ALONE WITH GOD------

BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

  QUESTION: What is the Battle of Armageddon? What is its nature, its beginning and its ending? 

  ANSWER: Let us first consider the term "Armageddon" and its significance. In the dictionary Armageddon is defined as: "1. The scene of a final battle between the forces of good and evil, prophesied in the Bible to occur at the end of the world. Revelation 16:16. 2. Any decisive conflict. It is taken from the Hebrew word "har megiddon" referring to the mountain region of Megiddo, site of several great battles in the Old Testament."-- Taken from the American Heritage Dictionary  then the Zondervan Pictoral Bible Dictionary in its article on Armageddon says the Greek is "Armageddon" but the Hebrew is "Har Magedon" (Mount Megiddo), a word found only in Revelation 16:16 for the final battleground between the forces of good and evil. It says further, "The valley of Jezreel and the Plain of Esdraelon at the foot of Mount Megiddo were the scene of many decisive battles in the history of Israel." It was here that Israel completely annihilated the armies of Sisera to the last man. (Judges 4:16 and 5:19-20.) Here Gideon defeated the hosts of the Midianites. (Judges 6:33 and the entire 7th chapter of Judges.) 

  We will here insert the text of Revelation 16:16 which is the only place in the New Testament where the word is found. "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." The New Testament in this place gives the Greek rendering of the word "Armageddon." The fact that it is mentioned, "Which is called in the Hebrew tongue," indicates that Jesus wished here to connect up what He is saying with the Hebrew "Har magedon" (Mount Megiddo) in the history of Israel. 

  Israel after the flesh (natural Israel) was a type of Israel after the spirit (spiritual Israel). In Romans 2:28-29, Paul says, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Here is the comparison of literal Israel and spiritual Israel. Therefore we conclude that "Armageddon" in the New Testament
has the significance for the Church of God, the people of God in this gospel age of time, or spiritual Israel, as Mount Megiddo had for literal Israel in Old Testament times a place of very great and decisive battles. 

  This is described as the "Battle of that great day of God Almighty." I surely recognize that there has been a continual battle or warfare between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and error throughout this dispensation of time. This passage in Revelation 16:13-16 seems to be focusing right down on these closing days of this dispensation in which we are now living and to the final climactic battle which will terminate in "That great day of God Almighty" the judgment day Revelation 16:14. 

  Neither would we suppose this great battle to be confined to Mount Megiddo, or Israel, or Turkey, or Russia, or any particular geographical location because it is said in Revelation 16:14 that they went "...forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle..." Again in Revelation 20:9 it says, "...They went up on the breadth of the whole earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about,..." This features it as a general, worldwide, world-encompassing thing. 

   The kind of weapons and armor provided for the saints as described in Scripture and the general tenor of the Scriptures covering the whole scope of this subject precludes the idea of this being a carnal warfare or a battle fought with swords, spears, shot, shell and bombs. The very nature of the Kingdom of God as described in the Holy Scriptures throughout preclude this idea also. Let us look at it a little. 

  In I Timothy 1:18-19, we read, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith and a good conscience,..." Here Timothy's warfare was to be carried on by faith and a good conscience. These were his weapons of warfare. I Timothy 6:12 says, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,..." In II Timothy 4:7 Paul said concerning himself, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." We have no record that Paul ever used physical violence or carnal weapons against any person in his whole Christian life. This was not the kind of fight he fought and that is not the kind of fight Christians fight today, nor will it ever be. He spells it out specifically in Ephesians 6:12 that "...we wrestle not against flesh and blood,..." Again in II Corinthians 10:3b he spells it out, "We do not war after the flesh." There is no indication in Scripture anywhere in the New Testament that this has ever changed or ever will. 

  It says in II Corinthians 10:4-5, "For the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." This text plainly states that our weapons are not carnal, and who would assume that carnal weapons could bring about what our weapons are described here as doing casting down imaginations, bringing our thoughts into captivity and controlling our minds? The weapons which accomplish this are faith, love and the power of the Holy Spirit, and this is what we
fight our warfare with. Again Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The same weapons outlined above accomplish this warfare and there is no place in the New Testament Scriptures which indicates this has ever changed. 

  Revelation 12:11 says that the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. The weapons here are described as faith in the all-atoning blood of Jesus and an open confession or witness of that. 

  In Matthew 26:51-52 it says, "And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Peter told Jesus in John 13:37 that he would lay down his life for His sake and now he demonstrates his willingness to do that by drawing his sword and starting a fight. But Jesus quickly
made it clear that was not what He wanted and rebuked Peter for using His sword and told him to put it up because those who used it would perish with it. It was perhaps in the mind of Jesus to lay the foundation for this declaration of His will for His people when He instructed His apostles in Luke 22:36 to provide themselves with swords and they told Him in verse 38 that they had two swords and He told them that was enough. He probably knew that if they had a sword handy when trouble started someone would use it and He would have an opening then to pronounce His denunciation of the use of carnal weapons by His disciples. 

  In John 18:36, Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." We read in Isaiah 9:5-7, "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder:... Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever...." We see here that the kingdom of God is not established and maintained on the battlefield as other kingdoms of this world are. This was to be established by the giving of a Son, Jesus Christ, who was to assume the reins of government in His kingdom and the means of its establishment were to be burning and fuel of fire. 

  Accordingly, we have this only begotten Son of God, Jesus, appearing on the scene to set up and establish His kingdom, and John the Baptist bore witness of Him in Matthew 3:11-12 saying, "...He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Here we have the burning and fuel of fire spoken of in Isaiah 9:5. This was the operation of the
Holy Ghost, and Paul said in Romans 14:17, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." It is declared here that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink (not literal and material; not of this world as Jesus stated in John 18:36), but consists in the elements of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost came in the form of "cloven tongues like as of fire" (again we have here the burning and fuel of fire spoken of in Isaiah 9:5) on all the disciples of Christ (about 120 at that time), the kingdom of
God was established and set in operation right then and has continued in operation until now, and is declared to be forever in Isaiah 9:7. Then the very spiritual nature of the kingdom of God precludes any carnal warfare to establish it or to defend and maintain it. 

  The armor provided for soldiers of Jesus Christ also precludes any idea of carnal warfare. There is not one piece of it that would in any way be usable in carnal warfare. Let us look at it. Ephesians 6:11 says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We see here that the armor which God provides for His army equips us to stand against the war with the devil, not man. 

  Ephesians 6:13-18 describes this armor piece by piece. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." There is not one thing mentioned here that would have any value at all in warring after the flesh, and note that the only offensive weapon supplied here is "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." 

  I Thessalonians 5:8 says, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." Nothing here for carnal warfare but contrariwise, "the breastplate of faith and love" would forever eliminate fighting carnally with men and seeking to destroy them. Romans 13:12 says, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Where would an armor of light have
any place in a carnal warfare? But it is highly important in "wrestling against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12. In II Corinthians 6:7 Paul speaks of "...The armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." 

  Now these Scriptures sum up in all of its entirety the armor provided for the soldiers of Jesus Christ and it is nowhere intimated in the entire New Testament that this has ever changed or ever will. This is still the armor for saints today and will ever be. 

  I will now come to the point of considering the specifics of the Battle of Armageddon. All that has been said up to now has dealt with what it is not. We turn now to what it is. In Revelation 16:13-14 and 16 we read, "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of 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." Note: the principal agents in this operation are three unclean spirits which are called in verse 14, "The spirits of devils." Verse 16 says "he" gathered them together etc. "He" in this case is the devil himself marshaling his unclean forces for battle under the generalship of these three unclean spirits. This would identify this whole operation as a spiritual operation. We wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12.). In John 14:30 Jesus referred to the devil as "The prince of this world." In II Corinthians 4:4 Paul refers to
him as the "God of this world." In Ephesians 2:2 Paul spoke of him as "The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." He is the one spoken of as "The ruler of the darkness of this world" in Ephesians 6:12. Also it is said in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle against "spiritual wickedness in high places." The marginal reading is "heavenly places." It is evident on the face of it that "spiritual wickedness" would be connected with the spiritual realm.Heavenly (high) places here refers to the ecclesiastical, spiritual, religious or church heavens. Therefore it is entirely clear that a spiritual operation and battle are under consideration here. We
read in the history of carnal warfare of any number of religious wars between different nations and kingdoms of men, but we have never read of one that could be classed as a spiritual war. That is just not the way that spiritual warfare is carried on. This warfare is in the spiritual realm. 

  In Revelation 20:7-8 we read, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Note: This power was to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. This corresponds with what was said in Revelation 16:14 of the three unclean spirits like frogs which went forth unto
the kings of the earth and of the whole world. Yes, it is the same power in both texts marshaling its forces for the same purpose to do battle. It also names the principal agents in this operation as Gog and Magog and says their numbers are as the sand of the sea. Gog, the land of Magog, is mentioned in Ezekiel 38:2 as the enemies of ancient Israel (read the entire chapter), and in verse nine it says,"Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all
thy bands, and many people with thee." Here the enemies of Israel had "many people" with them. Their modern counterparts in Revelation 20:8 had numbers "as the sand of the sea" with them. As has already been observed, ancient, literal Israel was a type of spiritual Israel. Just as Gog and Magog were the enemies of ancient Israel; so here the same names are used to identify the entire combine of the enemies of the people of God and of His truth. 

  Adam Clarke in his commentary on Revelation 20:8 under Gog and Magog says, "Under these names the enemies of God's truth are generally intended." The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary says in its article of Magog, "Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8) means all the ungodly nations of the earth who oppose the people of God." F. G. Smith in his book, The Revelation Explained, is more specific in identifying them and says, "The original signification of the terms Gog and Magog is difficult to ascertain, as all known accounts are conflicting. The terms occur in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In the Revelation, however, it is clear that these terms are applied to Romanism and Protestantism, and under the special leadership of this spirit of antichrist they are gathered together to battle against the saints of the most High." 

  This great combine of antichrist consists of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. According to Revelation 12:3-4 the dragon was the first formidable foe of Christianity. He was in existence when Jesus Christ appeared on the scene and viciously opposed the Christian religion throughout the morning time of the Christian era. This was Pagan Rome, heathenism, idolatrous worship which was the prevailing religion throughout the world at that time. Through the power of the Word of God and
the bright shining light of the gospel, the saints of the most High were finally able to expose his deceptiveness and overcome him and cast him down and bind him. (Revelation 12:8-9 and Revelation 20:1-3.) 

  Then following the dragon came the beast of Revelation 13 which had the same identifying marks as the dragon before him, "seven heads and ten horns." He occupied the same territory and possessed the same power as the dragon the Roman Empire. The universal religion that followed paganism was papalism; Roman Catholicism. This was the second great opposer and persecutor of true Christianity. This was a false, apostate institution. 

  Then in Revelation 13:11 there is a second beast introduced and he had all of the power of the first beast before him (verse 12), and he caused his followers to make an image to the first beast (verse 14), etc. It was a universal religious system like the beast before it (Catholicism), and was a human system with human headship, human organization, etc., just like the first beast and in this was made an image to the beast. This was the third religious system which opposed the truth and the true people of God. They set up human creeds and disciplines instead of accepting the whole word of
God as the true people of God do. This was Protestantism. 

  These three major universal systems of false religions have been on the scene, one at a time, throughout the history of the church of God in this Christian era. As we approach the time of the end and the final conflict and stage of action at the same time and forming one great combine, the number of which is as the sand of the sea, to go up on the breadth of the earth and compass the camp of the saints, and the beloved city (Revelation 20:9) "...The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,...the...church of the firstborn which are written in heaven,..." Hebrews 12:22-23. 

  There is a world-wide ecumenical movement gathering momentum in the world today and it is making great strides toward combining all the world's religions, including so-called Christianity with its multiplicity of churches and movements, into a general world church Gog and Magog. Much could be said on this, but space will not permit here. I will make this observation here. When the first world's Parliament of Religions met in Chicago in 1893, including all the heathen religions of the world and Catholics and Protestants in all their varied forms, creeds and denominations, the President of this Parliament said in his opening address, "For when the religious faiths of the world
recognize each other as brothers, children of one Father, whom all profess to love and serve, then, and not until then, will the nations of the earth yield to the spirit of concord and learn war no more. We meet on the mountain of absolute respect for the religious conviction of each other. This day the sun of a new era of religious peace and progress arises over the world, dispelling the dark clouds of sectarian strife. It is the brotherhood of religions." The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet had met in "mutual confidence and respect, a brotherhood of religions." Other similar congresses have been held since that time, and in recent years there have been different ecumenical councils held which are all beating the march right on down the same road gathering Gog and Magog and an innumerable company with them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

  While this is all going on, Christ is also marshaling His forces (army) and maneuvering them into position for this gigantic and climactic conflict which is to terminate the great day of God Almighty. We read in Revelation 19:11-16, "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. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 

  The rider on this white horse could not possibly be identified as any other than the Lord Jesus Himself. No one in all Holy Writ has borne the names mentioned here but He Himself. And let us note that He had only one weapon, which was a "sharp sword," which came out of his mouth. Surely, we would all recognize that men of war (carnal) do not carry their swords in their mouths. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,..." Hebrews 4:12. It is by the Word of God and the power of the Spirit that Jesus carried on His warfare. The Word of God is called "the sword of the Spirit" in Ephesians 6:17. It is by the Word of God that sin is exposed and people are convicted of sin and through obedience to the Word they are saved; and those who fail to obey the Word are destroyed (slain). (Revelation 19:21.) This same Jesus appeared riding on a white horse in the beginning of this gospel age of time. (Revelation 6:2.) In that case He had a bow which was equivalent of the rainbow God placed in the sky to confirm His promise of mercy to humankind in Noah's time. The bow in this case is significant of God's promise of mercy and salvation to the human family in Jesus Christ. Now He appears again in the closing out of the age on the same white horse and riding at the head of a great army. This army is composed of
an innumerable multitude out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. (Revelation 7:9), representing the redeemed of the gospel era. They followed Him on white horses and they were clothed in fine linen, white and clean. This fine linen is declared to be the "righteousness of saints" in Revelation 19:8. The innumerable company of Revelation 7:9 are said to be clothed in "white robes" (verse 13), and verse 14 says they had "...washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The armies that followed Him, then, are the blood washed throng who have been
redeemed through faith in the all atoning blood of the Lamb. 

   Note in this case that instead of having a bow representing His promise of mercy, pardon, and redemption, He has a sharp sword in this instance, signifying that He is on a mission of judgment and vengeance against sinful men and false and apostate religions this time. 

  In Revelation 18:1-2 & 4, we read, "And after these things I saw another angel come down form heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." 

  The angel coming down from heaven and lighting the earth with this glory seems to me to be the symbol of the "Evening Light" Ministry which restored the full light of the gospel which had not shown in its fullness since the time of the apostasy of the morning church about 270 A.D. Ministers are referred to as angels sometimes in God's Word. In the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation, we find recorded the messages of Jesus Christ to the seven churches in Asia; the minister in charge or overseer of each church is addressed as "the angel of the church which is at," etc. Here an angel
represents a body of ministers rather than just an individual minister. 

  The fall of Babylon is mentioned in connection with the preaching of the "Evening Light" Ministry. This last particular phase of Babylon (Protestantism denominationalism) had not always been fallen. In its time it was much used of God, and God worked mightily with them producing great revivals in which multitudes of souls were saved. Now the time had come that God wanted to restore the Body of Christ as a visible, unified, operating body in the earth as it was in the morning time of this gospel era, free from human rule and government, with Christ as its Head and it being operated through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This was the message of the "Evening Light" Reformation the unity of God's people and the one true church divine. It was by rejecting this message and holding on to their human institutions and creeds that the Protestantism phase of Babylon fell and went into darkness. 

  Then followed the call to God's people in verse four, "...Come out of her, my people,..." and they came. In John 10:27, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice,...and they follow me." In John 10:16 He said, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." Those who were truly saved and knew God in sectism, when the "Evening Light" Message began to sound forth under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, heard the voice of the true Shepherd and recognized it and followed it, forsaking the
human sects and creeds they were in and coming to the one true Body of Christ. Thus, Christ has been gathering together in one the true people of God and maneuvering them into position for the great and final conflict. The gathering began when the "Evening Light" Reformation broke in 1880 and has continued on and will continue until the final end of time. So we see that just as Gog and Magog, consisting of the dragon, the beast, and false prophet, are all being gathered together under the spirit of antichrist; so the true people of God are being called out and gathered together under the Spirit of God to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

  The Battle of Armageddon is going on now and has been throughout this gospel dispensation, but more particularly in this period incorporated in the "Evening Light" Reformation time when the gathering of forces on both sides is going on in dead earnest, but it will wax hotter and hotter as we approach nearer to the end, and the forces and kinds of deception multiply and abound more and more. The Bible says, "Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." II Timothy 3:13. 

  Dear brethren, this is not a time to play around. We are in this time right now and the powers of deception are increasing and the kinds of deception are multiplying and many are being deceived who once knew God and enjoyed His blessings in their lives, and the love of many is waxing cold today who were once fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Let us all fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life and follow the Captain of the Lord's host into the battle wherever He may lead. 

  I want to discuss one more thing as we come to the close. In Revelation 14:18-20 we have described the harvest of the world which could cover the same period of time I have been discussing, only by different symbols. In verse twenty it says, "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." A tremendous thing is described here and it would be a gruesome thing indeed to think of it in literal terms. It could not possibly refer to anything literal because all of the four billion plus people that are in the world today do not have that much blood in
their bodies. Then what does it mean? 

  In Ezekiel 33:1-6 we have set forth the matter of an enemy coming against the land of Israel and the duties of the watchman who has been set by the people. He was to sound the trumpet and warn the people. It is said that if he sounded the warning and they failed to take heed and perished, their blood would be upon themselves. Also, if he failed to sound the warning and the enemy came upon them and destroyed them, their blood would be required at the watchman's hand. Then in verses 7-9 this same thing is carried over and applied to God-called, God-sent ministers and overseers in this
gospel age. Hebrews 13:17, speaking of overseers of congregations, says, "...For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,..." This also would apply in a way to any minister of God who deals with the souls of men. Paul said in Acts 20:26-27, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." 

  Now what this all sums up to is the situation we are face to face with today. On the one hand, we have many ministers in Christendom today who are so compromising and fail to tell the people the consequences of the things they are doing and excusing things in people's lives which are destroying their souls and are failing to declare the full counsel of God to the people so that the blood of many souls is on their hands. On the other hand, we are in a time which is characterized by free thinking
and everybody thinking for themselves, and when ministers of God are faithful to declare the full counsel of God and deal pointedly with souls about the things they are doing which will destroy their souls; many times they just pass it off and say, "I don't see it that way. I have my way the same as he has his, and I have just as much right to see it my way as he does to see it his way." So they just go on their merry way, failing to give heed and to measure up and be doers of the Word, and become
deceived. Their blood is on their own hands because they were faithfully warned by the minister God had given them.