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Revelation 19:17
ESV Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God,
NIV And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, 'Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
NASB Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, 'Come, assemble for the great feast of God,
CSB Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
NLT Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: 'Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.
KJV 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;

What does Revelation 19:17 mean?

John reports in this verse that he saw and heard an angel that was standing in the sun. This angel, highlighted in the sun's brilliance, calls upon all the birds in the sky to meet together for God's great supper. This summons anticipates the destruction of the armies of earth that join forces in a futile attempt to battle the King of kings and Lord of lords. The context indicates that the birds are flesh-eating birds. The high-ranking rulers and their armies may be decked out in colorful regalia at the beginning of the battle, but they soon they will be rotting corpses, food for vultures.

Matthew 24:28 states, "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." Ezekiel 39:17–20 describes the great supper of God as a sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel that He is preparing for birds of every sort and for all the beasts of the field. He says the birds and beasts will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of princes until they are full. This symbolism, of battle-slain bodies being eaten by carrion birds, was a common feature of ancient depictions of war (1 Samuel 17:44).
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