Countdown to Armageddon
Revelation some believe that Revelation is a closed book, not to be understood. But the opening verse says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, to show unto His servant these things to His servant John in a vision; and then an angel was sent from heaven to explain the vision’s meaning. John wrote it down—the words of Jesus Christ and everything he heard, Revelation 1:1-2.
“Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand,” Revelation 1:3.
This book was not to be hidden, concealed or closed, but to be read and understood. It was to show events that will come to pass. The angel told John, “seal not the saying of this prophecy,” Revelation 22:10.
The book of Revelation is primary about the end of time. Starting with chapter 5 through chapter 22, it projected, as it were, into The Lord’s Day, which is simply “The Day of the Lord”— the time of God’s judgment and plagues upon this sinful world.
It started when twenty-four elders gathered around the throne with Jesus Christ sitting on it, was handed a scroll that was sealed with seven seals and no one was worthy to break those seals except the Lamb of God, the Lamb who was slain. He was worthy to receive power and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, broke the first seal and began to unroll the scroll, Revelation chapter 5.
The opening of the first six seals is recorded in the sixth chapter of Revelation. As they are opened, John records the things he sees. But the things he sees are symbols. These symbols represent literal and real events that will occur on earth.
When the first seal is open, John sees a white horse, False Christ. The second seal was a red horse symbolizing War. The third seal is a black horse that shows Famine. The fourth seal is a pale horse picturing Pestilence. When the fifth seal was open he saw the souls of many that were slain for the word of God, representing Persecution. The Sixth is the sign of the great tribulation; the great day of His anger has come, Armageddon. Then comes the opening of the Seventh Seal in Chapter 8. Seven angels with seven trumpets, each of the seven angels proclaims the beginning of each plague, but when the seventh angel blows his trumpet that’s when it will signify the return of Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Much of this is covered in Matthew chapter 24, Revelation chapter 6, and Revelation chapter 16, and throughout the book of Revelation.
The seven trumpets of Revelation 8:8-10, and the seven last plagues of Revelation chapter 16, are very similar in the event they describe. There are some differences, but the similarities are so great that it is evident they are describing the same period of time, both the descriptive end with Armageddon and the second advent of Christ.
The description of the trumpets and plagues are highly symbolic. It is difficult to determine when they refer to literal events or symbolic for movements in history. The time of the trumpets that begin with the seventh seal shows that they are future. We will note some of the comparisons and differences between the trumpets and plagues. The first six seals of Revelation 6 along with the six trumpets of Revelation 8, and the seven plagues of Revelation 16, represent the calamitous event with six trumpets of Revelation 8, and the seven plagues of Revelation 16, that represent the disasters breaking out in the world at large.
They show humanity facing the consequences of its own sinful actions as well as the impending judgment of God. The four horsemen represent four strands of suffering afflicting humans throughout the centuries.
In many ways the seals, trumpets, and plagues are very similar. In a strange symbolic way, they describe vast suffering and trouble on the people of the earth. I believe they must refer to the same period of time, because each leads to a seventh event, which is the second coming of Christ.
In the record of the seven trumpets, found in Revelation 9:20, referring to them as “these plagues.” But, it is clear that the plagues and trumpets both describe terrible events on the earth immediately preceding the second advent of Christ. This is evidently the “time of trouble” spoken by Daniel in chapter 12:1, and in Matthew 24:29 the tribulation. These events will eventually come on the wicked systems of this world, also called Babylon. In Revelation 18:8 there is a great lament over the fall of Babylon.
He, John, tells of the plagues main point and the results on humanity—many people dies because of the widespread pagan worship and their ungodly deeds. The first four seals depict judgment that is the inevitable results of human sinfulness. So, the Seals, Plagues and Trumpets, constitute the same tribulation that John saw as they were open—The Great Day of His Wrath has come. These plagues will fall on the nations on God’s Great Judgment Day.
The clock is ticking, one minute to midnight; the countdown to Armageddon is at hand; we are living in the last days: the coming of a battle such as the world has never seen or will ever see again. It is a countdown that will usher in the end of this generation.
Nobody knows, but it may well be much closer than anyone thinks. So close are we today, that day of doom, which men so long have feared. “And except those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But that day will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen people,” Matthew 24:22.
“Hear the word of the Lord, 0 ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, “He that scattered Israel will gather them, and keep them, as a shepherd doth His flock,” (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:1-13). It is the Jews that came back and rebuilt the nation of Israel, Joel 3:10.
The birth of that nation was in 1948, but this is only the beginning: Jerusalem is no longer in the hands of the Arabs. The Jewish army captured Jerusalem in the 6-day war in 1967. This is an important day in prophecy. God has His own plans for bringing life to these bones in Bible prophecy. It is the beginning of the countdown to Armageddon and the return of Christ.
This war is between two brothers, Ishmael and Esau. Who is the father of over one millions Arabs who has sworn to destroy the seeds of Isaac and Jacob the father of the Israelites, but Ishmael. The Arabs have sworn that they will run them into the sea.
Jerusalem will be in the center of the last great war of this age. God has definite plans for Jerusalem in the age to come according to scriptures, and He also foretold that Jerusalem would be “A burdensome stone for all people” in the last days. All that come up against Israel will be cut to pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it, Zechariah 12:1-3. Today, the Arab nations, (Over One Million), will again try to uproot Israel from their own land that God gave them. God’s sword of judgment will soon be visited upon them for their violence against their brother, Jacob, Isaiah 34:1-8.
God’s indignation will be upon the Gentile nations as they join forces against Israel and Jerusalem as foretold by the prophet, (Zechariah 14:1-9 and Joel 3:1-2). “For it is the year of recompense for the controversy of Zion,” Isaiah 34:8.
The final battle for Jerusalem is about to begin. The wind of war is once again about to sweep through the sacred city of God: Jerusalem. Israel’s regathering is God’s time signal for the nations to prepare for that last great battle, Joel 3:1-2; 9-16. That siege will be against Jews and Jerusalem, Zechariah 12:1-7. God has definite plans for Jerusalem in the age to come, according to the Scriptures in these last days.
Are we heading for world war three? Yes! Ezekiel chapter 38 pointed out the last days of the earth’s history before the kingdom of God would come. The 8th and 9th verse declares: “In the latter years thou, (Russia), shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword.” Thus the time of this prophecy concerning Russia is established as the “latter years or latter days.” The prophecy goes on to show that Russia in these last days will have command over a number of nations. These nations are named in the 5th and 6th verses of Ezekiel 38; their modern names are: Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Baltic nation, along with Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the rest of the Muslim nations. Now, what is this land that Russia shall come against in the latter days, the land that was gathered out of many people, Ezekiel 38:8-9?
It seems that this indicates that the armed forces of Russia, which is made up of 50 percent Muslim along with her allies, the Arab nations shall come quickly, like a cloud, (Ezekiel 38:8-9); “They said, come, let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance,” Psalm 83:4.
We have found that God’s time signal for the battle of Armageddon is the rebuilding of Israel in her homeland, and the return of Jerusalem into the hands as an independent nation; this came to pass in the 6-day war with Syria in 1967. But this last battle is an all-out world war, centering in Palestine but worldwide, “For the slain will be from one end of the earth to the other end of it,” Jeremiah 25:33.
This end time period will include that great all-out war, called “The day of God’s wrath.” Let the Bible prophecy describe that great day of God’s wrath and the conditions that precede it so that we can better understand where we are today, lest we face that day unaware and unprepared. “Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdom. To pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy,” Zephaniah 3:8. This is plain and to the point. This day of God’s wrath is the time when God gathers all nations of the earth to pour out upon all the wicked systems of man, “His anger.” “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” The nations are preparing for that Great War, and each day rushes us toward the climax as God foretold. “That day is the day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation,” Revelation 6:17.
Following Russia’s invasion, her deceptive trick, her device for the invasion of Israel, the first reaction will come from the Common Market; the Revived Roman Empire of the prophecy of Daniel 2:41-45; the ten toes of the great image. When their eyes become open to Russia’s device, her pretext to take over the wealth of Israel and the rich oil fields of the Arabs republic, they enter the war against Russia and the United States will enter the war, along with the Western European nation. This will be the final war, identified in the chapter 16 of Revelation by the term “Armageddon.” It will be the greatest and most terrifying war of all times, and most important, it will bring the end of all civilization as we know it, and will usher in the Kingdom of God.
Israel and her allies will drive Russia and the Muslim nations back towards the north with a large amount of casualties. The battle over Jerusalem, the city of God, has begun again with a new foe. While the army of Israel and her Allies are weak from battling the Arabs and Russians, they hear a rumble from the north-east with a large army of 2000,000,000, (200 Million), from China, India and Japan, to meet Israel and her allies to do battle outside of Jerusalem in the valley of “Megiddo call Armageddon,” (Revelation Chapter 14 to16), a large valley outside of Jerusalem.
“In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate,” Ezekiel 6:6. “I will bring distress upon men that shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dunk,” Zephaniah 1:17. Jesus told them, “all these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another,” Matthew 24:2. “For the great day of His wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand,” Revelation 6:17.
“Thus said the Lord of Host, behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great wind (war) shall be raised up from the coast of the earth. And slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented (mourned), neither gathered, nor buried, shall be dung upon the land,” Jeremiah 25:31-33.
God Almighty now reveals that two thirds of all the people on earth will soon die-that our day of reckoning is upon us! That we are to be stripped of our wealth and prosperity on which we set our hearts-that a third of our people – our personal friends, relatives, acquaintances will be killed by the awesome hydrogen bombs; a third by starvation and diseases will strike the United States, the British Commonwealth all of Europe and throughout the world. That will leave just one third of the people of this generation to live and to go into the millennium period with Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
“Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. It will be the same with all people, with the priest, servant, master, maid and mistress, buyer, so with the seller, as with the lender, so with the borrower, as with the taker of usary to him. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, and the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, change the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left,” Isaiah 24:1-6. Today, what is called organized: “Christianity” appropriates the name of Jesus-exalt Him-worship Him-but continues to deny His message, and rebel against God’s laws!
So now God is about to punish the nations! First, He will punish our nation because we profess to be Christians; a follower of Christ and His teachings; His own chosen people, Israel; chosen for a service they have refused to perform! “God will gather all nations, and will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for His people and for His heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted His land,” Joel 3:2.
God will use these nations to punish Israel and her allies for their sins and that He will punish those nations for what they have done by invading the land of Israel, and then the Lord will send 10,000 Angels to do battle with them. He will give them that are wicked to the sword-evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind (war) shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Eternal shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, neither gathered, nor buried,” Jeremiah 25:31-33.
Yes, God brings this great distress of nations upon men because of gross sin. Remember, this all comes as God’s judgment upon a world in rebellion against Him-because of their sins. The Lord hath a great controversy with the nations. He will give those wicked nations to the sword, Jeremiah 25:31; 33-36.
God made man a free moral agent and commanded him to choose. He has a choice- God’s way, or living opposite to the way of God. “God’s way is keeping the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Revelation 12:17.
China and her allies will come to rescue the Russian army and join up with them to resume the battle over Jerusalem, Revelation 9:16. With the Muslim and Russia troops that are left and with China’s great army marching to Israel’s capital will be the final battle that will bring this age, as we know it to the end. The battle for Jerusalem is under way as the allies hear a mighty rumble of many tanks and equipment coming from the north towards the city of God.
In the valley of “Megiddo” called “Armageddon, Revelation 16:16, blood shall run up to the bridle of a horse in this valley, Revelation 14:20. All the armies of the world are gather here to do battle. There are only two divisions in the world at this time, the East and the West.
But they who burden themselves with Jerusalem will be cut to pieces, all people of the earth will be gather together against it, Zechariah 12:1-3. But with that large army that has Jerusalem surrounded, and little Israel and her allies, with very little ammo left, cut off, no place to retreat, still they will not surrender. What chance do they have? None! They will fight to their death,
“All the nations that God has gathered together to do battle with Israel, even before they were defeated, were already starting to divide spoils among themselves. They had already taken half of the city by force, going from house to house ransacking them, taking everything that was valuable. And the women were seized and taken by violence. Half of the people in the city will go into captivity. There is just a remnant left to battle the heathen’s army, which was sure of victory,” Zechariah 14:1-2.
“In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem.” As these verses show, Israel will stand up and do greatly in defending their city in that battle with God’s help, but it is God who saves them and gives them the victory in the end, Zechariah 12:8-9.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God; behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the fields, and upon the fruits of the ground; and it shall burn and shall not be quenched,” Jeremiah 7:20. “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion,” Isaiah 34:8. “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance; He will come and save you,” Isaiah 35:4).
“And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathens, such as they have not heard,” Micah 5:15.
“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion; and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heaven and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel,” Joel 3:16. When God gathers all nations against Jerusalem to battle, the Lord will come and fight as He did in ancient times in the defense of Jerusalem the city of God, Zechariah 14:2-3. “And at time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at this time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book of life, Daniel 12:1. The prophets prophesied many times and said, “that all Israel would be saved,” they were speaking of the ones that had been: reserved,” Jeremiah 50:20.
The ones who teach and believe in the Pre-Tribulation rapture have made a covenant with death. To be in a covenant with this kind of popular expression is to demote perfect security from evil and mischief of any sort. There hope of being taken out before the tribulation may let many down and they may not have the power of faith to go through this great trouble. Why? “Because we have made “lies our refuge” and under falsehood have we hid ourselves,” Isaiah 28:15.
There was Noah and the flood, Genesis 8:18-22; Daniel in the lion’s den, Daniel 6:16-22; the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace, Daniel 3:14-26, and others. None of these people were raptured out of their trials; God made away for each one of them to escape. “For a snare shall come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and be accounted worthy to “escape” all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man,” Luke 21:34-36.
The shameless nation and His people are called on to assemble in repentance before they are driven away like the drifting chaff, Joel 3:2. The fate of the proud is sealed; but those who “seek righteousness and seek meekness,” have hope “and may be hid” in the day of the Lord’s anger, (Zephaniah 2:2-3. So, “the fear of the Lord is the fountain of life, to depart from the snare of death; is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge,” Proverbs 14:26-27. “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the High God their redeemer,” Psalm 78:35.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all,” Psalm 34:19. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivered them,” Psalm 34:6-7. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage, neither be thou afraid. Neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest,” Joshua 1:9.
The church in the wildness was nourished and protected for 1260 years when Satan tried to exterminate them: the ones who “kept the Commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ,” Revelation 12:12-17. None of these people were raptured out of their trials; God made a way for each one of two escape. “For a snare shall come on all of them that dwell on the face of the earth. Watch ye therefore, and be accounted worthy to “escape” all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” Luke 21:34-36. You too can escape by repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, then you will be protected during this world conflict.
Revelation some believe that Revelation is a closed book, not to be understood. But the opening verse says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, to show unto His servant these things to His servant John in a vision; and then an angel was sent from heaven to explain the vision’s meaning. John wrote it down—the words of Jesus Christ and everything he heard, Revelation 1:1-2.
“Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand,” Revelation 1:3.
This book was not to be hidden, concealed or closed, but to be read and understood. It was to show events that will come to pass. The angel told John, “seal not the saying of this prophecy,” Revelation 22:10.
The book of Revelation is primary about the end of time. Starting with chapter 5 through chapter 22, it projected, as it were, into The Lord’s Day, which is simply “The Day of the Lord”— the time of God’s judgment and plagues upon this sinful world.
It started when twenty-four elders gathered around the throne with Jesus Christ sitting on it, was handed a scroll that was sealed with seven seals and no one was worthy to break those seals except the Lamb of God, the Lamb who was slain. He was worthy to receive power and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, broke the first seal and began to unroll the scroll, Revelation chapter 5.
The opening of the first six seals is recorded in the sixth chapter of Revelation. As they are opened, John records the things he sees. But the things he sees are symbols. These symbols represent literal and real events that will occur on earth.
When the first seal is open, John sees a white horse, False Christ. The second seal was a red horse symbolizing War. The third seal is a black horse that shows Famine. The fourth seal is a pale horse picturing Pestilence. When the fifth seal was open he saw the souls of many that were slain for the word of God, representing Persecution. The Sixth is the sign of the great tribulation; the great day of His anger has come, Armageddon. Then comes the opening of the Seventh Seal in Chapter 8. Seven angels with seven trumpets, each of the seven angels proclaims the beginning of each plague, but when the seventh angel blows his trumpet that’s when it will signify the return of Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Much of this is covered in Matthew chapter 24, Revelation chapter 6, and Revelation chapter 16, and throughout the book of Revelation.
The seven trumpets of Revelation 8:8-10, and the seven last plagues of Revelation chapter 16, are very similar in the event they describe. There are some differences, but the similarities are so great that it is evident they are describing the same period of time, both the descriptive end with Armageddon and the second advent of Christ.
The description of the trumpets and plagues are highly symbolic. It is difficult to determine when they refer to literal events or symbolic for movements in history. The time of the trumpets that begin with the seventh seal shows that they are future. We will note some of the comparisons and differences between the trumpets and plagues. The first six seals of Revelation 6 along with the six trumpets of Revelation 8, and the seven plagues of Revelation 16, represent the calamitous event with six trumpets of Revelation 8, and the seven plagues of Revelation 16, that represent the disasters breaking out in the world at large.
They show humanity facing the consequences of its own sinful actions as well as the impending judgment of God. The four horsemen represent four strands of suffering afflicting humans throughout the centuries.
In many ways the seals, trumpets, and plagues are very similar. In a strange symbolic way, they describe vast suffering and trouble on the people of the earth. I believe they must refer to the same period of time, because each leads to a seventh event, which is the second coming of Christ.
In the record of the seven trumpets, found in Revelation 9:20, referring to them as “these plagues.” But, it is clear that the plagues and trumpets both describe terrible events on the earth immediately preceding the second advent of Christ. This is evidently the “time of trouble” spoken by Daniel in chapter 12:1, and in Matthew 24:29 the tribulation. These events will eventually come on the wicked systems of this world, also called Babylon. In Revelation 18:8 there is a great lament over the fall of Babylon.
He, John, tells of the plagues main point and the results on humanity—many people dies because of the widespread pagan worship and their ungodly deeds. The first four seals depict judgment that is the inevitable results of human sinfulness. So, the Seals, Plagues and Trumpets, constitute the same tribulation that John saw as they were open—The Great Day of His Wrath has come. These plagues will fall on the nations on God’s Great Judgment Day.
The clock is ticking, one minute to midnight; the countdown to Armageddon is at hand; we are living in the last days: the coming of a battle such as the world has never seen or will ever see again. It is a countdown that will usher in the end of this generation.
Nobody knows, but it may well be much closer than anyone thinks. So close are we today, that day of doom, which men so long have feared. “And except those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But that day will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen people,” Matthew 24:22.
“Hear the word of the Lord, 0 ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, “He that scattered Israel will gather them, and keep them, as a shepherd doth His flock,” (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:1-13). It is the Jews that came back and rebuilt the nation of Israel, Joel 3:10.
The birth of that nation was in 1948, but this is only the beginning: Jerusalem is no longer in the hands of the Arabs. The Jewish army captured Jerusalem in the 6-day war in 1967. This is an important day in prophecy. God has His own plans for bringing life to these bones in Bible prophecy. It is the beginning of the countdown to Armageddon and the return of Christ.
This war is between two brothers, Ishmael and Esau. Who is the father of over one millions Arabs who has sworn to destroy the seeds of Isaac and Jacob the father of the Israelites, but Ishmael. The Arabs have sworn that they will run them into the sea.
Jerusalem will be in the center of the last great war of this age. God has definite plans for Jerusalem in the age to come according to scriptures, and He also foretold that Jerusalem would be “A burdensome stone for all people” in the last days. All that come up against Israel will be cut to pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it, Zechariah 12:1-3. Today, the Arab nations, (Over One Million), will again try to uproot Israel from their own land that God gave them. God’s sword of judgment will soon be visited upon them for their violence against their brother, Jacob, Isaiah 34:1-8.
God’s indignation will be upon the Gentile nations as they join forces against Israel and Jerusalem as foretold by the prophet, (Zechariah 14:1-9 and Joel 3:1-2). “For it is the year of recompense for the controversy of Zion,” Isaiah 34:8.
The final battle for Jerusalem is about to begin. The wind of war is once again about to sweep through the sacred city of God: Jerusalem. Israel’s regathering is God’s time signal for the nations to prepare for that last great battle, Joel 3:1-2; 9-16. That siege will be against Jews and Jerusalem, Zechariah 12:1-7. God has definite plans for Jerusalem in the age to come, according to the Scriptures in these last days.
Are we heading for world war three? Yes! Ezekiel chapter 38 pointed out the last days of the earth’s history before the kingdom of God would come. The 8th and 9th verse declares: “In the latter years thou, (Russia), shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword.” Thus the time of this prophecy concerning Russia is established as the “latter years or latter days.” The prophecy goes on to show that Russia in these last days will have command over a number of nations. These nations are named in the 5th and 6th verses of Ezekiel 38; their modern names are: Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Baltic nation, along with Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the rest of the Muslim nations. Now, what is this land that Russia shall come against in the latter days, the land that was gathered out of many people, Ezekiel 38:8-9?
It seems that this indicates that the armed forces of Russia, which is made up of 50 percent Muslim along with her allies, the Arab nations shall come quickly, like a cloud, (Ezekiel 38:8-9); “They said, come, let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance,” Psalm 83:4.
We have found that God’s time signal for the battle of Armageddon is the rebuilding of Israel in her homeland, and the return of Jerusalem into the hands as an independent nation; this came to pass in the 6-day war with Syria in 1967. But this last battle is an all-out world war, centering in Palestine but worldwide, “For the slain will be from one end of the earth to the other end of it,” Jeremiah 25:33.
This end time period will include that great all-out war, called “The day of God’s wrath.” Let the Bible prophecy describe that great day of God’s wrath and the conditions that precede it so that we can better understand where we are today, lest we face that day unaware and unprepared. “Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdom. To pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy,” Zephaniah 3:8. This is plain and to the point. This day of God’s wrath is the time when God gathers all nations of the earth to pour out upon all the wicked systems of man, “His anger.” “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” The nations are preparing for that Great War, and each day rushes us toward the climax as God foretold. “That day is the day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation,” Revelation 6:17.
Following Russia’s invasion, her deceptive trick, her device for the invasion of Israel, the first reaction will come from the Common Market; the Revived Roman Empire of the prophecy of Daniel 2:41-45; the ten toes of the great image. When their eyes become open to Russia’s device, her pretext to take over the wealth of Israel and the rich oil fields of the Arabs republic, they enter the war against Russia and the United States will enter the war, along with the Western European nation. This will be the final war, identified in the chapter 16 of Revelation by the term “Armageddon.” It will be the greatest and most terrifying war of all times, and most important, it will bring the end of all civilization as we know it, and will usher in the Kingdom of God.
Israel and her allies will drive Russia and the Muslim nations back towards the north with a large amount of casualties. The battle over Jerusalem, the city of God, has begun again with a new foe. While the army of Israel and her Allies are weak from battling the Arabs and Russians, they hear a rumble from the north-east with a large army of 2000,000,000, (200 Million), from China, India and Japan, to meet Israel and her allies to do battle outside of Jerusalem in the valley of “Megiddo call Armageddon,” (Revelation Chapter 14 to16), a large valley outside of Jerusalem.
“In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate,” Ezekiel 6:6. “I will bring distress upon men that shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dunk,” Zephaniah 1:17. Jesus told them, “all these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another,” Matthew 24:2. “For the great day of His wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand,” Revelation 6:17.
“Thus said the Lord of Host, behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great wind (war) shall be raised up from the coast of the earth. And slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented (mourned), neither gathered, nor buried, shall be dung upon the land,” Jeremiah 25:31-33.
God Almighty now reveals that two thirds of all the people on earth will soon die-that our day of reckoning is upon us! That we are to be stripped of our wealth and prosperity on which we set our hearts-that a third of our people – our personal friends, relatives, acquaintances will be killed by the awesome hydrogen bombs; a third by starvation and diseases will strike the United States, the British Commonwealth all of Europe and throughout the world. That will leave just one third of the people of this generation to live and to go into the millennium period with Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
“Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. It will be the same with all people, with the priest, servant, master, maid and mistress, buyer, so with the seller, as with the lender, so with the borrower, as with the taker of usary to him. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, and the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, change the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left,” Isaiah 24:1-6. Today, what is called organized: “Christianity” appropriates the name of Jesus-exalt Him-worship Him-but continues to deny His message, and rebel against God’s laws!
So now God is about to punish the nations! First, He will punish our nation because we profess to be Christians; a follower of Christ and His teachings; His own chosen people, Israel; chosen for a service they have refused to perform! “God will gather all nations, and will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for His people and for His heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted His land,” Joel 3:2.
God will use these nations to punish Israel and her allies for their sins and that He will punish those nations for what they have done by invading the land of Israel, and then the Lord will send 10,000 Angels to do battle with them. He will give them that are wicked to the sword-evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind (war) shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Eternal shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, neither gathered, nor buried,” Jeremiah 25:31-33.
Yes, God brings this great distress of nations upon men because of gross sin. Remember, this all comes as God’s judgment upon a world in rebellion against Him-because of their sins. The Lord hath a great controversy with the nations. He will give those wicked nations to the sword, Jeremiah 25:31; 33-36.
God made man a free moral agent and commanded him to choose. He has a choice- God’s way, or living opposite to the way of God. “God’s way is keeping the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Revelation 12:17.
China and her allies will come to rescue the Russian army and join up with them to resume the battle over Jerusalem, Revelation 9:16. With the Muslim and Russia troops that are left and with China’s great army marching to Israel’s capital will be the final battle that will bring this age, as we know it to the end. The battle for Jerusalem is under way as the allies hear a mighty rumble of many tanks and equipment coming from the north towards the city of God.
In the valley of “Megiddo” called “Armageddon, Revelation 16:16, blood shall run up to the bridle of a horse in this valley, Revelation 14:20. All the armies of the world are gather here to do battle. There are only two divisions in the world at this time, the East and the West.
But they who burden themselves with Jerusalem will be cut to pieces, all people of the earth will be gather together against it, Zechariah 12:1-3. But with that large army that has Jerusalem surrounded, and little Israel and her allies, with very little ammo left, cut off, no place to retreat, still they will not surrender. What chance do they have? None! They will fight to their death,
“All the nations that God has gathered together to do battle with Israel, even before they were defeated, were already starting to divide spoils among themselves. They had already taken half of the city by force, going from house to house ransacking them, taking everything that was valuable. And the women were seized and taken by violence. Half of the people in the city will go into captivity. There is just a remnant left to battle the heathen’s army, which was sure of victory,” Zechariah 14:1-2.
“In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem.” As these verses show, Israel will stand up and do greatly in defending their city in that battle with God’s help, but it is God who saves them and gives them the victory in the end, Zechariah 12:8-9.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God; behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the fields, and upon the fruits of the ground; and it shall burn and shall not be quenched,” Jeremiah 7:20. “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion,” Isaiah 34:8. “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance; He will come and save you,” Isaiah 35:4).
“And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathens, such as they have not heard,” Micah 5:15.
“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion; and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heaven and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel,” Joel 3:16. When God gathers all nations against Jerusalem to battle, the Lord will come and fight as He did in ancient times in the defense of Jerusalem the city of God, Zechariah 14:2-3. “And at time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at this time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book of life, Daniel 12:1. The prophets prophesied many times and said, “that all Israel would be saved,” they were speaking of the ones that had been: reserved,” Jeremiah 50:20.
The ones who teach and believe in the Pre-Tribulation rapture have made a covenant with death. To be in a covenant with this kind of popular expression is to demote perfect security from evil and mischief of any sort. There hope of being taken out before the tribulation may let many down and they may not have the power of faith to go through this great trouble. Why? “Because we have made “lies our refuge” and under falsehood have we hid ourselves,” Isaiah 28:15.
There was Noah and the flood, Genesis 8:18-22; Daniel in the lion’s den, Daniel 6:16-22; the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace, Daniel 3:14-26, and others. None of these people were raptured out of their trials; God made away for each one of them to escape. “For a snare shall come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and be accounted worthy to “escape” all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man,” Luke 21:34-36.
The shameless nation and His people are called on to assemble in repentance before they are driven away like the drifting chaff, Joel 3:2. The fate of the proud is sealed; but those who “seek righteousness and seek meekness,” have hope “and may be hid” in the day of the Lord’s anger, (Zephaniah 2:2-3. So, “the fear of the Lord is the fountain of life, to depart from the snare of death; is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge,” Proverbs 14:26-27. “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the High God their redeemer,” Psalm 78:35.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all,” Psalm 34:19. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivered them,” Psalm 34:6-7. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage, neither be thou afraid. Neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest,” Joshua 1:9.
The church in the wildness was nourished and protected for 1260 years when Satan tried to exterminate them: the ones who “kept the Commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ,” Revelation 12:12-17. None of these people were raptured out of their trials; God made a way for each one of two escape. “For a snare shall come on all of them that dwell on the face of the earth. Watch ye therefore, and be accounted worthy to “escape” all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” Luke 21:34-36. You too can escape by repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, then you will be protected during this world conflict.