Armageddon
Armageddon is only mentioned once in the Bible. Here is the following passage:
“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 watches, and keeps 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.”
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Revelation 16:12-20).
The Final Battle and Israel
It is clear that Armageddon is not a Middle East showdown against the Jews of Israel. The battle of Armageddon is the final battle between God and Lucifer that will take place between the sixth and the seventh plagues. Ultimately, Lucifer’s entire Babylonian system (representing all false religions) will attempt to destroy God’s children in a universal religio-political unity (Revelation 17:3) to rule the world and overcome the truth.
The devil will use mighty miracles to deceive the world. These miracles are also referred to in Revelation 13:13, 14; 19:20. Supernatural manifestations of various kinds will be the method by which Satan will unite the various human agencies behind his purpose to destroy humanity. Thus, Revelation 16’s focus is on the Heavenly temple, where Jesus Christ now ministers (Hebrews 8:1, 2) on behalf of the believers, and not in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
John the Revelator describes the battle of Armageddon: “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army” (Revelation 19:19). But God’s voice will announce from “the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” (verse 17). And the devil’s schemes will get destroyed utterly by the Lord (Revelation 19:11-16).
The big questions is: how do we get ready for Christ’s coming? The answer is: by repenting from every sin, believing in Him, and obeying the truth through His enabling grace. Jesus declared, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15, 16).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
