Day 10 of the 24 Day Prophecy Study
Notes compiled by Steve McAtee and Marty Zide
It’s commonly called the battle of Armageddon, but, it’s actually several battles that take place during the second half of the tribulation period.
A. The Place of the Battles
The Hebrew word “har” means “mountain or hill”. Har-Megiddo means Mt. Megiddo and refers to a mountain and strategic mountain pass in Northern Israel. Armies that desire to move toward central Israel must come through this area. Likewise, armies that want to defend central Israel tend to make a stand here. The Greek transliteration of Har-Megiddo has come down into English as Armageddon.
Rev. 16:16 - And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
The place is very large and gives a lot of room for a battle to take place. Many Biblical and non-Biblical battles have taken place in the past near Mt. Me-giddo. Deborah and Barak, Judges 4-5; Jehu, 2 Kings 9:27; Josiah, 2 Kings 23:29-30, 2 Chron 35:22. The Crusaders, Napoleon, and even World War 1 took place near here.
B. Biblical Proof for the Campaign
Joel 3:1-2, 9-10, 12, 14-16 - For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 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. Proclaim this among the nations: prepare a war... Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears... Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat... The sun and moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness. The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble. But the Lord is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.
Zech. 12:9-10 - And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son...
Zech. 14:2-4 - For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished... Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley...
Rev. 16:12-14, 16 - 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. And I saw... three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
There are many other verses that can be sighted as proof of such an event.
C. The Location of the Battles
In Ezek. 38:9 & 16, which describes the campaign of Armageddon, it tells us that the battles will be like a cloud covering the land. This points to how extensive this is going to be.
Mount Meggido - Rev. 16:16 Rev. 16:16 - And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
The Valley of Jehoshaphat - Joel 3:2 &3:12 Joel 3:2 - I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Joel 3:12 - Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
Jerusalem - Zech. 14:2 Zech. 14:2-4 - For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished...
Edom - Isa. 63:1-2 Isa. 63:1-2 - Who is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah... Why is your apparel red, and your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
D. The Participants of the Battles
The world’s nations led by Antichrist - Ps. 2:1-2 Ps. 2:1-2 - Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed. The Biblical accounts of the Campaign of Armageddon emphasize the fact that all nations and peoples are coming together against Israel and against God. You can find this in Joel 3:2, Zech. 12:3, 14:2, Rev. 16:14 and 19:19.
Israel - Rev. 12:17 Rev. 12:17 - So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
The Lord Jesus - Rev. 17:14 Rev. 17:14 - These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
E. How It Will End and It’s Results
It will end when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth at His second coming. It is the fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream where he saw the stone cut without hands falling on the ten toes of the image. It is also at this time that Antichrist is destroyed. He along with the False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire. Antichrist’s armies will become prey for the birds to consume.
2 Thes. 2:8 - Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.
Rev. 17:19-21 - Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great. 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.
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
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