Armageddon.

1. Armageddon. • 16:16-21 Gathering of nations to a location. • 16:16 “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon”. • Use of Hebrew tongue signifies location as land of Israel. • “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.” (Zech.14:2, Joel 3:2). • Revival of Hebrew language at time of the end?

2. Compound word means - a heap of sheaves in a valley of judgment. • Many Scriptures speak of God’s threshing: “But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor”.(Micah 4:12).

3. WHERE? • Many conquerors:- • Sennacherib, • Nebuchadnezzar, • Established Headquarters on Mount Scopus overlooking Valley of Jehoshaphat. • Mount Scopus highest northern peak Mount of Olives strategically outside Jerusalem. View of Valley of Jehoshaphat from Mount Scopus.

4. Preparation For Attack. 8 “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee”. Ez 38.

5. What Nations to Attack? 1 ¶ “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”… Ez. 38.

6. Allies of Gog. 5 “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee”. Ezek 38.

8. The Battle of the Great Day. • “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle ...” (Zech.14:1) • It will be the Day when He will judge the world in righteousness through Christ. (Acts 17:31) • The wise will prepare in advance for this great time.

9. Armageddon – When? 11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, Ezek 38

10. Israel Before Armageddon. • “at rest” means,“to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed.” • Used as such alwayson the 41 occasions in which it occurs in the Hebrew Old Testament.

11. Israel At Rest? • Does such a condition of “rest” describe Israel at any stage since 1948 or before? • If not must describe future condition. • This very peace will induce the Northern – led attack. ”For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thess. 5)

12. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. • STEP 1 NATIONS ARE GATHERED TOGETHER. 14 “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty”. Rev 16. • STEP 2 JESUS TAKES HIS FOLLOWERS.15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”. Rev 16.

13. STEP 3 JESUS SENDS ELIJAH TO WARN ISRAEL.

14. STEP 4 JESUS AND FOLLOWERS INTERVENE. 17 ¶ And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.“ Rev 16.

16. Conclude that: “Armageddon” of Rev 16 & “Valley of Jehoshaphat” of Joel 3 Refer to same Event.

18. The Fury of Jahweh • 18 “And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. • For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;” • (Ezek 38)

19. “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away.” Dan 2:35

20. Armageddon – Parallel Accounts W h e r e ? W h o ? W h y ? Supernatural E f f e c t s O u t c o m e

21. Seventh Vial – Summary. • 16:17 ¶ “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done”. • Quoting from Ezekiel of same event and time - God’s victory against the invaders of Israel:- 8 ¶ “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken”. (Ezek 39)

22. Second Stage of Victory. • 14:18 And another angel … cried … to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. • Grape harvest comes after grain - wine production symbolic of false teaching. • Vine of the earth harvest - subsequent to Armageddon – eliminates false teachers and rebellion in Europe. • Read in conjunction with Section 39.

23. Fall of the Nations. • Symbolic and physical earthquakes achieve destruction of world orders - political, social and religious. • 18 “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great”. Rev 16.

24. 19 “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. • And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. • And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” Rev 16.