|
What is this climactic battle of Earth’s history that the Holy Bible calls Armageddon?
The word Armageddon is translated, Mount of Slaughter. This
final battle of Earth’s long and violent history is the pinnacle of man’s struggle against life’s oppression,
but it is also man’s foolish and spiteful solution to bring that struggle to an end. And every citizen
of Earth will be called to take one of two sides before this battle takes place in the end of our world’s present history.
Therefore, this event is global in its scope, and everlasting in its effect. The Holy Bible
classifies these two groups as those with “the seal of God” and those with “the mark of the beast”
(Rev.7:3, 14:6-11). The LORD of Heaven and Earth summed it up this way, “Then shall ye return, and
discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Mal.3:18. To ill define
these two groups; to not understand the boundaries that distinguish their differences, this Bible illiteracy will lead to
the extinction of all who misconstrue the great issue facing the human race in the end of time. Also, there
will be no neutral ground in this grand finale in world history and all will be called to take their stand, in
obedience, or disobedience to the Word of GOD (Jn.12:48). Several opinions about Armageddon
have been put forth, ranging from science fiction movies to today’s prophecy gurus campaigning from a variety of religions:
each claiming that their religion is the one true religion, that they are GOD’S true servant and “the apple of
His eye” (Zech.2:8). But how do these “prophets” stack up against the cosmic quarrel
between Virtue and immorality: the Son of GOD Jesus Christ and life’s adversary Satan? To answer
this we need to know the basis of Satan’s war against GOD, for the Holy Bible says that he “deceiveth the whole
world” to defy the very salvation of GOD, ushering billions of GOD’S children to eternal death, where
life for them will, in the end, be terminated “in all points” as it is written: “they shall be as though
they had never been” (Ob.16). [Other texts illustrating this fate of non-existence: Ps.36:10,20,36, 115:17; Eccl.5:16,
9:5,10; Mal.4:1-3; Acts 2:34; Rev.20:9.]
To fathom the magnitude of this future event, as the threshold of global extinction dawns for the human race, the very
source of war must be understood—where it first began and where it is leading. The Holy Bible says,
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Rev.12:7,8. The very first
hostility took place where GOD dwells in Heaven, assaulting the essential tranquility of life that GOD established for the
angelic hosts “In the beginning” (Eze.28:15). What happened next? “And
the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast
out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Rev.12:9. This Scripture teaches that
Satan brought his tyrannical violence to the Earth, robbing from the human family the tranquility GOD established for all
of Earth’s creatures “In the beginning” (Gen.1:29-31). So, what we see today is that
every violent act witnessed on the Earth, among man and beast is the fruit of Satan’s presence. Everything
detestable to human conscience finds its origin in Satan’s war against GOD. Simple enough!
Now, let us ask two final questions: 1) Where can everlasting peace and tranquility be found? The
Holy Bible answers this question as with all questions pertaining to our salvation: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in
the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”
Jer.6:16. 2) But where is this “rest” and "good way" to be found?
This is where the Words of Jesus Christ shine in a world of darkness and despair, dispelling the overshadowing gloom:
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For
My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt.11:28-30. Every word, every deed—every
purpose of Jesus Christ was to lead men, women and children to His Rest, to believe His Word of deliverance from all
that threatens the security of life. This is GOD’S promised deliverance from the suffering and betrayal
that is smothering the life of Earth to extinction. And without the intervention of GOD in the sacrifice
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, none would escape death’s dominion. The “Grim Reaper” as man likes to
call him would swallow up every living thing as Solomon so poignantly said, “There are…things that are never
satisfied, yea…that saith not, It is enough: The grave...” Prov.30:15,16. The center
of the controversy between Christ and Satan, between the two governments they represent: one of peace and eternal purpose,
and one of violence leading to extinction, is over One Commandment, written in the permanence of stone, hewn by Moses (Ex.34:4)
and Inscribed with “the finger of GOD” (Ex.31:18) Who was none other than Christ Himself (Jn.8:58).
This One and only One Commandment calls for faith in GOD: to rest by faith in His deliverance from the heartache, toil
and death of this present world. This Law, among the Ten, presents the very core of GOD’S love for
His children. It is the Seventh-day Sabbath rest: the 24-hour period from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday,
as Jesus Christ upheld its eternal benefit: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore, the
Son of man is LORD also of the Sabbath.” Mk.2:27,28. It was made for man because it gives assurance
of GOD’S completed work in all things, which now includes salvation through Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice has preserved
the integrity of the Sabbath. Of this truth, Scripture says, "My son, keep my words , and lay up my commandments
with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." Prov.7:1,2. This
one-day out of the week, the day GOD appointed, and not man, calls all mankind to enter His Rest, His knowledge—His
joy in providing everything that will meet the desires of His children forever. That’s all the Sabbath
is. It is not a day of works or a day of worry, but one of joy, faith and rest. For
mankind to buck at this shows the extent of ignorance to Spiritual truth. But the LORD has mercy on all
His children who stand in ignorance: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” "And though
the LORD give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed." "Turn
O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family,
and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and
understanding." Hos.4:6; Isa.30:20; Jer.3:14,15.
The seven day cycle that GOD commanded into existence will never change (Ps.111:7,8; Heb.13:8) no less than the law
of gravity. It is fundamental to the purpose of GOD’S work of perpetuity and redemption in the Earth:
"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established
in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall
come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach
us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth
of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it." Mic.4:1-4. “The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as
he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.” Deut.28:9.
Jesus never once altered the intent of those words, as He Himself said, “but if thou wilt enter in to life, keep
the commandments.” Matt.19:17.
Now, let us define Armageddon in light of Satan’s rebellion against the Law of GOD as the LORD explained in Ezekiel
28:12-19. Simply ask yourself: Which of the Ten Commandments has the whole world united against?
There’s your Armageddon! The answer to this question is the sole
reason for this final battle ushering the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ in the Clouds of Heaven.
This One unmistakable Commandment, the 4th Commandment, given, spoken and written by the Mouth and Hand of Jesus
Christ (Jn.8:58) is despised the world over. It has been decidedly scorned by Catholicism, Protestantism,
Mormonism, the Jehovah’s Witness, Christian Science, Greek and Russian Orthodoxies, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism,
Shintoism, the New Age, Witchcraft, Fortunetellers, Voodoo, Satanism, Scientology, Free Masonry, and Atheism alike!
In defiance to this One Commandment of GOD (the One Commandment given to bless the everlasting security and tranquility
of life) they all stand as one! And the Bible says this will never change until the
end of time (Dan.2:31-35; Rev.16:8-11).
The cataclysmic battle of Armageddon ushering the conclusion of sin’s rule over the world is simply because man
will not honor the One Law of the Ten Commandments that is the easiest to obey: the One and only Law that calls man to enter
GOD’S rest on His Day: “the seventh day…the Sabbath of the LORD thy God.” Saturday has always been
and will ever be “the LORD’S day,” (Gen.2:1-3; Ex.20:8-11; Isa.58:13,14, 66:22,23; Mk.2:27,28; Rev.1:10).
It is GOD’S call to rest, through faith, in His deliverance from a dying world (I Pet.1:7-9), as it is written:
“And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out
thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.”
Deut.5:15. These Sacred Words bridging GOD’S deliverance to the Seventh-day Sabbath are an addendum to the Ten Commandments.
The very Law that displays the supreme love of GOD for man, the Law Christ came and died to uphold its honor has been
rejected by the world's religions. This apostasy lies at the heart of man’s and Satan’s allied revolution
against GOD of which Armageddon is the climax of this rebellion. But before the end comes the
LORD will restore to public exhibition the original Sacred Tablets of Stone, hewn by Moses and Inscribed by Christ.
The Ark of the Covenant has been hidden in Jeremiah’s grotto for nearly 2,600 years. Today’s
Israel will restore them to the world at GOD’S appointed time: the time when the issue comes to the forefront of society’s
examination.
Unbeknownst to most, there has been a long-standing civil war within Christianity, where the deliberately sinful church,
who demand salvation according to their method not according to GOD’S (Jer.44:15-17; II Pet.2:17-21), has been in
a death-match against the faithful, Commandment keeping Church, since the beginning of her rise to power over civil law.
The history of Rome's atrocities against the commandment keeping Christians is well documented. The so-called "Church Fathers:" Origen, Clement, and popes, (pawned
off as Christ’s obedient disciples), refused the proven grammatical/historical interpretation of the Scriptures; and
they determined to marry in an unholy union the purity of the Scriptures to the self-righteous philosophy of pagan idolatry.
In those early days there were two dominant schools of theology: the school of Antioch in Syria, which upheld Judean
principles, and the school of Alexandria in Egypt, which promoted the mingling of pagan traditions and mystical modes of thought
to the purity of the Christian faith. Thus, two churches were born. As Cain and Abel
represent the two branches of the human race: one righteous, and one unrighteous, so the newly formed Christian church
had two offspring, representing two branches of Christianity: one righteous, and one unrighteous. It is
the civil war between these two views of Christianity that festers until the final battle of Armageddon. In the end of this world’s history, two classes of men will
appear in their true light: one rejoices at GOD’S deliverance from the violence of this world, of which the Sabbath
is the seal of that rest, while the other promotes the perpetuity of violence, stopping at nothing to secure their rulership
of the world, even as “they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame.” Heb.6:6.
The fact that the church of lawlessness urges the civil authorities to do her bidding (Rev.13:15-18)
illustrates keenly that the Spirit of GOD has no place in their hearts, for Christ’s explicit command forbidding religious
tyranny exposes their true character (Lu.22:25,26): a character that they have determined to never repent from, even if given
another thousand years of life (Isa.30:8-13; Rev.16:8-11). The world's ruling church, seated in Rome, will lose
this battle (Dan.2:31-35; Rev.16:17-21), for “the King of kings and Lord of lords” will come to save His chosen—“they
that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him.” Rev.14:12; Heb.7:25. In closing, Armageddon is simply Satan’s last
stand in his death-match against “His Maker” Jesus Christ (Jn.1:3; Col.1:16)], using his pawns among
men to do his bidding, just as when he led men to crucify Him. But the outcome of Armageddon has already
been decided, as it is written, “These [the slaves to Satan’s temptations] shall make war with the Lamb, and the
Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called chosen and faithful.”
Rev.17:14.
The 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ is the supreme rescue of human history: the Ultimate Cavalry to
the Rescue. He comes at the very moment the Earth can no longer support life, as described by the seven last plagues
of Revelation 16, whose “fury of the LORD” (Isa.51:20) will be seen against the inhumanity of all who are complicit
to the religious leaders plot to murder GOD’S faithful children (Rev.13:15), the many Spirit led souls who are
to be found in “all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues” (Rev.7:9), for they and they alone are “the
apple of His eye.”
|