Sunday, October 19, 2008 pm
PREMILLENIALISM (6)
The Battle of Armageddon
Tonight we continue
our study of premillenialism.
Premillenialism is the doctrine which states that we are living
in the time prior to fulfillment of the events of the book of Revelation
and other prophecies. It is
based upon the theory that Christ is going to return to this earth to
reign with His saints in Jerusalem for 1000 years.
We have been examining various
elements of the plan and noting how it is contrary to the teachings of
scripture. In identifying the
theory we have gone step by step through the various events that are
supposed to occur. Thus far
we have identified some of the pillars upon the doctrine is based (the
difference between the kingdom and the church & God’s promise to the
Jews) and we have talked about the anti-Christ & the rapture.
Tonight we talk about the battle of Armageddon.
In our final lesson next week we will discuss the 1000 year reign
of Christ.
a.
Armageddon
found in one passage – Rev. 16:16.
Note the context.
b.
In the
order of events, the majority view with the theory of premillenialism is
that after the rapture, there is 7 years of tribulation in which God
pours out His wrath on the ungodly of the world.
During this time the anti-Christ will arise to prominence
persecuting whatever Christians are left (this would be those who knew
the truth but refused to obey before the rapture – seeing their error
they “accept Jesus Christ at their personal savior” [the common view of
salvation taught by denominationalism] and begin serving Him, but
because so many godly souls are gone, (including all the children), it
is very difficult to faithfully serve God).
This lasts until just prior to the Lord’s return.
c.
In the
meantime, Israel as a nation continues to prosper and Jews from all over
the world move back to Jerusalem and Israel.
The temple is rebuilt and there is great celebration.
They are supported by “the righteous” as mentioned above.
Toward the end of the 7 years of tribulation, the nations, under
the direction of the anti-Christ gather together in the valley of
Megiddo to wage war against Israel and each other.
Then it happens. The
Lord returns and in a swift act, kills millions in this army.
This is the battle of Armageddon.
(NOTE: As with every other element of premillenialism – there is
NOT universal agreement as to the parties or even the purpose of the
battle. Some contend it to
be a battle against Israel while others a battle against each other [two
earthly armies neither of which is fighting for God]).
d.
This will
be followed by Christ reigning for 1000 years in Jerusalem while Satan
is bound and cast into the bottomless pit.
At first, all who are one earth will faithfully serve Him.
We will deal more with this next week.
e.
Concerning
this battle, I would like to briefly address a book written by Hal
Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth (published 1970).
This book is the foundation of modern speculation concerning the
theory of Premillenialism.
In twenty years it sold more than 28 million copies and has continuously
been in print since then.
Other than the Bible, it has been the greatest selling religious book of
all times.
In that book Lindsey set out the events that were going to happen based
upon Revelation. It includes
the following events:
i.
Israel since it was
returned to the Jews in 1948 was supposed to gain prominence within a
generation, which is accepted as 40 years.
He declared that when that happened it was the beginning of the
LAST DAYS. This is why there
were many prophecies about the Lord’s Return in 1988. THAT DATE IS LONG
GONE!
ii.
Russia was described by
Lindsey as being “Gog and Magog” that you read about in Rev. 20:8.
BEAR IN MIND, THIS WAS WRITTEN WHEN THE U.S.S.R. was still in
power and a communist entity.
This is one of 4 world powers that would arise (Russia, USE, China and
an Arab confederation headed by Egypt).
Russia was supposed to invade Israel on its way to attack the Arab
confederation in Egypt. They
will set up headquarters in Jerusalem where the temple is.
But this army is wiped out by a nuclear attack.
iii.
The
United States of Europe (U.S.E.)
is supposed to be a uniting together of
10 European nations and was supposed to represent the revived Roman
Empire. In Revelation this
is represented by the 10 horn beast that arose out of the sea in Rev.
13:1-10. THIS IS HOW
HE JUSTIFIES TIMES RETURNING TO THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN REVELATION WAS
WRITTEN. Out of this nation,
which forms either before or at the beginning of the Tribulation, “the
Antichrist” is supposed to arise who will deceive the world with
“miraculous” signs.
Toward the end of the Tribulation period, he will lead an army to fight
against
China, with a 200 million
man army (based on Rev. 9:26). They
are supposed to meet at the Valley of Jezreel and this will be the
battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:17-21)
iv.
NOTE: AS WE LOOK AT THE
WORLD TODAY, IT IS NOTHING LIKE WHAT IT WAS IN 1970.
IF PREMILLENIALISM IS TRUE THEN WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE NATIONS
INVOLVED, Which is the problem with premillenialism all along.
a.
The
meaning of Armageddon in the Bible.
i.
The word
literally means Mount or
Hill of Megiddo and actually in the VALLEY of Jezreel.
ii.
It was a
place of great military importance during the days of Israel.
At this site we read of the following battles.
1.
Barak and
Deborah overthrew Canaan (Judges 5:19)
2.
Gideon
defeated the Midianites there (with 300 valiant men) (Judges 6:33)
3.
This is
where Saul died and was defeated by the Philistines
(1 Sam. 31:8)
4.
Wicked
Ahaziah, king of Judah and follower of the ways of Ahab died there at
the hands of Jehu (2 Kings 9:27).
5.
Pharaoh –
Necho overthrew Josiah there (2 Kings 23:29-30).
Note Josiah was the final righteous king of Judah.
He had to die before God would carry out His punishment against
Jadah.
6.
As such, this valley became “a poetical
expression for terrible and final conflict”
(Armageddon, The New Unger’s Bible
Dictionary).
NOTE: Keep this in mind as we note its use in Revelation.
b.
Briefly
note the background of Revelation
i.
It was to
“shortly take place” because “the time is near” – Rev. 1:1,2, 22:20, 10
“the time is at hand”
ii.
The book
is signified (1:1) which means it was written in symbolic language.
One of the big problems with premillenialism is their LITERAL
interpretation of events.
They say everything has to refer to a specific person or event or time.
The challenge is that throughout the book they may some elements
literal while others are representative.
Which ones do they pick to be literal and which ones are
figurative? It depends on
their interpretation of the theory.
But there is a problem when we begin to pick through texts to
determine which words to take literally AND which ones to be figurative
in the same text or context.
THIS IS A FLAW OF PREMILLENIALISM because it is so randomly flawed!
iii.
The
message of the book of Revelation is one of hope and a call for
longsuffering as Christians to whom this book was written were facing
severe persecutions. It WAS
addressed to 7 churches in Asia (1:4).
The message was that God knew what was happening and what was
going to happen. It also
outlines a plan of what God was going to do about it.
In the latter half of the book elements are identified that
clearly point to Rome.
iv.
As various
elements of these visions are revealed to John, he is told who some of
these evil (and good) elements are.
For example:
1.
In chapter
13 we read of a dragon who gives power to beasts who will persecute the
righteous. This dragon is
identified in 12:9, “So the great
dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole world…”
2.
In chapter
17 we read of a harlot riding on a beast.
She is described for her blasphemy and being “drunk with the
blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (3-6)
17:18 notes the “the woman whom you saw is that
great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
This is followed by a picture in chapter 18 of the impact the
fall of this city has on the world.
The description CLEARLY fits Rome and her followers that were
persecuting the saints as this book was written.
v.
An
interpretation that makes it relevant to the suffering saints of the
first century is so much more meaningful
vi.
Its
significance to us is the overall message – GOD WINS!
Whatever trials we might face, whether persecutions from false
religions or societies, we can know that God knows and will avenge us.
To relegate the meaning of revelation to a specific series of
events at the end of time requires a great imagination AND an attempt to
predict what God said to leave alone (Mark 13:32, 2 Peter 3:10, 1 Cor.
2:11, etc.)
c.
The
context of Revelation 16 & 19
i.
Note:
These chapters in which we read of this battle are a part of this end
vision where John sees these two beasts and a dragon who will wage war
against the righteous. This
vision is recorded in chapters 12-19.
ii.
A brief
outline of this section (w/emphasis on the battle):
1.
12:1-6 –
There is a woman who gives birth to a Child whom we know to be Christ.
This woman is representative of the righteous lineage who bring
Christ to this world
2.
12:13-17 –
This woman is persecuted and driven into the wilderness where the
serpent (the dragon) tries to destroy her but she is protected.
3.
Chapter 13
describes 2 beasts that represent a world power and the false religion
it fosters. Rome which
persecuted Christians developed Caesar worship which became a source of
persecutions to Christians as the empire developed (and deteriorated at
the same time). This chapter
is where we read of the mark of the beast and the number 666 (18).
4.
Chapters
14-15 describes the righteous standing with Christ in heaven and
proclamations of warning that judgment is about to take place.
5.
Chapter 16
describes 7 bowls of wrath being poured out by God.
These bowls of wrath are His final judgment and punishment
against the wicked before Christ comes. (These are the 7 years of
tribulation that are key to the theory of premillenialism.)
The 6th bowl of wrath is described in 16:12-16.
The Euphrates is dried up to that “kings from the east might be
prepared” to engage in battle. John see 3 unclean spirits “like frogs
coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” They go to the kings of the
earth to gather them for this great battle.
Vs. 16 says, “And they gathered them together to the place called
in Hebrew, ‘Armageddon.’”
6.
Before the
battle takes place, some things are explained to John.
In Chapter 17 John sees a scarlet woman (the harlot) riding on a beast
(one of the beasts recorded in chapter 13).
The woman is described to John in 17:7-18.
Various elements of the beast (7 heads and 10 horns) are
descriptive of “seven mountains upon which the woman sits” (17:9) (NOTE:
Rome was built on 7 mountains) and kings and kingdoms.
In Chapter 18 the impact of the fall of Babylon (the city represented by
the harlot) is described as the world mourns her fall.
Again this could easily be descriptive of Rome.
7.
Chapter 19
begins with more praise for God as Babylon has fallen.
Then in vs. 11-16 we see a white horse with Christ (described)
riding on it with His armies.
19:17-21 describes the battle of
Armageddon. In this battle
we find, “the beast was captured,
and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence… These
two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the
mouth of Him who sat on the horse.
And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
That is the battle.
Over swiftly, and not much of a battle at all.
It is a ONE SIDED slaughter!
8.
Chapter 20
then describes the dragon captured and cast into the bottomless pit for
1000 years while Christ reigns on earth for 1000 years (we will discuss
this next week).
d.
The
meaning of the Battle of Armageddon
Considering the symbolic nature of Revelation AND the significance of
the events that occurred in the place called Megiddo (or Jezreel) we can
conclude
this battle SYMBOLIZES God’s final
victory over the ungodly forces addressed in this Revelation.
It doesn’t have to be a specific event as premillenialism depends
on. Rome fell over time as a
result of various factors (war, internal corruption and disasters) all
of which are described symbolically in one form or another throughout
the book of Revelation.
One commentator in describing this says, “In
Revelation, Armageddon stands symbolically for the battleground where
Christ overcomes Satan and his army.
Actually this place described in Revelation has no location on
the maps of the earth. The
battle is between righteousness and evil, and righteousness is the
victor! The whole thrust of
Revelation is to assure the saints of this victory and to keep them from
yielding to the pressures of emperor worship.” (Revelation,
Harkrider, pg. 300)
OR as I like to summarize the book of Revelation in 2 words,
GOD WINS!
III.
The Christian’s Battle
a.
Remember
the nature of our kingdom – John 18:36, “My
kingdom is not of this world.
IF my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so
that I should not be delivered to the Jews’ but now My kingdom is not
from here.” This passage
ALONE defeats everything about premillenialism.
b.
What does
the Bible say about the battle we face as Christians?
i.
Ephesians
6:10-13, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual
hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God.
ii.
2
Corinthians 10:4-6 – the weapons
of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, etc.
iii.
Jude 3 –
contend for the faith.
Everyday we fight for the faith.
iv.
1
Tim.6:12, “fight the good fight of faith”
v.
1 John
5:4-5, “…And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our
faith.”
c.
What can
we take from all of this?
God is in control. While the
world seems to be out of control spiritually, God knows what is
happening and He can fix it (if He choses).
That is the message of Revelation for us.
The battle we need
to continually prepare for and engage in is the spiritual battle in our
own back yard. It is NOT
some future event. When the
Lord returns that will be the end.
And it will happen according to His will regardless of what we
THINK is going to happen.
Our job is to be prepared.