I. Introduction.

I. Introduction.

A. The Scriptures:
1. Revelation 16:12-16
2. Revelation 9:13; Revelation 9:16; Revelation 9:18
3. Joel 3:2-3; Joel 3:2; Joel 3:9-14
4. Revelation 14:14-20
5. Revelation 19:19-21
This battle takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period, prior to the Judgment of the Nations and the establishment of Christ’s earthly kingdom.
As it is with many prophecies given, the prophets only prophesied “in part.” One prophet would supplement the other. In other words, what was partially revealed to one prophet was given added revelation to another. As we shall see, Joel, Zechariah, and the Apostle John all contribute information concerning this Battle of Armageddon
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Revelation 16:12)
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Revelation 16:13)
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. (Revelation 16:14)
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:12-16)
B. Revelation 16:12. The Drying-Up of the River Euphrates.
Clear back in Newsweek, February 11, 1974, they ran an article stating “rapid progress is being made on the High Euphrates Dam, which is being built with Soviet aid.” Its purpose was for irrigating the land between the Tigris and Euphrates River with the anticipation of being able to feed some one billion people. This very well could be the means of drying up the river, making it possible for the “kings of the east” and their armies to cross over.
C. “Kings of the East.”
This would include China, Japan, India, and etc. In Revelation 9:16; Revelation 9:18 we find part of a wave of truth that extends clear to the end of the Tribulation Period, in reference to this great war of Armageddon.
“And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” (Revelation 9:16
“By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:18)
This is a two-hundred million man army, headed up by the Unholy Trinity: the Dragon (Satan), the Beast (Antichrist), and the False Prophet (Anti-Spirit).
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” (Revelation 16:13)
The Unholy Trinity was referenced to frogs; because some people at that time, who considered others to be “quacks,” labeled them as “frogs,” and metaphorically associated with serpents (i.e., evil); just as some label people today.
For example:
a. A man who is a woman-chaser is called a “wolf.”
b. A treacherous man – “a snake in the grass.”
c. A grouchy man – “a bear.”
d. A woman who quietly slips around – “catty.”
e. A shrewd business man – “foxy.”
f. A promiscuous woman – “a birdie”
g. A coward – “chicken.”
h. A dull person – “an ox.”
i. A stubborn person – “a mule.”
In Revelation 6:8, you will recall that one-fourth of the population will have died in the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period, besides the armies of Russia, Turkey, Germany, Iran, Libya, and Ethiopia. Excluding Russia and her allies, many were Christians.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10)
D. Joel 3:2-3 : Location of the Battle of Armageddon.
“I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of JEHOSHAPHAT, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.” (Joel 3:2-3)
“Jehoshaphat” means “Jehovah Judgeth.” In Revelation 16:16, the location is named “Armageddon.”
“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:16)
The Greek is “ar-ma-ged-on” with English spelling “Armageddon. This Greek word is from the Hebrew for “Mount Megiddo (Har-Megiddon).” The Valley of Jezreel and the Plain of Esdraelon lie at the foot of Mt. Megiddo, where many battles have been fought in the past. The city of Megiddo was important as it guarded one of the main entrances to the valley.
E. Joel 3:2; Joel 3:9-14 : God Invites the Ungodly To Their Battle of Death.
“I will also GATHER ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: (Joel 3:9)
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. (Joel 3:10)
Assemble yourselves, and come, ALL YE HEATHEN, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. (Joel 3:11)
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. (Joel 3:12)
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. (v.13)
MULTITUDES, MULTITUDES in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:9-14)
In Joel 3:2, the word “plead” is very misleading. We think in our English as begging, or pleading with someone to do something we want them to do; or to stop them from doing something they intended to do, etc. The Hebrew for “plead” is “shaphat,” a prime root, and means: “to pronounce sentence against; avenge; condemn; and execute judgment.” There is no pleading here, as judgment has already been pronounced and execution and victory will be immediate.
In Verses 9 to 11, the Lord invites his enemies from all nations to prepare and meet him at the designated location. The world federation of nations will know from the Word of God that Christ is coming back to set His Kingdom up for a 1,000 years. Satan is not going to allow this to happen. This is his world to rule, claiming to be the true God, as he will address the world when he takes over the Jewish Temple. Here is the record in 2 Thessalonians 2:4,
“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Now, notice in Joel 3:12, the word “judge.” It is from the same Hebrew word, “shaphat,” as the word “plead” in Joel 3:2. In other words, judgment has already been determined and their execution is forthcoming.
Joel 3:14 reveals that there will be many more from all over the world; in addition to the “kings of the east” in Revelation 16:12.
E. Revelation 14:14-20 : At Armageddon, Death Is Instantaneous for Christ’s Enemies.
“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:14)
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15)
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:16)
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:17)
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry 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. (Revelation 14:18)
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (v.19)
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” (Revelation 14:14-20)
This reveals the excitement of the heavenly angels who can hardly contain themselves until the wrath of Christ is rendered upon the ungodly. Revelation 14:20 reveals that death is so immediate that their blood does not even have time to coagulate. Their blood will rise from the ground to the horses’ bridles for a length of approximately 160 miles, or more. The distance is given at 1,600 furlongs. Five furlongs was considered a Sabbath-day’s journey; about one-half a mile, or a little longer. Therefore, ten furlongs would equal one mile. 1,600 furlongs would equal approximately 160 miles, or a little more. It is a thrill to Christians to see in detail the future, pre-described, before it ever happens! It certainly fulfills what the Holy Spirit had Isaiah write in Isaiah 42:8-9,
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:8-9)
Here is a question that I have rarely been asked; but, nevertheless, I believe is a very good question. It is as follows. Since Christ kills these millions of men instantly and they just fall down dead, there would be no way the blood would get out of their bodies to cover the 160 miles to the depth of the horses’ bridles. Good question, is it not? I believe Zechariah has the answer.
In studying the book of Zechariah, you will find it has myriads of future prophecies. In Zechariah 12, 13, 14, there are many prophecies concerning the Tribulation Period and the things that take place therein; along with the Millennium. The answer lies in Zechariah 14:12,
“And this shall be the PLAGUE wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.”
The word “PLAGUE” is the Hebrew “MAGGEPHAH,” and means “defeat by pestilence, a slaughter, a stroke, or hail, as described in Revelation 16:21. The Greek for “PLAGUE” has the same meaning as the Hebrew. Therefore, the type of defeat is usually described in the context.
At Armageddon, millions of men cover this great valley to defeat Christ; but, die in a moment of time! As their flesh falls from their bodies, blood from their arteries and veins will be emptied completely for the Earth to inherit. In other words, the Lord will have just slaughtered millions of His enemies by one stroke out of the breath of His mouth. Now, one may understand why the Holy Spirit inspired the writers to use a sword in illustrating the power of God’s Word.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when the atomic bomb was dropped, may project a faint picture of what will take place at the Battle of Armageddon.
F. Revelation 19:19-21. Armageddon, the Beast, and the False Prophet
Revelation 19 also mentions Armageddon; along with the Beast (Antichrist), and the False Prophet.
“And I saw the beast, and the KINGS OF THE EARTH, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:21)
Here we find that the Beast and the False Prophet, two of the Unholy Trinity, were not killed as those at Armageddon. They were cast ALIVE into the eternal Lake of Fire burning with brimstone.
1. Satan is chained for 1,000 literal years during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (Revelation 20:1)
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3)