The War Between Good and Evil

Revelation 16:12-21

To show the events of history which are leading to the return of Christ, particularly the battle of Armageddon.

Increasing interest is being shown in our day concerning the events that are taking place in the Middle East. This is appropriate because the Middle East is a pivotal location for world history. It was here that history began and it is here that it will end.

One of the most outstanding things that must take place before Jesus Christ returns to this earth is the battle of Armageddon which we read in Revelation 16. The details of this battle are not given here because they are recorded in Ezekiel 38 & 39. This battle is important because it is the the last great even hat heralds the coming of Jesus.

• The location of the battle
  • The mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 38:8)
  • Specifically the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:9-12)
  • Armageddon will be fought on this 14×20 mile stretch of land Napoleon said was the most ideal place on Earth to stage a military battle
    • This is just outside of Jerusalem
• Participants in the battle
  • Meshech and Tubal
    • Russia gets her name from the combination of these two names
    • Russia would be involved because
      • Philosophy of world dominance
      • Desire for natural resources
      • Needs control of this area for their Navy because Russia is landlocked
      • Due to the location in the Persian Gulf, control of the Straights of Hormuz can control oil flow
  • The nations surrounding Israel will be in alliance with Russia
    • Due to the longstanding conflict between the Jews (descendants of Isaac) and the Arabs (descendants of Ishmael)
• The scope of the battle
  • 200 million will participate in the battle (Revelation 9:16)
  • Russia and her allies will utterly fail (Ezekiel 39:2-5)
    • It will take seven months for Israel to bury the dead (Ezekiel 39:12)
  • Israel will use their weaponry for fires and there will be enough for seven years (Ezekiel 39:9)
• The conclusion of the battle
  • All nations will know He is God (Ezekiel 39:7)
  • This makes way for the return of Christ (Zechariah 14:2-4)
    • The Mount of Olives will split when Jesus descends

Thus we see this great battle between good and evil will be the final battle that will be staged on Earth and then we can lift up our heads and rejoice for our redemption is drawing very near.

Handwritten notes on the side:

Things to look for in the future

• A great change in government
• Political convulsions that may involve the collapse of normal governments
  • Governments will depart from standards accepted in the past
• Disappearance of various independent states
• Intense arial bombardment producing much misery and possibly a revolt from authority and moral standards