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The Battle of Armageddon
Or, The Final Showdown
"The battle of that great day of God Almighty"
(Revelation 16:14).

by Tom Stewart
1-18-98
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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).

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