Jeremiah 28:16-17; Acts 5:5; 10).

Joshua 10:11-13 (KJV)  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 

2 Kings 19:35 (KJV)  And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 

Jeremiah 28:16-17 (KJV)  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. 

Acts 5:5 (KJV)  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 

Acts 5:10 (KJV)  Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 

The prophetic word can smite as well as heal (Hosea 6:4-5) (Sweet). Whatever means the rider chooses to use, bloodshed will be rampant and many lives will be lost.

The scene closes with the fulfilment of the promise to those invited to the great supper of God – and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 400]