My subject tonight is "Armageddon". I realize that, in the religious world, it has been raining sermons on Armageddon for the last forty years. Books have been written about it by the thousands. And movies have been made about it that will scare you to death. But I have seen, heard and read very little about Armageddon that makes any sense to me, or that has any biblical foundation, or contains any spiritual message for my heart. What is Armageddon? It is clearly described in our text. But how are we to interpret the text?
In order to understand what Armageddon is we need to look at the story of Judges 5. The Canaanite king. Jabin, oppressed and persecuted the children of Israel, ravaging their fields and plundering their crops. And the Jews were afraid. They went into hiding. At last they came to Deborah. She told them, "The Lord God of Israel will deliver Jabin and Sisera into your hand." And the princes of Issachar, with Deborah and Barak defeated Jabin, Sisera and Canaanites in the Valley of Megiddo (Judges 5:19). "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." (Judges 5:20). The Lord God of Israel fought for and delivered his people from the hands of their enemies at Megiddo.
Armageddon is not some future military conflict between earthly nations. It is not a military invasion of Israel by Russia! It is not a nuclear war. It is a spiritual conflict. It is represented in every battle throughout history between Christ and satan, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). The kingdom of light and the kingdoms of darkness, the Church and the world, truth and error, righteousness and evil, the worshippers of God and false religion. Whenever the people of God are oppressed and persecuted, the Lord reveals his power and defeats our enemies. That is Armageddon. It is a battle which began in the Garden of Eden, has continued throughout the ages, and shall be consummated at the glorious second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is what is described in Revelation 19:11-21.
This is a picture of our Lord's second coming for judgment. He comes to judge and make war. We have seen Babylon destroyed. We have heard the shouts of "Hallelujah!" in heaven because of God's righteous judgment. But, before that final judgment comes, the beast, the false prophet, and satan himself must be destroyed. This shall be the consummation of that battle which began in the Garden. This is Armageddon.
Proposition:When our Lord Jesus Christ comes the second time in power and great glory, satan's opposition to Christ and his Church shall cease forever – Satan's power to deceive will be completely destroyed. His power to hurt God's creation shall be forever ended. Every influence of the evil one shall be cast with him into hell!
Now, let's look at this final battle of Armageddon. In that last day, the events will take place in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Christ shall come to forcibly take possession of the earth, to rid it of all evil, and to make all things new. When he comes, our Lord will find the kingdoms of this earth mustered in confederate rebellion against him. And by the might of his sovereign word in effable glory he will destroy them completely in this battle of Armageddon – (Rev. 16:15-16).
Divisions:As we look into the meaning of this vision, I want to show you the four things which John saw:
1. The Glorious Advent Of Our Lord Jesus Christ – (v. 11-16).
2. The Armies That Follow Him – (v. 14).
3. The Enemies He Comes To Destroy – (v. 19).
4. The Thoroughness of Our Savior's Conquest – (vv. 17-21).
I. First, John sees a vision of The Glorious Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 11-16).
What John sees here is that of which Enoch prophesied before the flood: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all." (Jude 14-15). In these verses the Holy Spirit gives us eleven things to describe the second coming of Christ.
A. Our Lord Jesus Will Come Forth Out Of Heaven – (v. 11).
His name is not mentioned. But we know who he is by the marks and inscriptions he bears. All that is said of this great, coming Conqueror clearly identifies him as that same Jesus whom John had seen ascending into heaven (Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:9-11). The second coming of Christ is announced by the opening of heaven – "I saw heaven opened."
When our Lord came up from the waters of baptism, heaven was opened to identify him, the Spirit descended upon him, and the Father spoke to commend him – "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:16).
When the first New Testament martyr was dying, he saw "the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55).
When our Lord was upon the earth, he promised his disciples that they would see "heaven open" (John 1:51).
And at the beginning of these heavenly visions of the revelation of Jesus Christ, John beheld a door opened in heaven. And he was called up to see things that were hidden from the rest of the world (Rev. 4:1).
But here is something altogether different. This not a secret thing, known only to a few chosen people. This is the rending of the heavens that will take place at the glorious appearing of the great God, our Savior. In that last great and glorious day, the very heavens will be opened, and Christ shall appear to judge the world and to be glorified in all his saints (II Thess. 1:7-10). The Lamb, being married to his chosen, redeemed bride, will leave his Father's house, and come with his saints to take possession of the earth.
B. Christ Jesus Will Come Riding Upon A White Horse – (v. 11).
Again, I remind you that this white horse is purely symbolical. It represents royalty, judgment and war, righteousness, justice and truth, honor, majesty and victory. White is the color that symbolizes the purity of Christ and the purity of his judgment.
1. When he comes forth to conquer, he is upon a white horse (Rev. 6:2).
2. When he comes to reap his harvest from the earth, he sits upon a white cloud (Rev. 14:4).
3. And when he comes to sit in judgment, he sits upon a great white throne (Rev. 20:11).
The horse symbolizes power and majesty. And its white color symbolizes purity and truth.
C. When Our Savior Comes To Judge The World, He Is Called "Faithful And True" (v. 11).He is seen in sharp contrast with those whom he comes to judge and destroy. The Dragon is the deceiver. The Beast, the False Prophet, and Babylon represent all false religion. Those who follow them are false worshippers. But here is One who is absolutely true and faithful. Though all others prove unreliable, unfaithful and deceitful. He is the embodiment of faithfulness and truth.
D. When Christ Comes We Are Told That He Will Judge And Make War In Righteousness – (v. 11).
In his letter to the Laodicean church, he was called "the faithful and true witness" (Rev. 3:14). As such, he reproved his church and instructed his friends. Here he is the faithful and true warrior and judge, for the everlasting destruction of his enemies.
Righteousness cannot tolerate iniquity. Justice cannot be at peace with sin. Sin must be destroyed. God's mercy, slighted and abused by men, brings forth the Executioner of Justice. The world bonded together in arms against God's sovereign throne. And now God sends forth his King Jesus Christ, to squash the rebellion and to execute absolute justice upon his enemies.
1. Divine judgment will be exactly according to God's law and justice (II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:11).
2. But, this horrible vengeance and wrath of God upon men will be the result of man's willful, deliberate rebellion against the claims of Christ in the gospel (Ps. 2:1-12; Pro. 1:23-33).
3. When Christ makes war with men, it is because they will not surrender to him and have his terms of peace – His warfare and judgment are acts of righteousness.
E. The Eyes Of This Great Judge Are A Flame Of Fire – (v. 12).
In order to judge righteously, he must see all things perfectly. And he does. He searches the depth of the heart looks behind the mask of hypocrisy, penetrates the darkness of secrecy, and sees the very thoughts and intents of the heart. His eyes possess omniscient perception and break out against his enemies with indignation and wrath. And his wrath upon his enemies is as irresistible as his grace toward his elect, because this mighty Warrior is the Sovereign of the universe.
F. When Christ Comes To Judge And Make War, He Wears The Crowns Of Total, Universal Sovereignty – (v. 12).He is not only the Judge and the General, but also the Sovereign King. "On his head were many crowns." I have told you before the significance of these crowns, as they represent our Savior's total sovereignty and dominion over all things. But ever remember that he has won these crowns by his obedience to his Father's will as our Substitute (John 17:2).
When David conquered the Ammonites he took the crown of the defeated king, and placed it upon his own head, in addition to the crown he already had as king of Israel (II Sam. 12:30). In the same sense, Christ has, by virtue of his conquests, taken all the crowns of the universe and placed them upon his own head, in addition to the crown he possesses as God and Creator of all things. And he is coming to make war with and execute judgment upon those who dispute his right to total sovereignty (Isa. 45:9).
G. Jesus Christ, Our Coming Lord, Is One Whom No Man Can Know – (v. 12).
He has a name "that no man knew, but he himself." It is true, we know him by Divine Revelation. We know him by faith. But we could not know him had he not been revealed to us by God's almighty grace (Matt. 16:27). But this text implies much more – The Lord Jesus Christ, this God-Man who comes to judge and make war, possesses such ineffable greatness and glory that no man has any idea how great and glorious, awesome and majestic he is who comes to destroy them (I Tim. 6:14-16).
H. He Who Comes To Judge Sinners In The Wrath Of God Is The Christ Who Was Judged For Sinners In The Wrath Of God – (v. 13).
I cannot agree with those who say those blood stains have no reference at all to our Savior's sacrifice for sin. These are not the blood stains of men whom he treads in the winepress of God's wrath. They are the blood stains of him who has trodden the winepress of the wrath of God alone – (Isa. 63:1-5).
I. This mighty Warrior And Judge Of The World Is The Word Of God – (v. 13).
Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate (John 1:1-14). He is the true and only expression of the eternal, triune God. He is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks and in whom the written Word is fulfilled. And when he comes in judgment, he will reveal the righteousness, justice and truth of God.
J. The Purpose Of Our Lord's Second Advent Is The Destruction Of His Enemies – (v. 15).
In that dread day the Word of God will be an instrument of wrath and destruction. It will be the sharp sword of almighty justice, proceeding out of his mouth. "He shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked" (Isa. 11:4). Do you see the ease with which Christ will destroy his enemies? He speaks, and it is done. He commands, and it is accomplished.
K. This Great Judge, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Is The King Of kings, And Lord of lords – (v. 16).
This name tells of the majesty and dominion, glory and power of him who bears the sword of judgment and the rod of wrath – (See Psalm 45:1-6). For ages the beast and the false prophet have attacked the throne of the King. The nations of the world have formed a league with hell against Omnipotence. But now the Lion of the tribe of Judah comes forth to meet his enemies. And it is written, "Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them." (Ps. 21:9).
These eleven things describe the glorious second advent of Christ. But when he comes, he will not be alone. He comes with ten thousands of his saints. So –
II. Secondly, I want you to see The Armies That Follow Him – (v. 14).
When our Lord comes from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance upon them that know not God and obey not the gospel, his Bride, the Church, all the hosts of his elect will be with him.
No one can say precisely how this rapid succession of events will take place. But John appears to be speaking now of those events which will take place immediately preceding the final judgment and the great Hallelujah songs described in verses 1-10. The order of events appears to be as follows
1. Christ will come (I Thess. 4:16).
2. The dead in Christ will be resurrected (I Thess. 4:16).
3. The living believers will be translated to heaven, to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:17).
Note: We will meet our Lord in his decent, and return with him to destroy the wicked (Acts 28:15-16).
4. Christ will come to judge and make war with the armies of heaven, all his saints, following him (II Thess. 1:7-10).
Christ is the Head, the Leader, the Captain of these armies. He comes first. The saints follow in his train. The promise from the beginning was that the seed of the woman should crush the serpent's head. And here it is done! Christ is the Seed of the woman. And we who believe are his seed. Though the work is his and the battle is his, we shall follow him in the victory – (Rom. 16:20; Rev. 17:14).
A. All These Called, Chosen and Faithful Ones Shall Ride Like Their King Upon White Horses.
Horses and chariots of fire took Elijah up to heaven. Horses and chariots of fire protected Elisha at Dothan. And white horses, symbolically, will bring the saints form heaven with our great King, for the final subjugation of the world to his authority. It is up to the bridles of these horses that the blood will flow in that day (Rev.14:20).
B. All The Saints Of God Are Clothed With The Righteousness Of Christ, Perfectly Pure And Clean Before God.
Perhaps the Psalmist had this very scene in mind when he wrote, "The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth" (Ps. 58:10-11). It is certain that Paul had this in mind when he declared that "the saints shall judge the world" (I Cor. 6:2).
Notice that in that day the saints will wear no armor. They are now immortal. They cannot be hurt! We shall not be the executioners of vengeance. That belongs to Christ alone. He alone bears the sword of justice. He alone destroys the work of the devil. He alone treads "the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." He is our Defense. And He is our Victor. But we follow the achievements of his sword and rejoice in the Victory.
Illus: David slew Goliath alone. But all of Israel enjoyed the triumph and shouted for joy – (See Psalm 37:10, 11, 34).
III. Thirdly, John saw The Enemies Christ Comes To Destroy – (v. 19).
The beast represents all antichrist government, philosophy, and power which has persecuted the church of God through the ages. The kings of the earth represent the nations of the world, arrayed in opposition to God, under the strong delusion of the beast and the false prophet, who represents all the religion of antichrist – (See Rev. 16:12-16).
Demonic spirits, working demonic miracles, lead men and women in demonic religion in the name of Christ against Christ and the gospel of his grace. And those who are set in battle array against Christ think they are doing God's service (See II Thess. 2:3-12).
Let me identify these things for you plainly and boldly. It will be of no value to your soul if I speak to you in vague terms.
These are the forces of Armageddon gathered against Christ whom he comes to destroy. With one accord, in one inspired confederation the governments of the world, the educators of the world, the philosophers of the world, and the religions of the world are gathered against the Lamb of God to make war. But their confederation is useless! (See – Psalm 2:1-12).
Hear me, and be warned. Everyone who denies Christ defies Christ. Everyone who refuses to bow to Christ takes up arms against Christ. Everyone who opposes the doctrine of Christ opposes Christ himself. Everyone who refuses to wear the mark of Christ chooses to wear the mark of the beast. And once the mark of the beast is upon you, you are lost forever! You cannot retreat. You will march against the Christ of God until you are crushed to hell by the rod of his wrath. Be wise therefore, and be instructed. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are they that put their trust in him."
IV. Fourthly, John shows us The Thoroughness Of Our Savior's Conquest (vv.17-21).
The whole world of unbelief is gathered against Christ and his Church to do battle. But the battle will end quickly, decisively, by the glorious appearing of Christ. At the second coming of Christ satan's persecution of the Church and his power to deceive will end forever! Every influence of satan will be cast with him into hell, never to appear again outside the pit of the damned. Hallelujah!
Even at this very moment, so certain is Christ's victory over the beast and the false prophet that the angel is seen standing in the sun, calling the buzzards of the air to gather for a feast upon the carcasses of the Lord's enemies (See – Matthew 24:24-28).
So easily will our Lord defeat those who oppose him that we are told, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision" (Ps. 2:4).
What a horrible day! God comes in judgment, laughing at his enemies!
A. First, The Beast And The False Prophet Will Be Taken – (v. 20).The governments and religions of antichrist shall be suddenly, thoroughly destroyed. Only at the moment of judgment will men see the futility of intellectualism, materialism, free-willism, ritualism and legalism.
The philosophical, political and religious leaders of the world will be cast alive into hell, and with them all the delusions of antichrist.
B. Then, Those That Have Been Deceived Because They Would Not Obey The Gospel, Shall Be Destroyed Forever – (v. 21).
Thus this present world shall end! The only thing left to be seen is the fate of the devil. Babylon is gone! The beast is gone! The false prophet is gone! Only the dragon remains. And his ruin is described in Chapter 20. Then we will see the glorious pictures of heavenly, eternal bliss awaiting the saints of God.
Application:I have only one word of application. Let it be written indelibly upon every heart. Rebellion against Christ is death. No weapon that is formed against him shall prosper. All who will not have Christ to rule over them must perish forever.
He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet –
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