June 10, 2015 - A. V. Rauf
The Battle of Armageddon- The FINAL War
Armageddon (or Har-Megiddon), a symbolical name: – Armageddon.
Strong’s proposes that the Greek word Armageddon originates from the two following Hebrew words:
H2022 har har A shortened form of H2042; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively): – hill (country), mount (-ain), X promotion.
H4023 megiddôn megiddô meg-id-done’,meg-id-do’ From H1413; rendezvous; Megiddon or Megiddo, a place in Palestine: – Megiddo, Megiddon.
The Mount of Megiddo is located in the plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel, a valley fourteen by twenty miles in size located to the southwest of Nazareth. Here, it is thought by many, that the great final battle of Armageddon will be fought at the end of time.
Any student of Bible prophecy is familiar with prophesied wars that are yet to come to pass: For example, there is the Battle of Gog/Magog as mentioned in the book of Ezekiel chapters 38-39. There is also the coming destruction of Damascus as mentioned in Isaiah chapter 17. Many believe that the Pan-Islamic confederacy that attacks Israel as mentioned in Psalm 83 is soon to come to pass. There are others I can name, however the focus of this post is the one battles that ends it all ushering in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign on this earth. This is the Battle of Armageddon. As the Middle East simmers toward a boiling point, and as U.S., British, and Israeli intelligence monitor closely Iran’s quest for a nuclear bomb which some say might even be used against America, multitudes of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even secularists are pondering, “Is the Battle of Armageddon at hand?”
We know concerning Jerusalem as mentioned in my previous post, the Book of Zechariah states that Jerusalem is a heavy stone and that any nation attempting to lift it will suffer mightily as a result. Concerning the Book of Revelation it is here that demonic powers likened to frogs will be unleashed by the AntiChrist and the False prophet ultimately bringing the kings of the world to Armageddon:
Revelation 16:12-17—And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 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. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
The valley of Jezreel separates Galilee on the north from Samaria on the south. Mount Megiddo is a heavily fortified area in what today is modern Israel and contains a strategically important fortified area that includes underground hangars and bunkers as well as military emplacements of both a mobile and stationery nature. With ISIS creeping towards the Israeli border in Syria, it is also worth noting that this area is also the designated staging area for large components of the Israeli military, specifically armored divisions, for a counterattack if in the event its border defenses with both Lebanon and/or Syria be compromised.
I do have a hunch as to what I perceive these “frog-like,” unclean spirits may be, but perhaps I will share that in a separate post. Needless to say, it is here that the armies of the AntiChrist will gather to mount their final assault on Jerusalem.
Throughout history there has been much blood shed on this part of real estate as a number of military battles have taken place dating back to ancient Biblical times. Several military campaigns from the time of Joshua and the period of the Judges and King Josiah have been fought here. It is here that the very return of Jesus Christ will be witnessed by everyone.
Zechariah 14:1-15——Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
Of paramount importance is the fact that when He returns, the true Church will be with Him:
Revelation 19:11-16—And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 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. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Notice what the Church, otherwise known as the Bride of Christ is wearing in the following verses:
Revelation 19:6-9—And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Howbeit strangely, but not surprisingly, as Christians await the return of Jesus Christ, the apostate church as the Bible warns will follow a false one. Even Israel, having rejected its true Messiah in His first coming that is, will embrace a false one, before the REAL one returns. Many in Islam are awaiting the Mahdi. Buddhists are anticipating the Final Buddha. New Agers are expecting the Maitreya. The true church is awaiting her bridegroom to come for her and partake in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Matthew 25:1-13—Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The Bible never speaks of death for a believer in Jesus Christ. One simply enters His presence and then one day will be physically raised up again when He returns with us to establish His kingdom. If we are alive when He comes for us, He will remove us as we are, glorifying our bodies and then bring us back with Him to reign on the earth when the forces of Satan are ultimately destroyed at Armageddon. This is not a fantasy. It is a reality…… and it is very near it’s inception.
As you read this, and if you choose to accept God’s offer of forgiveness, eternal life, of rescue and escape from the powers of death and hell then please do not wait. Time is short…..very short.