ArmageddonRevelation 16:12-16

"valley of Megiddo" and "the valley of Jehoshaphat"

First: There will be the Rapture of the Church.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Second: The empowering of the Antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-9,

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders…

Third: It happens at the return of Christ after the Tribulation.

Revelation 16:12-16, Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14For 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. 15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

I. The Certainties About Armageddon

A. It will involve all nations.

Joel 3:9-12, Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! ...10Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” 11Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. 12“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Megiddo); For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

B. The Antichrist will pit all nations against the LORD.Psalm 2, Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel

together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed…

C. It all ends with the coming of Christ – King of kings.

II. The Events Leading to Armageddon.

A. A Seven-year peace treaty is arranged with Israel.- Daniel 9:27, Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

- Ezek. 4:6b I have laid on you a day for each year.

B. The Antichrist breaks the treaty in mid-duration. (3 ½ yrs.)- Daniel 9: 27, Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

C. 144,000 Jews are converted and begin to minister.- Revelation 7:

D. God's two witnesses minister and are martyred.- Who are these two witnessed? Rev. 11- Enoch will again preach the return of the LORD: - Jude14-15, Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,15to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” - These prophets declare the Lord's imminent return to earth

E. The Antichrist summons earth's armies to Armageddon. - They will gather against Israel to once and for all destroy it.

- They are to fight against Christ at His coming. (Ps. 2)

- This is to be an all-out war against God. (Joel 3:9-14)

- They will be brought to the valley of Armageddon.

F. Man's ultimate rebellion takes place at Armageddon.

"We will not have this man rule over us"

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God,

and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. The End of Armageddon. A. Christ returns with power and great glory!Revelation 19:11-16, Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.

He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The

Word of God.14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed

Him on white horses.15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the

nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

B. He is declared to be King of kings and Lord of lords.

C. The Antichrist and his armies are defeated.

Rev. 19:20-21, Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image.

These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Have you been rebelling against God in your life?

Have you been turned away from God by the deceiver?

Turn to Christ today while there is still time to repent!

1 John 5:12

He who has the Son has life;

he who does not have the Son of God

does not have life.