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Armageddon: Earth's Final War

by Henry Bechthold  
2/26/2011 / Bible Studies

Armageddon is the great final battle on earth before the return of Jesus Christ. Is it a battle between men and nations, as is taught by most prophecy teachers? From the time of mankind's original compromise with sin in the Garden of Eden, has earth's "true" great conflict been a struggle between men, or has it been a struggle between good and evil? Has the real controversy been between nations, or has it been between Jesus Christ and Satan? Was it not "Lucifer", Satan's name in heaven before he sinned, who said that he wanted to exalt his own throne above the stars of God; moreover, who said that he wanted to be like the "Most High" (Isaiah 14:12-14)? Lucifer/Satan wanted to be God! In fact, the Bible records that the "first war" was fought in Heaven between God's holy angelic forces and Satan with his "fallen" angelic army (Revelation 12:7-9).

According to the Bible, the "true" war started in Heaven with Lucifer/Satan's rebellion against God and Jesus Christ. And, after Satan's defeat in Heaven, he was cast down to earth, which became his new battlefront against Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:9). While on earth, Satan continued his battle against Jesus by causing the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He then furthered his war by tempting, attacking and causing the apostasy of God's Old Testament nation of Israel. And, when Jesus came to this earth, Satan mercilessly and brutally assaulted, harassed, tortured and crucified our Savior.

After Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven, Satan has continued to cruelly tempt, torment, afflict and martyr the disciples of Jesus Christ. You see, Satan knows that Jesus said that whatever is done to His "brethren" (us) is also done to Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:40). Therefore, Satan assaults Christ's followers, knowing that he is also attacking Jesus when he attacks them.

This epic conflict between Jesus and Satan, between good and evil, has always been the "true" battle or war ever since Lucifer rebelled in Heaven. And, it eventually culminates with one final, enormous "last stand" by Satan immediately before the return of Jesus. Satan's "false christ" on earth, the antichrist, marshals all of the evil kingdoms and armies on earth at a place in Israel called "Armageddon" or "Megiddo" (Revelation 16:14-16). The Bible calls this war the "battle of that great day of God Almighty". However, most prophecy teachers refer to it as the "Battle of Armageddon". This "incorrect name" and incorrect focus regarding this final war before Christ's return, has resulted in erroneous teachings about this "battle" by most contemporary so-called prophecy experts. They focus on the nations involved in this battle, and on the location of the battle (Armageddon), but they forget what the battle is all about. It is not about disagreements between men and nations. This battle is the culmination of the same "war" that started in Heaven, when Lucifer rebelled against God. That's why the Bible does not call it the "battle between nations" or the "battle of Armageddon", but rather, Scripture calls it the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14). It is the final culmination of "God's war" with Satan, of the war between good and evil.

The book of Revelation clearly contradicts the teachings of today's prophecy "experts". They teach that this so-called "Battle of Armageddon" is a great final war between nations fighting one another, with some of these nations supporting the antichrist, and with other nations fighting against him. However, their teaching blatantly contradicts the book of Revelation. The Apostle John, who wrote Revelation, clearly states that "all" of the world and "all" who dwell on earth will follow and worship the beast/antichrist (Revelation 13:3; 13:8). According to Revelation 13:8, the only ones who don't follow him are the ones whose names are written in the Lamb's (Jesus) "Book of Life", which mean's Christ's disciples. But, as these verses in Revelation clearly state, "all" of the wicked follow the antichrist in unison; they do "not" fight against him. In fact, Revelation 13:7 plainly states that the beast/antichrist has authority or control over "every" tribe, tongue and nation. The book of Revelation makes it clear that the antichrist has total control over, and the full support of, "all" of the wicked people and nations on earth. They are not fighting each other, and they are not fighting against the antichrist. However, as I will now prove, they are all in unison prepared to fight against our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns.

Revelation 19:11-21 depicts this final epic battle between the beast/antichrist and Jesus when He returns. Jesus is seated on a white horse leading the armies of Heaven, who are clothed in white linen and who also are mounted on white horses. Revelation 19:19 unequivocally states that the beast/antichrist along with the kings and armies of the earth are all gathered together to make war "against Jesus" and His heavenly army. This text clearly portrays all of the armies on earth gathered in unison to fight against Jesus, not to make war against each other. As the Scriptures state, this is indeed the final "battle of that great day of God Almighty".

How could the world's armies be so deceived and deluded to actually attack Jesus Christ? It is because of the satanic, supernatural miracles that will be done by the beast/antichrist and his "false prophet". I will provide a "link" at the end of this article, which clearly, specifically and biblically identifies this "false prophet", as well as the antichrist. Revelation 16:13-14 speaks of demonic spirits that will go forth and perform miraculous signs to seduce and rally the armies of the world to attempt this audacious attack on Jesus Christ as He returns. Other scriptures also state that false christs and false prophets, as well as the antichrist himself, will perform "signs and wonders" to deceive the world (Matthew 24:24; 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10). And, the "false prophet", who is also referred to as "another beast" in Revelation 13:11, also performs "great signs", even making fire come down from heaven (Revelation 13:11-14). Through these miraculous signs, wicked men and nations will be deceived to believe that the antichrist himself is the true god.

Revelation 17:12-14 also states that the kings of the earth and the beast/antichrist will make war with the Lamb (Jesus). Once again, in this passage, the kings of earth are not fighting each other, and they are not fighting against the antichrist; they are all in unison with the antichrist in his war against Jesus Christ.

Scripture clearly reveals that the "Battle of Armageddon" being taught by most so-called prophecy scholars, where all of the nations are fighting with each other in earth's final days, and where the world is split, with many actually fighting against the antichrist; the Bible reveals that this "Battle of Armageddon" doctrine is totally in error. Preachers have taken prophecies from the book of Daniel, which applied to wars between nations before the New Testament era, and have wrongly applied them to the great final battle fought at Armageddon at the return of Jesus. The book of Revelation refutes their incorrect doctrine beyond the shadow of a doubt.

For an in-depth study of who the antichrist is and where he arises from, as well as a detailed study of the "false prophet", read my article titled, "Antichrist", at my website address listed below.

I am an evangelical, non-denominational, Christian pastor. You can research other interesting and provocative topics at my website: http://www.godormen.com.

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