Armageddon: At the time of Armageddon, the Empire of the Antichrist or Beast has covered the globe. Nations and peoples are being controlled either through the Antichrist’s financial system or by force of suppression. After seven years of Antichrist’s ruling, a rebellion occurs in the remote countries. The armies of the peoples of the East and North march upon the ruling seat of the Antichrist which is the Middle East. However this is not as it looks, as in Revelation it says; And I saw three 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. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. [Rev 16:13-14 NKJV].
Referring to the financial system of the Antichrist, and the centre city of the Antichrist’s regime, probably Rome or a rebuilt Babylon. However as the Bible says Babylon will always be a ruin, it might be Rome or just the system. Whatever it happens to be, it is the system set up by Antichrist and God destroys it. Terrible things happened within it. Slavery, Devil worship, and all sorts of evil and sins are all brought down, as the complete system disintegrates. “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”[Rev 18:1-3 NKJV].
The opposition armies move towards the Antichrist’s domain. Satan’s ability to manoeuvre the armies of the world to amass at Armageddon is because he is aware his time is up, and in a last desperate bid he gathers the armies of the world together, not to fight each other but to be ready for when Jesus brings His Heavenly army to rescue the world. The attempt by Satan to even think he can defeat the Heavenly armies is futile. Various things occur which affect many of the survivors of the Tribulation. As the armies 200 million strong advance across the Far East and Eastern countries we are told that a third of the population of the world is killed [Rev 9: 7-21]. We are not told what the origin of the horses and riders in verses 17 to 19 are. Is John in his first century knowledge trying to describe; helicopter’s or tanks or something we have never heard of sent by God. Whatever it is, these armies and the angels are a devastating force as they advance across the land. The advance of this vast army is helped by the drying up of the Euphrates River, of course this means the loss of a water supply for the cities downstream [Rev 16:12]. Not only is the world being scorched by extremely hot conditions, but the water supply is dried up.
I think it better that we return to Scripture for an account of the battle. The armies of the world are gathered to fight each other but they are suddenly faced with a futile battle against God. And they will not repent of their evil lives regardless of God’s judgements. We read in Revelation 19: Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, “that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 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. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. 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. [Rev 19:11-21].
And so Christ’s promise to return is fulfilled. The Devil is bound, his henchmen destroyed and Christ comes to rule in love and righteousness for 1000 years. I don’t think we have any idea what it was like under Satan’s rule, or though we probably can imagine. We certainly will not have any idea of the Lord’s reign and the wonders we will see during His 1000 years reign. Next month we will look at Christ’s reign and the changes that will take place. The world is in a mess after Satan’s seven year rule, and God’s judgement. Now is the time to restore and rebuild.
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for P.W.M.I in the South Pacific