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The Battle of Armageddon

We would agree that if one does not have a share in what Christ accomplished in the First resurrection, that there is no hope for eternal life for them.

But this doesn't change the fact that the "First resurrection" was a single event which happened in real time on the calendar at a certain point. Those Matthew 27:52-53 saints, who were resurrected that same day as Christ was, had remained on earth in those days of the early church. All of those many resurrected saints were immune to the effects of the "second death" / Lake of Fire conditions for the city of Jerusalem, even though some of them were actually in the city of Jerusalem itself as it was experiencing all those horrors in the AD 66-70 siege of the city. It's impossible for any resurrected person to be harmed by sword, famine, pestilence, or even spiritual oppression by the demonic. And all of those things were being experienced by the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem in that period of Great Tribulation when Jerusalem and its temple was dying for the second time. It was almost a duplicate of Jerusalem's first death under the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC.
Those saints died again, just as Lazarus died again. This is not the first resurrection mentioned in Revelation. Not at all. So, as someone pointed out, less than 8 people were left alive on Earth right? I mean, Jesus clearly stated that it would be worse than anything ever seen on Earth before, after, and it would never be duplicated.
No, we believers are certainly not doomed. We are expecting to participate in the next resurrection event in our future. Two resurrection events have already happened back in AD 33 and AD 70, and we await the third one. In the meantime, we are currently blessed to be living under the New Covenant with the NHNE conditions and the spiritual New Jerusalem in place.
Thank goodness those Premillennialists were right, and the first resurrection has not yet happened. Thank God. Or are we doomed?
No, Peter's words are what I am quoting from 1 Peter 4:7. "But the end of all things is at hand", he wrote of the days he was then experiencing. You are the one who doesn't believe Peter.

The "tribes of the earth" are the tribes of the land of Israel. The term is "tes ges", which most of the time in scripture refers to things taking place in the land of Israel - not the globe at large. Revelation 1:7 is quoting Zechariah 12:10, which was speaking of the tribes of Israel - not the entire world. The genealogical records of the tribal lineages were burned up in Jerusalem by the close of AD 70. The Zealots themselves put a torch to the archives. God intended that to happen to erase the tribal distinctions which had no more significance for prophecy thereafter. In Christ, there is neither Jew not Gentile under the New Covenant. Only someone interested in racial superiority would think it important to preserve any tribal lineage from Israel at this point. The Israelite tribes served their ultimate purpose in leading to Christ's incarnation through the line of Judah. Job done.
You completely ignore Paul, but doesn't everyone.
 
Those saints died again, just as Lazarus died again. This is not the first resurrection mentioned in Revelation. Not at all.
No, dying again for the Matthew 27:52-53 saints or Lazarus was impossible. " It is appointed unto man ONCE TO DIE, and after this the judgment", according to Hebrews 9:27. Your theory directly contradicts this truth from Hebrews 9:27.

Unfortunately, you are not the only one who has no idea what the "First resurrection" event was. Scripture makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 15:23 that "Christ the First-fruits" was part of the "First resurrection" event, with another resurrection event following at Christ's second coming. The 144,000 were also called the "First-fruits", because they were the Matthew 27:52-53 saints which shared that same "First resurrection" event with Christ that same day. Of that entire "First-fruits" group forming the "First resurrection" event, Christ was the unique "First-born", and the "First-begotten from among the dead" who ascended to God in heaven that day.

This is a lot of "Firsts" in scripture, so that we don't mistake when that event took place. Looks as if you missed the point, though.
You completely ignore Paul, but doesn't everyone.
No, I love to quote Paul, since what he taught supports Preterism to the hilt.
 
Just for the record...what I presented from Revelation...has never happened in the past.
A REPEAT: "So, yes, the 'Battle of Armageddon,'or the battle between believers and the forces of evil, is in full force. At this moment, we’re battling Satan head-on. The battle will not end until our King returns and puts an end to all evil, at which time we will be transported to an extension of our golden age—heaven itself."
 
A REPEAT: "So, yes, the 'Battle of Armageddon,'or the battle between believers and the forces of evil, is in full force. At this moment, we’re battling Satan head-on. The battle will not end until our King returns and puts an end to all evil, at which time we will be transported to an extension of our golden age—heaven itself."
The battle has been going on ever since Gen 3.

Currently we appear to be witnessing "wars and rumors of wars"....seems as if India and Pakastan have kicked it up a notch. We some where in the "birth pangs"....as the labor pains are becoming more intense and closer together.

Israel in currently in the Psalms 83 war....as the countries listed are saying...
4 saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”.......Now I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
Is isaiah 17 next?

This "transported" you mention is the rapture...which is about to happen. IMO I think we have to move a little deeper into the "labor pains"....
 
Greetings again Hobie,

I suggest that what I have stated is very much aspects of the Day of the Lord and Revelation 16:12-16 needs to be understood by comparison with the many OT passages and detail that speak of the coming time of trouble. Revelation 17 is a time period after Revelation 16:12-16, not parallel with it.

I consider that the faithful will not be taken to heaven as they will rule with Jesus upon the earth from Jerusalem.

No, only one class, the Battle of Armageddon is a gathering of the armies of the nations.

Another suggestion by a Hebrew scholar is Arema=a heap of sheaves gai==valley don=judgement, hence "a heap of sheaves in the valley for judgement or threshing" and this could be alluding to the following which is a parallel reference to the Battle of Armageddon:
Joel 3:9–14 (KJV): 9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (mg concision or threshing): for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
This passage is a development after the return of the Jews to the Holy Land in 1948 and the recapture of Jerusalem in 1967 Joel 3:1-2.

Kind regards
Trevor
The Day of the Lord is very clear, and none of it has occurred as the Second Coming is a world wide event which every eye will see Him, not just a few Jews and Arabs fighting over who gets some land. Look at the texts..

Revelation 1:7 - Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Hebrews 9:28 - So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Matthew 25:31-46 - When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Revelation 19:11-16 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 - For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
 
Notice this one...

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
 
Greetings again Hobie,
The Day of the Lord is very clear, and none of it has occurred as the Second Coming is a world wide event which every eye will see Him
I understand that the details leading up to the Battle of Armageddon mentioned in Revelation 16:12-16 are important to understand this subject correctly. The SDA view that everything will be wiped out and the earth burnt and then desolate for the 1000 years does not agree with the many OT prophesies not only concerning the lead up to the Battle of Armageddon, the Battle of Armageddon itself, and the details immediately after and then the details of the Kingdom of God upon the earth for the 1000 years. A few examples Isaiah 2:1-4, 65:17-25, Daniel 2:35,44, Joel 3:1-21, Micah 4:1-8, Zechariah 14:1-21.

Kind regards
Trevor
 
The Day of the Lord is very clear, and none of it has occurred as the Second Coming is a world wide event which every eye will see Him, not just a few Jews and Arabs fighting over who gets some land. Look at the texts..

Revelation 1:7 - Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

God is not a man and the one time demonstration using the flesh of the Son of man is over . The one time promised demonstration to the world ended when of the Spirit of Christ working in the Son of man Jesus departed we know Christ no more through the dying flesh of the Son . .

Is it by faith that all see .. seeing the temporal flesh has returned to the dust.


2 Cororithian 516 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Again if some are waiting for a the man Jesus man to return they simply follow another gospel .
 
Greetings again Hobie,

I understand that the details leading up to the Battle of Armageddon mentioned in Revelation 16:12-16 are important to understand this subject correctly. The SDA view that everything will be wiped out and the earth burnt and then desolate for the 1000 years does not agree with the many OT prophesies not only concerning the lead up to the Battle of Armageddon, the Battle of Armageddon itself, and the details immediately after and then the details of the Kingdom of God upon the earth for the 1000 years. A few examples Isaiah 2:1-4, 65:17-25, Daniel 2:35,44, Joel 3:1-21, Micah 4:1-8, Zechariah 14:1-21.

Kind regards
Trevor
Need to read what scripture says..

Isaiah 65:17
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isaiah 66:22
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Then after the 1000 years Christ and the saints will come down out of heaven.

Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
 
God is not a man and the one time demonstration using the flesh of the Son of man is over . The one time promised demonstration to the world ended when of the Spirit of Christ working in the Son of man Jesus departed we know Christ no more through the dying flesh of the Son . .

Is it by faith that all see .. seeing the temporal flesh has returned to the dust.


2 Cororithian 516 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Again if some are waiting for a the man Jesus man to return they simply follow another gospel .
Read your Bible...
John 14:3
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Matthew 26:64
Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
Matthew 25:31
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:13
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

There are just countless places in the Bible that refer to it throughout.. here is from Billy Grahams site.. https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-5-things-the-bible-says-about-jesus-return/
 
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
If the old is burnt up in smoke out of sight out of mind where do the missing beliers return to? Will they have thier new promised bodies? What kind of body did they have for a thousand years ?
 
Read your Bible...
John 14:3
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
That, the living word of God speaking comforting words to a believer's new born again heart.

It was not a promise from the Son of man. Jesus dying mankind. He did the will of the unseen Father God used him demonstrate to the world his mighty power to redeem mankind .

Christ is here reigning in the hearts of Christians. He will leave like a thief in the night on the last day under the Sun
 
Greetings again Hobie,
Need to read what scripture says..
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
This reference does not fit in with SDA theology as it speaks about the Kingdom of God upon the earth during the 1000 years.
Isaiah 65:17–21 (KJV): 17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
How does the above fit in with the SDA concept that the faithful will be in heaven and the rest of mankind will be dead during the 1000 years? The above clearly speaks of men including some sinners living to be 100 y.o. and then dying.

There are two major visions in the writing prophets, one near the beginning and the other near the end, and they are like bookends to the rest of the prophets. An important aspect of both of these is that they describe the mortal nations soon after the Battle of Armageddon, and again this is contrary to SDA theology:
Isaiah 2:1–4 (KJV): 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Zechariah 14:16–17 (KJV): 16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.


Kind regards
Trevor
 
No, dying again for the Matthew 27:52-53 saints or Lazarus was impossible. " It is appointed unto man ONCE TO DIE, and after this the judgment", according to Hebrews 9:27. Your theory directly contradicts this truth from Hebrews 9:27.
Wow, you just made Lazarus the first fruits from the dead. Very nice. That would also include the people that Elijah and Elisha resurrected, the young girl Jesus resurrected, etc. You may want to rethink this. Jesus already said that Lazarus was a special case, prepared to bring glory to God. Don't you read? John 11: "4 and Jesus having heard, said, `This ailment is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'" (YLT) There is a reason why Jesus and Paul speaks of those believers who are dead, as sleeping.

Yet Lazarus really was dead. So why did Jesus say that Lazarus was not dead unto death?
Unfortunately, you are not the only one who has no idea what the "First resurrection" event was. Scripture makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 15:23 that "Christ the First-fruits" was part of the "First resurrection" event, with another resurrection event following at Christ's second coming. The 144,000 were also called the "First-fruits", because they were the Matthew 27:52-53 saints which shared that same "First resurrection" event with Christ that same day. Of that entire "First-fruits" group forming the "First resurrection" event, Christ was the unique "First-born", and the "First-begotten from among the dead" who ascended to God in heaven that day.
The first fruits from the dead was Jesus.
"20 And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead -- the first-fruits of those sleeping he became,
21 for since through man [is] the death, also through man [is] a rising again of the dead,
22 for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive," (YLT)

Jesus is the first fruits, the first resurrection. The others died again like Lazarus, and are in heaven awaiting the second resurrection. (Unless you believe in soul sleep, in which case you need A LOT of help.)
This is a lot of "Firsts" in scripture, so that we don't mistake when that event took place. Looks as if you missed the point, though.
Nope. Paul was clear. Jesus was the first fruits from the dead. Him and Him alone.
No, I love to quote Paul, since what he taught supports Preterism to the hilt.
Preterism wasn't even a dream until the counter reformation, when some Jesuit dreamed it up. It didn't become mainstream in the US until the 1970s. So much for Paul clearly teaching it. He did not. You should read Romans again... He was clearly a premillennialist, who believed that Israel would be saved at the end.
 
A REPEAT: "So, yes, the 'Battle of Armageddon,'or the battle between believers and the forces of evil, is in full force. At this moment, we’re battling Satan head-on. The battle will not end until our King returns and puts an end to all evil, at which time we will be transported to an extension of our golden age—heaven itself."
Not the battle described in Revelation, as you can see this battle will begin with the gathering at the sixth plague where we see the “water” of the “great river Euphrates” will dry up in order to prepare the way for the “kings from the east.” Then we see coming out from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet “three unclean spirits” which make signs to seduce the “kings” of the “whole world” and to gather them together at the place given as “Armageddon” which will battle between heaven and earth, between Christ and Satan. A final effort by the part of the evil to incite the world to fight against God and wipe out and annihilate the people of God with what will end as a military attempt to face Jesus and the angels at the second coming. The sixth plague merely announces the preparation of the earthly powers or evil with the "spirits of devils" gathering the "kings of the earth", and the "whole world", for the actual battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 16:12-15
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
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.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto 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 come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Now begins the actual battle, as the battle itself “will take place during the seventh plague which clearly is the Second Coming opening with God declaring "It is done". So the sixth and the seventh plagues are the two consecutive
stages in which Armageddon event will begin and the take place with a great and mighty earthquake that will rend the earth and we see “noises and thunderings and lightning” as well as “great hail” and then we have subsequent fall of Babylon the great. The devil knows it foretells his soon coming end is approaching, so strives to wipe out the saints, but Christ comes to help his remnant and deliver them from the oppression against them here on earth by Babylon and the earthly powers supporting her.

Revelation 16:17-21
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

We then in the next chapter, see the earthly powers supporting Babylon laid out for one prophetic hour, but they see the truth of Babylon on turn on her.

Revelation 17:12-18
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

In Revelation 18 Babylon is described in greater detail and the call made to come out of her, and the warning given that "God hath remembered her iniquities."
Revelation 18:1-5
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Then in Revelation 19 we see Christ as He comes to earth to fight the kings of the earth and the wicked of the world, and describes what the end is for those who have the mark of the beast, and the "beast" and "false prophet".
Revelation 19:14-21
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Then in Revelation 20 we see the sequence of what happens at the Second Coming with the saints it the graves brought up at the first resurrection and taken to heaven to be with Christ in His kingdom and "reign with him a thousand years."
Revelation 20:1-6
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And then we see the "dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" come out in the resurrection of damnation and they continue the attack as Satan deceives and they meet their end against the city of God, the New Jerusalem, in the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:7-10
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
 
A REPEAT: "So, yes, the 'Battle of Armageddon,'or the battle between believers and the forces of evil, is in full force. At this moment, we’re battling Satan head-on. The battle will not end until our King returns and puts an end to all evil, at which time we will be transported to an extension of our golden age—heaven itself."
I think, much like the current Israel-Hamas war, the whole world will be aroused by these spirits against the remnant saints, (in my thinking accused as causing some great harm for the world, ie. trouble such as never was) and come to destroy them. The saints hear God say "It is done", so they know Christ is coming to rescue them and take them to heaven, but the devil also sees what is going to happen and the battle of Christ and His angels against the armies of men with Satan and his demons begins, something akin to 2 Kings 6:17 when Elisha prayed, and the Lord opened the eyes of his servant and he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire (angels) round about Elisha. And then, yes, we see the destruction of the army of men in Revelation 19, but now we have these wicked brought back up after the 1000 years in the resurrection of damnation, and Satan again deceives them to now attack the city of God, the New Jerusalem which has come down with the saints. Here now the devil will perish along with his demons and the wicked as he and the evil spirits will be consumed along with the unrepented sinners in ultimate end for them all in the lake of fire..
 
Not the battle described in Revelation, as you can see this battle will begin with the gathering at the sixth plague where we see the “water” of the “great river Euphrates” will dry up in order to prepare the way for the “kings from the east.” Then we see coming out from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet “three unclean spirits” which make signs to seduce the “kings” of the “whole world” and to gather them together at the place given as “Armageddon” which will battle between heaven and earth, between Christ and Satan. A final effort by the part of the evil to incite the world to fight against God and wipe out and annihilate the people of God with what will end as a military attempt to face Jesus and the angels at the second coming. The sixth plague merely announces the preparation of the earthly powers or evil with the "spirits of devils" gathering the "kings of the earth", and the "whole world", for the actual battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 16:12-15
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
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.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto 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 come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Now begins the actual battle, as the battle itself “will take place during the seventh plague which clearly is the Second Coming opening with God declaring "It is done". So the sixth and the seventh plagues are the two consecutive
stages in which Armageddon event will begin and the take place with a great and mighty earthquake that will rend the earth and we see “noises and thunderings and lightning” as well as “great hail” and then we have subsequent fall of Babylon the great. The devil knows it foretells his soon coming end is approaching, so strives to wipe out the saints, but Christ comes to help his remnant and deliver them from the oppression against them here on earth by Babylon and the earthly powers supporting her.

Revelation 16:17-21
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

We then in the next chapter, see the earthly powers supporting Babylon laid out for one prophetic hour, but they see the truth of Babylon on turn on her.

Revelation 17:12-18
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

In Revelation 18 Babylon is described in greater detail and the call made to come out of her, and the warning given that "God hath remembered her iniquities."
Revelation 18:1-5
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Then in Revelation 19 we see Christ as He comes to earth to fight the kings of the earth and the wicked of the world, and describes what the end is for those who have the mark of the beast, and the "beast" and "false prophet".
Revelation 19:14-21
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Then in Revelation 20 we see the sequence of what happens at the Second Coming with the saints it the graves brought up at the first resurrection and taken to heaven to be with Christ in His kingdom and "reign with him a thousand years."
Revelation 20:1-6
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And then we see the "dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" come out in the resurrection of damnation and they continue the attack as Satan deceives and they meet their end against the city of God, the New Jerusalem, in the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:7-10
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


but they see the truth of Babylon on turn on her.
I don't see how this could possibly happen--they are the one world alliance. Isn't that actually admitting to a major flaw in trying to "predict" the future? "It's one totalitarian world"--but then it turns on itself?

Treat the material as history first (it basically matches Mt24A) and then see where you are in theology.
 
but they see the truth of Babylon on turn on her.
I don't see how this could possibly happen--they are the one world alliance. Isn't that actually admitting to a major flaw in trying to "predict" the future? "It's one totalitarian world"--but then it turns on itself?

Treat the material as history first (it basically matches Mt24A) and then see where you are in theology.
Babylon in Revelation is at the head of and pushing a religious system. It will get to the point that Satan says NO MORE!! He will see this Babylon destroyed, and will call for all the Earth to worship him and him alone. So it isn't a political problem, but a religious one. Satan will not stand any worship other than himself, so once his purposes are met with this Babylon, he will see it destroyed.
 
Babylon in Revelation is at the head of and pushing a religious system. It will get to the point that Satan says NO MORE!! He will see this Babylon destroyed, and will call for all the Earth to worship him and him alone. So it isn't a political problem, but a religious one. Satan will not stand any worship other than himself, so once his purposes are met with this Babylon, he will see it destroyed.
Interesting take.
 
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