Title: War of Armageddon / Revelation 16:12-21
Contents
Armageddon War
Revelation 16:12-21 (91.1.20)
Last week seems to have been a week of suffocating tension due to the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War. Those who study the book of Revelation in recent times are excited. Because it is factually proven that history is proceeding as shown in the Book of Revelation. In particular, the war of Armageddon is supposed to take place when the day of Jesus Christ's second coming is near, and a war like the beginning of that war is now taking place in the Persian Gulf. Today, from that perspective, let's consider what the war of Armageddon is, and how it relates to the ongoing Persian Gulf War.
First, what is the plague of the seven bowls? (Revelation 16: 1-21)
In Revelation 16, the plagues of the seven bowls are described in detail.
When the bowls of these seven plagues are poured out on the earth, they signify the end of the world and are shown in the Bible as the Second Coming of the Lord. So, in Revelation 15:1, this calamity is called a “miracle” because it is difficult to understand with human knowledge, and the seven plagues are the last, and it is said, “With these the wrath of God will come to an end.”
Then let's take a closer look at the seven bowls of plague.
1. The first plague of the bowls (verse 2) ... An evil servant was born to those who received the mark of the beast and to those who worshiped its image. * The mark of the beast (Revelation 13:15-18 “666”)
2. The plague of the second bowl (verse 3) ... the sea will become like the blood of the dead.
3. The plague of the third bowl (v. 4) ... The rivers and springs of water became blood.
4. The fourth plague of bowls (v. 8) ... The sun was given power to burn people with fire.
5. The plague of the fifth bowl (verse 10) ... The kingdom of the beast is darkened.
6. The sixth bowl plague (verse 12) ... Armageddon 3333 War situation
7. The plague of the seventh bowl (v. 17) ... the consequences of the battle of Armageddon
Second, what is the war of Armageddon?
1. The War of Armageddon begins around the Euphrates River.
This is the place where the kings of ancient empires fought for supremacy and influenced the pattern of history of rise and fall. For example, this is where the great conquerors of the empire, such as Assyria, Babylon, and Persia, gathered their armies and played a bout. The confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers forms the present-day Persian Gulf. This is the place where these two rivers flow. As the river dried up, kings from the East gathered to prepare for war. (Today's multinational soldiers?)
2. Who is the protagonist of the Armageddon War? They are called three unclean spirits like frogs. Originally, frogs are interpreted as dirty animals that bring disaster.
The war of Armageddon will be fought through three unclean spirits like frogs: the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet. Here, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet symbolize those who have fallen into materialistic ideas. (materialist)
We called them the spirits of demons. Still, he does the migratory. As we humans exercise supernatural powers that were unimaginable in the past, we gather the kings of the whole world to wage war.
3. When the time for the battle of Armageddon comes, we must realize that it is the time when the Lord comes.
No one knows exactly when and when the Second Coming of the Lord will be.
Jesus said, “The day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). However, we can sense the time of the Lord's return through various signs.
That is why Jesus said, “Learn the parable of the fig tree” (Matthew 24:32). Just as a fig tree's branches become tender and put forth leaves, so you know that summer is near, so when you see all these things, you should know that the Son of Man is near the door. The present moment is the era of such signs.
The war of Armageddon begins in the region of the Euphrates River (now Iraq). However, when it comes to where the battlefield is really formed, it is Armageddon.
Armageddon is the name of an old town called Megiddo on the banks of the Kishon River in Israel. It is widely known as the battlefield, the battlefield of death. So, in Zechariah 12:11, we can see the prophecy prophesied, “In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning that was in Hadadrimon in the Valley of Megiddo.” But now, the Persian Gulf War started in Iraq, but strangely, I see that the battlefield is heading towards Israel. Iraqi President Hussein is trying to turn the fight into a religious war by engulfing Israel.
If that happens, this will make it clear that the War of Armageddon is about to begin, so the US will see Israel begging not to go into the war even though it is still under missile attack.
Third, what will be the outcome of the war of Armageddon?
The consequences of the seventh bowl will be seen as the plagues are poured into the air.
In the meantime, all of the six bowls' plagues were made on earth. However, the final bowl's calamity will come from heaven (air). And a loud voice comes from the temple throne, saying, “It is finished.” It is said that it is now over.
There are lightnings, voices, and thunders in heaven, and there is a great earthquake on the earth, and it is so great that no man has ever seen anything so great while on earth. And the great city would be divided into three parts, and the great city of Babylon would disappear without a trace. It was said that neither the mountains nor the islands would go anywhere. Babylon is now Baghdad in Iraq. After this calamity, great hail fell from heaven, and it was said to be a great hailstone weighing a talent. We can see that this is what scientists call the so-called cold wave after nuclear war.
The prophecy about the war on the Euphrates is also found in Revelation 9:13 and below. It was said that 1/3 of the army gathered in battle would be killed.
And a weapon with such powerful lethal power looked like a snake, and its power was in its mouth and tail, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out (Rev 9:17).
By this they harmed many people (Rev 9:19). This can be interpreted as explaining the power of missiles seen in modern warfare today.
Anyway, if the War of Armageddon happens, it will be the last disaster on earth and the war that will bring the end of history.
So, what should we do when we witness such a scene?
Jesus Himself spoke to us. (Rev 16:15) He said, "Behold, I am coming like a thief, and blessed is anyone who watches and keeps his clothes, and does not walk naked, and shows no shame."
This is a message to be awake and hold fast to the faith. And as a child of God, I understand that it is a message to show no shame and to keep the faith more reverently and sincerely. He showed us that it is the life of a saint who can welcome the Lord.
Watching the war that is now taking place in the Persian Gulf, we cannot help thinking about the War of Armageddon. We bless you in the name of the Lord that we do not tremble in anxiety and live “awakening, steadfast in the faith, strong and victorious like men”