Maximus is returned to life by the gods to bring down Hephaestus, ends as immortal warrior-figure:

We intercut the following with shots of the dying stag from earlier in the film:

• Middle Eastern Battlefield: Maximus stands surrounded by hundreds of Crusaders as they battle a Muslim army. Everyone dies around him, only Maximus remains untouched.
• Europe: Maximus battles tanks in World War 2.
• Vietnam: Maximus battles Vietcong with a flamethrower.
• The Pentagon, Present Day: Maximus washing his hands in a men’s room sink. He stars at himself in the mirror…reflecting. Mordecai stands behind him…whispers: “Until eternity itself has said it’s prayers.” Maximus exits; proceeds into a large war room containing a dozen men in suits.