Abstract: Through the Scripture of this study, Revelation 19:18, we can better understand what meaning and significance it contains. By reading and examining Matthew 11:25-30 we may see the spiritual meaning. And to see how it applies to the New Emerging Church of Jesus Christ.
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Key to text;
Bold highlighting = Important terms and concepts. Blue highlighting = Words, terms, and concepts containing primarily a spiritual sense or TRUTH. Red Bold highlighting = Words, terms, and concepts containing a sense directly related to The Lord Himself or LOVE. Gray Bold highlighting = Words, terms, and concepts relating to Evil and Hell. Italic letters in (parentheses) = my emphasis.
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It is a hard thing to see and understand the words of Revelation 19:18,
“That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the flesh of generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great!” (Revelation 19:18)
What is this strange talk of eating the flesh of such things? It appears disgusting and barbaric. Why would Jesus say such things?
We have to remember that above all God is love,
“He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:8-9)
We are told that,
“And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. (1 John 1:5)
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To understand Revelation 19:18 and the eating of flesh we have to accept the fact that, 1) GOD is LOVE and 2) GOD is LIGHT, and there is no darkness in Him at all.
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If we can do that, we can see Revelation 19:18 is not that hard to understand after all!
When Jesus was walking upon the earth and teaching all who would listen He said this,
“At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies” [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled]. (Matthew 11:25)
The Bible was created so that we might better understand our creator and His intentions in creating us. The Lord often spoke in parables and what seemed like riddles. So the things of God are only understood in childlike faith and trust in God. And that He is always good.
“Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure” (Matthew 11:26)
“All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known” (Matthew 11:27)
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In the previous verse, Revelation 19:17 the Apostle John describes what he is seeing while he has been lifted up into heaven,
“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” (Revelation 19:17)
John saw “an angel” (a messenger) is standing in “the sun” (God’s essence in glory which is LOVE). “loud voice the angel said to all” (the messenger angel relays a message from the Lord of Heaven). “Come together for the great supper of God” (a calling of all to a “supper” or a feast. This is a happy time or occasion),
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest” [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (Matthew 11:28)
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This is not a time of revenge, cruelty, punishment, or the wrath of God! The Lord of heaven and earth in His tender MERCY and LOVE is reaching out to express His LOVE,
“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls” (Matthew 11:29)
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Let us return to the Scripture we are looking at,
“That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the flesh of generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great!” (Revelation 19:18)
“That you may feast” This is much like when the Lord instituted the Last Supper before His death. This signifies “eating” or intake into the mind of things that are true and pleasant. Things that describe His kingdom,
“Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here” (this world); [it has no such origin or source]. (John 18:36)
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To “feast on” (take in) “the flesh”. We know from the Holy Bible that the word “flesh” can mean things that are not good,
“AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1-3)
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Just as sure as there is a heaven and there is a hell, many words in the Bible have a “double edged-sword” meaning. Things that are beautiful and good, or can they mean things evil and not good. Such is the case with the word “flesh”.
But Revelation 19:18 is a sweet and peaceful invitation to join Him,
For the good news contained in Revelation 19:18, God is inviting all to see that He is GOOD. And that His LOVE extends to everyone equally.
So the following terms such as “rulers” (kings), “generals”, “captains”, “mighty men”, “horses”, “all humanity” and “both free and slave, both small and great” mean (signify) all things contained within the LORD JESUS. From the highest and most honorable to the lowest and most humble. From top to bottom in order,
“That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the flesh of generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great!” (Revelation 19:18)
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For those within the New Emerging Church, the “flesh” that they take in (“eat”) will be an understanding of who the Lord Jesus really is. This will be revealed in a new level of clarity, glory, and understanding found when reading the Holy Scriptures!
“For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne” (Matthew 11:30)
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