Harmony of Passages in Revelation about Armageddon

The Book of Revelation can not be taken in strict chronological order. The various
sequences of events, such as the Messages to the Seven Churches, the Seven Seals, Seven
Trumpets, etc. are chronological, but each section stands alone to describe some aspect of the
future. (See the charts in the Appendices to see how these segments fit together.)
The Battle of Armageddon certainly comes at the end of the seven years of the
Tribulation, but references to it may be found in six places in the Book of Revelation. It serves as
the end point of several of the separate sequences found in the book. A study of these six
references helps us understand the total picture of the future.
You will notice that most of the Scripture references in this section are also explained in
another place. We list them here for the sake of clarity.
1- The Sixth Seal – Revelation 6:12-17
This first description comes very early in the Book of Revelation, but it is near the end of
the Seven Seals. The Seventh Seal – Silence in Heaven – is not an event in itself, but is the
introduction to the next segment of the book, the Seven Trumpets. “When he opened the seventh
seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).
Signs in the heavens and a great, geography-changing earthquake are part of the
description of the Sixth Seal, indicating that it actually does take place at the end of the seven
years. Some commentators take this to be an earlier occurrence of these things, but if that were
the case, the Battle of Armageddon with its accompanying signs would be anticlimactic.
From this it may be concluded that the Seven Seals cover the whole period of the
Tribulation. This is perfectly fitting since it is given at the beginning of the events of this period,
and serves as an overview of the entire seven years.
2- The Sixth Trumpet – Revelation 9:13-21; 11:13
Everything about this battle is too grand to be a minor campaign of the Tribulation
Period. It can not be the final carnage of the Battle of Armageddon, since all the destruction of
that climactic event will be accomplished by Jesus Christ himself! (See Revelation 19:11-21
below.)
It could, however, very well be a major aspect of the military events that frustrate the
Beast and cause him to refocus the attention of all the world’s forces on their common enemy in
Israel: The Lord Jesus Christ. (See notes on Daniel 11:36-45 above.)
It is also very significant that this battle is called the Second Woe. The Seventh Trumpet,
which is The Third Woe, in chapter 11, verses 14-19, is Christ taking control of the kingdoms of
the world and the coming judgments. This, of course, will take place immediately after the Battle
of Armageddon.
3- The Winepress of God’s Wrath – Revelation 14:14-20
This is the next place in the Book of Revelation, which evidently refers to the Battle of
Armageddon. It is called “the great wine press of the wrath of God” (v.19). The battlefield is
some 200 miles long! There will be blood up to the horses’ bridles (v.20). We have a picture
given to us of utter destruction!
4- Sixth and Seventh Vials of God’s Wrath – Revelation 16:12-21
Again, the similarities between this passage and the earlier ones in Revelation can only
be explained by the fact that this pivotal event is given in relation to several separate sequences
so that the reader will know how to put them all together. The Battle of Armageddon is the
common anchor of all of these segments.
5 – War against the Lamb – Revelation 17:14
This verse is part of the description of the ten kings who will form an evil governmental
alliance.
6- The Coming of Christ as King of Kings – Revelation 19:11-21
In the next chapter we will discuss the Glorious Return of Jesus Christ to the Earth. As
this passage shows, his coming in glory will take place at the very end of the Battle of
Armageddon. The end-times ruler and kings of earth will be assembled to make war against him.
the Beast and the False Prophet will be thrown in to the Lake of Fire, and rest of the rebels will
be killed with the sword from Christ’s mouth, which is symbolic of his Word.