The Battle of Armageddon
Or, The Final Showdown
"The battle of that great day of God Almighty"
(Revelation 16:14).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armageddon is mentioned only once, by name, in Scripture--
in Revelation 16:16. "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles,
which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them
to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14).
The scenario for Armageddon. The Seventieth Week of
Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) has all but completed, when the 6th Vial is poured out. Antichrist
presented himself as God, to be worshipped in the Temple, at the center of the Tribulation
Week (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The Tribulation Saints have been raptured at the 7th
and Last Trump, approximately 8 days before the End of the Week. With all of God's
people removed from the planet, the LORD God Almighty has the greatest liberty to
deal with mankind.
Remember how the LORD refused to pull up the tares (weeds) out of His wheat field?
Why? Because He was concerned about harming His own. The Tribulation Saints must
be completely removed by a Pre-Wrath Rapture. "He said unto them, An enemy hath
done this. The servants said unto Him, Wilt Thou then that we go and gather them
up? But He said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat
with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I
will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles
to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn" (Matthew 13:28-30). This describes
the final harvest of the nations of the world. The Pre-Wrath Rapture (which is the
final harvest of the Church) occurs before the separating of the sheep from the goats
(which is the final harvest of all the nations of the world) (Matthew 25:31-46).
Antichrist represents "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" (Revelation
16:14). The "kings of the east" (16:12) are a significant part of Antichrist's
army from the Far East. They are not his opponent at Armageddon. Who do they really
think they are going to fight? Not each other. As much as they may hate each other,
they are coming to fight the KING of Kings. Unreasonable? Yes. "There is no
wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD" (Proverbs 21:30). Still,
if they won't repent, they must oppose the Living God. "He that is not with
Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth" (Luke 11:23).
Armageddon is the showdown between the LORD Jesus Christ and the Antichrist. In Antichrist's
corner are all the weapons of the world, as well as Satan's lying wonders. "Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The LORD Jesus is armed with only His person--
"and His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13)-- however,
"out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations:
and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:15).
The world is watching this engagement. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every
eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of Him" (Revelation 1:7). The kings, which represent the
whole world, and their armies will be there-- gathered by Satan's demons. "For
they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of
the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day
of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14). And all of God's angels will be there.
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the LORD Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ: who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the LORD, and from the
glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). And also, all of God's Saints will
be there. "And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean" (Revelation 19:14).
Armageddon is more an event than it is a place. It is "the battle of that great
day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14). As a location, Armageddon relates to
the Mount of Megiddo, in the northern part of Israel. It also relates to Megiddo,
a city located in the Valley of Jezreel (also called the Plain of Esdraelon). Blood
will flow thick and deep. 1,600 furlongs is about 200 miles. "And the winepress
was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the
horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs" (Revelation
14:20). The entire length of Israel will be a killing field-- but only for the dead
bodies of Antichrist's troops. "And the remnant were slain with the sword of
Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the
fowls were filled with their flesh" (Revelation 19:21).
Though the Campaign of Armageddon lasts 5 days (Tishri 10 to 14), the actual Battle
will probably take place in one day. When the LORD Jesus Christ begins to slay His
enemies, it will probably be ended the same day. "And out of His mouth goeth
a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with
a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty
God" (Revelation 19:15). However, if an extra day is needed to complete Armaggedon,
the LORD Jesus could do for Himself what He did for Joshua-- give Himself an extra,
supernatural day! "And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people
had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?
So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a
whole day" (Joshua 10:13). On Antichrist's part, just the logistics of amassing
his forces will take a good part of those 5 days-- as well as the last part of the
Tribulation Week after the 6th Seal Judgment.
The final outcome of the Battle of Armageddon is assured. Jesus will win. Satan will
lose. "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into
the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive
the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that
he must be loosed a little season" (Revelation 20:1-3). Both the Beast (the
Antichrist) and the False Prophet will immediately receive their eternal judgment,
being cast into the Lake of Fire. "And the beast was taken, and with him the
false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that
had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both
were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:20).
