The
period beginning with Armageddon and concluding with the opening of the
millennium is one of the fascinating sections of prophecy that is full of
important
details
that describe the end-time events. Central in these events is the second
coming, but important events lead up to and follow it that are essential
to
understanding the rapid changes in the days to come.
As
the book of Revelation reveals, there will be an extensive time of catastrophic
events between the rapture and Armageddon. This is described in Revelation
6:1-16:12.
As the seal judgments follow one after another in Revelation 6:1-17, a
panoramic, prophetic picture is provided for this whole period that has
often
been described as a period of seven years (based on Daniel 9:27), though the
Scripture itself seems to concentrate on the great tribulation, which
is
the last three-and-a-half years. The first seal broken indicates a world
conqueror. The Antichrist, "the beast coming out of the sea"
(Revelation 13:
1),
conquers the world three-and-a-half years before the second coming (13:5). Also
in the fourth seal (6:7,8), a fourth of the earth is destroyed, which
would
clearly indicate that the great tribulation is underway. The Scriptures state
specifically in connection with the unsaved world that "the great day
of
their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation 6:17).
The
opening of the seventh seal in Revelation 8:1 introduces a second series of
sevens, described as trumpets. These, generally speaking, will destroy a
third
of the earth. Particularly catastrophic is the sixth trumpet, which declares
that a third of the earth will be killed (9:15). When the seventh seal
sounds
(11:15), it introduces the climactic bowl judgments described in Revelation
16:1-21. While similar to the trumpet judgments, these instruments of
divine
judgment cover the whole earth and lead up to Armageddon as the nations of the
world rebel against the world ruler.
The
term Armageddon, which appears in Revelation 16:16, is the Aramaic translation
of the Mountain of Megiddo located in the northern part of the plain
of
Esdraelom, later called the plain of Jezreel, and a place frequently mentioned
in the Old Testament as important to military events (see Joshua 17:16;
Judges
4:7; 5:21; 1 Samuel 31:1-3; 1 Kings 18:40; 2 Kings 9:27; 23:30; 2 Chronicles
35:20-24; Zechariah 12:11). Most expositors recognize that Armageddon
is
the Aramaic form of the Old Testament Megiddo.
Megiddo
is designated the Tell El Mutesellim in the Plain of Esdraelom. At one time it
was a city with massive fortifications and an important center for
the
Canaanites until Israel took it over about 1100 B.C. It was one of the chariot
towns of Solomon (1 Kings 9:15; see also 10:26-29). At one time it included
huge
stables for horses, a governor's palace and a complicated water system. In
modern times it has been subject to many excavations to uncover the historic
past.
It is important in prophecy as the central marshaling point for the great
armies that participate in Armageddon, the final war leading up to the
second
coming of Christ. From the mountain itself, which is not a high mountain, the
Mediterranean can be seen to the west and the Valley of the Plain
of
Esdraelom stretches out some 20 miles to the east and opens up into several
other important valleys. This is where millions of people will be centered
in
the great war before the second coming, though the armies are actually 200
miles north and south over the whole land of Israel and stretching out all
the
way east to the Euphrates River. Revelation 16 mentions Armageddon as the
important center for the great battle that follows the sixth bowl of the
wrath
of God, which permits the kings of the east to cross the Euphrates and descend
upon Israel for the final battle.
A
strange paradox exists in the situation. Revelation 16:13,14 describes demons
as three unclean spirits like frogs that come out of the mouth of the dragon,
the
beast and the false prophet, enticing the kings of the world to gather for the
battle which is called "the battle of the great day of God Almighty."
Less
than three years before, the devil had deceived the world into accepting the
Antichrist as the world ruler (13:7). Under those circumstances, if the
devil
had united the world under the world dictator, why does he now encourage the
nations to rebel against him? The answer is found in subsequent Scriptures
which
indicate the satanic purpose to gather all the armies of the world together in
view of the fact that at the second coming the army of heaven would
descend
with Christ to take charge of the earth. Satan wanted all the armies available
to fight the army from heaven. Ultimately, this proves to be a complete
failure.
When Christ comes He destroys the armies with a word (19:15), and no battle
ever takes place between the army of heaven and the armies of earth.
The
Old Testament mentions Megiddo often but principally in connection with the
death of Josiah, the king who attempted to oppose the king of Egypt (2 Kings
23:29,30;
2 Chronicles 35:20-24). The extent of the future conflict at Armageddon is made
clear by the fact that 200 million soldiers alone crossed the
Euphrates
River from the east adding to the millions already there (see Revelation 9:16).
It is by all odds the greatest war of all history. Because such
an
army seems impossible, some people believe they are actually demons, though
there is no proof for that interpretation. The Orient with more than one
billion
people in population could provide such an army.
Though
it is common for Bible teachers of prophecy to picture this war as one of
nuclear character, most of the evidence points to traditional warfare with
the
armies sweeping north and south across Israel (see Daniel 11:40- 45). Zechariah
14 pictures house-to-house warfare, which is not compatible with nuclear
war.
The king of the south, namely the African forces, opposes the king of the
north, who apparently is the Antichrist (and includes all the military power
of
Europe and the former Soviet states). But the battle is not resolved until the
day of Christ's second coming.
Preceding
the second coming are a number of other world events. Revelation 17 chronologically
precedes the events of Revelation 16 and pictures the world
church
as a harlot astride a scarlet-colored beast. The beast is the ten-nation group
led by the Antichrist, and the harlot is the world church movement-devoid
of
all true Christians and guilty of putting genuine Christians to death
(Revelation 17:3-6). Revelation 17 pictures her rise to fame and power and at
the
same time mentions her ultimate destruction by the ten kings under the
Antichrist, who are declared in Revelation 17:16 to hate her. The ten kings
will
destroy her and burn her with fire, the purpose being to clear the deck
entirely so that the final form of world religion in the great tribulation
can
be the worship of Satan and the worship of the Antichrist.
Also
in the period leading up to Armageddon, and somewhat simultaneous with it, is
the destruction of Babylon. Some identify Babylon with Rome and the city
of
Rome but obviously Babylon has another historic location. In Revelation 18 it
is described as a great commercial city, which it is not now. Though there
is
dispute as to its actual part in the end times, it seems that Babylon or the
site of ancient Babylon could be the capital of the final world government
that
has been transformed into a commercial city. Many prophecies, however, have
held that Babylon would be ultimately destroyed just prior to the second
coming
and that it will never be inhabited again. Though the prophetic picture is
somewhat complicated by the predicted attacks on Babylon already fulfilled
when
the future is declared in Isaiah 13:20 (for instance, "she will never be
inhabited or lived in through all generations"), it goes on to speak how
it
would be a waste without population (Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 50:2,3,39-46; 51:37-48).
This has never happened in history and indicates the necessity
of
this ultimate destruction just before the second coming. Jeremiah 50:1-51:8
provides a complete picture of this future destruction and ultimate desolation
of
the city.
While
the battle of the great day of God Almighty is under way (Revelation 16:12-16),
the final bowl of wrath is poured out, consisting of a gigantic earthquake
that
destroys all the cities of the world except for Israel (Revelation 16:17-21).
Mountains and islands disappear, and the earth will be pelted with huge
supernatural
hailstones weighing 100 pounds each. It is a final act of terrible destruction
on the earth with a great loss of life and property that just
precedes
the second coming of Christ.
According
to Revelation 19:1-10, barely preceding the account of the second coming the
announcement is made concerning the wedding feast of the Lamb. Many
expositors
feel that this is accomplished in heaven after the rapture, but its location
just before the second coming announces the wedding supper in connection
with
the second coming of Christ. This may indicate that it will be actually
celebrated after the second coming in the millennial kingdom.
It
will probably not be a literal banquet but a time of rejoicing for the people
of God in the glory of God's grace and salvation.
Christ
Comes Bringing Angels and Saints (Revelation 19:11-21)
The
second coming of Christ is mentioned frequently in the Old and New Testaments'
and many passages in the New Testament. The many passages devoted to
this
subject indicate how important it is. As the four gospels portray Christ in His
first coming, so the book of Revelation portrays events before and
after
the future second coming of Christ. In Revelation 19:11-16, He is described as
coming on a white horse, a symbol of victory, to judge the world;
He
is followed by the armies of heaven. He has the power to strike down the
nations (verse 15), and the prediction is He will rule "with an iron
scepter."
His
coming will express the wrath of God against wickedness in the human situation.
It is clear that the heavens will be ablaze with the glory of God accompanied
as
He is by millions of holy angels and saints, who are moving from heaven to the
Mount of Olives in preparation for the millennial kingdom. The descent
will
not be a rapid event but will undoubtedly take 24 hours so the earth can turn,
permitting everyone to see the glory of Christ in the heavens. Satan
and
the unsaved alike will realize that this is the second coming of Christ, but it
is too late for those who are not ready for His second coming.
One
of the first acts following the second coming is the destruction of the armies
who will forget their differences and unite to fight the army from heaven.
This
is described in graphic terms in Revelation 19:17-19 and is confirmed in verse
21 in the statement that all the wicked are killed on this occasion.
Christ
captures the world ruler, the Antichrist (described as the beast), and his
assistant (described as the false prophet) and casts them into the "fiery
lake
of burning sulfur" (Revelation 19:19,20). This lake was previously
described as the place for the ultimate end of the satanic world (Matthew
25:41-44).
While
all the wicked who have died are in Hades, up to this point the lake of fire
has not been occupied; the beast and the false prophet are the first
occupants.
After
the second coming a series of prophetic events will follow preparing the world
for a future millennial kingdom. First of all, in Revelation 20:1-3
it
is prophesied that Satan will be bound, rendered inactive and unable to deceive
the nations in the future millennium. Amillennarians attempt to make
this
event fulfilled in the first coming of Christ under a theory of recapitulation.
At chapter 20 they believe the scene refers back to the first coming,
but
there is no evidence supporting the prophecies-and these prophecies are not
fulfilled in the present age. As is very obvious in our present situation,
Satan
is not bound now, unable to deceive the world. Satan, in fact, is described in
1 Peter 5:8 as "a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Christians
are
exhorted to resist him because he is still active (1 Peter 5:9). Many other New
Testament Scriptures indicate that Satan is always limited by God,
as
illustrated in Job, and is unable to go beyond God's permissive will.
Nevertheless, Satan is very active in the present age and will continue to be
so
until the future millennial kingdom when he will be bound. He will be cast out
of heaven three-and-one-half years before the second coming (Revelation
12:7-9).
Amillennarians
also oppose the important event of the resurrection of the martyred dead
described in Revelation 20:4-6. These martyred dead are described
as
those who "had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received
his mark on their foreheads or their hands" (Revelation 20:4). This took
place
only
two or three years before the second coming of Christ in the great tribulation
as the Scripture testifies in verse 4: "[They were] beheaded because
of
their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God." They now are
resurrected for the purpose of reigning with Christ for 1,000 years. This
explicitly
teaches
that the 1,000 years will follow the second coming of Christ-an interpretation
opposed by those who do not agree to a millennium. They are hard
put
to explain this verse. Their leaders declare that verse 4 is talking about the
new birth of the believer, but there is no connection. Beheading is
not
a part of the new birth. There is absolutely nothing in the passage that
teaches that this is the new birth nor is there any indication that the new
birth
is what it is revealing. Accordingly, verse 4 is one of the important texts
demonstrating beyond question that the 1,000 years of Christ's reign
follow
the second coming rather than preceding it in some form.
It
is probable that Daniel 12:1,2, which also speaks of the Old Testament saints
being resurrected, will be fulfilled at this time. Some believe this will
occur
at the rapture, but at the rapture those raised are declared to have been
"the dead in Christ" (I Thessalonians 4:16). Their position in Christ
by
the
baptism of the Spirit was true only in the period from Pentecost to the
rapture. It was not realized in any preceding age as witnessed by the fact
that
all four gospels predict it as a future event. Accordingly, probably the Old
Testament saints will be raised at the same time as the martyred dead
of
the tribulation.
Most
important to observe is that there is no rapture at the second coming and that
the resurrections mentioned here apparently occur several days after
the
second coming. There is no resurrection or rapture on the day of the second coming
itself. Thus, the post-tribulational view that this is when the rapture
and
the resurrection take place is impossible. This is confirmed in Matthew 24-25,
when Christ answers the disciples' question concerning signs of the
second
coming, indicating that the great tribulation itself is the sign of the second
coming. Christ also gives them something they did not ask for-the
judgment
of the Gentiles after the second coming. In Matthew 25:31-46 this judgment is
pictured as a gathering of sheep and goats all mixed up together,
goats
representing the unsaved and sheep representing the saved. It is a most
interesting passage because it describes salvation by its evidence. Because
in
the great tribulation the sheep who befriend the Jews (the brethren) will do so
only because they are Christians-that becomes a mark of their Christian
faith.
Most significant again is the fact that the sheep and the goats are all mixed
up several days after the second coming. If a rapture had taken place,
the
sheep would have been removed before this event. The purpose of this judgment
is to eliminate the goats (the unsaved) and prepare those who are saved
to
enter the millennial kingdom.
There
is a similar judgment on Israel described in Ezekiel 20:33-38 and other
passages. Christ declares that He will re-gather Israel from all over the world
and
purge out the rebel (the unsaved). It is declared in Ezekiel 20:34, that He
will "gather you from the countries where you have been scattered."
In
verse
3 5 it says He will execute judgment upon them, and verse 38 declares that He
will purge out those who are unsaved, who revolt and rebel, but the
godly
will be brought into the land. This is also confirmed in Jeremiah 30:5-11,
where it is declared that Israel will go through a time of terrible judgment
called
"a time of trouble for Jacob" (verse 7). But the Israelites will be
delivered and ruled over by David their king (verse 9) who will be raised at
the
second coming. This serves to date the time as well as the significance of it.
Chapter 31:31-34 continues this account of gathering the Israelites
and
leading them to their Promised Land. This is also confirmed in Jeremiah
31:35-37, where Israel is declared to continue as long as the sun and moon
endure.
A
sweeping prophecy is also recorded in Ezekiel 39:25-28, where it is declared
that God will bring back the entire nation of Israel from all over the world
at
the time of the second coming. After the purging judgment of Ezekiel 20, those
that survive and who are saved will inherit the Promised Land, which
will
be divided among the 12 tribes as described in Ezekiel 47:13- 48:29. The gates
of the city of Jerusalem are mentioned in Ezekiel 48:30-35.
If
current prophecy is interpreted in its normal literal sense, it yields exactly
what the pre-millenarians have been teaching-when Christ comes there will
be
1,000 years of His reign on earth.
The
various judgments mentioned in Scripture are intended to be fulfilled in the
135 days between the second coming and the beginning of the millennial
kingdom (see Daniel 12: 11). In that period all the necessary judgments and resurrections will take place that make possible the beginning of this millennial
kingdom.