ARMAGEDDON IN 2008?

Harold E. Cormany

If you watch television or listen to the news, you've heard newscasters suggest and TV evangelists warn that current events in the Middle East are leading us to the battle of Armageddon. Could this be true? Has the human race entered the short countdown to the Battle that will make all the conflicts in history pale in comparison? To know the facts about the coming Battle of Armageddon, you need to read this article!

In recent months the lead stories in the media have moved swiftly from illegal immigrants, to a possible war with North Korea, to the escalating hostility between the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the country of Israel. Hovering over all of this is the continuing war in Iraq, with it's civil war, execution of Saddam Hussein, and most recently, the US appeared to be preparing the world for an additional war against Iran. As would be expected, this has caused an increase of hatred between Middle East countries and the West, primarily the United States and Israel.

As the conflict continues with no concrete end in sight, beyond hope of a military solution by an outside army, as fatalities mount, as endless billions of dollars are poured into a lost cause threatening the world's economic system, and threats of massive retaliation are reported regularly, many fear that the end of the world is at hand.

Since it seems possible more nations will be dragged into this fight, do these latest conflicts in the Middle East signal that the battle of Armageddon is near?

I say ‘no!'

The battle of Armageddon will happen, but it can't happen yet. Why not? Because many prophecies must be fulfilled before the battle of Armageddon can occur. Most of these have not yet happened. If these prophecies are not fulfilled beforehand, then we might as well rip the books on prophecy right out of the Bible.

First, let's read Christ's own words, spoken to His disciples in the Olivet prophecy. They asked him, “Tell us, what shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?”

Notice in Matthew 24 how Jesus answered this question: v. 4 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. v. 5 For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.” Note what He says in v. 6. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” V. 7- For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in diverse (various) places. V. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

At this point, Jesus has said nothing about the world ending or the battle of Armageddon. In fact, he says these events are but the beginning.

However, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 he tells us what things must come to pass before the battle to end all battles shakes the earth, and it will take time for all of these events to unfold.

This is partially why I tell you that Armageddon is not imminent. And I categorically state this regardless of what the news media and TV evangelists proclaim. Those who say Armageddon draws closer and could happen in the near future are wrong.

The argument is made that many of the things Jesus mentioned above have happened, are happening, or surely are about to happen.

Yes, this is probably true. Nevertheless, by his own words, the end is not yet!

For one thing, Damascus in Syria must be destroyed, utterly laid waste, possibly by a nuclear bomb. Notice in Isaiah 17:10 “The burden of Damascus , behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” At this point, Syria is not even involved in any fighting.

If Bible prophecy is true, then Armageddon cannot happen until we have had the opening of the seven seals, the seven trumpet plagues, and the pouring out of the sixth of seven vial plagues listed in the book of Revelation. These seven plagues happen during the seventh trumpet. This is also the third woe of three woes that must come to pass.

Most theologians believe that the tribulation that will visit the earth will last seven years. It is during this time we will witness the seals, trumpets and vials that are mentioned in the book of Revelation.

Then, for 3 ½ years before the seventh trumpet blast, there shall be two witnesses (see Rev. 11). They will warn the world from Jerusalem via satellite TV, and possibly the Worldwide Internet of the world's need to repent. These two men will literally have the power to make the rain stop all over the earth, turn waters to blood, and smite the earth with plagues. They will be killed by Satan the Devil (Rev. 11:7) and their dead bodies will lie in the streets of the city where Jesus was crucified ( Jerusalem ) which was called in v.8 Sodom and Egypt .

These witnesses will cause events similar to those Egypt experienced at the hands of Moses and Aaron prior to the Exodus of the enslaved 12 tribes of Israel and the total destruction of Egypt as a world empire.

We mentioned seven seals, seven trumpet plagues and seven vial plagues.

Notice in Revelation 5:1-9: It is Jesus who opens the seven seals, one at a time. As we read of the seven seals we see that the first four seals are similar to what Jesus warned us of in the Olivet Prophecies of Matt. 24, Mark 13 and Luke 19. The first four seals with four horses whose riders are called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In Revelation 6:1-2 we read of the first Seal. A false christ, carrying a bow and riding a white horse is responsible for a great worldwide religious deception. This is similar to the false prophets spoken of in the Olivet prophecy.

Revelation 6:3-4 tells of the second Seal. A red horse, whose rider brandishes a sword and takes peace from the earth. Remember, Jesus said ‘there shall be wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet.' Is it possible these first two seals have already been opened?

Rev. 6:5-6: The third Seal arrives; a black horse with a rider carrying a pair of balances, or scales. What usually follows war? Famine. The scales signify the rationing of food.

In Rev. 6:7-8 the fourth Seal appears; a pale horse and the rider that sits upon him is named Death and Hell (Hades- "Grave"). After war we have famine, after famine, starvation and then disease; epidemics, plagues and finally death and the grave.

Rev. 6:9-11 tells of a martyrdom of saints, followers of Christ, as happened to the early New Testament Church. This is the fifth Seal and is foretold in Matthew 24:9.

Rev. 6:12-17 describes the sixth Seal, which are heavenly signs that produce “quakes” that level mountains and make islands disappear. In v. 17 it says ‘for this great day of his wrath is come, who is able to stand?” Whose wrath is this? This is the wrath of the Lamb of God. God's wrath doesn't begin until the seven vial plagues are poured out upon the earth. We will read of these vial plagues in Revelation 16.

After this, the sealing of the 12 tribes of Israel takes place and a great multitude of people who have accepted Christ are saved from these plagues. (Rev. 7:9-14).

Then in Rev. 8:1 the seventh seal is opened. The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpet plagues. Remember, all these things must happen before there can be a battle of Armageddon.

Rev. 8:7- The first angel sounds the first trumpet blast. One third of all the trees and grass on earth are burned, it rains hail and fire mixed with blood. Notice that events happen in thirds, it does not stipulate total destruction.

In Rev. 8:8-9 the second angel sounds the second trumpet and a great asteroid rams the earth, coming down in an ocean, killing one third of all the creatures in the sea, and destroying one third of all ships that are on the seas. This would indicate all the people on these ships are killed.

In Rev. 8:10-11 the third angel sounds its trump and an angel named Wormwood poisons a third of all the waters of the earth, causing many people to die. (One wonders if this is not chemical poisons that are put into the waters.)

In Rev. 8:12 the fourth angel blows its trumpet, and a third part of the sun, moon and stars are darkened, and a third part of the day is darkened and the night likewise. This appears to be a total, utter blackness as was visited on Egypt in Exodus 10:21-23.

Rev. 8:13 -- Woe , woe , woe to the inhabitants of the earth. Three angels are yet to sound. What are the three woes? The fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets.

Rev. 9:1-10- The fifth trumpet. Demons come out of the earth and torture men for five months, but do not kill them. These demons, described as locusts, are vividly portrayed in this chapter. No, I do not believe these are helicopters, or gun ships as many ministers preach. These demons have a king and his name is Abaddon or Apollyon in the Hebrew and Greek. This could be what is described in the Old Testament in Joel chapter 2.

Rev. 9:12- The sixth trumpet sounds. Four angels are loosed from the Euphrates River (located in Iraq ). These angels will slay one third of all the people on earth. If there are 10 billion people alive, 3 to 4 billion will die during the sixth trumpet plague.

Now, read Rev. 11:14; two woes are past, the third woe comes quickly. With the third woe comes the seventh trumpet (see v. 15-18.).

Reading Rev. 15, we learn the seventh trumpet will require a period of time. Rev. 10:7 “ but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound." So this trumpet will blow over a period of time. Possibly for months as did the fifth trumpet.

The earth now faces the seven vial plagues. Revelation 15:1 describes them as the wrath of God.

Remember in I Cor. 15 and I Thess. 4 the dead in Christ are resurrected at the seventh and last trumpet, and those alive are changed at Jesus coming (in the clouds, because he still hasn't come to the earth). We learn in Rev. 15:2-8 that these people are standing on the sea of glass.

Then in Rev. 16:1, we see the beginning of God's wrath upon the earth. These vial plagues attack the wicked who blaspheme God and His name. Rev. 16:2-22 tells of the first five vials poured out on these people. Remember with the seven trumpets only one third of all things were destroyed. These plagues finish the destruction.

In Rev. 16:12 the sixth angel pours out his vial upon the great river Euphrates and it dries up. It is at this time that the kings of the east descend upon the Middle East and Palestine ( Jerusalem )with their armies. They are led by three demonic spirits, one being Satan the Devil; the other two are the Beast and the religious false prophet. (see v. 13). Verse 14 says they will perform miracles which will deceive many throughout the world.

Rev. 16:14 also says the kings of the earth and their armies have gathered here along with armies from the whole world to fight each other. Before this battle starts, something happens that forces them to unite their armies. It is the great day of God Almighty. See v. 15 and in v. 16 “And He (God) gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."

Those who are on the sea of glass are married to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Now it's time for the battle on the plains of Megiddo to be fought. This is the battle of Armageddon, where the united armies of the entire world take on Christ and His army. The world's armies are totally destroyed. The battle is described in Revelation 19.

In Revelation 19 it also tells us Christ will present a great supper for the fowls of the air, who will feed upon the bodies of those killed at Armageddon.

If you are not convinced by Christ's words in the Olivet prophecy and the events recorded in the prophecies of Revelation, you might want to go to the book of Daniel, and see how the events recorded there in chapters 7, 8 and 12 correspond to the events in Revelation.

So, could Armageddon begin tomorrow? Next week? Next month?

Not if the prophecies in the book of Revelation are true. But it certainly appears that we are in the beginning of sorrows.

Are you prepared for the Battle when it does happen? If not, now is the time to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. When you do, you are assured of His divine protection. You will achieve the great peace of mind that comes with knowing that you will be saved from the last seven vial plagues and the Battle of Armageddon.