1 AND after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 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.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
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.
19 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.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

1And after these things I heard a great voyce of much people in heauen, saying, Alleluia: saluation, and glorie, and honour, and power vnto the Lord our God:

2For true and righteous are his iudgements, for hee hath iudged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath auenged the blood of his seruants at her hand.

3And againe they sayd, Alleluia: and her smoke rose vp for euer & euer.

4And the foure and twentie Elders, and the foure beasts fell downe, and worshipped God that sate on the throne, saying, Amen, Alleluia.

5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God all yee his seruants, and ye that feare him, both small and great.

6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mightie thundrings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7Let vs bee glad and reioyce, and giue honour to him: for the mariage of the Lambe is come, and his wife hath made herselfe readie.

8And to her was granted, that she should bee arayed in fine linnen, cleane and white: for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints.

9And hee saith vnto mee, Write, Blessed are they which are called vnto the marriage supper of the Lambe. And he saith vnto mee, These are the true sayings of God.

10And I fell at his feete to worship him: And he said vnto me, See thou doe it not: I am thy fellow seruant, and of thy brethren, that haue the testimonie of Iesus, Worship God: for the testimony of Iesus, is the spirit of prophecie.

11And I sawe heauen opened, and behold a white horse, and hee that sate vpon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousnes hee doth iudge and make warre.

12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crownes, and hee had a name written, that no man knew but he himselfe.

13And hee was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood, and his name is called, The word of God.

14And the armies which were in heauen followed him vpon white horses, clothed in fine linnen, white and cleane.

15And out of his mouth goeth a sharpe sword, that with it hee should smite the nations: and he shal rule them with a rod of yron: and he treadeth the winepresse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God.

16And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

17And I saw an Angel standing in the Sunne, and hee cried with a lowd voyce, saying to all the foules that flie in the midst of heauen, Come and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God:

18That yee may eate the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of Captaines, 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.

19And I saw the beast, & the Kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make warre against him that sate on the horse, and against his armie.

20And the beast was taken, & with him the false prophet, that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceiued them that had receiued the marke of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast aliue into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sate vpon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the foules were filled with their flesh.

 

1 After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: "Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3 They said a second time: "Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever." 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen. Alleluia." 5 A voice coming from the throne said: "Praise our God, all you his servants, (and) you who revere him, small and great." 6 Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said: "Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, (our) God, the almighty. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready. 8 She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment." (The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These words are true; they come from God."10 I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Don't! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God. Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 11 Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was (called) "Faithful and True." He judges and wages war in righteousness. 12 His eyes were (like) a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He had a name inscribed that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses and wearing clean white linen. 15 Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty. 16 He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, "King of kings and Lord of lords." 17 Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out (in) a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead, "Come here. Gather for God's great feast, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military officers, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all, free and slave, small and great." 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. 20 The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

(INSERT: When will the battle of Gog and Magog actually be held? Definitely not during or after the Millennium. Definitely not before the Rapture. Many Scriptures point out differences between it and the final battle of Armageddon, so it is not at the close of the Tribulation. Tim LeHaye and others think there is a period of time between the Rapture and start of Tribulation and present strong arguments. Since it comes when Israel is at peace, it would more likely be during the first three and one half years, when there is false peace under Antichrist. Pentecost, in Things to Come, page 354, gives a very good chronology of events placing it at the middle of the Tribulation. But it may be better if it is considered right after the start of Tribulation. For one thing, cleansing the land for burial seven years would be done during the seven years of Tribulation. This does not address the issue of cleansing after the final battle of Armageddon. A simple chronology of the whole campaign of Armageddon would be: 1. The armies of the South are defeated in campaign. 2. The armies of the North are smitten by the Lord.  3. The armies of the Beast and the East are slain by the Lord at His second advent.) 

Three special things to notice in chapter 19:
(1) This is the final Psalm of praise begun in Psalm 145. Psalm 145 is a song of praise to the gracious God, in 146 God is praised for His help, in 147 God is praised for regathering Israel, in 148 God is praised by all creation, in 149 God is praised by the children of Zion, Psalm 150 is a summary of praise to God by everything that has breath. But this is only six Psalms and we could expect there to be seven. The seventh Psalm of praise then is in Rev. 19:1-4, or possibly 8, where God is praised for judging the great harlot church, avenging the blood of saints, and for His omnipotent reign. 
(2) Two special events, Second Coming of Christ and Marriage of the Lamb.
(3) Two feasts announced, Marriage Supper Feast and Bird’s Feast.
v 1. In 18:20 the call goes out for heaven to rejoice. After the destruction of commercial Babylon at the end of the Tribulation there will be a multitude in heaven giving a great hallelujah to God in response to that call. Alleluia or Hallelujah - Praise ye the Lord. Hallel means praise and jah is short for Jehovah, because Jews thought it irreverent to use His name. Many Jewish names end in ah, in respect to the Lord. He was praised for His creation, 4:11 and His Redemption, 5;12.  Now the praise is for completed salvation, as in 7:10.
v 2. They will be rejoicing because the harlot church that was unfaithful to God has been judged. His terrible judgments have been righteous,  and the blood of the saints who she killed has been avenged.
v 3. Again praise. The smoke of Babylon’s torment spoken of in 14:9-11 is now seen as fulfilled. Babylon will have sunk, but the smoke will dissipate into vapor and eventually space. Secondarily, smoke of the unsaved will rise eternally, 14:11. Some speculate from 2 Thess, 1:9 that the place of torment may be transported eventually to outer space.
v 4. Part of that hallelujah chorus are the 24 elders, representing the raptured and rewarded Church (comments 4:4). The 4 living creatures represent all the angelic host as praise is drawing to a grand climax.
v 5. Comparing with verse 9, this voice is probably a cherubim near the throne.
v 6. They respond with a resounding sound such as the Lord had given, so great that it was like thunder or a waterfall. They praise God for the destruction of the Harlot Church, which actually took place at the middle of the Tribulation, and for His might and eternal reign.
v 7. Scripture speaks of Israel, the adulteress and restored wife of Jehovah. This speaks of the chaste, virgin Bride of Christ, who has been purified and made ready at the Judgment Seat of Christ. “Marriage of the Lamb is come” is better translated “marriage of the Lamb is consummated.” Here the marriage, which took place then, is announced (Compare announcement of consummation in later paragraphs.) The supper announced in verse 9. Before discussing that, we must be reminded of Jewish marriage customs at the time of Christ.
As a covenant of betrothal, the bridegroom was to drink a cup of wine and  pay a price for his prospective bride. Christ drank the bitter cup that He mentioned in the garden of Gethsemane, and paid the price of His blood for us. This betrothal was just as legally binding upon the bride and groom as marriage. In the manner of Jewish custom, believers are likewise  at the present irreversibly betrothed to Christ (another point for eternal security).
During a time lapse, the  bridegroom prepared a place for the bride in or adjacent to the home of his father. If any one asked the groom when he was going to return for his bride he would answer that  only his father knew. Christ has gone away to prepare a place for us, but His return is  known only by the Father, Mt. 24:36; Acts 1:7.
After the place is approved by the father, the bridegroom can return for his bride with a blowing of trumpet. His escort will give a shout and they will literally steal her from her home as they catch the bride away. When we hear the trumpet and the shout of the archangel, we will be caught away at the Rapture to be with Christ. The bridegroom may come at any time to take the bride to his father’s house, so she must always be ready. We too must always be ready, because Christ may come at any time.
(Let us digress a moment to explain the trumpet. In 1 Cor. 15:52 we are told that this will be at the last trump. This is not the last trump chronologically because we have the seven trumpets of Revelation which follow the Rapture. This refers to the trumpets of the Jewish festivals. At the feast of tabernacles or ingathering, a trumpet is blown to indicate the harvest is complete for the year. The last trump of 1 Cor. indicates that the harvest is over to be saved and become a part of the Church here on earth.) 
The bride’s virgin friends, with their lamps, would be waiting in anticipation with her, so that they could follow the couple in a parade through the city to the grooms home. It was very foolish for any of them to be caught short of lamp oil, because they would have to search for oil at that late hour. At some point in the festivities the groom’s father would shut and lock the door and any prospective guests who delayed coming could no longer get in regardless of their excuse. When the foolish virgins finally arrived, they would not be able to enter. This is in parallel with the parable of the virgins in Matt. 25:1-13. But the  door was shut by the Lord, see Isa. 22:22 and Rev. 3:7. This parable is sometimes used to warn people to come to Christ before the Rapture. However, it is actually the Lord’s warning to the unbelieving remnant of Jews who merely profess to be looking for the Messiah. They need to come to Him in the Tribulation, before they are shut out and can not enter the Kingdom.
At the home of the grooms father, the bride’s father places her hand into the hand of the groom’s father, who in turn places her hand into the hand of the groom. Sometimes the groom asks the father to get her for him, as in the case of Samson, and a similar procedure is followed. In either event, this is known as the presentation and the marriage is not merely legally binding but fully binding. We experience this when as in Eph. 5:27 Christ presents the Church unto Himself.
The bride and groom then go to the place  prepared and stocked with provisions by the groom. In the privacy of the room the groom removes the bride’s veil and she is  fully exposed before him, revealing her beauty and imperfections. In what would be embarrassing today, the crowd waits with modest anticipation in the father’s house till the groom passes word (announces) to an attendant outside the door, that the marriage has been consummated. Instead of snickers and vulgar jokes, the guests rejoice in this union and repeat from Ruth 4:11 “The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel:” Then they begin celebrating and feasting, but the couple do not come out for seven days. Much wine is consumed in these seven days, causing some places to run out of wine, as happened at the marriage in Cana where Christ turned the water into wine, Jn. 2.
Our (the Church) marriage to Christ is consummated, a spiritual union, in heaven shortly after our arrival and during the first half of the Tribulation. He removes our individual veils, so to speak, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is not a judgment of sins, but a determining of rewards. There, stripped before Him, He sees the imperfections of our works as they are tried by fire, 1 Cor. 3:12-15. Then He views us and sees “a glorious church without spot or wrinkle”, and crowns are given. We will be with Him, not just seven days, but during the seven years of Tribulation on earth, and will be in an intimate spiritual relationship with Him. This means our first desires on getting to heaven probably won’t be trying to see Mother or shake hands with the Apostle Paul, but getting better acquainted with Christ. There will be great celebrating in heaven and at the end of the seven years, we will no longer be the Bride (Numphe noom-fay’  ) of Christ, but His unveiled, matured wife (Gune goo-nay’ ), both Rev. 19:7; 21:9. But notice, it is Christ, not his wife that receives the honor. She is not to be confused with Israel, the O.T. wife of Jehovah, who will be restored in the Millennium, or the doomed harlot church that claims to be the wife of Christ.
There is a difference of opinion, because some think what we have been telling about was the wedding supper in heaven, period. Although the guests have been eating and drinking during this time, the old Jewish custom was to follow this supper with a huge, second  marriage feast, and the groom takes his wife to his own home or kingdom. This would lead us to believe that we will have a huge marriage feast on earth as Christ enters His Millennial Kingdom.
With this interpretation, which is consistent with both Scripture and Jewish custom, there has been a marriage supper in heaven, but our marriage feast will be during the millennium and could last up to 1000 years. Rich Jews gave guests a special wedding garment. In Matt. 22:1-14 Christ gave a parable of a wedding feast in which a man without a wedding garment was cast into outer darkness. No one in heaven could be cast into outer darkness, so this has to be  someone born in the millennium, who has not turned to Christ.
The bride and groom are not called as guests at the marriage supper or feast on earth, they are the ones honored. The church is not one of the guests, because she is the bride. Called as  a  special guest will be John the Baptist, the friend of the bridegroom, John 3:29.  Also Dan. 12:1,2,13 indicates O.T. saints will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation and will be there. Rev. 6:9-11 with 20:4 indicates martyrs of the Tribulation will be there for 1000 years, and of course redeemed of Israel and Gentiles who have lived through the Tribulation. In other words, except for the Church, all believers from Adam to the Millennium will be invited guests. Angels probably observe, but are not guests as they have never been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Some might question a break in Jewish custom, for Christ to halt the festivities to take time to defeat Satan, Rev. 19:11-21 but that is just a matter that had to be done. During the seven days of honeymoon, the groom could not be called out to go go war, but here the seven years have just ended, so it does not conflict with custom. We are with Him, the marriage feast is near and God is not bound by custom, so no problem.
v 8, This supper garment is the righteousness of saints, the good works that 1 Pet. 2:12 tells us will glorify God in the day of visitation. This gown allows men to see the good works, Mt. 5:16; Shows men a pattern, Titus 2:7; and shows the beauty of humility, 1 Peter 5:5. Self righteousness was exposed and  judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and He has given the bride permission to wear this pure garment which the grace and Spirit of Christ has wrought in her. This is the only time it will be worn, as at all other times we will be clothed in Christ’s righteousness.
v 9. The marriage supper was announced in v 7, but the events of v 11- 21 must take place first. For those called to the supper (feast), see the last three paragraphs of verse 7 notes.
10. John overreacted to the announcement of the feast and had to be reminded not to worship the angel messenger, but only God. He too is a servant of Jesus, the human name John would know. All these great future revelations or prophesies have Christ as their center object.
v 11. In 4:2, heaven was opened to let John enter by the Spirit, now it opens to let Christ return to earth. (see notes 11:19.) Matt. 24:30 tells us that there will be great fear and instead of fighting each other, unite to fight Christ, because men see the sign of His coming. We don’t know what the sign is, but Christ will come with power and great glory. It may be that the brightness of His coming will be such that the light of the sun becomes as insignificant as a match when the light is turned on. The false Christ of Rev. 6:2 rode a white horse and proclaimed a false peace. In marked contrast, the true Christ rode an ass at His first coming with a true offer of peace. Since He was rejected, at the second coming He will be riding on a great white horse to judge and make war. All the armies of glorified saints will be following Him  From this point and v21 on, no more people can be saved on earth until more are born in the Millennial Kingdom. Because of the Rapture, unless there is an interval between, only unsaved will enter the Tribulation, and because of this judgment, only the saved will enter the Millennium. For indication that no unsaved will enter the Kingdom, see Jn. 3:3; Matt. 18:3; 25:30,46; Jer. 31:33,34; Ezek. 20:37,38; Zech. 13:9.
v 12. Christ’s eyes will be a flame of judgment from which nothing can escape. His crowns are diadems, crowns of royalty, not reward crowns. Some monarchs have worn a crown for each major country he ruled. Christ will not be top heavy with crowns, but he will be crowned KIng of Kings in every aspect of full authority. The name is made known in the next verse, “The Word of God”. Compare John 1:1.
v 13. Perhaps the blood of martyrs has stained His garment, but now He will tread the wine press of His enemies and their blood will be splashed upon it. Isa. 63:2-6. Christ is also known throughout Scripture by many other names as: Light, Master, Messiah, King of Israel, Son of God, Son of Man, Lamb of God, Son of Man, Prince of Peace.
v 14. The clean, white garments identify these armies as believers of the Church Age, since O.T. and Tribulation saints will not yet be resurrected. Questions are raised. Are there really horses in heaven? Did God create them at this time just for this specific purpose, or what would be done with them later? Do people of all ages fearful of riding horses suddenly become agile as cowboys? Or is this figurative language of being supported by angels? Elijah saw the chariot of Israel and the horsemen, 2 Kings 2:12, and Ps. 68:17 describes the chariots of the Lord as thousands of angels. Their could be billions of angels in these armies as we saw in 5:11. Or were these horses in vision form only, to enable John to understand, or explain the supernatural situation to us? This coming of Christ has been prophesied from the time of Enoch, Jude 14,15, and prophets through 1 Thess. 3:13, when He comes with all His saints.
(I agree with Morris and others that Christ is coming for His saints at the Rapture and with his saints at the end of Tribulation. Zech. 14 supports this view. Oliver Green and others believe the Rapture is in view in 1 Thess. 3:13, and coming with His saints would be with the souls of believers to be reunited with their resurrected bodies.)
v 15. The armies are a cheering section, not participants in the battle. The Lord spoke eight times in Genesis 1:3,6,9.11,14,20,24 and 26 and all creation came into being. Now just by the word of His mouth, Christ will defeat all the human as well as the demonic armies. 2 Thess. 2:8 says the Lord will consume with His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. Both terms are confirmed in Rev. 1:16 as the sharp two edged sword from His mouth and His countenance as the sun. The rod of iron will no doubt be the rules from His mouth also. (Isa. 11:4 Rod of His mouth, breath of His lips)  He will rule the Millennium with love, but requiring absolute obedience. (Good way to bring up children.)
v 16. He is king over all life, time space, and creation. This wonderful name is written on His vesture, and since He needs no sword but his mouth, it is also written on His thigh.  We don’t know how this is written, but at least it identifies Christ as the final authority.
v 17, Angels are identified with stars, and this one apparently is in charge of the sun. Perhaps the one who controls it’s intensity at God’s command.  We have discussed battles in the Armageddon campaign, but this is the final battle of the Tribulation, the one commonly called the battle of Armageddon. Megiddo is west of the Jordan in the plain of Jezreel between Samaria and Galilee, about 10 miles south of Nazareth and beginning about 15 miles in from the Mediterranean Sea . The valley of Jehoshaphat lies east of Jerusalem, but the armies will be throughout Israel. in fact, there will be street fighting going on in Jerusalem that very day, Zech. 14:2,3. This battle fulfills the smiting stone prophecy of Dan. 2:35. The angel is calling carrion type birds to feast upon this great slaughter, as in the earlier battle of Gog and Magog, Ezek. 39:4, 17-20.
In the late 70s a tract was circulated about the great increase of vultures in Israel, with the implication that this battle was almost immediate. Indeed, their seemed to be an increase in our area, possibly because of increased deer population being killed and lack of predators. When the Rapture didn’t take place, the tract bearers lost some of their credibility, but that day will come in God’s time. As of 2004 AD there were 400 such birds in the Mideast where there were 50 a few years before. They are tagged flying 250 miles a day, so can gather rapidly. When my father was young, migrating fowl were so thick over Iowa, they darkened the earth at times. These gathering scavengers will do likewise. What a ghastly feast the supper of the great God will be compared to the marriage supper of the Lamb, v 9. 
v 18. Death will be no respecter of any nationality or position. These will all be carrion for the vultures. This is similar to Ezek. 39:17-20. Though similar, that  battle of Gog and Magog will be at the beginning or midpoint of the Tribulation, Armageddon at the end. The first is by divinely controlled elements on from mighty men to various animals. This is by Christ against men and horses.
v 19. At the middle of the Tribulation, 17:3, the kings of the earth deeded their power and strength to the beast. He has been world ruler for three and one half years. In another three and a half years, the Satanic trinity called the nations of the earth to the battle of Armageddon, 16:3, and the great slaughter of Isa. 34:1, 2 is about to begin. How futile for these armies to think they can stand up against the Lord, but there are people today who claim nobody, including God, can tell them what to do. Their futility and God’s reaction are described in Ps. 2:1-4.
v 20. The beast and false prophet were not just demon possessed, but one at a time they were indwelt by Satan. Apparently only believers were not deceived by them into taking the mark of the beast. By his miracles and charisma, the beast had persuaded leaders and most men to take his mark, thus cutting off any hope of turning to God. They have faith and desperate hope that he will still be able to overcome Christ. Imagine their horror when by the word of His voice or his angel host, the beast and false prophet are suddenly snatched from leadership and whisked off to the lake of fire, the final Hell. Their bodies may burn but their spirits remain in torment. Dan. 7:11. These are the first occupants. (For any who doubt how  they could burn forever and not be consumed, think of Moses and the burning bush.)  The Lord and holy angels will observe their location and condition, then after the wicked pair have bowed their knee to Christ, He will turn from them and leave them to the blackness of darkness forever, Jude 13. Unsaved are in torment in Hades across the gulf from where Paradise was. Satan, who is bound, and all unbelievers will not be judged and sent to the lake of fire until after the 1000 years and another battle, Rev. 20:10-15. 
v 21. This is the fulfillment of verse 18. With leaders snatched away and Christ appearing, the  the hearts of the vast armies fail for fear, Lk. 21:26,27. The sword from the mouth of Christ slices all the jugular veins at once, with a mighty outpouring of blood, as He tramples the winepress, smearing His garment with blood. This long awaited battle was prophesied in Ps. 9:17; 110:5,6; Isa. 34:3,4; Jer. 25:29-33; Zeph. 1:17,18 etc. Israel will witness this and return to the Lord, Zech. 12:3,4,9,10; 13:1,9. Christ will stand upon the Mount of Olives, Zech. 14:4,8 setting off the earthquake which will open up the spring at the temple and flatten the terrain. Then the scavenger birds swoop down upon the millions of bodies lying in  blood. It is not stated how the land will be cleansed of the bones before the Millennium.
With Beast and False Prophet gone, the remnant slain will include all the kings and armies of the earth. As for civilians, Israel was judged as described in Matt. 24-25:30. The Gentiles judged as described in Matt. 25:31-46. First appearance might cause some to think that these Gentiles were judged according to their works, which is never true. However their works of kindness are the indication that they have received the gospel preached by the remnant during the tribulation. They are showing their faith by their works, James 2:18. They are not saved as a national unit but individually.
(Here is just a reminder that the Valley of Megiddon is 10 miles south of Nazareth and 15 in from the Mediterranean Sea, while the Valley of Jehoshaphat is east of Jerusalem, covering an even larger area to the south.)