(17) 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; (18) That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
It is not easy to conjecture, who is meant by this Angel which John saw, standing in the sun. But he could be no other than a servant. For the sun is the emblem of Christ. And it could not be said, that Christ was standing in himself. I should conceive, that as he was calling to the fowls of heaven to come to the great supper of God, it might be even a very humble servant in the ministry; similar to what is said of the servants in the Gospel, sent out to call in the poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind, to the feast of the word of God, Luke 14:21. But be who it may, one thing is worth regarding. He is said to be standing in the sun. By which we may, without violence to the expression, interpret it, as standing in Christ and his righteousness, Malachi 4:2. Here every Preacher of Christ stands. He is open like the sun; and he preacheth Christ, and Christ only. And his call of invitation to the supper, is not a call to ordinances, but to triumphs. Let the Reader remember, that this which is represented here, is the total overthrow of Pope and Prelate, Mahomet and Devil. Hence, the people of God are called upon to rejoice over them. It is called the supper of the great God, even Jesus; for these are his triumphs. He it was, who was just before seen by John, upon his white horse, with his many crowns, and in his vesture dipped in blood, and his armies following him to victory. Hence, therefore, as a mighty Conqueror, the battle being over, he makes a feast, like all Eastern Princes, for his nobles and princes of the provinces; that is, al, Christ's redeemed family, whom he hath made kings and priests to God and the Father, and invites them to the supper; and where he displays the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honor of his excellent majesty, not many days, no, not an hundred and fourscore days, for these would soon expire, but through a whole eternity, where Jesus shall be glorified in his saints, and they made completely blessed in him forever and ever, Esther 1:3-5
Let the Reader not forget, that it forms an interesting part in the whole plan of redemption, when Christ brings home his chosen, that be hath also a complete triumph over his enemies. It is a grand conclusion to the whole. And the Church is so highly interested in it, that one of the Covenant promises, in the charter of grace, runs in these words: when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it, Psalms 37:34. Oh! it is a blessed part in redemption, that Satan shall not only be brought down, but bruised by the God of peace under our feet, Romans 16:20
The battle at Armageddon will bring forth before the Church, the everlasting triumph of the Church over the whore and the false prophet; and, if any pagan powers, aided by the devil, are brought into this war, to fight against Christ; their destruction is sure. And in seeing their utter destruction; this in prophetical language is, to eat the flesh of kings and captains, of mighty men and horses, both bond and free, both small and great.