THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

ARMAGEDDON Part II

WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF ARMAGEDDON?

As with many Human events, two purposes are at work at Armageddon: a divine intent and a human rationale. The divine purpose is that the judgement at Armageddon prepares for the 1000 years reigned of Christ on earth. The satanically inspired human purpose is to once and for all liquidate worldwide Jewry.

THE DIVINE PURPOSE

Our Sovereign Lord providentially superintends over all history. Thus, all history is the outworking of the decree of the Triune God. Nothing take place that he did not actively plan. All through history, usually unknown to humanity, the battle rages between God and Satan, good and evil. The war of Armageddon is the culmination of a whole series of events that climax in this final act. According to God’s divine purpose, Armageddon will be the venue by which He will judge his enemies. Both satanic and Human opposition will be focus on God’s elect nation of Israel, and God will bring them to that location to bring down their foolish schemes of rebellion. The Psalmist records God’s response of laughter at the punny human plans to Overthrow God Himself at Armageddon: Why are the nations in an uproar, and the people devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth takes their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heaven laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in his anger and terrify them in his fury, saying, “But as for me, I have installed my King upon Zion, My holy mountain” ( Psalm 2:1 – 6 ).

The Human Purpose

The demented human perspective leading to the final march to Jerusalem appears to be motivated by these people’s effort to solve what they believe to be the source of the worlds problems— the Jews. AS we follow the building to Armageddon in Revelation( 11- 18 ), the persecution of Israel begins at the mid point of the Tribulation, builds, and culminates in the worldwide gathering of armies in Israel.

WHEN WILL ARMAGEDDON OCCUR?

Thought today’s popular culture often mentions the conflict of Armageddon, it will not take place tomorrow, next month, or next year. It is a military conflict that will occur after the rapture and at the end of the seven years Tribulation. It will be the culmination of the Antichrist’s reign and it will end with the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will destroyed the Antichrist and his forces. The conflict is the last major event on the prophetic Timeline before the establishment of the millennial kingdom. Armaggeddon is not an event that any person should desire or anticipate with joy, for it will bring death and destruction to many people. It is however, a definite future military conflict that no amount of negotiation will postpone. The detailed sequence of events and the terms used in relation to Armageddon show that it is campaign or a series of battles rather than a single battle. Rather than referring to it as the “final battle”, we should refer to it as a campaign or a war. Armageddon is a whole series of conflicts that culminate at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The greek word polemos translated “war” in Revelation 16:14, usually signifies an extended war or campaign. The events of Armageddon are not a single battle and do not occur in a single day. They are carried out over a wide geographical area to the north and south of Jerusalem and as far east as Babylon. These events will occur over a period of at least several days, and more likely, several weeks.

WHO WILL BE INVOLVED IN ARMAGEDDON?

Scriptures indicates that all the nations of the world will gather for war against Israel. This is a fitting climax to the Tribulations, during which the world is in rebellion against heaven ( except for a remnant of believers). The Bible teaches that this war will involve not only the whole land of Israel but also all the nations of the world ( Zechariah 12:3; 14:2; Revelation 16:14). Scripture mentions the Kings( Plural ) of the East, who take a prominent role in the military buildup in preparation for the war of Armageddon. “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east” ( Revelation 16:12). The verse may emphasize the Eastern Powers simply because that is where the largest masses of population reside. When we consider the fact that the whole Tribulation will be a war between God and his opponents—- satan,the fallen angels, and unregenerate mankind— we should not be surprised that it will include a great number of military conflicts throughout. The biblical data lead us to believe that the tribulation will be a time of great military conflict— so much so that we would not be incorrect to consider the entire Tribulation period as a world war.