Armageddon

The battle called Armageddon is the sixth plague.  John warns us that Satan’s demons will deceive the world into unity for the final desolation of the saints through a universal death decree.  Daniel also saw the intended destruction of the saints.  Daniel 12:11 the kings of the earth agree on the simultaneous destruction of those worshiping on Saturday and gather to the place in Hebrew is called, “Armageddon.”

Remember, in revelation 9 the name of the angel king from the Abyss meant, “destroyer” both in Greek and Hebrew?  See Revelation 9:11.  Just as the title describes Satan, the Greek equivalent of Armageddon describes a place or a state the world reaches.  The word Armageddon comes from two words, “har megido” and are translated – Armageddon.  These two words mean, “the mountain of God, or the place of God.”

The world under Satan’s leadership reaches the height of rebellion against God and His saints during the fifth plague for the entire world is agreed upon the simultaneous destruction of the very people Jesus is coming to save.  This is the final straw.  Now the wrath of God knows no restriction.  The world is planning to destroy the “apple of His eye.”  Rebellion has brought the world to the “the mountain of God.”  Now the world will know, as in Elijah’s day on Mount Carmel, who is the true God.  The world will see Him and face His wrath.  John says, “The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne saying, “It is done’.  Then came flashes of lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake.  No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.  The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed.  God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of his wrath.  Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.  From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men.  And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.”  Revelation 16:17-21

John also says that the people of earth cry out, “They called to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’  Revelation 6:16,17

Paul tells us the splendor of Christ’s coming destroys all the living.  “And then the lawless one (the man of sin) will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” II Thessalonians 2:8

Zephaniah says, “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.  In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.”  Zephaniah 1:18

The earth is left desolate

The hail that falls upon the earth at the second coming is like the fiery hailstones that fell upon the earth at the first trumpet.  The basic difference between them is size and the amount of devastation.  The hail of the first trumpet burns up 1/3 of the earth (grass, trees) while the hail of the seventh plague burns Babylon up.  John says that the beast (Babylon, having 7 heads and 10 horns) and the False Prophet (Babylon’s great lamb-like leader – Satan) are destroyed by this fire at the second coming.   “The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  The rest of them were killed with the sword that comes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”  Revelation 19:20,21

The rider on the horse is King Jesus.  John says, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  Revelation 19:11-16 At this time, the conquering which Jesus set out to do with the opening of the first seal is finally completed!

The saints taken to heaven

The second coming will be a scene beyond expression.  As Jesus draws near the earth, the righteous dead are resurrected to behold Jesus.  Paul says, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

I Thessalonians 4:16,17

It is important to note that Jesus does not stand on earth at the second coming.  The saints meet Him in the air!  They return with Jesus to heaven for one thousand years.  John says of the righteous dead, “They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.”  Revelation 20:4,5

What do the saints do for a thousand years?  John says, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge, they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4,6

For one thousand years the saints will open the books and review the judgment process of God.  They will be fully satisfied with the eternal decision of each person.  No doubts will remain as to the fairness and judgment of Jesus for each person.  Meanwhile, the earth is desolate.  The wicked are dead and Satan and his angels are put back into the Abyss where they wait for divine justice.

Satan lives on

If Satan is the False Prophet mentioned in Revelation 19, and the False Prophet is burned up at the Second Coming, how can he remain alive during the millennium?  The answer is that Satan (like Jesus) is not limited to the body of a man.  Remember, Satan was allowed out of the Abyss (or spirit world) during the fifth trumpet.  He takes the form of a man, but Satan is still an angel.  At the second coming, Satan’s apparition of a man claiming to be God is destroyed, but the evil angel king and his demons remain alive until the end of the thousand years.  At the time of the second coming, John says, “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.  He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.  He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him. To keep him from deceiving the nations any more until the thousand years were ended.  After that, he must be set free for a short time.”  Revelation 20:1-3

The saints returned to earth

When the thousand years of research into God’s character are finished, the New Jerusalem and the saints return to earth with Jesus.

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1,000 Years
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The revelation of who Jesus really is occurs when the seventh seal is broken and the book of life is opened!

The second resurrection now takes place.  The first resurrection took place at the second coming, and the second resurrection occurs a thousand years later.  Jesus said, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.  The second death has no power over them.”  Revelation 20:6

The Bible is very clear that there are two resurrections: One to eternal life and one to eternal death.  Jesus said, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to life, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”  John 5:28,29

After the wicked are resurrected at the end of the thousand years, Satan is released from the Abyss (spirit world) for a short time.  He immediately stirs the vast multitude into rebellion.  He convinces the numberless crowd that Jesus intends to do them great harm.  He incites a dramatic uprising to destroy the New Jerusalem and the saints that have come down to earth.  See Revelation 20:7-10

As the wicked rush with rage upon the holy city, Jesus speaks.  The multitude stops in their tracks. Silence falls upon the breathless mob for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1 Jesus, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, speaks. The anger and rebellion of the numberless mob dissipates.  As lightening pierces darkness, the wicked realize they stand before their Maker.  He is not a tyrant.  He is not angry.  He speaks with great authority.

Jesus explains the plan of salvation to the waiting multitude.  As the wicked behold the love of God, each person understands the economy of salvation.  Each person’s life is presented from the open books of record.  The wicked see their deeds just as God saw their deeds.  There is no room for excuses or self-justification.  There is no place to run.  He who sees the hearts and reads the motives presents each life record of sin and rebellion for what it really is with unvarnished clarity.  The wicked know why they are condemned.  They now know who Jesus really is, why he died on Calvary and why they cannot be saved.  The wicked clearly see that they are outside the gates of the holy city because they chose evil rather than righteousness.

At the end of this revelation, every knee bows before Jesus with deepest emotion.  The wicked bow before the justice of Jesus and the righteous bow before the mercy of Jesus.  Jesus said, “Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.  They will say of me ‘In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.’  All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.  But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.  Isaiah 45:23-25

Every knee will bow before Jesus.  Those who bow in faith before the close of probation will be saved.  Those who bow after the close of probation will be lost.  In both cases, all creatures will recognize that,  “In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.”

Quiz:

1. The coming Day of the Lord is a day of __________.

2. Why is sin so degenerative upon succeeding generations?

3. What does global trade have to do with Revelation?

4. Why will Sunday laws be necessary in America?

5. When is the second resurrection?
   
   
   

Memory Verse:  Isaiah 45:23  “In the Lord alone is righteousness and strength.”

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