Battle of Armageddon

The Battle of Armageddon

“And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.”                                                                                                   Revelation 16:16 (NLT)

            As we have read the last couple of weeks, there is a great war yet to come and most call it ‘Armageddon’, but that is only to explain where it will take place.  This war could also be called ‘World War III’, which will come after a series of smaller wars.  To know when this final war comes, we need to go back to some Bible prophesies.

           Following the war of ‘God and Magog’ that we read about last week, the Antichrist will rise in power and a 7-year peace treaty will be signed with Israel.  This will be the beginning of the seven year Tribulation.  Daniel 9:27 describes what this treaty is about.  “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings.”  He is showing that a new Temple will be built in Jerusalem and the Antichrist will enter in and proclaim himself to be God. Then begins the last half of Tribulation and the ‘Wrath of God’ will fall on the world. (Read: Matthew 24:15-21)
            Jesus tells us when this will take place and this is what he said, “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”.   Matthew 24:29-30 (NLT)
            Then all of the nations and peoples will gather together in a valley east of Mount Megiddo.  The book of Revelation 16:16 tells us that this place, in Hebrew, is called Armageddon.  That is why it’s called the Battle of Armageddon, but in reality it is a war that ends all wars.  The battle begins and Jesus returns to fight this great battle.  “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”  Revelation 19:13-14 (NKJV).
            The battle ends in one day and this clearly explains how it ends. “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Revelation 19:20 (NKJV) This will usher in the Millennium where Christ will rule and reign for 1000 years.
            Now this is really a very short description of the great final war; many things will happen during the 7-year period leading up to it.  The antichrist has yet to appear and the 7-year treaty for Israel hasn’t happened yet.  Two great witnesses will arrive in Jerusalem and will prophesy in the streets for 3 ½ years.  The enemy is powerless to kill them until God says it’s enough.  Then they will be killed and lay dead in the street for 3 ½ days while the enemy parties.  Suddenly, God sends breath back into their bodies and they stand up.  Terror strikes the world and then God calls to them, “Come on up” and they rise up into the heavens like Jesus did in Acts 1:9.   
            After this the Wrath of God begins to fall on this world as we read about in Matthew 24:29.  “Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.”  The earth will not be as we know it today and we can only pray that God will deliver us from the wrath to come.  (See 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
                Whenever all these things happen, it is important to turn your life over to God Almighty.  You may be a great person, full of wisdom and knowledge, talented and doing things for the church, but if you haven’t given your life to Jesus, it really doesn’t count in the end.  You’ve heard the phrase, ‘sold out to Jesus’?  It may not say it that way in the Bible, but over and over again it says to follow Jesus.  Let your life stand for something; make God number one in your life and everything else will fall into place.  Just talk to God like you would talk to someone very close to you.  I promise He will hear and answer you.  Only God can save you from what is coming sooner or later, but it will come because He said it.  Amen.