Revelation 16:12-16; 19:17-21
We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at the door. - General Douglas MacArthur, 1945 For the first time ever, everything is in place for the battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. - Governor Ronald Reagan, 1971 You know, I turn back to your ancient prophets in the Old Testament and the signs foretelling Armageddon, and I find myself wondering if - if we re the generation that is going to see that come about. I don t know if you ve noted any of those prophecies lately, but, believe me, they certainly describe the times. - President Ronald Reagan, 1983 There is no doubt that global events are preparing the way for the final great war of history the great Armageddon! - Reverend Billy Graham
1) What does the word Armageddon mean? And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Rev. 16:16 Har (mountain) and Megiddo (a city in the northern part of ancient Israel)
2) What Armageddon is and is not: It is not a single battle. It is a war or a campaign involving a series of battles in the land of Israel. It is not the last battle or war fought on earth. It is the climactic war of the Great Tribulation when all the armies of the earth gather to attack Israel and attempt to finally eradicate the Jewish people.
3) Ten main Scriptural passages that describe Armageddon: 1. Psalm 2 2. Isaiah 34:1-6 3. Isaiah 63:1-6 4. Joel 3:1-17 5. Zech. 12:1-9 6. Zech. 14:1-15 7. Malachi 4:1-5 8. Rev. 14:14-20 9. Rev. 16:12-16 10. Rev. 19:19-21
4) Seven Key Titles of Armageddon: 1. the day of the Lord s vengeance Isaiah 34:8 2. the winepress of God Isaiah 63:2; Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:19-20 3. the great and awesome day of the Lord Joel 2:31 4. the harvest Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:15-16 5. the day burning like a furnace Malachi 4:1 6. the great and terrible day of the Lord Malachi 4:5 7. the war of the great day of God, the Almighty Revelation 16:14
5) The Scope of the Campaign of Armageddon: A. The Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2;12) (The Kidron Valley) B. The Plain of Esdraelon (the Valley of Jezreel and the Plains of Megiddo) C. Bozrah/Edom (Isaiah 34:1-5; 63:1) (Modern day Jordan)
Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, thrust your sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses bridles (approx. four feet deep), for one thousand six hundred furlongs. (approx.180 miles). Revelation 14:17-20
6) Why do the nations gather at Armageddon? A. Some believe that they will gather from all over the world to challenge the Antichrist. B. Others believe that the armies are gathered to finally destroy the Jewish people. Revelation 16:13-16
7) Seven Key Phases of Armageddon: Phase 1 The Euphrates River dries up, preparing the way for the kings of the east (Revelation 16:12). Phase 2 The Antichrist s allies assemble (Revelation 16:12-16). The armies assemble to annihilate the Jews once and for all.
Phase 3 The armies attack Jerusalem, and it falls (Zechariah 14:1-3). Phase 4 Jesus Christ returns personally to the Mount of Olives (His Second Coming) (Zechariah 14:4). Phase 5 Christ and the armies of the Lord destroy the armies gathered against Jerusalem in the Valley of Jehoshapat (Kidron Valley?) (Joel 3:9-17; Zechariah 12:1-9; Zechariah 14:3).
Phase 6 Christ descends upon Bozrah/Edom in modern Jordan to destroy its inhabitants and to deliver the Jewish remnant (Isaiah 34:1-7; 63:1-5; Joel 3:19). Phase 7 The armies at Armageddon are utterly destroyed (Revelation 16:16; 19:19-21).
With what panoply and pomp the armies march across the plains of Galilee, file through the passes and deploy on the fertile fields of Megiddo...Then suddenly it will be over. In fact, there will be no war at all, in the sense that we think of war. There will be just a word spoken from Him who sits astride the great white horse. Once He spoke a word to a fig tree, and it withered away. Once He spoke a word to howling winds and heaving waves, and the storm clouds vanished and waves fell still. Once He spoke a word to a legion of demons bursting at the seams of a poor man s soul, and instantly they fled. Now He speaks a word, and the war is over. The blasphemous, loud-mouthed Beast is stricken where he stands. The false prophet, the miracle-working windbag from the pit is punctured and still. The pair of them are bundled up and hurled headlong into the everlasting flames. Another word, and the panic-stricken armies reel and stagger and fall down dead. Field marshals and generals, admirals and air commanders, soldiers and sailors, rank and file, one and all they fall. And the vultures descend and cover the scene. Thus ends the battle of Armageddon! - John Phillips
8) The Aftermath of Armageddon: A. The great bird supper: (Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37; Revelation 19:17-21). B. the Antichrist and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire forever according to Revelation 19:20. Thus ends the campaign of Armageddon. There will be no more war on earth for 1,000 years!