December 21-December 27

The Battle of Armageddon
Revelation 8-16
Brian Magnuson, PhD
Dothan, Alabama

As trumpets are used in our day to get ones attention and announce the arrival of important persons, so God uses trumpets in the book of Revelation to announce his verdict and judgment against an ungodly nation that has persecuted His church. The 8th and 9th chapters of Revelation picture God’s judgment upon the Roman Empire by means of internal corruption (9:1-11) and external forces (9:13-16).

Often it appears that evil is winning and that God’s purposes are being forted. In the midst of such pain and uncertainty, what are Christians to do? That answer is given to us in chapters 10 and 11. As for John, the messenger of God, he is to consume the word of God. It was sweet as honey because it was a message from God but it also turned his stomach sour because it was a message of woe and punishment against the ungodly persecutors (ch.10). As for the church, they were to remain faithful to God and proclaim His word to any who would hear (ch. 11). This would become a very difficult task at times but God is faithful and will restore and resurrect any child of His that may fall under severe persecution (11:11-12).

A graphic picture of this persecution is given in the 12th chapter. A woman is prepared to give birth (physical Israel). But a red dragon (Satan) is waiting to kill her child (Jesus). The child is snatched up to God and the dragon pursues but Satan is met at the gates of heaven and thrown back down to earth. Frustrated, the dragon turns to the woman (spiritual Israel = the church) and tries to destroy her but the gates of hell will never be able to stop the Kingdom of God. Unable to destroy or even stop the church, the dragon does the only thing left for him; pursue individual Christians (17). We stand at this moment in time when Satan tries to destroy the sheep that have wondered off from the fold. Christians must stay together in community lest we be picked off one by one by the evil one.

Knowing his time is limited, the dragon (Satan) enlists the help of anyone who will allow him space to move in their life. Chapter 13 details his success in recruiting the Beast of the Sea (the Roman Emperor, :1-10) and the Beast of the Earth (local authorities throughout Asia Minor that carry out Rome’s edicts :11-17). The evilness of men’s hearts is reflected in the number 666 symbolizing Nero and all that is evil and vile within a rebellious man (18).

The destiny of those who persecute the people of God as well as the triumph of those who remain faithful to Him are spelled out in the 14th and 15th chapters.

God’s merciless anger is poured out upon Rome in the picture of a battle called Armageddon (ch.16). At this “battle”, the dragon (Satan), the beast (Roman Emperor) and the false prophet (local authorities) are all present (13). From a literary perspective, it is obvious that Armageddon has already been fought; that is, it is behind us, not a battle at the end of time. This is made clear when one examines the rest of the revelation given by God. In chapter 19 the beast and false prophet are thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Then a thousand years pass (20:1-6) and finally the Book of Revelation depicts the end of time. At this moment only Satan is left and he is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (20:10). At the “Battle of Armageddon” all three are present. At the end of time only Satan is present. Armageddon has already been fought.

The picture is clear, in the course of human history, there are times in which Christians are persecuted because of Satan’s evil desires. God sees what happens to His people, cares very much and may even decide to step in and stop it; such as in the case of Roman persecution in the first and second century.



[Dr. Brian Magnuson is the Senior Minister for the Westgate Church of Christ in Dothan, Alabama.]