Revelation 14:20

Since the city in view escapes this judgment, Babylon is evidently not the city in view. It is instead Jerusalem. The Old Testament predicted that a final battle would take place near Jerusalem, in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (i.e., the Kidron Valley just to the east of Jerusalem; Joel 3:12-14; Zechariah 14:4; cf. Revelation 11:2). It seems probable that blood will literally flow up to the height of horses’ bridles (about four and one-half feet) in some places in that valley. Obviously many people will have to die for this amount of blood to flow.

Blood came out from the wine press of God’s wrath for a distance of 200 miles (lit. 1,600 stadia). Evidently this figure describes the judgment that will take place all over Palestine, not just in the Valley of Jehoshaphat near Jerusalem, at this time. Much of this action will take place in the Valley of Jezreel in northern Israel (i.e., the battle of Armageddon; Revelation 19:17-19). There God will put vast numbers of people to death (cf. Isaiah 63:1-6). The blood will evidently drain out of the Jezreel Valley for a distance of 200 miles, probably eastward down the Harod Valley to the Jordan Valley and south into the Dead Sea.

Many interpreters, even some dispensationalists, believe that what we read in this verse is simply a symbolic way of picturing a terrible judgment. [Note: E.g., Wiersbe, 2:608.] Amillennial interpreters often take this description as picturing a worldwide judgment. [Note: E.g., Beale, p. 782.]

This chapter contains a prophetic preview of the major events yet future from John’s perspective in his vision. That is, they deal with events leading up to the end of the Great Tribulation.