A Sobering Reminder To Follow Jesus
Throughout His earthly ministry, the Gospels communicated an unmistakable call to follow the Lord Jesus.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” — Matthew 16.24
"And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” — Mark 1.17
"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” — Luke 18.22
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8.12
As the final battle in Revelation ensues, this call to follow the Lord Jesus comes in the form of the sobering reality that evil and those committed to denying God will be utterly destroyed. Revelation 19.19-21 says;
"Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies."
Finally, the prayers of believers will be answered when the curtain closes on the antichrist's corrupt empire. John states that both the antichrist (beast) and the false prophet were captured and simultaneously thrown in the lake of fire, which is hell. Contrary to misconception, hell is a real place that yields unending torture. It is a permanent place of incarceration and punishment. With just one word, the Lord will also defeat the rest of the antichrist's army. It should be noted that the Lord and His army will not carry any human-made weapons. Thus, heaven's artillery is the power of the Lord Jesus, and His victory is certain.
The coming defeat of evil provides a sobering warning to unbelievers to repent and arouse believers to godly living. Romans 13.12-14 says;
"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”