Take a look at the major themes of this chapter, because they represent a fair share of the whole book.
First, you have the praise theme. God is worthy of praise because He is powerful and victorious. Time after time we see satan and his attempts to delude the church defeated. God is wiser and more powerful than satan. Perhaps this entire human exercise is meant to teach us that truth. Listen in as the different choirs in heaven sing and chant praises to God. I heard someone say once “Revelation doesn’t mention singing”. As I look at these verses, they aren’t recorded as songs. sure, they could be sung…and the Church has put them to music…but here they are “shouted” or “cried out”. Maybe that makes them more of a victory cheer, like when your team wins a hard fought battle. Songs will come later, but in this moment right after the battle has been realized you scream joyfully with all your might. I envision a warrior raising his weapon and shouting once the battle has been won. A song requires thought, reflection, and timing. This is raw emotion being poured out.
The second theme is victory. Jesus is leading the armies of heaven into battle. Although the battle and judgment of Babylon has come, there are still battles to fight before the war is over. The outcome is sure, and the all-powerful Lamb of God is victorious. Praise and victory are two primary themes in Revelation.
Then we have punishment and defeat. Satan will be punished…now, here in this chapter it is the two underlings that are captured and tossed into the lake of fire. My study bible says that John meant to say “Ghenna” here, even though he didn’t use the word. I’m not so sure of that, because Ghenna and Hades are terms used for “hell” which I have come to understand as a way station on the path to the lake of fire. (20;14).
We see punishment when the beast and false prophet are tossed into the lake of fire. The people of earth who followed them are killed in battle, they cannot claim that they were “only following orders” their deeds guarantee them a place next to their leader in the fiery pit.
Could this battle be another reference to the battle of Armageddon? I can’t find corroboration of that anywhere, and if it is why would it be spoken of here? If the book is to be understood chronologically then it would stand to reason that Armageddon has already taken place. If we allow the text to “overlap” and fold back onto itself, then that opens up several different possibilities for the timing of the seals, trumpets and bowls.
Interested,
PR