Whose Battle Is It?
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Revelation 16:14 states, “For they are the spirits of devils [demons], working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to The Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.” So then this is GOD’S battle! These “spirits of devils” are fallen angels who followed Lucifer (now Satan) in rebellion against the Creator long ago (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-17; Rev. 12:4).
Now let’s read Revelation 9:11 as we continue to understand events building toward Armageddon: “And they [the final revival of the Holy Roman Empire] had a king [a supreme ruler] over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue has his name Apollyon.”
Some review leads directly to what actually happens regarding God’s battle. The aforementioned leader will be accompanied by a religious leader who, with the power and influence of the devil, will perform mesmerizing, counterfeit miracles. When peoples of the earth witness these, they will be deceived into thinking that this false system is of God—and will fight what we saw they will think to beinvaders from outer space! The Beast and False Prophet will drive their religious-political-economic-military system toward final confrontation.
The World Scene
Let’s understand what will then be the world scene. By that time, the revived Holy Roman Empire—the Beast of Revelation—will have already conquered some parts of the Middle East. It will have established a foothold in Jerusalem. This “king of the north” (Dan. 11:40)—the same as the fourth beast of Daniel 7:1-28—will invade the Middle East under the pretense of bringing peace. Oil will also likely be a factor in prompting the Beast system into seeking control of the region.
Notice what Daniel says: “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him [the Beast]...” (Dan 11:44). Remember that the Bible reckons these directions from Jerusalem. While the Beast’s army is in the holy land—other military giants will move in to oppose it.
What big countries today are east and north of Jerusalem? Russia, China, India and Japan! It is likely that these, with possibly other nations in the region, will compose the massive 200-million-man army mentioned in Revelation 9:16. Read this verse. Again, all indications are that oil will be a key factor for this war machine from the East. Ezekiel 25:4 and 10 call this army the “men of the east.”
The world will have come to the point in world events that Jesus referred to: “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [left alive]…” (Matt. 24:22).
Thought-to-be Enemy
As these armies position for war, an unlikely “enemy” arrives on the scene—Christ. Mankind will see Christ this way! And here is why: “The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
Christ appropriates for God the nations’ governments and lands without asking permission!
Now realize this! There is no battle foretold at Armageddon! What happens is called THE BATTLE OF THAT GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY! Again, this is GOD’S battle! This last great clash will be fought by armies that will have already gathered at Armageddon. These two major forces will obviously see Christ coming out of the clouds. Considering Him a threat, they will join forces, forming an alliance to fight their common adversary. These men will be angry. They will not submit to God’s government. Repeating for crucial emphasis, these will think JESUS Christ is in fact the “ANTI-christ.” The result? They will “make war with the Lamb” (Rev 17:14).
Christ’s feet will rest on the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem. Notice Zechariah: “Behold, the day of the Lord comes...For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle [not Megiddo]; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount shall cleave in the midst thereof...” (Zech 14:1-4).
Again, where will this battle of the Lord take place? Let’s read from Joel: “Proclaim you this among the Gentiles; prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears [the opposite of the famous Millennial prophecy in Micah and Isaiah]: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come [from Megiddo], all you heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: there [outside Jerusalem] cause Your mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up [again, from Megiddo] to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there [outside Jerusalem] will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow [great slaughter is coming]; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the Day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:9-14). Compare this with Revelation 14:19-20.
Valley of Decision
The Valley of Jehoshaphat is also known as the “valley of decision.” This valley lies just east of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives—not 60 miles north at Har-Megiddo. I know. I have also been there and walked this valley. Today, the Jews use this area, called the Kidron Valley, as a burial ground.
Jehoshaphat means “the Eternal judges” or the “valley of the judgment of the Eternal.” King Jehoshaphat overthrew the people of Moab, Ammon and Mt. Seir when they came against Jerusalem. God fought without Jehoshaphat lifting a finger. Let’s read: “You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you” (II Chron. 20:17).
When “tomorrow” came, every one of the enemy was dead! God had done the fighting and wiped them all out!
What about this last battle? What will be the final outcome? Let’s continue in Zechariah 14:1-21 “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zech 14:12).
The God of the Bible pulls no punches in choice of language!