REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 16:16
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
Chapter
Sixteen
The
Great Tribulation
The
Seven Trumpets
Judgment
Resumed
Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)
Armageddon
Review
Outline
1. The
First Bowl – Boils afflict followers of the beast (v. 2)
2. The
Second Bowl – Oceans become a sea of blood (v.3)
3. The
Third Bowl – Rivers and springs turn to blood (Vv. 4-7)
4. The
Fourth Bowl – Oppressive heat from the sun (Vv. 8-9)
5. The
Fifth Bowl – Darkness engulfs the earth (Vv. 10-11)
6. The
Sixth Bowl – The River Euphrates dries up (Vv. 12-16)
7. The
Seventh Bowl – Hail crumbles the cities (Vv. 17-21)
Introduction
As
noted in the previous study, spirits of demons under the direction of Satan,
knowing that the Second Coming of Christ is at hand, will lure the kings of the
earth to gather together all the military might of the world for the battle of that great day of God Almighty (16:14). After
crossing the dried-up Euphrates River, they will assemble for war at the
battlefield named Armageddon.
Once
the final bowl is poured in verse 17, the final battle, before Christ's return,
ends in victory. And the balance of Chapter 16 chronicles the aftermath of
judgment. However, the Lord’s Second Advent is detailed in Revelation 19 and verses
11 through 21.
Chronology
is difficult to maintain by John the Apostle due to the overwhelming wealth of
information given to him to scribe. But once again the narrative is interrupted
in Chapter 17 wherein a lengthy parenthesis is inserted for background events regarding
Babylon the Great and its doom to be delineated. As far as Tribulation is
concerned, the climax of all God’s wrath has been expunged and the Millennium
is set to commence.
(Verse 16)
King James Version
And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew
tongue Armageddon.
Greek
(Καὶ συνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν τόπον τὸν
καλούμενον Ἑβραϊστὶ Ἁρ¦μαγεδών.)
Transliteration
Kai
synēgagen eis ton topon ton Hebraisti kaloumenon Har¦magedōn
Translation
And
(He/they) assembled [the kings] in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon
He/They
There is some discrepancy over the verb to
collectively bring, call, gather, or assemble several
persons to a place. The verb [συνάγω sunago (soon-ag'-o)] appears in the second
aorist active indicative tense and third-person singular [συνήγαγεν; (synēgagen)]. Another
rendering reads, “And they gathered
together them [i.e., the kings] unto
the place called in the Hebrew, Armageddon”: The word is sometimes
translated as demonic spirits or the spirits of demons. However, a better
and more accurate understanding is that They,
the Lord God Almighty [the Triune God (three persons in one)], is the One sovereignly
orchestrating this assemblage.
Armageddon
Etymology
Ἁρμαγεδδών (Greek, G717) is a Greek nominative
neuter singular noun. Only used one time in the Bible, Armageddon is two
Hebraic words compounded: har [הר] [Hebrew, H2022 - a shortened form of hârâr (הרר)
H2042], meaning hill country, mount or mountain and (megiddôn megiddô) [מגדּו מגדּון] (Hebrew,
H4023 - defined as Megiddon or Megiddo), a place
in Palestine, i.e., Mount Megiddo. NASB and ASV alternatively
translate, Har-Magedon.
Location
The mountainous land of Megiddo (14 miles wide and 20 miles in
length) contains the Jezreel Valley and the Plain (Valley) of Esdraelon (the valley
of God’s sowing - One of the most fertile valleys in the world). Once a
Canaanite city-state and military stronghold (cf. Joshua 12:21), it is situated
sixty miles north of Jerusalem, southwest of the Sea of Galilee, and flows
northeast and west between the Jordan Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. Dan
would be considered the northernmost city and Beersheba the southernmost, encompassing
a two-hundred-mile stretch for battle – The length of Israel.
Territorially,
the plains of Megiddo contained an important strategic international trade
route between Egypt to the south and Mesopotamia to the north. Also, the Hill of Megiddo itself is located on the southern rim
of the Plain of Esdraelon.
History
Excavations
show the first town being built in the early fourth millennium B.C. The
earliest occupations of Megiddo were the Egyptians, Syrians, Canaanites, and the Philistines. Historically, Megiddo was one of the most strategic fortress
locations in Israel and has an extensive account of conflicts.
From the time
after the Conquest, the entire territory is situated in northern Israel. Originally
apportioned to the tribe of Issachar, the central city was later handed over to
the tribe of Manasseh (cf. Joshua 17:11-12) but enjoyed little success in its
occupation. Canaanite strongholds prevented anyone from gaining control and
occupying the land of Megiddo.
Archaeology
Informative
archaeological value is posted on http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2014/11/05/megiddo-the-place-of-battles.aspx/
Military
History
Megiddo, the great battlefield of the Holy Land, was notorious
for many biblical historical battles:
Old Testament
1. Where Deborah and Barak fought Sisera, the captain of Canaanite
king Jabin’s army, and overthrew them by the waters of Megiddo (cf. Judges 4-5)
2. Where Gideon defeated 135,000 Midianites and Amalekites with his
300 men (cf. Judges 6:33-8:10)
3. Where Josiah king of Judah was killed by the archers of Pharaoh Necho (cf. 2 Chronicles 35:20-25)
New Testament
1. Where Titus and the Roman Army fought in the first century
2. Where the Crusaders battled Saladin in the Middle Ages
3. Where Britain’s
General Edmund Allenby defeated the Ottoman Turkish armies in 1917
Napoleon Bonaparte once called it, “the most natural battlefield
of the whole earth.” Consequently, Megiddo seems to be the central point of the
final conflict labeled Armageddon.
Purpose
Knowing
Messiah’s return is imminent, Satan’s main purpose is to deceive and lure the military
might of all nations by using demonic forces to resist and combat the armies of
Heaven in the
great day of God Almighty (16:14b)
to subvert the Second Coming of the Son of Man. Once again, God is sovereignly
permitting these events to accomplish His purpose – Not theirs. And,
significantly, all eyes of the world shall be focused on Armageddon (Literally,
the War of Armageddon).
Prophecy
Listed below
is a brief biblical summary of future events:
Zechariah 12:11 – In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as
the mourning [lamenting over the death of King Josiah] of Hadadrimmon [Hadad
(Rimmon) a place in Palestine] in the valley of
Megiddon.
Revelation 17:14 – These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He
is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they [the
saints] that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 19:19 - And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against Him that sat on the horse,
and against His army [the
saints].
Point:
Armageddon will be the last battle before Christ’s return. However, one final
war will ensue at the end of the Kingdom Age (cf. Revelation 19:19-20).
The Seventh Bowl
(Verse 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.
The last of the seven bowls is finally
poured by the seventh angel. As far as Tribulation is concerned, there is
nothing more after reading verse 21. The 21 judgments of God’s plan are
completed and accomplished. This is the climax! Often overlooked, but noticed,
the final vial is poured out upon the very air that men breathe. Recall: The
Lord had previously bloodied the waters (verses 3-5), and now He pollutes the
atmosphere, all in preparation for the earth’s complete renovation. Its aftermath
is graphically detailed in the remaining verses during the succeeding study.
And there came a great Voice out of the Temple of Heaven, from
the Throne, saying, It is done
Forthwith, a great voice is heard proceeding
from the Throne room of His heavenly Temple, God shall pronounce the final exclamation,
“It is done.” This will be the third and final time the phrase is annunciated
in the Bible:
1. When Jesus Christ hung on the Cross at
Calvary, as He paid the supreme price for sinners, He exclaimed, “It is
finished.” (cf. John 19:30)
2. When here from God’s Throne He spake,
“It is done.” (cf. Revelation 16:17)
3. When the last time in the prophetic future,
after the destruction of the heavens and Heaven and Earth is recreated, God shall
proclaim, “It is done.” (cf. Revelation 21:6)
Comparisons
A. For Sinners, they will be the most horrifying
words they ever hear
B. For believers, they are the most
beautiful words one can ever hear.
Someone has rightly analogized:
1. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” it means the foundation is
laid
2. When God makes this statement in
Chapter 16, it indicates the walls are up
3. When He says it in Revelation 21, it
signifies the roof is on
So, It is finished is
enunciated by God three times:
1. At Calvary
2. At the end of Tribulation
3. At the end of the Millennium
Praise be to
God!
Post Script
As a stark
reminder for those who refuse to place their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal
Saviour, a man who died on their behalf, there is no hope for a blissful
eternity. Sadly, it will be one of dismal torment.
However, as
edification to believers who remain true to the Gospel, the Church of Jesus
Christ (The Bride), at this point, has been caught up and has a residence in Heaven.
Additionally, the scenes taking place in the remainder of Chapter 16 are upon
the earth.
Prophetic
events following (in the next study) are without precedent or parallel in human
history.
QUESTIONS:
1. Define Armageddon.
2. Historically, why is Armageddon important?
3. Who is responsible for gathering the world’s
armies there?
4. What is the prophetic importance of Armageddon?
5. Name all the forces involved in Armageddon.
6. Is Armageddon the final war in the Bible?
7. When is the seventh bowl poured out?
8. What words emanate from the Throne in Heaven?
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