Armageddon on the Horizon
The Revelation of Jesus Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsThe next three judgments of God on those that have the Mark of the Beast or worship the Beast.
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Revelation 16:8-16 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 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. 14 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. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Introduction
The First Vial – painful sores on those that have the mark of the Beast and his followers.
The Second Vial – turns the entire sea to blood and kills all life in the sea
The Third Vial – turns all fresh waters into blood. Waters intended for food, cleaning and quenching the thirst were turned into the means of judgment.
That brings us to today’s study…Armageddon on the Horizon.
If you were traveling east bound on Interstate 10 from New Mexico entering Texas, you would be greeted with a Green Mileage sign that would read: Vinton, Louisiana - 880 miles. Traveling at an average of 60 MPH, it would take you 14.88 hours, not including stops. As you would travel along the highway, the mileage signs would let you know that you are drawing nearer to the Texas state line. It is all in the timing of events as you travel Interstate Highway 10.
The very same could be said about the final destination of every human. There are plenty of signposts along the way. You just have to read and heed them. The “End of Time” is coming.
Turn with me in your bibles to Revelation 16.
Revelation 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
John gives a simple chronology of the pouring out of the vials, but not a timing. We know the order of the events; on the other hand we just don’t know when the “time is at hand.” Therefore, I believe it is safe to assume there are no delay as the fourth angel obediently follows the command he was given; “Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (16:1).
Life on earth, for the most part, is dependent on the rays of the sun.
The fourth angel’s vial judgment turns the life-giving light of the sun into a agonizing judgment of God. If you remember, the first act of Creation was “Let there be light.” (Gen 1:3)
The result of the fourth vial is not the darkening of the sin, as in the fourth Trumpet judgment (Rev 8:12), this vial judgment intensifies the heat and the result is that mankind is burned and charred with fire, and yet not consumed. Can you imagine:
not being able to step into the rays of the sun to feel its warmth.
instead of photosynthesis in the plants to grow, the sun now burns everything in its path.
Is this a foretaste, an allegory of what awaits those that will be cast into the lake of fire?
Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
I am stunned at the response of man. It is evident that those being judged are aware of who is bringing the judgment on them: The Greek word “Theos” meaning the Supreme Deity. God.
If I knew the source of my affliction and great pain, I would beg them to stop. Instead, those being judged rail on God and blaspheme His name. However, like Pharaoh of Egypt, their hearts are hardened against God (Ex. 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34, 35).
Man does not repent. I am reminded of that adage, “The more that things change, the more they seem the same.” Repeatedly, God has given humanity the opportunity to repent, and yet the majority continue to reject God and Jesus and give their love and worship to the Antichrist.
Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
The fifth vial judgment, aimed at the seat of headquarters of the Beast, brings great darkness. I am unsure that the fourth vial judgment ceases at this point. Even though the there is great darkness on the kingdom of Babylon, the heat could still be present as we do not read that the earth freezes due to the lack of the sun’s rays. Think of sultry summer nights in the south…without air conditioners, the heat of the day would still be felt.
And we cannot be certain where his throne or headquarters is located, other than it is the new Babylon. This darkness is everywhere that the Beast’s kingdom exists. The result of this utter darkness is that the inhabitants suffering is increased with greater agony and fear. Their current condition frightens them so much they chew their tongues in great pain.
There are parallels of this fifth vial judgment and the ninth plague in Egypt where all the land was in darkness except for the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived (Ex. 10:21–29). This was the last plague before the death of all the first born in Egypt.
There is another parallel in the fourth and fifth trumpet judgments. The darkness caused by the fourth trumpet judgment caused a third part of the heavenly bodies to darken (8:12), and fifth trumpet judgment saw the smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the sun and the air (9:2).
Revelation 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
This verse infers that the first vial judgment, “noisome and grievous sores” on the followers of the Beast has not ended. The followers of the Beast are not persuaded after the first five vial judgments to follow God rather than the Beast. His followers continue to blaspheme God and refuse to repent of their sins.
They refuse to call upon the Savior for salvation. They refuse to call upon the Healer for healing from the maladies of the judgments. They refuse to call upon the Creator to make all things new. Instead, the blaspheme God. Remember that blasphemy means to defame, rail upon, or speak evil.
Their blasphemy is the result of their refusal to acknowledge that God is, well, God. They have given up everything to worship the Beast, and now they receive the full judgment of the wrath of God.
Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates” – This is the second and last time that the river Euphrates is named in the Revelation (Rev 9:14; 16:12).
If the great heat from the Fourth Vial judgment is still prevalent, then I would assume that the lakes and rivers of blood would become dry beds and provide easy passage for the kings of the east. We are familiar with the Red Sea being dried up so the children of Israel could pass over to safety from the Egyptians that were hard on their trail. We are also familiar with the drying of the Jordan River when the children of Israel were going into the Promised Land.
The phrase “the kings of the east” is translate in the Greek as “the kings who are from the rising of the sun.” The river Euphrates is often referred to as “the river” or “the great river” in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.”
In Genesis, the Euphrates River is mentioned as one of the rivers of Paradise. It is the largest and most important river in western Asia, considered the common northeastern border to the Promised Land. It was a natural border, which presented problems to those wanting to conquer the land. The river is miraculously dried up, allowing easy access for the massive army to prepare for battle against God and His followers.
The readers from the seven churches of the Revelation would understand that if this river was crossed by an opposing army, it would be time for panic.
It is also important to note that the drying of the Euphrates, which allows the kings from the East into Palestine, is an act of judgment of God against those nations. Remember that the Red Sea swallowed up the army and chariots of Pharoah as an act of judgment upon the Egyptians. Salvation for the Children of Israel equated as judgment against Pharaoh.
Revelation 16:13 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.
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs” – The importance of John’s use of “unclean” should not be overlooked.
The concepts of clean and unclean are closely related to the states of holy and profane. Those who are clean are able to be in the presence of God, while those who are unclean perish in His presence (2 Sam 6:6–7). Additionally, cleanness is used in parallel to denote a state of righteousness. [1]
Another rendering of this verse might be, “Blasphemous and wicked words are spoken from Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet.” There is nothing new about lies and deceit coming from this unholy trinity, except John’s focus on their words. What might they be saying? We find out in the next verse.
However, it appears that these three unclean spirits represent some visible forms of evil. Whether words or evil powers, they have great influence over the “kings of the earth.”
Revelation 16:14 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.
“For they are the spirits of devils” – these “unclean spirits like frogs” are the spirits of devils.
“…working miracles” – Not only are these spirits of devils convincing in their communication, but they are also compelling in their working of miracles. While we are not told what miracles these unclean spirts perform, they are persuasive. When the Beast first came to power, there was a wound like unto death, but miraculously, his wound was healed.
“…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.” – Their signs and miracles are enough to convince the leaders of the world and all of humanity to go to war against God.
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
“Behold, I come as a thief” – Jesus will never come as a thief concerning the church. The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica: “
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Three other occurrences of this idea are found in the New Testament. Notice the great similarities in these three texts.
Jesus teaches His disciples on Mount of Olives about the end time coming abruptly as a thief (Mt. 24:42-44)
Matthew 24:42-43 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Paul writes to the brethren at Thessalonica about the end time coming as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Peter writes about it in his second epistle (2 Pet. 3:10-11)
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Revelation 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
“And he gathered them together” – The question is then, “who gathered whom?” It is clear from the 14th verse that those gathered are “the kings of the earth and the whole world.” What doesn’t initially jump out is who is gathering them.
They could be the three unclean spirits” (v. 13)
God or the sixth angel.
Satan, the Antichrist or the false prophet that is orchestrating the gathering.
The “text within the context” of this passage leads me to understand that it is the three spirits of devils which are “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” (v. 14). They have accomplished their task they were sent forth to complete. It also makes sense that it is God, by his sovereign power, that is orchestrating the gathering into the place that He will destroy the kings and their armies.
“…into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” - This vial judgment clears the way for the battle that has been brewing for centuries. This final battle has been termed, the Battle of Armageddon, however, nowhere in the Bible is that phrase used.
The English word, Armageddon has been translated from the Hebrew as “har-megiddon”, “the mount of the assembly;” or “chormah gedehon; “the destruction of their army;” or “har Megiddo”, “the hill or mountain of Megiddo.” Megiddo is some sixty miles north of Jerusalem near Mount Carmel and means “place of slaughter.” Megiddo is also referred to as the Plain of Esdraelon or the Valley of Jezreel.
Historically, Megiddo was one of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:21). Solomon rebuilt and fortified Megiddo, and king Ahaziah of Judah fled there after his battle with Jehu and died there (2 Kings 9:27). It is famous for two great victories: Barak over the Canaanites (Judg. 5:19) and Gideon over the Midianites (Judg. 7). It is also known for two great disasters: the death of two kings, Saul (1 Sam. 31) and Josiah battling King Neco of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29). Megiddo became synonymous with great mourning (Zech. 12:11).
If you could stand on the top of Mount Carmel, by the Mediterranean Sea, you would observe that in this mountainous and rocky land, a great plain stretched out that would make a great staging place and battlefield. It was through this valley that Titus and the Roman army conquered the land. Later, this natural corridor was used by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages. Napoleon called this area, about fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long, as “the most natural battlefield of the whole earth.”
Conclusion
From the Rapture of the Saints, the Tribulation of God’s Judgment has come to this point…the Battle of Armageddon.
[1] Babcock, B. C. (2012, 2013, 2014). Clean and Unclean. In J. D. Barry, L. Wentz, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair-Wolcott, R. Klippenstein, D. Bomar, … D. R. Brown (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.