Armageddon

Introduction

The word Armageddon is mentioned only one time in the Bible (Rev. 16:16). It is implied, however, any number of times.

There aren’t many people in Christendom who aren’t familiar with this word and what it implies. As well, it has come to be a synonym pertaining to catastrophe of unimagined proportion. In other words, there is nothing worse.

In addressing this subject, we do so with the realization that the actual event of Armageddon is nearer than ever. In other words, it is not just a throw-a-way word. It is an actual happening that’s going to take place in the world in the near future, actually, in Israel proper. In fact, Israel is the flash point of the world at this time and has been for some years. However, the flash point, meaning that it could erupt into a conflagration, is more likely now than ever and, in fact, will conclude with Armageddon. The Word of God alone gives us information as it regards this coming time. That coming time will present a battle that will be totally unlike anything that has ever happened on Planet Earth. It will be Satan’s effort to completely annihilate the Jew, and in every capacity. It will be his effort to once and for all destroy every vestige of Jewish influence in the land that is now referred to as Israel. He wants to erase that name from the face of the Earth. Armageddon will be his fell swoop.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

While any number of Books in the Bible allude to this coming conflagration, it is the Book of Revelation that gives us by far the most information. In fact, Revelation tells us what the Great Tribulation will be and how it will conclude, which is the Battle of Armageddon.

Now, the Bible student must understand, Armageddon is not something that might happen or can be avoided if certain things are done, it is something that most definitely is going to take place. There is no doubt about that! At this stage, we do not know exactly when, but we know that it cannot be long in coming to pass.

The Book of Revelation in the Bible is little studied simply because most claim they cannot understand it. It is most difficult to understand! There is a reason for that.

The Book of Revelation, as it was given by the Holy Spirit to John the Beloved on the Isle of Patmos, where he was actually imprisoned, is given from the perspective of the spirit world. It, by and large, shows us what takes place in Glory before these happenings are brought to pass on Earth, whatever they might be. In other words, it shows us how that God orchestrates things on this Earth but without tampering with man’s free moral agency. Due to the fact that the entirety of this Book is from the perspective of the spirit world is why it is so difficult to understand; however, admitting the difficulty, still, it can be understood. Considering how close we are to the fulfillment of these Bible Prophecies concerning the Endtime, Revelation should be on the must-study list. Unfortunately, not only does the world ignore it, even though it graphically spells out the near and the eternal future, sadder still, most of the church ignores it also.

ISRAEL

These ancient people called Jews, given their historical name of Israelites, or the modern name of Israelis, present a problem, which the world would much rather not address, but, in actuality, it has no choice.

Never before in history has a people been totally decimated and scattered all over the world, but yet, after nearly 2,000 years, has been brought together in a cohesive unit to form a Nation, and a powerful Nation at that. Such has never happened in history and could only happen now because the Lord is the One Who has done the doing. What He promised the Patriarchs, the Sages, and the Prophets of old, to be sure and certain, it will be carried out to the letter, and without fail.

As we go back in history, we find that Haman tried desperately to destroy these people. We find that Herod did the same thing, and we find that Hitler did all that he could to bring about the final solution, as he put it. Now, Israel faces her greatest test, actually, a catastrophe that will be even worse than the Holocaust. Jesus said so (Mat. 24:21). In other words, even though these ancient people are going to finally realize that which the Lord has proclaimed for them, which will take place in the coming Kingdom Age, the truth is, they are going to see some dark days before that time, as stated, the darkest they have ever known. The last great nemesis, the last great antagonist, will be the Antichrist, referred to as the Beast, or the man of sin. This extremely charismatic individual, whom the Jews at first will think is their Messiah, will come closer than any of the antagonists of the past to destroying these ancient people. He will not succeed, but it will not be for a lack of trying. He will, he thinks, be the instigator of Armageddon. In his thinking, it will truly be the final solution. But, in reality, it will be the Lord of Glory, the One Who is the Resurrection and the Life, the Son of the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who will put the pieces together for that last great conflict, Armageddon. That’s when the Antichrist will come to realize, but too late, that despite his power and despite the fact that Satan will have invested more in him than any other who has ever lived, in reality, he has only been a pawn in this great kaleidoscope of humanity.

ABRAHAM

The Jewish people had their beginning with Abraham. God called this man out of Ur of the Chaldees, which is modern day Iraq. It is amazing, as given to us in the Word of God, as to the number of Biblical things that have had, and do have, eternal consequences, which had their beginnings in Iraq. In the Bible, this area is referred to as Babylon, Babylonia, the Chaldees, Assyria, or Mesopotamia. Actually, the city of Babylon is mentioned more times in the Bible than any other city, with the exception of Jerusalem. The following might be of some interest:

● It is believed by some Bible scholars that the Garden of Eden was located where Babylon would later be built.

● Adam and Eve were created in Iraq.

● The first worship of the Lord took place in the Garden of Eden, which is in modern day Iraq.

● The first temptation occurred in Iraq.

● The terrible Fall occurred in Iraq.

● The Voice of the Lord was first heard in Iraq.

● The first sacrifices were offered in Iraq.

● The first recorded obedience of the Sacrificial Offerings, as it regarded Abel, took place in Iraq.

● The first refusal of God’s Way, which was by virtue of the slain lamb, and carried out by Cain, took place in Iraq.

● The first murder took place in Iraq, with Cain killing his brother Abel.

● It is believed that Noah’s Ark was built in Iraq.

● It was the Babylonian Empire, located in Iraq, which destroyed Judah and Jerusalem.

● The Book of Daniel in the Bible was written in Iraq.

● It is believed that the Antichrist will make his headquarters in Iraq.

● Incidentally, Iraq is the site of the first organized rebellion against God, as it regarded building the Tower of Babel.

● As well, the various languages of the world, instituted by the Lord, took place in Iraq.

● In one sense of the word, it all began in Iraq, and it all will end in Iraq.

THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM

As stated, the Jewish people began with Abraham, back to that Patriarch through Isaac. The Lord made promises to Abraham and, as well, to many of the Prophets. The following is taken directly from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE, including the notes.

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram (referring to the Revelation, which had been given to the Patriarch a short time before; this Chapter is very important, for it records the first steps of this great Believer in the path of Faith), Get you out of your country (separation), and from your kindred (separation), and from your father’s house (separation), unto a land that I will show you (refers to the fact that Abraham had no choice in the matter; he was to receive his orders from the Lord and go where those orders led him):"

A GREAT NATION

"And I will make of you a great Nation (the Nation which God made of Abraham has changed the world, and exists even unto this hour; in fact, this Nation, ‘Israel,’ still has a great part to play, which will take place in the coming Kingdom Age), and I will bless you, and make your name great (according to Scripture, ‘to bless’ means ‘to increase’; the builders of the Tower of Babel sought to ‘make us a name,’ whereas God took this man, who forsook all, and ‘made his name great’); and you shall be a blessing: (Concerns itself with the greatest blessing of all. It is the glory of Abraham’s Faith. God would give this man the meaning of Salvation, which is ‘Justification by Faith,’ which would come about through the Lord Jesus Christ, and what Christ would do on the Cross. Concerning this, Jesus said of Abraham, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My Day: and he saw it, and was glad’ [Jn. 8:56].)"

THE BLESSING

"And I will bless them who bless you (to bless Israel, or any Believer, for that matter, guarantees the Blessings of God), and curse him who curses you (to curse Israel, or any Believer, guarantees that one will be cursed by God): and in you shall all families of the Earth be blessed. (It speaks of Israel, which sprang from the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah, giving the world the Word of God and, more particularly, bringing the Messiah into the world. Through Christ, every family in the world who desires blessing from God can have that Blessing, i.e., ‘Justification by Faith’)" (Gen. 12:1-3).

THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

"And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken (despite all of Satan’s hindrances, Isaac, the progenitor and Type of the Messiah, is born).

"For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (Referring back to the past Chapter, if it be objected that this whole occurrence is incredible because no heathen prince would desire to marry a woman upwards of ninety years of age, or to conceive such a passion for her that to secure her he would murder her husband – the very fate which Abraham feared for himself – it may be replied that God must have miraculously renewed her youth, so that she became sufficiently youthful in appearance to suitably be desirable. Three times in these first two Verses, the clause points to the supernatural character of Isaac’s birth.)"

ISAAC

"And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. (The name means ‘laughter.’ It speaks of blessing, increase, healing, life, and well-being [Jn. 10:10]. As Isaac was a Type of Christ, it would not be wrong to say that one of the names of Christ is ‘laughter.’)

"And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him (this was a sign of the Covenant that God would ultimately send a Redeemer into this world).

"And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him (this Verse is placed in the Text so that all may know that Isaac’s birth was indeed miraculous).

"And Sarah said, God has made me to laugh, so that all who hear will laugh with me. (The mention of Sarah’s name some five times thus far in this Chapter is done for purpose and reason; the Holy Spirit is impressing the fact that Sarah was in truth the very mother of this miraculous child. Sarah had once laughed in unbelief; she now laughs in Faith, a laughter, incidentally, expressing joy, which will never end. It all pointed to Christ. Because of Christ, untold millions have laughed for joy.)

"And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age (this is a poem, and could very well have been a song, and probably was).

"And the child grew, and was weaned (the custom in those days was to nurse children for two or three years before they were weaned; however, there is some indication that Isaac was approximately five years old when he was weaned): and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned (at this time, the boy was turned over to his father for training, at which time his education began)" (Gen. 21:1-8).

We now come to the place of the rejection of Ishmael, who was the son of the bondwoman, Hagar. This was the end result of Abraham and Sarah resorting to the flesh, which brought forth Ishmael, that which God would not recognize. As many know, the Arab world descended from Ishmael, i.e., the Muslims.

THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, ISHMAEL

"And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. (The effect of the birth of Isaac, a Work of the Holy Spirit, was to make manifest the character of Ishmael, a work of the flesh. The end result of the ‘mocking’ was that Ishmael actually desired to murder Isaac [Gal. 4:29]. Ishmael was probably eighteen to twenty years old at this time.)

"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: (Isaac and Ishmael symbolize the new and the old natures in the Believer. Hagar and Sarah typify the two Covenants of works and Grace, of bondage and liberty [Gal., Chpt. 4]. The birth of the new nature demands the expulsion of the old. It is impossible to improve the old nature. How foolish, therefore, appears the doctrine of moral evolution!) for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. (Allowed to remain, Ishmael would murder Isaac; allowed to remain, the flesh will murder the Spirit. The Divine way of holiness is to ‘put off the old man,’ just as Abraham ‘put off Ishmael.’

"Man’s way of holiness is to improve the ‘old man,’ that is, to improve Ishmael. The effort is foolish and hopeless.)"

THE STRUGGLE OF ABRAHAM

"And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son. (It is always a struggle to cast out this element of bondage, that is, salvation by works, of which this is a type. For legalism is dear to the heart. Ishmael was the fruit, and, to Abraham, the fair fruit of his own energy and planning, which God can never accept.)

"And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said unto you, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall your seed be called. (It is labor lost to seek to make a crooked thing straight. Hence, all efforts after the improvement of nature are utterly futile, so far as God is concerned. The ‘flesh’ must go, which typifies the personal ability, strength, and efforts of the Believer. The Faith of the Believer must be entirely in Christ and what Christ has done at the Cross. Then, and then alone, can the Holy Spirit have latitude to work in our lives, bringing forth perpetual victory [Rom. 6:14]. It must ever be understood, ‘in Isaac [in Christ] shall your seed be called’)" (Gen. 21:9-12).

BECAUSE OF ABRAHAM, ISHMAEL WAS ALSO TO BE BLESSED

"And also of the son of the bondwoman (Ishmael) will I make a nation, because he is your seed (out of this ‘work of the flesh’ ultimately came the religion of Islam, which claims that Ishmael is the promised seed, and not Isaac)" (Gen. 21:13).

So, the Scripture and notes we have just given proclaim the beginning of that which is the bone of contention throughout the entirety of the world at this present time. It is fastly coming to a head and, in fact, will have its conclusion in the coming Great Tribulation. In essence, and in a sense, it will conclude with Armageddon.

Israel presently sits in a sea of Muslims. This little country is only about the size of the State of New Jersey. There are about six million Jews in the State of Israel, surrounded by over one hundred million Muslims, regarding the Middle East, with over a billion Muslims worldwide.

So, Israel faces the threats of Ahmadinejad of Iran and, as well, the animosity of the United Nations. And then, beyond all of that, and far more important, the Obama Administration seems to be not at all in sympathy with Israel in any capacity. In fact, her problems will only increase until the Antichrist comes on the scene, who Israel, in her deception, will accept as her Messiah. Other than crucifying Christ, this will be the biggest mistake that she will have ever made.

What the world is dealing with here is the oldest contention on the face of the Earth, as we’ve stated, having begun with Abraham. That was some 4,000 years ago. It is now coming to a head. In fact, one might say, and not be too far off base, that this question, this contention, just might be the most important situation on the face of the Earth at this present time.

GOD’S PROPHETIC TIME CLOCK

If one wants to know how late it is, prophetically speaking, one only has to look at Israel. They are God’s Prophetic Time Clock. It is obvious that this time is about up.

Some have claimed that the Lord has another method of Salvation for the Jews than He does the balance of the world. That is gross error! Jesus said, which leaves no room for argument:

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (proclaims in no uncertain terms exactly Who and What Jesus is): no man comes unto the Father, but by Me (He declares positively that this idea of God as Father, this approach to God for every man is through Him – through what He is and what He has done, which speaks of Calvary)" (Jn. 14:6).

Armageddon constitutes the head. In other words, everything will come to a head in the battle referred to as Armageddon. This will solve the Jewish question, the question regarding the Antichrist, and, in fact, the entirety of the world. The reason is simple. The Second Coming, which will be the most cataclysmic event the world has ever known, will take place during the Battle of Armageddon. Then the man of sin will see just Who the Lord Jesus Christ actually is, and What He can do. In fact, at that time, the entirety of the world will see by television exactly what is to take place. There will be no doubt about it. The eyes of most of the world will be fixed upon this spot in tiny Israel, and then every question will be answered.

Chapter One - The Future Of Planet Earth

Some of the prognosticators do not speak very positively at all concerning the future of this Planet. Some claim that global warming is going to take a deadly toll. Others say that the opposite will happen, and I refer to another so-called Ice Age.

And then, we have the climate