Armageddon: The Final World Battle
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Will we see another World War? Will there be a World War III? IV? V? What we do know is that there will be a final WORLD WAR, and it is recorded for us here in Revelation 16:12-16. It is called: The Battle of Armageddon.
Dr. David Jeremiah says the following about the battle of Armageddon, “The Battle of Armageddon will be the final showdown between good and evil on earth. Jesus will return as a mighty King with heaven’s armies to destroy all those who have rejected Him as Savior (Revelation 19:11-16).
The term “Armageddon” appears only once in the New Testament – here in Revelation 16:16. The word “Armageddon” means, “Mountain in Megiddo.” The place where this mountain is located is also called, the “Valley of Megiddo.”
Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes that “Megiddo” means: Place of troops. Isn’t that interesting? It’s as if God knew what would eventually happen in this valley.
In 1994 Debbie and I stood atop of Mount Megiddo. It was the location of King Solomon’s summer palace, and we were able to see off in the distance the entire Valley of Megiddo running North and South (The saying is, from Dan to Beersheba). It reminded me of the Rathdrum Prairie before so wrongfully over developed.
Some of the other names given to this area are:
· Mount of slaughter
· Mount of assembly
· Mount of cutting down
· Marauding mountain
· The cutdown mountain
Here are some historical events that happened in this area:
· Barak battle with the Canaanites and his victory (Judges 4).
· Gideon’s battle with the Midianites and his victory (Judges 7).
· The death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:8).
· The death of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:22).
· Ahaziah was slain by Jehu (2 Kings 9:27).
Let’s turn to the Bible and see what we can learn about this last great earthly battle. We learn the following:
I. The Battle of Armageddon will involve the Kings of the East – Revelation 16:12
I. The Battle of Armageddon will involve the Kings of the East – Revelation 16:12
Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.
I have read that this sixth bowl judgment is more than a plague, it’s a prelude to the gathering of troops for Armageddon. You can almost hear echoing through the corridor of time the hoofs of the horses, or the boots on the ground.
Look at the words, “the great river Euphrates”. This phrase is used some 5 times in the Scripture – Revelation 9:14, 16:12; Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 1:7; Joshua 1:4. The Euphrates starts at the slopes of Mount. Ararat and empties into the Persian Gulf. It is 1800 miles long. It’s the largest river in western Asia.
We read here that “its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.”
Please underline the word, “prepared” in our text. God’s prophetic plans will be carried out completely as He in eternity past laid them out.
The late Chuck Smith has written, “Russian scientists are constructing a dam in Syria across the River Euphrates. The "kings of the east" will probably be a coalition of forces from China, Japan, and India. They will travel down the dry riverbed to reach Megiddo for the Battle of Armageddon.”
Be aware that no one really knows who the kings of the east are. It has been said that you could read one hundred commentaries and have fifty different answers. Scripture doesn’t pinpoint in detail the names of these kings. It probably is a conglomerate of nations lying east of Israel.
Is preparation taking place now? It’s very possible! Don’t you find it interesting that this entire region is always in the news. All eyes are on the middle east.
Look back at Revelation 9:16, we discover that some 200 million soldiers will cross the dry riverbed of the Euphrates, and that they will kill a third of the population. Latter this massive army will travel toward the valley of Megiddo where the last great war shall be fought (see Revelation 9:13-21).
Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost writes, “This confluence of the nations of the earth is in a place called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). There God deals in judgment with the nations because of their persecution of Israel (Joel 3:2) because of the sinfulness (Revelation 19:15), and because of their godlessness (Revelation 16:9).
Megiddo will be the place of the last great world battle. I have read that Napoleon called the geographical Armageddon the greatest natural battlefield in the world.
Next, we learn,
II. The Battle of Armageddon will be Satanically Inspired – Revelation 16:13-14
II. The Battle of Armageddon will be Satanically Inspired – Revelation 16:13-14
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Look at the words, “three unclean spirits like frogs”. Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Frogs were unclean animals according to the Old Testament dietary laws (Leviticus 11:10,11,41). Persian mythology views them as plague-inducing creatures. The demons are thus described as slimy cold-blooded loathsome beings.”
These three unclean spirits are coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (the unholy trinity), and we are told that they are spirits are demons.
· Who is the dragon? The dragon is Satan. An unclean spirit comes out of his mouth.
· Who is the beast? The beast is the Antichrist, the political leader of the revived Roman Empire. An unclean spirit comes out of the moth of the false prophet.
· Who is the false prophet? The false prophet is the religious leader.
What we learn here is that this last world-wide battle will be inspired by God’s greatest foe – Satan himself, and his cohorts.
Satan had as his goal to overcome God and to take His place (Read Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28). He failed. The result was that he was cast out of heaven along with one-third of the angels. Since that day his goal has been to defeat God by causing God’s creation to rebel against Him. What we are reading about here is the final push of worldwide rebellion.
Dr. David Jeremiah writes, “They get together in their war room to make an attempt to get the nations of the world to march against Israel and defeat God’s purposes on earth.”
In verse 14 we are told that these “spirits of demons” were performing signs before the kings of the earth. It appears that these performing signs (supernatural wonders) are used to draw the entire world into this battle. This is where we get the number of 200 million.
A battle that I remind you that will be an epic failure. Satan, his demon cohorts, and the military powers of the world will all be utterly defeated.
What else do we learn about the battle of Armageddon?
III. The Battle of Armageddon will be World-wide in Scope – Revelation 16:14
III. The Battle of Armageddon will be World-wide in Scope – Revelation 16:14
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Underline the words, “whole world”. This end times battle will involve the world that remains behind and living through the seven-year Tribulation period. We know that at least 200 million soldiers will gather at this final battle ground. Surely there will be far more than that, but that gives us an inkling of an idea as the size of this forthcoming battle.
It has been written that Megiddo is a valley that is fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long. This spot becomes the staging point of the final battle, but the armies of the world will scatter far north and far south some 200 miles.
What else do we learn about the battle of Armageddon? We learn that…
IV. The Battle of Armageddon will be the Great Day of God Almighty – Revelation 16:14
IV. The Battle of Armageddon will be the Great Day of God Almighty – Revelation 16:14
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Satan and his fallen angels will gather the whole world to the “battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
Question: Why use the words “God Almighty” here? Why not “the LORD” or just “God”? Because these two words used together tell us that the entire world coming to battle have already lost because of these two words being used here – “God Almighty.” There is nothing stronger than God Almighty!
Our God is all powerful (Omnipotent). Our God is in full and total control of the entire universe that he spoke into existence by the word of His mouth. And to top it off, our God is in complete control of all history (past, present, and future).
In other words, God has got THIS DAY in control!
V. The Battle of Armageddon will be the scene of Christ’s Second Coming – Revelation 16:15
V. The Battle of Armageddon will be the scene of Christ’s Second Coming – Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
I Really like what Dr. John MacArthur has penned, “The war will end when Christ arrives (Revelation 19:17-20).
Allow me to point out to you that this fifteenth verse is in RED letters. This informs us that Jesus Christ is the one speaking. He is telling the reader that He will be coming as a thief – when you least expect it. Happy is the one who does these two things:
1. Watches for His coming with anticipation. Look up, our redemption draws near.
2. Keeps his garments clean until Christ returns. Seek to live a righteous life every day.
Why is verse 15 here? Because the only one that is going to STOP Satan, the fallen angels, and the armies of the world going up against Israel, God Almighty, and His Son, Jesus Christ.
When Jesus steps forward (Returns) He will make all the difference. His presence, His word, and His power will bring an end to this last great war.
VI. The Battle of Armageddon will occur in a place called, Har Megiddo – Revelation 16:16
VI. The Battle of Armageddon will occur in a place called, Har Megiddo – Revelation 16:16
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
According to verse 16, Satan, and his demons gathered the armies of the world to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. It is located some sixty miles north of Jerusalem.
I have already spoken a great deal about this area. Look at the screen behind me, and you will see an ariel view of Megiddo. This will be the spot for the last great world battle.
VII. The Battle of Armageddon will be won by Jesus Christ – Revelation 19:11-21
VII. The Battle of Armageddon will be won by Jesus Christ – Revelation 19:11-21
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 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. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
I want you to write in the margin of your Bible the word: VICTORY! Jesus will show up at the last great battle of the world as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Now, the heading in my Bible above verse 17 reads,
The Beast and His Armies Defeated
This is taking us back to the battle of Armageddon. Christ will win the battle. Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and the kings of the world lose. There will be a winner, and there will be losers.
We read,
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 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. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
What do we have in these verses? We have…
· The birds of the air are called to a feast – the supper of the great God.
· The kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against his army – war against Jesus Christ and His saints.
· The beast and the false prophet are captured – they are cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
· The armies of the world are killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.
· The birds were filled with their flesh.
Conclusion: I began this message by asking you if you thought we would have another World War? Will there be a World War III? Well, I don’t know how many more World Wars we may have, but I do know that there is coming: Armageddon – The Final World Battle. And what have we learned about this Final World battle? We have learned the following nine truths about Armageddon:
1. The Great River Euphrates plays a role in the Battle of Armageddon. God will dry it up.
2. Armageddon will involve the kings of the east and their armies of 200 million soldiers.
3. Armageddon is Satanically inspired. It involves the unholy trinity, the frogs of demon spirits, and the kings of the earth.
4. Armageddon is world-wide in scope. The whole world is involved.
5. Armageddon is called the “great day of God Almighty.” God will have the final word.
6. The battle of Armageddon will end when Christ arrives. His Second Coming!
7. Armageddon will take place in the valley of Megiddo – the place of troops. Sixty miles north of Jerusalem.
8. Armageddon will be the final showdown between good and evil on earth. Jesus Christ will defeat the beast and his armies with the sword that comes from His mouth.
9. The term Armageddon appears only one time in Scripture (Revelation 16:16). Why one time? Because it’s only a one-time event on God’s prophetic calendar.