Armageddon

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Revelation 16:12-16

I. Introduction: A focal point of millennial doctrine is a great battle called Armageddon. It is supposed to be a great battle between the forces of evil and the nation of Israel. It is supposed to be a war on the grandest scale imaginable. What does the Bible say about Armageddon?

II. Millennial quotes

A. “Topping even these disasters will come a world war of unprecedented proportions. Hundreds of millions of men will be involved in a gigantic world power struggle centered in the Middle East. The area will become the scene of the greatest war of history. Great armies from the south, representing the millions of Africa, will pour into the battle arena. Other great armies from the north, representing Russia and Europe, will descend on Palestine. Climaxing the struggle will be millions of men from the Orient, led by Red China, who will cross the Euphrates River and join the fray. Locked in this deadly struggle, millions of men will perish in the greatest war of all history. This is what the Bible describes as Armageddon. Before the war is finally resolved and the victor determined, Jesus Christ will come back in power and glory from heaven. His coming, accompanied by millions of angels and saints, is described in graphic terms in Revelation 19. Coming as the King of kings and judge of the world, He will destroy the contending armies and bring in His own kingdom of peace and righteousness on earth.” (John F. and John E. Walvoord, Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis, p.21 (Charts 1 and 2)

B. Hal Lindsey’s View (Chart 3)

III. Armageddon defined

A. Map – (Chart 4)

B. From the Hebrew, HAR-MAGEDON, the city or hill of Megiddo

C. The city of Megiddo is on the edge of the great valley of Esdraelon.

D. Not so important for where it is but for what it represents: a place of great decisive battles.

E. Symbolically used by apocalyptic writers as a battle zone where good and evil wage war.

F. ISBE quote on Valley of Esdraelon (Chart 5)

IV. Symbolic nature of Revelation

A. We have studied before how the book of Revelation is symbolic, given in signs, Revelation 1:1.

B. Some interpret the battle of Revelation 19 as a literal battle but there are problems with this interpretation.

C. For those who link this to Ezekiel 38 and 39 (most do), the armies are riding horses and battling with many wooden weapons, bows, arrows, and swords. They do not believe that literal frogs gather the armies are literal, Revelation 16:13-14. They do not believe that literal dragons will be running the war. They do not believe that Jesus really has a sword coming out of His mouth with which He defeats His enemies, Revelation 19:15 The armies of the world could not fit in the valley which forms a triangle (15 mi x 15 mi x 20 mi – Measurements from ISBE)

D. As we said earlier, the importance is not “where” the battle is, but what the battle represents: Armageddon is symbolic of a great decisive battle.

V. The Great Battle (Chart 7)

A. Ezekiel describes a battle that would take place in the latter years, Ezekiel 38:8.

B. The latter days and latter years refers to the time of Jesus. Hebrews 1:1 – “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” Acts 2 is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of the latter days.

C. An army gathered by Gog of Magog would attack Israel.

D. They represent ancient enemies of God’s people

E. Ezekiel 38:17 – Spoken of before No previous mention of this king (mentioned only in Ezekiel 38, 39, and Revelation 20. Gog of Magog represents all those enemies that God would call against His people: Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, etc. This idea is further advanced by the army that Gog gathers: Ezekiel 38:5-6 – “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.” (Chart 8) This army would encircle God’s people.

F. Note that they attack cities without walls, Ezekiel 38:10-12 ( Back to Chart 7)

G. Not the Roman Empire

H. This cannot be talking about the Roman armies attacking Israel in 70 A.D. for, since the return from captivity, Jerusalem was a fortified city. Also, when Gog attacked Israel they were defeated. When Rome attacked Jerusalem they prevailed.

I. The battle is similar to Revelation 19 (Chart 9)

J. Armies are gathered from all of the earth, Revelation 16:14. God fights for His people and defeats the enemy.

K. The animals are called to feast on the bodies

L. Ezekiel 39:4 – “I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.” Ezekiel 39:17-20 – A great feast for the animals Revelation 19:17-18 – Animals called to the feast

M. The great battle is not a physical battle over the territory of Israel but a battle against Spiritual Israel.

N. ISBE: “The fulfillment of this strange prophecy can never be literal. In general it seems to refer to the last and desperate attempts of a dying heathenism to overturn the true religion of Yahweh, or make capital out of it, profiting by its great advantages.” In the latter days, spiritual Israel, the church, was an unwalled city; they had no refuge behind walls but were protected by God alone. The enemies of God’s people fought against the church in Judea and throughout the Roman Empire—surrounded by enemies—but God defeated them. Ultimately this is the lesson of Armageddon: God always defeats His enemies and preserves His people.

VI. Gog’s Second Attempt, Revelation 20:7-11

A. After the defeat of Gog, Satan is bound and the saints reign with Christ for 1,000 years, Revelation 20:1-3.

B. Satan is bound so he could not deceive the nations as he did in bringing opposition against God’s people. As mentioned before, 1,000 is used to symbolize a very large number This says nothing of Christ’s reign but of the reign of the saints.

C. When the 1,000 years are over, Satan is released and again tries to defeat God’s people.

D. Everything in the timetable of this passage seems to point to this happening in the future.

E. At some time, the 1,000 year reign must end where Satan is allowed greater freedom than when he was bound. Immediately following his second defeat, he is cast into the lake of fire and all are gathered to judgment. Both of these events are in the future. It is frightening to consider opposition to the church such as that in the time of the Roman Empire.

F. However, the outcome will be the same: God will protect His saints.

G. Homer Hailey, in his commentary, suggests that it might not be political enemies in the past but the forces of religious error and the wicked lustful world that would attempt to destroy Christians.

H. Regardless of the enemy, and regardless of whether this is indeed talking about our future or not, we must always stand with God and fight for Him.

I. Christians overcome through Christ, Revelation 12:11

J. The saving blood of the Lamb The word of the testimony; the gospel Not loving our lives even to death If we have this commitment, no enemy can defeat us.

K. In Revelation 20, the enemy completely surrounds the city and is ready to attack when God defeats them.

L. Will we cower in fear looking at the enemy surrounding us thinking God has abandoned us?2 Kings 6:14-17 – More are with us than them Daniel 11:32-35 – Some great ones fell to refine the remnant; to weed out those who would not stand with God until the end. Will we stand until the victorious end no matter how dark the night and perilous the situation before the victory? What about in our personal Armageddon’s, battles we must face within? Will we trust in God and victory? Hebrews 13:5-6 – He will not leave or forsake us Romans 8:31-39 – If God is for us, who can oppose us? But we must be in Christ to have this hope, Galatians 3:26-27