There is a time of great tribulation to come upon the Earth for seven years which will be ended by the return of Jesus Christ and the final campaign of Armageddon. There will be many millions killed in this war as God pours out his wrath.

1 – It will be inaugurated by the Lord (vs. 16)

He gathered them”. It is God Himself who instigates this battle. When Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil, it was God who led him there. The Devil is still battling Jesus in this battle of Armageddon. The Devil fights Jesus Christ under the delusion that He can somehow win!

• The place of the battle – Armageddon. It is a great open plain. Many battles have been fought there. Gideon won a battle here.
• The participants of the battle – “Them”. It is the armies of the world. They come from around the earth. It is the greatest gathering of armies of all time.
• The purpose of the battle – The human standpoint is to fight against Israel. Israel is only a small strip of land, yet it is a tinderbox. They cannot find peace there. The Antichrist will bring a false peace. There is a great hatred of Israel in the world. God is still blessing Israel and is not finished with them. The ancient nations that battled Israel are no more. From God’s standpoint it is an outpouring of his wrath upon those who oppose Jesus. This world is going to know who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

2 – It will be invaded by the Lord (Revelation 19:11-21)

Here come the Lord Jesus and his armies! See Revelation 19:11. He has come to judge and make war.

• His attire (Revelation 19:12-13) – He is not like the Jesus in the gospels. Jesus is wearing many crowns and these picture every aspect of the glory of Jesus Christ. In the gospels Jesus comes to convict, in Revelation he comes to condemn. In the gospels his enemies applauded, in Revelation his enemies appeal. In the gospels we see Jesus is misery, in Revelation we see him in majesty. In the gospels he is in grief, in Revelation he is in glory. In the gospels we see him with a cross, but in Revelation we see him with crowns. In the gospels he is called a criminal, but in Revelation he is called a conqueror. In the gospels we see his pain; in Revelation we see his power. In the gospels he comes for redemption, in Revelation he comes for retribution. He comes to judge and make war.
• His army (vs. 14) – This army consists of God’s saints. The armies of Heaven will be there with their King. This army has white and clean linen. This army does not have to fight.
• His authority (vs. 11) – God will be the one who does the fighting.
• His annihilation (vs. 15-21) – Out of God’s mouth comes a sharp sword to smite the nations. God won’t need to fire a shoot. It just takes a word from God to destroy the armies of men who oppose him. There will be many millions killed when God speaks. The fowls of the air will come to feast on the bodies. It was the word of the Lord that brought creation into being. It is the word of the Lord that will destroy those who oppose him. Jesus Christ will then be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Categories: Revelation