THE BATTLE AT ARMAGGEDON IS THE most destructive battle the earth will see. It is between the remaining nations of the earth and Jesus Christ who returns in all His glory as God. There are approximately 195 nations now in the earth. At the time this battle takes place, one half of the world’s population will have been killed; that means there would be a lot less nations that would actually have armies that would be able to gather at Armageddon. It is possible that the majority of these nations, if not all, are those coming from East of the Euphrates, and from those surrounding Israel. Before this battle takes place, God’s people have already been removed; the only ones left on the earth are those who have rejected Christ. After this battle takes place, the 1,000 year rule of Christ on the earth begins.

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The preparations for this battle are described in Revelation 16:12-16. Here the Euphrates River dries up when the sixth vial is poured out. This allows the nations east of the Euphrates to cross on dry land. After the Euphrates dries up, all the remaining kings of the earth are gathered to Armageddon to fight against God.

The significance of this battle is great. It signals that God’s great plan for man is now done. It signals that Christ will now enter the battle as God in all of His power to fight the last remnant of sin and its consequence upon man. What takes place when Christ meets for battle is described in Revelation 16:17-21 when the seventh and last vial is poured out: a great earthquake takes place dividing the earth/Babylon into three parts causing every city left on earth to fall and every Island and mountain to disappear. Upon all people left on the earth, hail weighing one hundred pounds will fall upon them. The destruction and judgment that will come upon everyone left upon the earth is described in Revelation 17 and 18.

After these events, Revelation 19:11-21 describe God’s final wrath upon the remnant now left upon the earth.   Heaven opens up and Christ appears riding on a white horse. He has with Him His angel armies also riding white horses. Out of His mouth a sharp sword goes out to kill the nations and to pour out the final and most fierce wrath of God. After all are now dead, the birds gather for the marriage supper of the lamb to eat the dead bodies. At this time the beast and false prophet are cast alive into a lake of fire.

Revelation 20:1-3 describes how the Devil is chained for 1,000 years. Those who were martyred by the Antichrist will have the privilege of living and ruling with Christ for 1,000 years. (Rev. 20:4)

Those not martyred by the Antichrist will not take part in this first resurrection, but will take place in the second resurrection which takes place after the 1,000 years. (Rev. 20:5-6) This means those martyred by the Antichrist will resurrect before Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Paul, and any of the saints not martyred by the Antichrist.

After the 1,000 years are over, Satan will be released to exert his influence one last time. He will again deceive many people throughout all the earth. He will gather the deceived to another battle, the battle of Gog and Magog. Wherever it is that God’s people are gathered, that is where Gog and Magog will go. This battle did not last long as fire came from God and devoured all who gathered against God’s people. The Devil is now thrown into the lake of fire and will never be released again to exert his influence. (Rev. 20:7-10)

After the Devil is cast into the lake of fire, the Great White Throne appears and everyone is now judged to either God’s eternal kingdom or the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)

 IN SUMMARY

According to the Prophetic Timeline, Armageddon is the last earthly battle to take place before the 1,000 year reign of Christ. After Armageddon, the first resurrection takes place and those in this resurrection live and reign with Christ for 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years, the battle of Gog and Magog takes place. The Devil is quickly defeated. The Great White Throne judgment takes place and all people are judged to either God’s kingdom or the lake of fire.

Steve Magill
Copyright March 2017