Armageddon and Jesus

Armageddon and Jesus
By Dennis Huebshman

Armageddon – last battle between good and evil before the day of Judgment, and found in Revelation 16:16. It’s located near a biblical hill called Megiddo, an archeological site in the Plain of Esdraelon, south of Haifa in Israel. (This has nothing to do with a movie with Billy Bob Thornton – which I’ve never seen, and don’t plan to.)

Armageddon is only mentioned once in the Bible as given above, and will take place at the physical return of Jesus to this earth. It’s named after Mt. Megiddo, and is on a broad plain in front of this mountain where numerous Old Testament battles took place. John, in Revelation, is the only one to fix this site as being where the final “battle” will take place, even though it will be very short-lived. It’s large enough to contain a massive army.

The “kings” of the Tribulation are gathered at “Armageddon” to make war against God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:14) This may seem bazaar to think anyone would actually go into battle against the one and only Lord God Jehovah, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – also known as the Holy Trinity. One might say “Who in their right mind would try to do battle with God?” However, look around at our world today. We have open satanic worship like never before. Yes, there have always been satan-followers, demons, antichrists and false prophets, but the numbers of their existence have increased, and is accelerating constantly. This was spoken of in the Bible by Jesus, Paul, John and others, and we were told that when All the signs are present, the end is near. Even the secular people think of an end-time event when the word “Armageddon” is used. Every sign mentioned is here today.

It’s sad that satan, probably the most beautiful angel ever created, turned against the Creator. Isaiah 14:13-14 tells of his destructive pride, “You said to yourself, I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of EL (God or deity); I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the slopes of Zaphon. (14) I will climb up to the top of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Pride is the downfall of Lucifer, and he knows how to use it against all of us. For people who have the attitude of “I” or “Me” as being more important than the love for the Lord and others, they are facing the same fate as satan. There are many warnings in the Bible about “self-pride” as being destructive, and we’re instructed to avoid it. Taking pride in one’s family, in Jesus, in our relationships with God and others, is not the issue. That’s a pride about others, and is a loving pride. It’s when the pride causes us to “worship” ourselves or seek others to worship us, we are setting ourselves up as a “god”. That’s one of the first commandments of “thou shalt not have other gods before Me”, including ourselves.

The ultimate antichrist and false prophet in the Tribulation are so much into themselves as deities, that they convince a large army to try and “conquer” Jesus. Going to Revelation 19:11-21, we have the battle of Armageddon. It’s very swift, and Jesus defeats them all with very little effort. The Beast (antichrist) and false prophet are thrown “alive” into the Lake of Fire burning with sulfur. They are its first occupants, and will be there forever. Jesus brings a whole “army” with Him; however, their purpose is to witness the event, not actually take part in it. It’s believed this “army” will be the believers that were raptured prior to the 7-year Wrath.

At the end of the “battle”, satan will be bound and locked away for 1000 years. He will not be around to tempt or deceive anyone during that time, but the sin-nature of those living during the millennium will still be there.

Those who had been raptured, and received their glorified eternal bodies, and returned with the Lord for that battle, will serve the Lord in different ruling capacities. They will not be subject to the sin nature. Those alive going into the millennium, and those born during that time, will still be subject to it.

When the millennium is finished, satan will be released, and will be given the opportunity for one last sin-filled spree. He will be active for a short time, but will gain a lot of followers. He will convince them to form an army, and attack the Savior in Jerusalem. Again, it’s difficult to conceive, but there will be a vast number that will follow satan, believing they can conquer Jesus.

Revelation 20:9-10 gives the outcome of this last “Armageddon” type battle, though it is not called such. Again, it will be very short-lived. After this, the Great White Throne Judgment takes place (11-15), and all the lost souls, satan and his demons will join the antichrist and false prophet in the Lake of Fire.

Very shortly thereafter, there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth, because the old one will be destroyed by God. (2 Peter 3:10-13). God hates all sin, and the world we are currently in is filled with it. When we enter our final Home, it will be brand-new, totally absent of any sin. Never again will the sin-nature even be thought of.

A new Jerusalem will come down to earth from heaven, and will be ruled by Jesus. This will be for those who were saved from the beginning to the end of the old earth. We will be there forever, worshiping and serving the Lord, and loving every second of it for all eternity.

For all the “losers” of the battles against God, and all who chose to not accept Jesus before they died, eternity will be a never-ending punishment with no hope of relief. Yes, there are faux preachers today saying there is no hell, or it’s not permanent, but they and their followers will find out how absolutely wrong they are.

All who are in the eternal heaven, will be in the light, because the “Light” is Jesus Himself. Those in hell will find out what Jesus meant about “outer darkness” as there will be no light at all. Don’t even think there will be “socializing” with friends because each one will be in their own individual agony.

We don’t know exactly when Jesus will return to take all the believers away to avoid the Wrath, but it happens in the “blinking/twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Anyone who has not accepted Jesus before this event will not have enough warning and time to accept Him in the approximate one second that it will take. As a result, they will be tribulation-bound.

All who have called on the name of the Lord before the Rapture, will be saved. (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13) For those who think all of this if foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18), and that God and Jesus are myths, the 7-year Wrath period will bring more misery than they could ever imagine.

Today would not be too early to “join” the army of the Lord. Then, when Armageddon comes, you will witness the true power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Admission is free, if you have accepted Jesus as the Savior of your soul. He is waiting for your choice; it’s entirely up to you; and no one can make the choice for you. Choose wisely.

Shalom Aleclem! (Peace be with you!)