premillennialism pt. 4: the battle of armageddon text: rev. 16:16

Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon

Text: Rev. 16:16

Defining Premillennialism


“Rapture”: Latin rapere in the Latin Vulgate for the

Greek word harpazo [har-pad'-zo] (G726: “To snatch, or catch away”) in I Thess. 4:17,

which isrendered by the phrase “caught up” in most

English Translations.


Intro

This lesson is focused on studying the Battle of Armageddon!

What do Premillennialists teach concerning it?

What do the Scriptures actually say?


The Battle of Armageddon According to Premillennialists

The word “Armageddon” (KJV, NKJ, ESV) appears only

one time in Rev. 16:16: It describes a great and decisive battle in which the Lord is

victorious over His enemies. (NAS: “Har-Magedon”) As much as some denominations preach and teach on this

subject, one would think that “Armageddon” occurs throughout the N.T.!

Rev. 16:16 (NKJ)16. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

After the rapture of the saints, Israel will turn to God

during the 7 year Tribulation: The 144,000 (Rev. 7:4; 14:1, 3) saved will lead mankind to Christ. The “Anti-Christ” will make war against these believers. Christ will return, the Battle of Armageddon will be fought and

then Christ will reign 1,000 years on earth from Jerusalem



Here is how the Battle of Armageddon will occur… Four world powers will enter the conflict. They are:

Europe: The Anti-Christ will rule from a “United Europe” (Dan. 2:44; 7:7-8).

The Russian Confederacy: “Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” (Ezek. 38:1-3; Rev. 20:8).

“King of the South” = Egypt (Dan. 11:40)

East = A great Eastern Power (Dan. 11:44): Maybe China?


The Battle of Armageddon According to PremillennialistsHere is how the Battle of Armageddon will occur… The fight…

Egypt will initiate the conflict against Israel

At the same time, Russia will invade the Middle East

After being successful Russia will hear rumors of China and N. Africa mobilizing, and will return to Israel (Megiddo)

Russia will be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust, and Europe (the Anti-Christ) will swoop in and engage the Middle Eastern forces at Megiddo

At this point Christ will return and end the conflict, and initiate peace!



Premillennialists have always seen “the Battle ofArmageddon” as imminent: In 1924 (after WW1), Edward Biederwolf wrote,

“In keeping with the interpretation which makes the word descriptive of a characteristic (great slaughter) rather than a

definite place, there are those who think the last world war just closed, was indeed the very battle of Har-Magedon, and that

therefore, as John Robertson says, ‘The Second Advent of our Lord is now by Prophetical schedule due, and may at the next

tick of the watch in your pocket be seen in the sky.’” (The Millennium Bible, pgs. 662-663)

For all of these rather specific details concerning this

great battle, there is no mention of it by the N.T. writers!


What is “Armageddon?”“Armageddon” (the hill or city of Megiddo; Rev. 16:

16): Megiddo was situated on the main road that linked Egypt and Syria Overlooking the Valley of

Jezreel, Megiddo was one of the most strategic cities in Palestine. All major traffic through northern Palestine traveled past Megiddo, making it a strategic military strong-hold!

Also called the “Plain of Megiddo” it was famous for two great victories: Barak & Deborah over the

Canaanites (Judges 5:19) Gideon over the Midianites

(Judges 7) Also famous for two great disasters: Deaths of Saul (I Sam. 31:1-3) and

Josiah (II Chr. 35:22-24) Place of great mourning (Zech.

12:11)


What is “Armageddon?”

Armageddon may very well be

used symbolically for a great battlefield rather than a

geographical location Like “Waterloo” (Napoleon’s defeat, 1815) has come to be used to describe a great defeat!

Here “Armageddon” could refer to a great victory or a defeat, or a lament!

Its significance is more symbolical

than literal, and is designed toshow the importance

of this battle!


The “Battle of Armageddon” & Literal Interpretation

Premillennialists insist that the biblical prophecies must

be interpreted literallyTheir insistence that prophecy be interpreted

literally poses several problems, and they are not even

consistentwith their applications: Jn. 10:9: Was Jesus literally a door? I Cor. 11:24-25: Are the bread & fruit of the vine literally Christ’s

blood? Mal. 4:5-6: Would Elijah literally rise from the dead to prophesy? Ezek. 37:24-26: Will David literally rise from the dead to rule as

king? Rev. 16: Battle of Armageddon: River Euphrates will dry up, the

generals will be frogs (spirits of frogs), and no battle actually take place! Armies gathered but were destroyed by God with physical disasters.

Rev. 19: Will Jesus ride a literal horse, and have literal eyes of fire, and a sword protruding from His mouth?



They don’t follow their own rules for interpretation…

Rev. 9:1717. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders

had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.

“A human army with weapons and gas masks…, tanks equipped with flame-throwers…, or nerve gas or some biological warfare”

(Salem Kirban, Revelation Visualized, pgs. 204, 207)

“…This is strikingly similar to the phenomena associated with thermonuclear warfare. Many Bible expositors believe this is an

accurate 1st-century description of a 20th century thermonuclear war” (Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 71)



Ezek. 37, 38, 39: They teach these chapters refer to the

invasion of Palestine by Russia in the time frame leading

up to the Battle of Armageddon The literal interpretation says then Russia (Gog & Magog) will

attack with swords, shields, helmets, horses, bucklers, bows, arrows, hand staves, and spears.

Otis Gatewood asked of Hal Lindsey’s assertion (The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 59-71),

“Can’t you just see Russia, who is now equipped with all the latest jets, atomic bombs, tanks, etc., returning to the use of swords, hand staves, spears, etc., when they invade Israel? How long would they

last, with such weapons, against Israel’s modern weaponry?” (Book Review of The Late Great Planet Earth, p.5)



The insistence on literalism leads to many problems when

it comes to understanding the Scriptures Ignoring the plain teaching of God – Heb. 1:1-2: God spoke in “various ways” (NKJ). Not all that God spoke was intended to be taken literally (Jn.

8:12; 9:5: Was Jesus a literal light?) Ignoring the N.T. declaration of prophecy fulfillment – Ps. 2

(Fulfilled in Acts 13:33); Ps. 132:11 (Fulfilled in Acts 2:30-33). These & many other passages are taught to be referring to

end times! Lk. 24:44 (All prophecies concerning Jesus from O.T. have been fulfilled!)

44. Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Insisting on literal interpretation leads to many problems

in understanding God’s word!


The Battle of Armageddon in Revelation

The church is spiritual and has spiritual work to perform

(Eph. 1:22, 23; I Tim. 3:15)

Many errors have been made because a physical

Meaning was placed on spiritual principles and

teachings (Jn. 3:1-9: Nicodemus had this problem

too)



The warfare in which the Christian is to engage in is

spiritual, not physical: Jesus is presented as the Commander in Chief (II Tim. 2:3, 4). The required weaponry of spiritual warfare is spiritual in nature

rather than physical (Eph. 6:10-17). Paul addresses the issue of physical warfare – II Cor. 10:4: “For

we wrestle not against flesh and blood…” (Also Eph. 6:12)

The notion that Christianity is spread or

defended by means of physical force is a

doctrine that is totally rejected by Scripture!



The book of Revelation was written to reassure Christians

who were facing persecutions: To reveal what must shortly take place... Stated at the beginning

of the book – Rev. 1:1, 3; and stated at the end of the book – Rev. 22:6, 10.

These persecutions could not destroy Christianity from the face of the world!

In symbolic language John described the conflict taking place between Christ and Satan.

In this recorded conflict, Satan gathered his armies but was defeated by Christ – God is/was victorious! The theme is Good wins over Evil.

Language used says, The great city of Babylon was decimated (16:17-18:24), The beast and false prophet were destroyed (19:17-21), the Great Dragon was defeated (20:7-10), the victory belongs to Christ & His saints (19:7-16).

The “Battle of Armageddon” is symbolic language used to

assure saints that God would ultimately triumph over Satan!


Conclusion The “Battle of Armageddon” is not meant to be

understood as teaching some material cataclysmic world

battle in which Christians and the wicked will come to

physical blows and the Christians kill the wicked (Jn. 18:36; II Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:12)

The spiritual lesson is that

the righteous led by Jesus

their Leader in spiritual conflict will ultimately

andcompletely overcome!

II Thess. 1:6-10

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)

Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)

Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)

premillennialism pt. 4: the battle of armageddon text: rev. 16:16

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