"Armageddon"

Revelation 16:16

What is Armageddon? The whole world is convinced that it is some kind of nuclear holocaust that will take place in the middle east just before the second coming of Christ. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Movies have been made about it. But I have seen, heard and read very little about Armageddon that makes sense, has any biblical foundation, or contains any spiritual message for my heart.

If we want to understand what Armageddon is, we must begin by reading Judges 5. The Canaanite king, Jabin, oppressed and persecuted the children of Israel, ravaging their fields and plundering their crops. The Jews were terrified and 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 Isachar, with Deborah and Barak defeated Jabin, Sisera and the Canaanites in the Valley of Megiddo (v. 19). "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." The Lord God of heaven fought for and delivered his people from the hands of their enemies at Megiddo. That is the lesson taught in Judges 5.

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, though all those things appear to be inevitable. Armageddon 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, the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, the church and the world,righteousness and evil, truth and error, the wor- shippers of God and false religion. Whenever the saints 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 con- tinued throughout the ages, and shall be consummated at the glorious second advent of Christ (Rev. 19:11-21).

When Christ comes to judge and make war satan's opposition to him and his church shall cease forever. Satan's power 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! Armageddon will be the triumph and glory of Christ and his church!

Don Fortner