(Revelation 16:13-19)

Introduction Armageddon is an exciting to many Armageddon is an exciting to many Lack of Bible knowledge Lack of Bible knowledge Excitement about a colossal battle Excitement about a colossal battle

Objective #1 See what Armageddon and the binding of Satan are really about See what Armageddon and the binding of Satan are really about The Bible does contain the words The Bible does contain the words Does it teach what they say? Does it teach what they say?

Objective #2 Discover the truth about the millennium and God’s promises to Israel Discover the truth about the millennium and God’s promises to Israel What promises did God make to Israel? What promises did God make to Israel? Has He fulfilled them? Has He fulfilled them?

Battle of Armageddon Final battle between Satan and Christ Final battle between Satan and Christ Satan: Led by the Antichrist (Revelation 16-19) Satan: Led by the Antichrist (Revelation 16-19) Helpers: Beast and False Prophet Helpers: Beast and False Prophet

Battle of Armageddon Final battle between Satan and Christ Final battle between Satan and Christ Results (Revelation 19, 20) Results (Revelation 19, 20) Armies of earth defeated (19:17, 18) Armies of earth defeated (19:17, 18)

Battle of Armageddon Final battle between Satan and Christ Final battle between Satan and Christ Beast and False Prophet cast into the lake of fire (19:20) Beast and False Prophet cast into the lake of fire (19:20) Satan bound for 1,000 years (20:2) Satan bound for 1,000 years (20:2)

Battle of Armageddon Location in North Central Palestine Location in North Central Palestine Site of several decisive battles Site of several decisive battles Deborah: Canaanites (Judges 4, 5) Deborah: Canaanites (Judges 4, 5) Gideon: Midianites (Judges 7) Gideon: Midianites (Judges 7) Saul’s death: Philistines (1 Samuel 31:8) Saul’s death: Philistines (1 Samuel 31:8) Ahaziah slain: Jehu (2 Kings 9:27) Ahaziah slain: Jehu (2 Kings 9:27) Josiah killed: Egyptians (2 Kings 23:29, 30) Josiah killed: Egyptians (2 Kings 23:29, 30)

Battle of Armageddon Participants: Four Kings of Daniel 11 Participants: Four Kings of Daniel 11 West: Head of a Revived Roman Empire, ten nation confederacy West: Head of a Revived Roman Empire, ten nation confederacy North: Russia, seeking riches in Egypt and the Middle East North: Russia, seeking riches in Egypt and the Middle East East: China, crosses the Euphrates after it was dried up by an angel (Revelation 16:12) East: China, crosses the Euphrates after it was dried up by an angel (Revelation 16:12) South: Arab states angry about the restoration of Israel South: Arab states angry about the restoration of Israel

Battle of Armageddon What is Daniel talking about? What is Daniel talking about? Daniel 11 discusses four Persian kings: Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius I, and Xerxes Daniel 11 discusses four Persian kings: Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius I, and Xerxes Xerxes confronted Greece Xerxes confronted Greece Daniel 8 discusses what happens when Greece wins out over Persia and the division of Alexander the Great’s Empire Daniel 8 discusses what happens when Greece wins out over Persia and the division of Alexander the Great’s Empire Ptolemy I of Egypt is the king of the South Ptolemy I of Egypt is the king of the South Seleucius I of Syria is the king of the North Seleucius I of Syria is the king of the North

Battle of Armageddon These kings struggle (Daniel 11:1-12:13) These kings struggle (Daniel 11:1-12:13) North: Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanies) persecuted Israel North: Antiochus IV (Antiochus Epiphanies) persecuted Israel Premillennialists make an unwarranted break (11:35), and postpone the rest Premillennialists make an unwarranted break (11:35), and postpone the rest Best position is to allow it all to refer to the time of the Maccabean revolt against the cruelty of Antiochus Epiphanies Best position is to allow it all to refer to the time of the Maccabean revolt against the cruelty of Antiochus Epiphanies Keep Revelation in the proper time frame (Revelation 1:1) Keep Revelation in the proper time frame (Revelation 1:1)

Binding of Satan It is said to occur when millennium begins It is said to occur when millennium begins Loosed toward end for a “little season” Loosed toward end for a “little season” Cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1, 2) Cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1, 2) Satan is bound already Satan is bound already Jesus said so (Matthew 12:24-29; John 12:31) Jesus said so (Matthew 12:24-29; John 12:31) Christ triumphed over him (Colossians 2:15) Christ triumphed over him (Colossians 2:15) Destroyed his power of death (Hebrews 2:14) Destroyed his power of death (Hebrews 2:14) No more demons (Zechariah 12:10; 13:1-9) No more demons (Zechariah 12:10; 13:1-9) No world wide persecuting agent since Rome No world wide persecuting agent since Rome

Revelation 20:1-7

Premillennial View of Millennium By definition it is 1,000 years By definition it is 1,000 years Proof text is Revelation 20:1-7 Proof text is Revelation 20:1-7 Is that what John was talking about in this text? Is that what John was talking about in this text?

Premillennial View of Millennium Foretold by the prophets Foretold by the prophets Jesus on an earthly throne Jesus on an earthly throne Israel to receive all that was promised Israel to receive all that was promised Time of unprecedented peace Time of unprecedented peace Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38, 39) Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38, 39) “Great White Throne Judgment” “Great White Throne Judgment”

Figurative Indicates completeness (Psalm 50:10; Deuteronomy 7:9) Indicates completeness (Psalm 50:10; Deuteronomy 7:9) Are the other things in Revelation 20:1-7 to be taken literally? Are the other things in Revelation 20:1-7 to be taken literally? Living ends when the reigning ends Living ends when the reigning ends Not a “thousand year reign of Christ,” but a living and reigning with Christ Not a “thousand year reign of Christ,” but a living and reigning with Christ

Objections Earth not mentioned Earth not mentioned Christ is reigning now (Daniel 7:13, 14; Acts 2:29-36) Christ is reigning now (Daniel 7:13, 14; Acts 2:29-36) He cannot rule on earth (Jeremiah 22:28-30; Matthew 1:11) He cannot rule on earth (Jeremiah 22:28-30; Matthew 1:11)

More Objections He cannot be a priest on the earth (Hebrews 4:14; 8:4) He cannot be a priest on the earth (Hebrews 4:14; 8:4) He said His kingdom was spiritual (John 18:36, 37) He said His kingdom was spiritual (John 18:36, 37)

The Importance of Israel in God’s Scheme “The eternal aspects of this covenant, which guarantee Israel a permanent national existence, perpetual title to the land of promise, and the certainty of material and spiritual blessing through Christ, and guarantee Gentile nations a share in these blessings, determine the whole eschatological program of the Word of God.... J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 71, 73 Chart by Ronny Milliner

The Importance of Israel in God’s Scheme “Since the Abrahamic covenant deals with Israel’s title deed to the land of Palestine, her continuation as a nation to possess that land, and her redemption so that she may enjoy the blessings in the land under her King, it is of utmost importance to determine the method of the fulfillment of this covenant. If it is a literal covenant to be fulfilled literally, then Israel must be preserved, converted and restored.” J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 71, 73 Chart by Ronny Milliner

The Importance of Modern Israel “The one event which many Bible students in the past overlooked was this paramount prophetic sign: Israel had to be a nation again in the land of its forefathers. Israel a nation—a dream for so many years, made a reality on 14 May 1948 when David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence announcing the establishment of a Jewish nation to be known as the State of Israel. In 1949, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion said that Israel’s policy ‘consists of bringing all Jews to Israel … we are still at the beginning.’” Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, p. 33 Chart by Ronny Milliner

God’s Promises to Abraham The land promise (Genesis 15:18) The land promise (Genesis 15:18) Fulfilled (Joshua 21:43; Nehemiah 9:8) Fulfilled (Joshua 21:43; Nehemiah 9:8) Recovered (2 Samuel 8:3) Recovered (2 Samuel 8:3) Ruled over by Solomon (1 Kings 4:21) Ruled over by Solomon (1 Kings 4:21)

God’s Promises to Abraham The restoration promise The restoration promise Made through Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1) Made through Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1) Fulfilled 150 years later in the decree of Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1-4) Fulfilled 150 years later in the decree of Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1-4)

God’s Promises to Abraham Problem with future restoration Problem with future restoration Based on a law that is now done away (Ephesians 2:14-16) Based on a law that is now done away (Ephesians 2:14-16) Genealogy cannot be established (Ezra 2:10) Genealogy cannot be established (Ezra 2:10) Ten northern tribes not intact (Hosea 11:1-11) Ten northern tribes not intact (Hosea 11:1-11)

God’s Promises to Abraham The spiritual promise The spiritual promise Made to Abraham and his seed (Genesis 12:3) Made to Abraham and his seed (Genesis 12:3) Fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:8, 14, 16, 26, 27) Fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:8, 14, 16, 26, 27)

Unprecedented Peace on Earth Perversion of Isaiah prophecies Perversion of Isaiah prophecies Prince of peace “forever,” not a thousand years (Isaiah 9:6, 7) Prince of peace “forever,” not a thousand years (Isaiah 9:6, 7) Place of peace is not in the world, but in God’s Holy Mountain (Isaiah 2:1-4; Hebrews 12:22-28) Place of peace is not in the world, but in God’s Holy Mountain (Isaiah 2:1-4; Hebrews 12:22-28)

Unprecedented Peace on Earth All are fulfilled in the church All are fulfilled in the church Peace between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14) Peace between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14) Place is the church (1 Timothy 3:15) Place is the church (1 Timothy 3:15) Gospel of peace (Romans 10:15) Gospel of peace (Romans 10:15) Peace through faith (Romans 5:1) Peace through faith (Romans 5:1) Fulfillment came (Romans 15:8-12) Fulfillment came (Romans 15:8-12)

Conclusion Judgment is coming for all of us Judgment is coming for all of us Make sure we have real hope Make sure we have real hope