Notes of Faith October 7, 2024
The Final Battle
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…. Together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Revelation 16:14, 16
Napoleon Bonaparte is reported to have called the plain of Jezreel “the most natural battleground of the whole earth”—a place where “all the armies of the world could maneuver their forces.” This vast plain in central Israel spreads out from the base of Mount Megiddo. Mount in Hebrew is har—added to Hebrew megiddon it results in Armageddon, the site of the final battle when Christ returns to judge the nations and establish His Kingdom on earth.
Rev 19:11-21
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
17 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, 18 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."
19 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.
Doom of the Beast and False Prophet
20 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. 21 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.
This battle will occur at the end of the seven-year Tribulation when Christ returns to earth from heaven with the armies of His saints. Most of the nations of the world, deceived by the Antichrist, will array themselves to fight against Christ but will succumb to His judgment (Revelation 19:11-21). Following this victory over evil, Christ will inaugurate His thousand-year, righteous rule centered in Jerusalem.
Thank God today that a final battle is coming when righteousness will triumph over evil—and peace will prevail.
The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.
Corrie ten Boom
Israel is at war now with those who wish to annihilate the Jewish people. But God having chosen them for His purposes will not allow them to be destroyed. He will rescue them and turn their hearts to Him that they might be saved. They will go through a terrible testing period called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” in the book of Daniel, the seven year period also known as the Tribulation. They are experiencing persecution now but it will be worse during this seven year period. God will use this tense and disturbing time to declare Himself their Lord and Savior and many will come to Him and be saved…
Scripture assures them that all Israel will be saved. This means that the ones who say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” recognizing Jesus as their true Messiah will be saved and those who do not will be judged for their unbelief and will die, not entering the Promise Land and the Millennial Kingdom of God. There are many promises God gave to the Jewish people that will be fulfilled during this earthly kingdom. We could say that it begins with Jesus defeating the enemies of the Jews, but really they are enemies of the One True God!
Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!
Pastor Dale