Revelation 19:19; Make War

Revelation 19:19 (KJV)  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 

The large assembly of military strength has as its purpose – to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 

His anticipated opponent is the rider on the white horse; elsewhere called “the Lamb” (Revelation 17:14). The account does not divulge the specific factors determining the occasion and scene of the battle. Quite possibly, the rider has returned to earth (Revelation 19:11-16) to the spiritually revived Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 11:13), giving the beast cause for alarm.

Revelation 17:14 (KJV)  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

Revelation 19:11-16 (KJV)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

Revelation 11:13 (KJV)  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 

So he busters his forces as rapidly as possible and moves them to that area to try to put an end to this new threat to his leadership role. Whatever the immediate reasons, however, the wording indicates that the beast expects to encounter the warrior-King in this engagement. In Zechariah 14:5 the return of Christ is with His angels to do battle with the enemies of Israel, but here He returns with His saints – the corporate singular (v14) to battle against His own enemies (Scott). Two perspectives supplement each other as descriptions of the same occasion.

Zechariah 14:5 (KJV)  And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 396]