1.     I typed the word “Armageddon” in my Google search engine and they listed over 16,000,000 web sites!

2.     Unfortunately, most of these web sites are useless and unscriptural.

3.     Here is a definition from a secular web site: “Armageddon is a climactic battle between good and evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the NT, or more generally, an apocalyptic catastrophe” (Wikipedia).

4.     The Battle Of Armageddon is certainly more than “a climactic battle between good and evil.”  And it is far more than “an apocalyptic catastrophe.”

I. ARMAGEDDON IS A PLACE (REV. 16:16).

II. ARMAGEDDON IS A BATTLE (REV. 19:19)

III. ARMAGEDDON IS GOD’S JUDGMENT (REV. 19:17-21).

I. ARMAGEDDON IS A PLACE (16:16).

1.     Nowadays most people associate Armageddon with some sort of nuclear holocaust.  The word has come to symbolize WWIII or some terrible “apocalyptic catastrophe” (see Wikipedia definition).

2.     But Armageddon is a literal place.   Geographically, it refers to the Mount of Megiddo overlooking the plain of Megiddo.  It also includes the plain of Esdraelon. 

3.     Armageddon is the northern gateway to Palestine, and is at the crossroads of three continents – Asia, Africa, and Europe.

4.     The area of Armageddon is a perfect battlefield.  In fact, the great Napoleon called the plain of Megiddo the world’s greatest natural battlefield.  Napoleon stood at Megiddo and said there was sufficient room there for the armies of the world to maneuver.

5.     Many great battles have been fought on this plain.  Back in the days of Deborah and Barak, we are told in Judges 5:19, “The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo.”

6.     King Saul died on this famous battlefield, and so did good King Josiah.

7.     It should be pointed out that the battle of Armageddon will not be limited to the Megiddo area.  Zechariah 14 tells us that the city of Jerusalem will be attacked.   Therefore, it is better to say that Armageddon will be the central point of the conflict.

8.     Revelation 14:20 tells us that the battle area will cover “a thousand and six hundred furlongs,” i.e., an area covering nearly 200 miles.

II. ARMAGEDDON IS A BATTLE (16:14; 19:19).

1.     Let me say that it is more than a battle.  In fact, it is more like a war.  The same Greek word translated as “battle” in Revelation 16:14 is often translated as “war.”

2.     Years ago, I remember hearing a preacher refer to this as a military campaign because it is really a series of military skirmishes, climaxing at Armageddon (cf. Daniel 11:40-45).

3.     In fact, many Bible teachers, such as Dwight Pentecost, prefer the word “campaign” – a campaign which consummates at Armageddon.

4.     There will be four major coalitions assembled at Armageddon.  The antichrist (the “beast”) will head up the Western coalition (Europe).  The Northern confederacy will be headed up by Russia (Ezekiel 38 & 39).  The Southern forces will be a Muslim alliance led by Egypt (Dan. 11:40-43). 

5.     The “kings of the east” (Rev. 16:12) refers to China (cf. Dan. 11:44).

6.     The great armies of the world will fight against Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1, 2).  Jerusalem is the key to Bible prophecy (Zech. 12:2, 3).

7.     The campaign of Armageddon will extend to the valley of Jehoshaphat on the east.  The Lord says in Joel 3:2, “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat.”

8.     And then in Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”

9.     The armies of the world will all be assembled in this valley of decision, and they will eventually unite around their common enemy, the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rev. 19:19; Zech. 14:3, 4).

10. Jesus is coming soon.  Are you ready?  The second coming of Christ will be a surprise for most people – “like a thief in the night” (16:15).

11. The second coming of Christ will be like as a thief in the night for those who are not watching (Rev. 16:15).  This is taught over and over again in the Bible.

12. Our Lord said in Matthew 24:43, “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.”

13. And our Lord said in Revelation 3:3, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

14. The apostle Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:2, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”  Paul goes on to say in verse 6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

15. Second Peter 3:10 says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.”

16. These Scriptures teach us that those of us who are saved should be watching.  For those not watching, our Lord’s return will be totally unexpected.  Furthermore, they teach us that His return will result in loss and shame for those who are not ready (Rev. 16:15).

17. Are you ready?

III. ARMAGEDDON IS GOD’S JUDGMENT (19:17-21).

1.     Worldly sinners do not like the word “judgment.”  Back in 1935, William Newell wrote these words, “An evil and adulterous generation today hates the thought of judgment.  Sin is sweet to them, therefore is the sword of Jehovah bitter.  Like King Agag, its prophets and preachers simper to their scripture-ignorant hearers: ‘Surely the bitterness of death is past’ (I Samuel 15:32).  But the next verse says, ‘And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.’ 

2.     But while wicked sinners and spineless preachers want to ignore the judgment of God; Bible-believing Christians sincerely want to know what the Bible has to say about the Battle of Armageddon.

3.     Notice in Revelation 16:16 that God (“He”) is the one who will assemble all of the kings of the earth at Armageddon.

4.     And God will use demons to do it (Rev. 16:13, 14).  The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are followed by “three unclean spirits” who go forth to persuade and to deceive all the proud and deluded kings of the earth to “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (16:14).  This will be the day of God’s judgment upon these wicked, ungodly world rulers.

5.     The Bible refers to these demons as “seducing spirits” and “unclean spirits.”   “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles” (16:14).   Many lost souls are deceived by these seducing spirits, and so shall it be at Armageddon.

6.     God says in Zechariah 14:2, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.”   God will gather these haughty rulers and their generals together for judgment and He will use these devils to do it (cf. the prophet Micaiah’s warning in I Kings 22:19-23).

7.     Second Thessalonians 2:11 says, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

8.     Remember this: it is not just the antichrist that is deceived.  And it is not just the great kings of the earth and their captains and mighty men who are deceived.  It is every lost sinner who is deceived (cf. Rev. 13:3, 4).   Multitudes are deceived today (cf. Matt. 24:3-5).

9.     The great expositor Joseph Seiss wrote, “We may wonder how rational men could be carried with one impulse into an attempt so daring and so absurd; but when people put the truth from them, and submit themselves to the Devil’s lead, what is there of delusion and absurdity into which they are not liable to be carried?  How many among us comfort and assure themselves in their selfishness and sins with the belief that either there is no God, or that He is too good and merciful to fulfill His threatenings upon transgressors?  To this there needs to be added only one step more, to defy His judgments, and with that goes pledge of battle and declaration of war with His Omnipotence.  And the final outcome of this world’s wisdom, unbelief, and repudiation of the rule and government of Jesus Christ, is the assembly of all the kings and armies, and captains of thousands, and mighty men, and men of all ranks and classes, upon the hills and valleys of Palestine, from Idumea to Esdraelon, equipped, resolved, eager, and confident of success, to meet the Son of God and His army in hostile collision, to decide by dreadful battle whether they or He shall have the sovereignty in the earth.  Every one that denies Christ, is on the way to defy Christ, and to take up arms for the Usurper to conquer Christ” (The Apocalypse).

10. Look at what Revelation 19:17 calls “the supper of the great God.”  God is not seated at the table, but it is His supper nevertheless.

11. All of the buzzards and vultures and ravens and “fowls that fly” are invited to eat the flesh of all the Christ-haters.

12. Note the repetition of the word “flesh” (19:18; 21b).   Romans 8:8 says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

13. These wicked Christ-haters walk in the flesh.  They live after the flesh. They do mind the things of the flesh.

14. They fulfil the lust and the desires of the flesh. Their lives are controlled by the works of the flesh – adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, etc.

15. They sowed to the flesh and now at Armageddon their flesh will be devoured by ravenous birds (Rev. 19:18).  These scavengers will eat until they are full (19:21).

16. There are two great suppers mentioned in Revelation 19. It is very sad that most people are not interested in attending “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (19:7-9).  

17. What a horrible judgment is in store for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

CONCLUSION:

1.     There is an old saying, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”  History tells us that Napoleon asked one of his generals for advice, and he was told, “Man proposes but God disposes.”  Napoleon, in his arrogance, replied, “No, Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes.”  They say this conversation took place right before the battle of Waterloo.

2.     God must have looked down from heaven and laughed at proud little Napoleon, just as He will laugh at all of the world’s great and mighty rulers assembled together on the plain of Megiddo.

3.     Psalm 2 says, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?   The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.   Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.”

4.     The Lord is coming soon.  Are you ready?