The Campaign of Armageddon
DOES THE WORLD END WITH A NUCLEAR WAR
Human history does not end with a nuclear war, as is commonly communicated. The drama of human history does not come to a close with the superpowers of the nations blowing each other up in a massive explosion. Scripture makes it clear that natural history ends with a battle, but this battle is not between the East and the West, it is not about communism verses capitalism, etc. The two sides of this great battle will be evil human beings led by the Antichrist against God. The nations are going to gather together in unity to declare war on God—not just Israel, but they are going to declare war on Jesus. They seek to muster up all the human resources and demonic power to actually overthrow Jesus when He returns; that is what is on their minds.
Jesus’ second coming is in context of ending the three-and-a-half year military conflict called the Armageddon campaign and ends at the battle of Jerusalem to establish His throne over all nations
ARMAGEDDON
The term Armageddon appears only once in the Bible (Rev. 16:16). The phrase the “Battle of Armageddon” is never used in Scripture. Armageddon is a place that God chose to gather the Gentile nations for the war. John informs us that Har-Magedon is a Hebrew name that comes from two different words. The Hebrew “har” can be translated as mountain, hill or mount. Magedon speaks of the small town of Megiddo. Together in Hebrew, it is called, Armageddon or “Har-Magedon” which can be translated, “hill-country or the hill of Megiddo” or simply “Mount Megiddo.” Since there is no mountain next to Megiddo, it refers to the Mount Megiddo.
Megiddo is located within a famous valley. Within this valley is a vast open plain. This area is called the Valley of Jezreel(Jewish name; Hosea 1:5, 11) It is approximately 15 miles wide at its widest point and twenty miles long. It is the largest battle ground in Israel.There is another town quite close to the Valley of Jezreel. It is called Nazareth. It is up in the hilly area. Jesus looked down from His hometown as a boy on the plains of Armageddon, if you will. He grew up in His back yard seeing this area with His own eyes. Imagine whatever age He was when He came to fullness of understanding as to what was going on. He knew that one day that would be the geographic area that would be the military build-up area where all the nations would gather to defeat Him. I just imagine, as He is thirteen, eighteen, twenty, twenty-two, and twenty-five years old: imagine Him sitting out there under a tree talking to the Father. Imagine Jesus saying, “Father this area: I know about this area. I know what the prophets said. I understand about this area.”
It is the climactic war of the Great Tribulation when all the armies of the earth gather to attack Israel and attempt to finally eradicate the Jewish people
ARMAGEDDON HISTORY
In ancient times, Megiddo was a city of great importance. It lay at the strategic crossing of important military and caravan routes. The valley of Megiddo has been the scene of famous battles since the dawn of history. It is one of History’s bloodiest battle fields. Some Historians believe thatmore battles have been fought there throughout time than at any other place in the world.
Many strategic battles in bible history were fought in this valley. Deborah defeated Sisera(Jug. 4-5), Gideon defeated the Midianites (Jug. 6), Saul was killed by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31). Joshua defeated the Canaanite king of Megiddo when entering the promise Land. Josiah was killed by the Egyptians in the Valley of Megiddo (2 Chr. 35:22-24; 2 Kings 23). The mourning at Megiddo related to Josiah’s death parallels Israel’s future mourning for Jesus (Zech. 12:10-14).
ARMAGEDDON IS THE PLACE GOD CHOSEN
Armageddon is the place God chose to gather all the nations for the war so that He might judge them. Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land.
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle.Zephaniah 3:8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.
Joel 3:12-14 Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations Judges 5:19 “The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver
Ezekiel 39:1 Behold, I am against you, O Gog (Antichrist)…2 I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand…4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops…I will give you to birds of prey…to be devoured. 5 You shall fall on the open field…8 this is the day of which I have spoken. 11…I will give Gog a burial place in Israel…they will bury Gog and all his multitude.
THE MAJOR BATTLEFIELDS OF THE ARMAGEDDON CAMPAIGN
A. Mountains – Israel’s enemies will fight and die on Israel’s mountains (Ezek. 39:2, 4, 17)
B. Northern Israel – the area of Armageddon is the main military staging area.
C. Southern Israel – in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (near Jerusalem) where the final battle occurs (Joel 3:2, 12; 2:32; Zech. 14:1-5, 12; Zeph. 3:1, 5, 8). Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12; 2 Chr. 20:26, 16). This valley is about 5-10 miles south of Jerusalem and it is near Edom.
NATIONS GATHER AT ARMAGEDDON
There are three reasons that all the nations will come to make war against God in Israel.
First, God draws them (Joel 3:2, 12; Zech. 12:3; 14:2; Zeph. 3:8).
Second, Satan draws them (Rev. 16:13-14; 19:19). Satan will gather the largest military force of all history to seek to overthrow Jesus by demonic and human might.
Third, men come because of sinful motives such as greed, anger and envy (Ezek. 35:11; Ps. 2:2). Men will come in greed, wanting to take the spoil from Israel and to steal the wealth of individual Jewish people whom they wish to kill.
The Antichrist will conduct a series of battles around the world as described by the third seal (Rev. 6:5-6). War will intensify as Gentile nations gather together in northern Israel for the 3½ year Armageddon Campaign (Rev. 16:16; Dan. 11:40-45). The prophet Daniel refers to the end time beast as the king of the north,as daniel continues, But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Daniel 11: 44 ).The Euphrates River dries up, preparing the way for the kings of the east (Revelation 16:12)The beast will be challenged by the mighty armies of the east.
This world’s two great military power’s-ready to fight each other for world domination-will be suddenly confronted by what they conceive to be,in their declared mind as common “enemy” the returning of Jesus Christ.
The world will stand at the brink of the most terrible battle in all of history. were the enormous power of the world’s armies actually to be unleashed,global annihilation would be the result.no flesh would be saved alive (Math 24:22)Satan’s goal of erasing all life from this earth would become reality.
NATION’S AGAINST ISRAEL TO BATTLE
Zech 12:1-3 ‘This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel… “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her , I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.’
Israel is currently ranked as having the 4 th best army in the entire world and this has been proven time and time again, as they have had to fight for their very existence. Just a quick summary of their wars shows some remarkable victories –
1948 – War of Independence. Straight after becoming a nation again, 18,000 Jewish settlers had to fight 7 trained, fully equipped Arab armies. Many of the Jews fought without even having a gun, yet they won.
1967 – In the face of another Arab attack, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike in what is now the famous 6-day War. This lightening victory left the world gasping and military academies entering new tactics into the warfare journals!
1973 – The Yom Kippur War. On the Holiest of all Jewish days, (the day of Atonement), Israel was attacked by a united Arab force. Israel suffered great losses as it took up to 3 days to fully mobilise its army. Yet, while outnumbered 4 to 1, (300,000 Israelis fought 1,200,000 Arabs) Israel still won and were even on the doorsteps of both Cairo and Damascus when other nations persuaded them to stop.
In the last days, Jerusalem would be a burden to the entire world. Zechariah 12:2-3 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about … And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces.
Yet the war that is coming is even too great for Israel. Zechariah tells a little more saying -Zechariah 14:2-3 ‘ I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.