Does the Book of Revelation indicate whether human souls will be fighting during Armageddon?

Question

I am a Catholic and I would like to know if the Book of Revelation in the Catholic Bible (or in other Christian Bibles) has anything to say about whether human souls will be fighting during Armageddon.

For example, are there any passage(s) in the Book of Revelation that indicate that the human souls that went to Heaven will be fighting alongside God's angels against the demons and the human souls that went to Hell?

Does the Book of Revelation indicate whether human souls will be fighting during Armageddon?

Answer 1

Revelation gives multiple views of the same events. Each section backs up and adds new details to what has already been disclosed. That is why establishing a timeline and master sequence is so baffling. The battle of Armageddon is one of those events. It is announced at one point, but the actual battle is described in Revelation 19.

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 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, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11-21)

As you can see, there is an army of heaven to accompany Jesus. All we know is that they ride white horses (possibly symbolic) and wear white robes (which symbolizes purity). There are Christian martyrs described in Revelation 7 as having washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. Thus it is likely though not certain that the army is made up of those martyred during the tribulation.

Answer 2

There is no description, in ch16, of any battle at Armageddon. "The kings of the whole world" gather for the battle in v16, then the narrative is paused while the vision describes the Harlot. The next actual event in the narrative after ch16 is the return of Christ (ch19 v11) accompanied by all the power of heaven, as in Matthew ch24 v30. I suggest, then, that the Return of Christ IS the battle of Armageddon, from God's side.

We need to be wary of taking too literally all the details of the visions of Revelation. Some of them are best taken as metaphor, and I believe that includes the concept of "fighting" in that last battle. In reality, the moment when Christ appears "on the clouds of heaven in power and great glory" and God puts out his full strength should surely be enough in itself to disable all human strength to resist. No armies and allies needed. I suggest that the battle will be over "in the twinkling of an eye".

Answer 3

The stage is set for the Battle of Armageddon in Revelation 16:12-16:

¹² The sixth angel emptied his bowl on the great river Euphrates. Its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. ¹³ I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴ These were demonic spirits who performed signs. They went out to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the almighty. ¹⁵ (“Behold, I am coming like a thief.” Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed.) ¹⁶ They then assembled the kings in the place that is named Armageddon in Hebrew.

No description of the battle follows until Revelation 19:11, 12, 17-21 (assuming that this refers to Armageddon):

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 ... He had a name inscribed that no one knows except himself. ... ¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out 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.

Human souls are not described as being directly involved. However, they are indeed mentioned as interested parties.

Revelation 6:9-11 NABRE

⁹ When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice, “How long will it be, holy and true master, before you sit in judgment and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth? ¹¹ Each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to be patient a little while longer until the number was filled of their fellow servants and brothers who were going to be killed as they had been.

Summary: As others have pointed out, the battle may be symbolic. This seems especially likely in that the enemies of God are nearly all killed by the sword that comes out of the mouth of the Rider, probably representing God's word. However, the battle's literal description implies that it takes place on earth, where rivers are dried up to make way for eastern kings and birds devour the flesh of the losing army. Spiritual forces are certainly at work, but there is no direct mention of human souls being involved except as passionately interested watchers.

Conclusion: there is no mention of human souls being directly involved in the battle of Armageddon.