Eschatology : Event No 19 of the Tribulation: The Battle of Armageddon.

Rev 16:14  For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

Rev 16:16  And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Isa 34:1  Come near, nations, to hear; and, you people, listen; let the earth hear, and its fullness; the world, and its offspring.

Isa 34:2  For the anger of Jehovah is on all nations, and His fury on all their armies. He has completely destroyed them, He has delivered them to the slaughter.

Isa 34:3  Also their dead shall be thrown out, and their stink shall come up out of their dead bodies, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

Isa 34:4  And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled like a scroll; and all their host shall droop, as a leaf falls off from the vine, and as the falling from the fig tree.

Isa 34:5  For My sword bathed in the heavens. Behold, it shall come down on Edom, and on the people of My curse for judgment.

Isa 34:6  The sword of Jehovah is filled with blood; it is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Jehovah has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Isa 34:7  And the wild oxen shall come down with them, and the bulls with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

Isa 34:8  For it is the day of Jehovah's vengeance, the year to repay for the fighting against Zion.

Isa 63:3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with Me; for I will tread them in My anger and trample them in My fury; and their blood will be sprinkled on My garments, and I will stain all My clothing.

Isa 63:4  For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.

Isa 63:6  And I will tread down the people in My anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will pour their juice to the earth.

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

Joe 3:9  Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.

Joe 3:10  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, I am strong.

Joe 3:11  Gather yourselves and come, all you nations, and gather yourselves together all around; cause Your mighty ones to come down there, O Jehovah.

Joe 3:12  Let the nations be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations all around.

Joe 3:13  Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, come down; for the press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision!

Joe 3:15  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall gather in their light.

Joe 3:16  Jehovah shall also roar out of Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and the earth shall shake. But Jehovah will be the hope of His people and the strength of the sons of Israel.

Joe 3:17  So you shall know that I am Jehovah your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be a holy thing, and no aliens shall pass through her any more.

Zec 12:2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around, and it shall also be against Judah in the siege against Jerusalem.

Zec 12:3  And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples. All who lift it shall be slashed, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

Zec 14:1  Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, and your spoil shall be divided in your midst.

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3  And Jehovah shall go out and fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the day of battle.

Rev 19:11  And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war.

Rev 19:12  And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself.

Rev 19:13  And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14  And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16  And He has on His garment, and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Rev 19:17  And I saw one angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great God,

Rev 19:18  so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of strong ones, and the flesh of horses, and those sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.

Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, being gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet doing signs before it, (by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast), and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone.

Rev 19:21  And the rest were slain by the sword of Him who sat on the horse, it proceeding out of His mouth. And all the birds were filled from their flesh.

Comments (Notes from Willmington)

Of the Thousands of Wars over the centuries, this war will be the biggest, the Bloodiest, the most brazen, and the most Blasphemous of all times.

Note the following:

1. This is Not the Russian Invasion of Ezekiel 38 because:

1. Russia invades from the North but at Armageddon the nations come from all directions.
2. Russia invades to capture the wealth of Israel
3. God leads the Russian Invasion but the Antichrist leads this one.

2. Armageddon is not the final war of the Bible. - The final war occurs after the Millenium (Rev 20 : 7-9.) Armageddon takes place at the end of the Tribulation.
3. The Location of the Battle. The staggering dimensions of the Battlefield will be from Megiddo in the north Zech 12:11; Rev 16:16 to Edom in the South, Isaiah 34:5-6; 63:1 a distance of 320 kms. It will reach from the Mediterranean to the Mountains of Moab in Jordan east of the Jordan River approx 160 kms. This will include the Valley of Jehoshaphat; Joel 3:2;12. Into this area multiplied millions of men will be crowded for the final battle with Israel. The armies will come from the North, the South the East and the West. This is the great Winepress of God’s Wrath against the nations.

Rev 19:15  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God.

4. The Reasons for the Battle of Armageddon.

1. Because of the Sovereignty of the God of Israel. In five distinct passages we are told that God will gather the nations here.

Isa 34:1  Come near, nations, to hear; and, you people, listen; let the earth hear, and its fullness; the world, and its offspring.

Isa 34:2  For the anger of Jehovah is on all nations, and His fury on all their armies. He has completely destroyed them, He has delivered them to the slaughter.

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3  And Jehovah shall go out and fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the day of battle.

Rev 16:16  And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

2. Because of the Deception of Satan

Rev 16:13  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.

Rev 16:14  For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.

3. Because of the hatred of the nations for Christ.

Psa 2:1  Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate on a vain thing?

Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers plot together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, saying,

Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands in two and cast away their cords from us.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.

Rev 11:16  And the twenty-four elders sitting before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Rev 11:17  saying, We thank You, O Lord God Almighty, who are, and who was, and who is coming, because You took Your great power and reigned.

Rev 11:18  And the nations were full of wrath, and Your wrath came, and the time of the judging of the dead, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to the ones fearing Your name, to the small and to the great, and to destroy those destroying the earth.

After the Drying up of the Euphrates then the focus of these armies will be taking the City of Jerusalem.

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3  And Jehovah shall go out and fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the day of battle.

Luk 21:20  (Jesus said) And when you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its destruction has come.

Luk 21:21  And let those in Judea flee to the mountains. And those in its midst, let them go out. And those in the open spaces, let them not go into her.

Luk 21:22  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

5. The Location of the Battle.

The Staggering Dimensions of this battle. From Megiddo in the North (Zech 12:11; Rev 16:16) to Edom in the south (Is 34:5-6;63:1, a distance of approx 200 miles; and from the Mediterranean in the West to the Mountains of Moab in the East, a distance of about one hundred miles.

Satellite Image of Israel. Wikipedia

Mountains of Eilat, Israel

There seem to be Four Important Names associated with this battle.

1. The Valley of Jehoshaphat  Just East of Jerusalem between the Holy City and the Mt of Olives.

The Valley of Jehoshaphat

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

Joe 3:12  Let the nations be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations all around.

Joe 3:13  Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, come down; for the press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision!

b. The Valley of Esdraelon.

The Valley of Jezreel

c. Megiddo

Tel Megiddo from the Air

Zec 12:11  In that day shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.

d. Bozrah.

A city in Edom east of the Jordan and near Petra. Jordan

Ruins of Bozrah Jordan

6. Old Testament Battles in the Valley of Esdraelon on the plains of Megiddo.

1. It was here that Deborah and Barak defeated the Canaanites Judges 4-5

2. It was here that Gideon defeated the Midianites. Judges 7
3. It was here that the Philistines defeated and killed King Saul. 1 Samuel 31 Mt Gilboah

Mt Giboah from the valley of Jezreel

7. The Reasons for the battle of Armageddon.

What will draw all the nations of the world to the Arena of Armageddon? Here are some of the reasons:

1. Because of the Sovereignty of God.In at least five distinct passages of Scripture we are told that God will gather the nations there.

Isa 34:2  For the anger of Jehovah is on all nations, and His fury on all their armies. He has completely destroyed them, He has delivered them to the slaughter.

Isa 34:3  Also their dead shall be thrown out, and their stink shall come up out of their dead bodies, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

Isa 34:4  And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled like a scroll; and all their host shall droop, as a leaf falls off from the vine, and as the falling from the fig tree.

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3  And Jehovah shall go out and fight against those nations, like the day He fought in the day of battle.

Rev 16:16  And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

 b. Because of the Deception of Satan.   

Rev 16:13  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.

Rev 16:14  For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.

c.  Because of the Hatred of the Nations for Christ.

Notice the hatred in the following:

Psa 2:1  Why do the nations plot, and why do their people make useless plans?

Psa 2:2  The kings of this earth have all joined together to turn against the LORD and his chosen one.

Psa 2:3  They say, "Let's cut the ropes and set ourselves free!"

Psa 2:4  In heaven the LORD laughs as he sits on his throne, making fun of the nations. CEV

Rev 11:18  When the nations got angry, you became angry too! Now the time has come for the dead to be judged. It is time for you to reward your servants the prophets and all of your people who honor your name, no matter who they are. It is time to destroy everyone who has destroyed the earth."

The nations lead by the Antichrist will will realise the imminent return of Christ to earth.

Rev 11:15  At the sound of the seventh trumpet, loud voices were heard in heaven. They said, "Now the kingdom of this world belongs to our Lord and to his Chosen One! And he will rule forever and ever!"

Rev 12:12  The heavens should rejoice, together with everyone who lives there. But pity the earth and the sea, because the devil was thrown down to the earth. He knows his time is short, and he is very angry."

8. The Chronicle of the battle.

1. 
   The Drying up of the Euphrates.

Rev 16:12  The sixth angel emptied his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it completely dried up to make a road for the kings from the east.

    b. The Destruction of Jerusalem. (Perhaps the saddest thing in the Tribulation)

This will be the last takeover of the City of David.

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem; and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the women raped. And half of the city shall go into exile, and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Luk 21:20  When you see Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, you will know that it will soon be destroyed.

Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by Francesco Hayez depicts the destruction of the Second Temple by Roman soldiers. Oil on canvas, 1867

All heaven and hell will hold their breathe; for now there will be the Divine Intervention of the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

SECOND COMING. JESUS RETURNING FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH ON A WHITE HORSE. STANDING ON MOUNT OF OLIVES. IT SPLITS IN THE MIDDLE [FROM NORTH TO SOUTH] [ZECHARIAH ...

The Mount of Olives East of Jerusalem

Even so Come quickly Lord Jesus