premillennialism pt. 4: the battle of armageddon text: rev. 16:16
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
Text: Rev. 16:16
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Defining Premillennialism
Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
“Rapture”: Latin rapere in the Latin Vulgate for the
Greek word harpazo [har-pad'-zo] (G726: “To snatch, or catch away”) in I Thess. 4:17,
which isrendered by the phrase “caught up” in most
English Translations.
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
Intro
This lesson is focused on studying the Battle of Armageddon!
What do Premillennialists teach concerning it?
What do the Scriptures actually say?
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon According to Premillennialists
The word “Armageddon” (KJV, NKJ, ESV) appears only
one time in Rev. 16:16: It describes a great and decisive battle in which the Lord is
victorious over His enemies. (NAS: “Har-Magedon”) As much as some denominations preach and teach on this
subject, one would think that “Armageddon” occurs throughout the N.T.!
Rev. 16:16 (NKJ)16. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
After the rapture of the saints, Israel will turn to God
during the 7 year Tribulation: The 144,000 (Rev. 7:4; 14:1, 3) saved will lead mankind to Christ. The “Anti-Christ” will make war against these believers. Christ will return, the Battle of Armageddon will be fought and
then Christ will reign 1,000 years on earth from Jerusalem
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon According to Premillennialists
Here is how the Battle of Armageddon will occur… Four world powers will enter the conflict. They are:
Europe: The Anti-Christ will rule from a “United Europe” (Dan. 2:44; 7:7-8).
The Russian Confederacy: “Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” (Ezek. 38:1-3; Rev. 20:8).
“King of the South” = Egypt (Dan. 11:40)
East = A great Eastern Power (Dan. 11:44): Maybe China?
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon According to PremillennialistsHere is how the Battle of Armageddon will occur… The fight…
Egypt will initiate the conflict against Israel
At the same time, Russia will invade the Middle East
After being successful Russia will hear rumors of China and N. Africa mobilizing, and will return to Israel (Megiddo)
Russia will be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust, and Europe (the Anti-Christ) will swoop in and engage the Middle Eastern forces at Megiddo
At this point Christ will return and end the conflict, and initiate peace!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon According to Premillennialists
Premillennialists have always seen “the Battle ofArmageddon” as imminent: In 1924 (after WW1), Edward Biederwolf wrote,
“In keeping with the interpretation which makes the word descriptive of a characteristic (great slaughter) rather than a
definite place, there are those who think the last world war just closed, was indeed the very battle of Har-Magedon, and that
therefore, as John Robertson says, ‘The Second Advent of our Lord is now by Prophetical schedule due, and may at the next
tick of the watch in your pocket be seen in the sky.’” (The Millennium Bible, pgs. 662-663)
For all of these rather specific details concerning this
great battle, there is no mention of it by the N.T. writers!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
What is “Armageddon?”“Armageddon” (the hill or city of Megiddo; Rev. 16:
16): Megiddo was situated on the main road that linked Egypt and Syria Overlooking the Valley of
Jezreel, Megiddo was one of the most strategic cities in Palestine. All major traffic through northern Palestine traveled past Megiddo, making it a strategic military strong-hold!
Also called the “Plain of Megiddo” it was famous for two great victories: Barak & Deborah over the
Canaanites (Judges 5:19) Gideon over the Midianites
(Judges 7) Also famous for two great disasters: Deaths of Saul (I Sam. 31:1-3) and
Josiah (II Chr. 35:22-24) Place of great mourning (Zech.
12:11)
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
What is “Armageddon?”
Armageddon may very well be
used symbolically for a great battlefield rather than a
geographical location Like “Waterloo” (Napoleon’s defeat, 1815) has come to be used to describe a great defeat!
Here “Armageddon” could refer to a great victory or a defeat, or a lament!
Its significance is more symbolical
than literal, and is designed toshow the importance
of this battle!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The “Battle of Armageddon” & Literal Interpretation
Premillennialists insist that the biblical prophecies must
be interpreted literallyTheir insistence that prophecy be interpreted
literally poses several problems, and they are not even
consistentwith their applications: Jn. 10:9: Was Jesus literally a door? I Cor. 11:24-25: Are the bread & fruit of the vine literally Christ’s
blood? Mal. 4:5-6: Would Elijah literally rise from the dead to prophesy? Ezek. 37:24-26: Will David literally rise from the dead to rule as
king? Rev. 16: Battle of Armageddon: River Euphrates will dry up, the
generals will be frogs (spirits of frogs), and no battle actually take place! Armies gathered but were destroyed by God with physical disasters.
Rev. 19: Will Jesus ride a literal horse, and have literal eyes of fire, and a sword protruding from His mouth?
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The “Battle of Armageddon” & Literal Interpretation
They don’t follow their own rules for interpretation…
Rev. 9:1717. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders
had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
“A human army with weapons and gas masks…, tanks equipped with flame-throwers…, or nerve gas or some biological warfare”
(Salem Kirban, Revelation Visualized, pgs. 204, 207)
“…This is strikingly similar to the phenomena associated with thermonuclear warfare. Many Bible expositors believe this is an
accurate 1st-century description of a 20th century thermonuclear war” (Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 71)
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The “Battle of Armageddon” & Literal Interpretation
Ezek. 37, 38, 39: They teach these chapters refer to the
invasion of Palestine by Russia in the time frame leading
up to the Battle of Armageddon The literal interpretation says then Russia (Gog & Magog) will
attack with swords, shields, helmets, horses, bucklers, bows, arrows, hand staves, and spears.
Otis Gatewood asked of Hal Lindsey’s assertion (The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 59-71),
“Can’t you just see Russia, who is now equipped with all the latest jets, atomic bombs, tanks, etc., returning to the use of swords, hand staves, spears, etc., when they invade Israel? How long would they
last, with such weapons, against Israel’s modern weaponry?” (Book Review of The Late Great Planet Earth, p.5)
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The “Battle of Armageddon” & Literal Interpretation
The insistence on literalism leads to many problems when
it comes to understanding the Scriptures Ignoring the plain teaching of God – Heb. 1:1-2: God spoke in “various ways” (NKJ). Not all that God spoke was intended to be taken literally (Jn.
8:12; 9:5: Was Jesus a literal light?) Ignoring the N.T. declaration of prophecy fulfillment – Ps. 2
(Fulfilled in Acts 13:33); Ps. 132:11 (Fulfilled in Acts 2:30-33). These & many other passages are taught to be referring to
end times! Lk. 24:44 (All prophecies concerning Jesus from O.T. have been fulfilled!)
44. Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Insisting on literal interpretation leads to many problems
in understanding God’s word!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon in Revelation
The church is spiritual and has spiritual work to perform
(Eph. 1:22, 23; I Tim. 3:15)
Many errors have been made because a physical
Meaning was placed on spiritual principles and
teachings (Jn. 3:1-9: Nicodemus had this problem
too)
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon in Revelation
The warfare in which the Christian is to engage in is
spiritual, not physical: Jesus is presented as the Commander in Chief (II Tim. 2:3, 4). The required weaponry of spiritual warfare is spiritual in nature
rather than physical (Eph. 6:10-17). Paul addresses the issue of physical warfare – II Cor. 10:4: “For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood…” (Also Eph. 6:12)
The notion that Christianity is spread or
defended by means of physical force is a
doctrine that is totally rejected by Scripture!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon in Revelation
The book of Revelation was written to reassure Christians
who were facing persecutions: To reveal what must shortly take place... Stated at the beginning
of the book – Rev. 1:1, 3; and stated at the end of the book – Rev. 22:6, 10.
These persecutions could not destroy Christianity from the face of the world!
In symbolic language John described the conflict taking place between Christ and Satan.
In this recorded conflict, Satan gathered his armies but was defeated by Christ – God is/was victorious! The theme is Good wins over Evil.
Language used says, The great city of Babylon was decimated (16:17-18:24), The beast and false prophet were destroyed (19:17-21), the Great Dragon was defeated (20:7-10), the victory belongs to Christ & His saints (19:7-16).
The “Battle of Armageddon” is symbolic language used to
assure saints that God would ultimately triumph over Satan!
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Premillennialism Pt. 4: The Battle Of Armageddon
Conclusion The “Battle of Armageddon” is not meant to be
understood as teaching some material cataclysmic world
battle in which Christians and the wicked will come to
physical blows and the Christians kill the wicked (Jn. 18:36; II Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:12)
The spiritual lesson is that
the righteous led by Jesus
their Leader in spiritual conflict will ultimately
andcompletely overcome!
II Thess. 1:6-10
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“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)
Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)
Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.
10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)