In 1 John 4:1 we are told to “try the spirits” of those who lead us in spiritual matters. I ask those who hear and read my messages to go to God’s Word and “try my spirit” to see if I am telling the truth. The apostle Paul commended the men of Berea because they did exactly that after hearing him expound on the Holy Scriptures. He called the Bereans “noble” because they “searched the Scriptures daily” to determine if he was telling them the truth about God’s Holy Word. Nothing has changed. Today we are told to “Prove all things of God,” meaning to make sure that what we are being taught is what God is teaching (1 Thes. 5:4). To prove God’s Word we must “Study (it) to show yourself approved of God” (2 Tim. 2:15). Let us obey the Lord by searching the Scriptures and proving what is the Truth relative to the “Battle of Armageddon.”

“Armageddon” is the Anglicized rendering of a place in the Holy Land known as Har Megiddo. I have been there and have seen the so-called Valley of Armageddon where many major battles were fought anciently. The place from which one gets a clear, unobstructed view of the Biblically famous valley is called the “har.” From this high, flat area at one end of the valley many kings and royals have watched their armies do battle in times past. But the famous battle that will bring about the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of the millennium–the 1000 year world rule of Christ and His saints–will not take place in the Valley of Megiddo. But before we learn WHERE the battle will be fought, let us go to Zephaniah 1:14,15 to learn exactly WHEN the battle will take place: “The great DAY OF THE LORD (the final year of the Great Tribulation) is near and hastens greatly …. Great men will cry bitterly. It is a day of wrath, trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” The Prophet Joel describes the Day of the Lord as “great and terrible.” The Battle of Armageddon will take place at the end of “the Great and terrible Day of the Lord”–the year-long period following Satan’s Great Tribulation. For 2 1/2 years sinning mankind will have suffered at the hands of a rage-filled Satan. The history of his reign over sinning man is laid out before us by the opening of five symbolic “seals.” This history begins with the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation. Satan’s hatred for mankind will be exhibited for 30 months prior to Christ’s return to this earth. Then there will come a lull. People will believe that the worst is behind them. Fears will disappear and man will go back to his wickedness. Then the sixth seal will be opened and sinners will be introduced to the wrath of God Himself Who, for the next year, will make the previous 2 1/2 years pale by comparison. During this 12 month period He will punish man for the sins committed against Him and His Son. Read Isaiah 13:6-11 for a description of that terrible time. As the Scriptures tells us, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will roar.

In Revelation 16:14,16 we find that God has gathered the world’s warring factions together in the Valley of Migeddo (Armageddon) to prepare them for the final battle of this age. But they will not fight each other. Instead, the Lord leads them to combine their forces and charge toward Jerusalem where they will try to destroy Jesus Christ Who, having recently returned, has established His Father’s kingdom in the famous city. It is at Jerusalem that the so-called “Battle of Armageddon” will be fought. It is there that the enemies of Christ and His saints will meet their doom in the Valley of Jehoshaphat where blood will flow as high as a horse’s bridle and where birds will gorge themselves on the corpses of those who dare to wage war against the King of Kings and His angels. Christ will make short work of them. By the time this battle begins 2/3 of the world’s population will have already been killed.

In Luke 21:20 Jesus tells us what sign to look for that will tell us that the famous battle is about to begin: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that the desolation is nigh.” When the enemies of God surround Jerusalem, the “Battle of Jehoshaphat” will soon begin.

Following this famous battle, Christ will initiate His 1000 year reign on earth. His saints will spend that time teaching those still alive about God and His ways. Those who had been in the Institutional Church during their previous lives, along with those who have never heard of him, will be introduced to the Godhead and given the chance to embrace Them without Satan’s interference. See The Three Resurrections. Following the resurrections God will destroy the current earth and heavens and will create new ones. The Father Himself will come to earth, bringing with Him New Jerusalem. From there the Father, His Son and Their saints will rule the universe forever. See The Kingdom of God and God’s Very Elect–Future Caretakers of the Universe.

How did we get to this place? How did mankind go from Eden to Armageddon? from heaven on earth to hell on earth? The answer is found in Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26 and the third chapter of First John where God explains how His most prized creation went from His penthouse to Satan’s outhouse. From these books we learn that God created man for the purpose of blessing him. But there was a caveat: man had to obey Him in order to receive those blessings.

But man, under the influence of Satan, had a better idea. Man began his rebellion against His Maker in Eden and never stopped. In spite of the Lord’s numerous warnings, he has consistently chosen to go his own way. As goes the church, so goes the society. In mankind’s  headlong rush to destruction, those who call themselves God’s people have led the way. Israel, primarily the United States and Britain today, have failed Him in every way. See Who and Where is Israel Today?

As He had warned, Israel’s rebellion has brought on His wrath. He tells us in Psalm 26:2 that there is no curse without a cause. Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 make this abundantly clear. His curse is upon modern day Israel, and for good cause. As did our ancestors, we have sown the wind and must now reap the whirlwind. Those who know, believe and obey God’s Word will escape the last 42 months of terror that is soon to begin. He has promised to take them to a place of safety (Rev. 12:14) where they will be protected and cared for throughout the end-time holocaust. Few, Jesus said, will believe and obey Him and make the cut (Mat. 7:13,14). Most, He said, will choose Satan’s counterfeit religion. L.J.