The Armageddon Battle: the puzzle behind! The last days’ great spiritual battle – is it? Or is it a physical battle of epic proportion fought between various countries? Who are the real Israel today in front of God’s eyes? “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43). What is its meaning? What is the Babylon today? What is spiritual nakedness? Who are the parties involved? When will this battle be fought? What are the issues involved in this battle? How will this battle affect us? On which side you will be? There is lot of confusion regarding Armageddon battle. One group says it is a physical battle that will be fought between 2 groups in the future. Many believe that Israel and America with their allies will be on one side fighting against Russia and Muslim countries with their allies on the opposite side. Yet another smaller group believe this is a spiritual battle fought between the forces of good and evil. The mention about Armageddon battle reads like this, “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 devil, 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 watches, and keeps his garments, unless he walk naked…And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Rev.16: 13-16) Many Bible scholars think that in this battle of Armageddon, Israel will be finally delivered her enemies, by the intervention of the “kings of the east” mentioned in Rev. 16:12. All nations will be involved in this battle. First of all we have to find out whether the people of God mentioned in Revelation is same as present nation of Israel. There are so many prophecies regarding this remnant group of faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These followers are sometimes referred to as the “tribes of Israel” in a Jewish context. Does this mean the whole of literal Israel will convert and become Christians? There are some other questions. Who are the kings of the east? How will drying up of the Euphrates River affect this war? How do the unholy trinity made up of dragon, beast and the false prophet gather the kings of the earth and the whole world to this battle? What are those unclean spirits like frogs? Millions believe that such spectacular conversion must take place in order for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. They base their conclusion upon the prophecies found in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc., regarding Israel’s restoration and final triumph. But were the promises of God to ancient Israel unconditional and irrevocable? A careful study of the Bible shows that those promises given to Israel were conditional. Repeatedly, the nation of Israel was warned of the dire consequences of disobedience. “But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments…Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight” (1 Kings 9:6-7). Because of their continued rebellion, God allowed them to be scattered and captured into Babylonian captivity for 70 years. Still God raised many prophets to foretell their return to Palestine. This restoration of Israelites spoken by Isaiah and Jeremiah has already taken place. Finally through prophet Daniel God allotted a probationary period of 490 years to the Jewish people to receive the Messiah (Daniel 9:24). That prophetic period of 70 weeks (Ezek. 4:6; using a day for a year principle 70 weeks = 490 years) started from issue of command to restore and build Jerusalem (Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 B.C., Ezra 7:11) had ended in 34 AD. That same year Stephen was stoned, Paul’s ministry to the non-Jews started and marked the final separation of Israelites from the covenant with God. Jesus has warned the Jewish leaders that rejection of Him would seal their own rejection from the kingdom of God. “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43). All the promises of God have a dual application. First there is that immediate blessings that God wanted to bestow on the Israel nation. But in a secondary sense they also pointed forward to a larger spiritual fulfillment on a worldwide level. Although Israel failed to be faithful, the promises of God were never withdrawn. These same promises will be honored to that “nation” which Jesus said will replace the Jews as receivers of the kingdom. Who is this people? The New Testament is full of clear statements as to who the new spiritual Israel is. Peter describes those “which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:10). “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (v 9). These gentiles who will receive the Messiah will now enter into the New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood on the cross. Will they receive the very same promises that were offered to Abraham’s descendants? Bible says that they will be counted as the true seed of Abraham. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Rom. 9:8). “He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart” (Rom. 2:29). Thus the true Israel is the body of believers in Christ. Therefore the things that will happen to the church were foreshadowed by what happened to ancient Israel. When Ezekiel portrayed Israel’s victory over her enemies, he describes the magnificent temple that would be built (40-48 chapters). Such a temple was never built. Amos also prophesied about building of such a temple: “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen… I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11). Many modern interpreters apply this prophesy to the future construction of a physical temple. But there will be a secondary fulfillment of this promise, which is not physical, but spiritual. New Testament talks about how this prophesy was fulfilled, “…how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof…” (Acts 15:14-16). Thus the Old Testament temple prophecies apply to the living church today. The body of Christ’s church is now the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16), and believers are the “lively stones” of that “spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). It is interesting to note that most of the Old Testament terminology is carried over into the New Testament description of the church—words like kingdom, nation, Israel, temple, Jerusalem, Zion, tribes of Israel, etc. New Testament writers did not have any doubt that the church has now replaced the national Israel. As we have seen before the kingdom prophecies given by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc., have a dual application – one to be fulfilled locally in their times and other to be fulfilled on worldwide scare in the last days. A most amazing parallel exists between what happened to ancient Israel and the events concerning spiritual Israel (the church) in the book of Revelation. Persecuted by Babylon (Jer. 50:33, 34 vs Rev. 17:6) Forced to worship image (Dan. 3:13 vs Rev. 13:15) Called “Babylon the Great” (Dan. 4:30 vs Rev. 17:5) Babylon sits on many waters (Jer. 51:13, 14 vs Rev. 17:1) Rescued - dried Euphrates (Isa. 44:27, 28 vs Rev. 16:12) Called out of Babylon (Jer. 51:6-8 vs Rev. 18:4) Rescuer called the anointed (Isa. 45:1 vs Dan. 9:25) Both rescuers from east (Isa. 41:2, 25 vs Mat. 24:27, Rev. 7:2) You will notice that Israel (God’s people) – either ancient or current spiritual, undergo similar experience. They will be oppressed, persecuted and forced to worship an image (false worship) and will be finally rescued by someone from the east who dried up the river Euphrates to set them free. In the last days God’s remnant church will be persecuted and threatened with death just like in the ancient days. But they will be delivered from spiritual Babylon in the battle of Armageddon by the kings of the east. “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” (Rev. 16:12). Three powerful forces will unite to prepare the way for Armageddon. The unholy triune of the beast, dragon and false prophet will stir up the political powers of earth to take part in that war. “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 devil, 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” (Rev. 16:13-14). Those three powers at least should have religious nature, because they work miracles to impress the rulers of this world. Working miracles denote their working in the spiritual realm. There are biblical evidence to show that these three powers incorporate all the modern forms of counterfeit religion. Rejecting the authority of God and choosing the traditions of pagan worship, they make a combined ecclesiastical system which draws the whole world into the battle of Armageddon. The Armageddon battle is the final decisive climax of the age-long war between Christ and Satan. The entire world is involved. This battle represents the last all-out effort of the Devil to destroy the people who still dare to obey God in spite of threatened torture and death. It is the culmination of the 6000 year old program of Lucifer to prevent people from being saved. Satan always boasted that he will overthrow God and take over His universal government. “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north… I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:13-14). For this purpose he has to subvert the worship of God’s subjects to himself. Working in the guise of counterfeit religious systems and false worship, he has woven a clever composite of truth and error down through the ages. Satan’s masterpiece of deception will occur at the end time when he works through the beast power to enforce a mark of loyalty on every man. Those who refuse to accept the mark will be sentenced to death. Note here, where do Satan wants to sit. “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north”. The expression “mount of the congregation” undoubtedly refers to the holy mount of God’s dwelling place. Throughout the Bible it is spoken of as mount Zion (Ps. 48:2). Joel speaks about the same battle “Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about ... Let the heathen ... come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat ... The Lord also shall roar out of Zion ... but the Lord will be the hope of his people” (Joel 3:11, 12, 16). The valley of Jehoshaphat is just another name for the battle place. Note here God fights for His people. In short it is a tremendous contest between Christ and Satan with followers of both sides being involved. The word Armageddon is rooted in the Hebrew term “har moed,” which means “mount of the congregation” or “mount of the assembly.” That same term was used by Satan when he said, “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation.” This ties the battle of Armageddon to the original threat of Satan to capture and destroy the congregation of God. Now if you want to read the Christ’s part in this battle, “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 ... And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Rev. 19:11-14). These armies of heaven “smite the nations” (v 15), who were stirred by evil spirits (Rev. 16:14). Finally Christ and His army come out victorious. This war is described as treading the winepress of the wrath of God (Rev. 19:15). Rev. 15:1 speaks of the seven last plagues as “the wrath of God”. Since the battle of Armageddon comes under the sixth plague, Revelation 19 is giving another picture of the same battle. One of the plagues affecting the entire world is the battle of Armageddon. What does it mean “drying up of the great river Euphrates” and “kings of the east”? 600 years before Christ, the pagan kingdom of Babylon was the great enemy of God’s people. For 70 years they held Israelites in subjugation and bondage. Finally Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus the Mede, delivering the Jewish people. He came from the east and captured the city after diverting the Euphrates River. The army crept in under the water gates, when the water dried up. God has prophesied that “I will dry up thy rivers. ... Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus ... to open before him the two leaved gates” (Isa. 44:27, 45:1). God “raised up the righteous man (Cyrus) from the east” (Isaiah 41:2). Here Cyrus is referred to as the “anointed” and “the righteous man”. This literal account in the Old Testament should be applied in a spiritual sense at the time of the spiritual Israel of the end time. As we read in Revelation the true faithful (spiritual Israel) is being oppressed by “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5, 6). This Babylon is not a physical kingdom but a counterfeit religious system controlled by Satan. However God’s people will be finally delivered from the power of spiritual Babylon by the drying up of the waters of the river Euphrates (Rev. 16:120. Now what does water represent in prophetic language. “The waters which you saw…are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev. 17:15). The waters are identified as people and nations who give support to the great Babylon harlot (false religion) who persecutes the true saints (Rev. 17:6). So “drying up of the waters” can mean withdrawing of the support by people who were followers of the Babylon system as a final event just before the coming of Christ. “These shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:16). Now who are the kings of the east? God’s approach is always referred to as from the east. “Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east” (Ezek. 43:1). “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” (Rev. 7:2). Christ will return to this earth from the east. “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt.24:27). The “kings of the east” are exactly the same as the armies of heaven in Rev. 19 who triumph over “the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies” (v 19). John revealed the breathtaking majesty of Christ leading the armies of heaven to war. “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses ... And he hath on his vesture and his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:14, 16). Just like Cyrus, Jesus is also designated the “anointed” (Daniel 9:25-26). Now we understand that second coming of Christ is the only hope for the last day spiritual Israel. God and Christ, the true Kings of the east, will burst upon this world at the midnight. When the mark of the beast is being enforced and God’s remnant people are in danger of sure death, they will be delivered by this divine front. What a tragedy that millions of Christians are looking at the wrong east – the Middle East for God’s prophesies to be fulfilled! Let no one have a false understanding about God’s true Israel at the end time. The Israel of God has already been replaced by another nation, obedient and faithful—who have come from every kindred, tongue and people. They will never take up arms to fight anyone. They are ready to die, like Jesus, in their stand for God. Now let us understand the verse 15 in the Armageddon battle context, which says “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, unless he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Rev. 16:15). What do proper clothes have to do with, in this fight between Christ and Satan? Rev. 19:7, 8 gives the surprising answer “the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready… she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints”. Those garments symbolize the righteousness of Christ which every soul must wear. In this battle only those who have trusted completely in the merits of Christ’s sinless life and atoning death can triumph with Him over the forces of evil. “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). They gained victory not by confidence in the flesh nor works of the law. True faith produce true obedience to God and His commandments. Therefore how do we prepare for this Armageddon battle? Preparation focuses on a personal relationship with our savior. Clothed in the armor of His righteousness, we can prevail in this battle. If you do not have the sweet assurance of that spiritual protection now, ask Jesus and He will freely provide you His robe of righteousness. It is woven in the loom of heaven, it contains no human thread. May this be our experience today, without postponing for another day! May God bless us abundantly! Welcome to this page for more messages https://facebook/SomeTruthsThatYouShouldNotMiss
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:56:49 +0000
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