REVELATION
LESSON 39
ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?
Revelation 16:16 16 And he gathered
them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
The pronoun “He”
refers to God. This is the only time the word Armageddon can be found in the
bible, and refers to a literal place where a literal battle will be fought. Armageddon
is Hebrew and is the name of a place in northern Israel, when translated the
word means “mount of Megiddo”.
The mount of
Megiddo is a large hill just west of the Jordon river, in the plain of
Esdralon, sometimes called the valley of Jehoshaphat. The Euphrates river will
dry up to allow the two hundred-million-man army to approach from the east. Demonic
spirits will go forth from the satanic trinity, Satan and the antichrist and
the false prophet to gather other armies from all over the world.
Revelation 16:17 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.
This is the
last judgment, it signifies an earthquake such as the world has not previously
known, which will affect not only particular cities, but also entire nations,
the mighty voice that shouted “It is finished” when Jesus died on the cross,
will say just before he returns to earth, “it is done” the remaining events
will bring an end to Satan’s reign.
Revelation 16:18 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.
The divine
purpose in grace was finished at the cross. Here the divine purpose in wrath is
finished. This vial judgment could well take place simultaneously with the second
coming, also presents the last cataclysmic upheaval.
When the
seventh bowl is poured out into the air, something will happen to the
atmosphere. Great flashes of lightning will explode to the ground, and thunder
will rattle the earth. Fire will break out and tremendous earthquakes will
shatter the land.
Revelation 16:19 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.
John goes on
to describe the destruction of the great city split into three parts and the
cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the great and gave her
the cup filled with the wine of fury of his wrath.
The scriptures
declare that the great city split into three parts and that throughout the
world the cities of the gentiles would be shaken to pieces and fall. The text
does not indicate what great city is in view though Jerusalem was mentioned as
a great city in the bible indicates that there will be tremendous changes in
the land surrounding Jerusalem.
The problem
that occurs with identifying Jerusalem as a city destroyed is that at the time
of the second coming Jerusalem is still a city intact, in spite of the
earthquake which has destroyed the other cities of the world.
If Jerusalem
had been destroyed by an earthquake the houses to house fighting and other
aspects of the final war could not have taken place.
Zechariah 14:8 8 And it shall be in
that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward
the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter
shall it be.
Jerusalem will
have perilous times but will be spared from total destruction.
Babylon will
be rebuilt, every city on earth except Babylon and Jerusalem will be in ruins
as the end of the tribulation period approaches. With Babylon somewhat standing
and Jerusalem hard hit, it will come into remembrance before God. It is
predicted, Babylon’s doom will happen, it will be time for those prophecies to
be fulfilled. She will get the cup filled with the wine of the fury of Gods
wrath.
Revelation 16:20 20 And every island
fled away, and the mountains were not found.
The surface
of the whole earth will be changed. Every Island will sink beneath the water,
every mountain will be leveled. The prophet Isaiah said the flood gates of
Heaven will be opened, the earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard.
Isaiah 24:20 20 The earth shall
reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the
transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise
again.
Revelation 16:21 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.
From the sky
huge hailstones about seventy-five pounds each fell upon men, and they cursed
God on account of the plague of hail. Because the plague was so terrible the
nature of the world will be dramatically changed. With the after math of each
earthquake, the mountains and islands disappearing causing a resolute loss of
life and property.
Huge waves
in the ocean created by these changes will bring total destruction that is
beyond description. Whatever is left from the earthquake in terms of buildings
and monuments of men will be beaten to a pulp by these huge blocks of hailstones.
As in
previous judgments of God, it does not bring repentance or confession of sin,
instead men recognizing that the judgments came from God and they curse God for
it.
You don’t want to go through this period of
time. Accept Jesus Christ, Gods son, as your savior and know that you can look
forward to eternity in Heaven with the creator.
Until our
next lesson
Stay in the
word.
Brother Andy
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