Armageddon is the final war between God and those nations that are anti-God. Scripture tells us it will be held near Mount Megiddo at the southern end of the Esdraelon Valley. It is about 70 miles north of Jerusalem. (Rev. 16:16) It is the final time that nations try to destroy Israel and take Jerusalem.

After Russia, Iran and other nations were defeated as we previously covered, an Asian army of 200 million came to Israel. Revelation 9:15 – 16 – “And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” Led by unified kings from the East they will kill millions on their way. Like the previous battle with Russian, Iran and others this Asian army coming from the north is destroyed. It is very evident that God protects His covenant people and their covenant land. According to Zechariah 14:12 – “This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” This sounds like what happen to Sodom and Gomorrah.

When this happens Jews will realize that Jesus is the Messiah. They will see Him standing on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 12:9 – 11 – “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. ‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” Not only will the Battle of Armageddon prove the Old Testament prophecies but also the New Testament. Those who doubted the authenticity of Scripture must accept the truth of the gospels. The entire nation of Israel will go into mourning and accepts Christ’s leadership. They are blessed and become prosperous.

There is a difference in belief as to when the Temple is rebuilt. Some believe it is after the second war with Russia. Others believe it does not occur until after Armageddon. Most believe it was built prior to the Tribulation as the Antichrist rules three and a half years from the Temple. Then Christ takes over.

Many continue to believe and I used to believe that something bad had to happen to the United States. Before President Obama no American president or NATO would have allowed armies to invade Israel without intervening. Otherwise, it was believed America would have had to lose its status as a super-power and be unable to protect Israel. Still many believe the future for America does not look good. For those who believe God is in complete control, did He allow President Obama to be elected as part of His plan? Or, as some think another possibility is that the U.S. could go into bankruptcy and be unable to be Israel’s protector? Could it be the worldliness of America has resulted in God’s judgment against us? (These are merely assumptive questions asked by a number of Christian authors!) However, it “appears” we may be moving closer to the Day of Judgment. Until this past year, a lot of what has been happening is starting to make sense. Is God showing us a preview of end-times or is this the real thing? This shouldn’t be scary if we are believers. As I have been writing, isn’t it time for our nation to repent as the Jews have done in previous generations and seek forgiveness rather than allow God’s judgment to devastate us?

Many believe that at the end of the Tribulation Jesus will come out of the sky and will be seen by all. Matthew 26:64 – “Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” He is coming to save Israel from total destruction. He will come to Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:1 – 4 – “Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you! I will gather all the nations to fight against Jerusalem. Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past”…..”On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.” (NLT) This is yet to occur. Zechariah 14:5 – “You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come and all his holy ones with him.”

Before Christ returns, believers going through the wars and natural disasters will place their hope in Christ. Titus 2:13 – “While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

Throughout the Bible when Jesus returns it states that a multitude will come with Him. In Daniel 7:9 – 10 states that there will be thousand thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. It sounds fairly massive to me. He comes to establish His 1000 year rule on earth. When you read “clouds of heaven” it is referring to those coming with Christ. It is God’s family of believers. This includes those who have died and were in heaven and those who were caught up into the air, (those who were raptured) will be with Christ when He returns.

Matthew 24:29 – 30 – “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”

Then we will witness the real fun part. We will have bodies that will last through Christ’s reign. I Corinthians 15:51 – 53 – “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.”

Finally, we read in I Thessalonians 41:16 – 18 – “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Why would anyone want to put off the return of Christ to rule the earth? (Unless it would be to see more saved.) Otherwise, it would only be if you do not understand Scripture. Or, they have not accepted Christ as their Savior.