It will be in place here to remark, that “these plagues,” as they are fitly termed in verse 20, will be terribly operative in the destroying of the body of the beast, and in the binding of the dragon, and casting of him into the abyss (Dan. 7:11). They will be swamped in “a fiery stream,” and “be given to the burning flame.” This is apocalyptically styled, “a Lake of Fire burning with sulphur” (ch. 19:20). The territory upon
which the beast and false prophet dominion exist, will be turned into a lake of fire by this sulphur-burning machinery of war. The saints will be in that lake, “executing the judgment written,” in tormenting with fire and sulphur the worshippers of the beast (ch. 14:10). Fire, sulphur, and smoke, in these places, symbolize the same agent as they do in the second woe. The governments are not casting great guns, and storing up munitions of war in vain. They are preparing them blindly for their own destruction. Their arsenals will fall into the hands of the Lamb and his people, who will plunge incessant fire upon their enemies, the smoke of whose torment will ascend, until their power shall be totally and finally destroyed. From thenceforth, war will be no more for a thousand years.