Lesson
12
The
Battle of Armageddon
III. The Battle
of Armageddon
The valley of Jezreel and
the Plain of Esdraelon are located west of the Jordan River and east of the
Mediterranean Sea. The battle of Armageddon will be fought in this area. The
name Armageddon is taken from the strategic military city of Megiddo, which is
the rebuilt and fortified chariot city of Solomon. Armageddon, it
has been said, "will be the battle ground for the greatest blood bath the
world has ever seen."
A. 144,000 Sealed
The Anti-Christ, (with
the False Prophet) will rule the whole world with an iron hand for years. He
will extend total control over the political, religious and economic life of
all the world. One hundred forty four thousand (144,000) Jews will be
miraculously preserved by the Lord Himself. The Lord will deliver this remnant
which has been hidden from the destructive powers of the Anti-Christ. As in the
days of sojourning (in the wilderness) God will again protect His people from
being destroyed. These shall be the Jews which will fight against the
Anti-Christ at the battle of Armageddon.
B. Preparation for
Armageddon
The righteousness of
the protected Jews will be a thorn in the flesh of this world leader. He will
be able to break the will of all others except them. He will be determined to
destroy them. He will gather his leaders and armies together for this purpose.
"And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against
his army" (Revelation 19:19). . .out of the mouth of the beast and 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. . .and he gathered
them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon"
(Revelation 16:13, 14, and 16).
C. Armageddon
Closes Out the Tribulation
This battle will be
the end of the tribulation period. It is the final attack of the Anti-Christ against
God and His people. The cup of God's wrath will be full at this time, and He
will personally come to end the wild and savage earthly reign of the beast and
his system. After this battle Jesus will set up the Millennial (1000 years of
peace) reign on earth.
D. The Rider on the
White Horse (Revelation 19:11, 14, 16)
"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"
(Revelation 19:11).
"And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean" (Revelation 19:14).
"And he hath
on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS" (Revelation 19:16).
This is Jesus coming
with His church (Revelation 19:8), to end the reign of the beast and destroy
his world system.
E. The
Judgment of the Beast and False Prophet
"And
the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet . . . These both were cast
alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:20).