The great battle called Armagedon
June 13, 2020
Commentary
An evil spirit that looked like a frog came out of the mouth of the dragon. One also came out of the mouth of the beast, and another out of the mouth of the false prophet (v. 13). These evil spirits had the power to work miracles (v. 14). They went to every king on earth, to bring them together for a battle against God. These evil demons draw people to their evil cause. Remember that Christ says, “When I come, it will surprise you like a thief (v. 15)! He goes on to say, “but God will bless you, if you are awake and ready. Then you won’t have to walk around naked and be ashamed.” All the armies came together in a place near the city of Megiddo, that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (v. 16).
As soon as the seventh angel emptied his bowl in the air, a loud voice from the throne in the temple shouted, “It’s done” (v. 17)! There were flashes of lightning, roars of thunder, and the worst earthquake in history (v. 18). The great city of Babylon split into three parts, and the cities of other nations fell (v. 19). So God made Babylon drink from the wine cup that was filled with his anger. Every island and the mountains disappeared (v. 20). Hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds each, fell from the sky on people (v. 21). Finally, the people cursed God because the hail was so terrible.
Application
This great battle between God and sinful men is a reminder that when I face battles in this life God will meet and destroy the evil forces just like He does here if I allow Him to do so.
Revelation 16:13– 21 (NET)
13 Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.
15 (Look ! I will come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)
16 Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17 Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!” 18 Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake—an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God’s furious wrath. 20 Every island fled away and no mountains could be found. 21 And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a 100 pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous.
Illustration: The soldier from Japan who wouldn’t quit
Lieutenant Hirro Onada was the last Japanese soldier to surrender after World War II. He was left on the island of Lubang in the Philippines in 1944 — along with three other soldier s. They were left to “carry on the mission even if Japan surrenders.” Eventually the others were killed or surrendered. But Onada continued his war alone. Through the years, he ignored messages from loudspeakers announcing Japan’s surrender. Leaflets were dropped in begging him to surrender so he could return to Japan. During his 29-year private war, he killed at least 30 Philippine nationals. Finally, on March 10, 1974 Onada surrendered after receiving a personal command from his former superior officer. His lonely war was finally over. When he returned to Japan as an aged man of 52, he made this comment: “Nothing pleasant during those 29 years in the jungle.” People can spend long years fighting lonely battles when they are determined to “go it alone.” People spend years battling secret sins and weaknesses and addictions — when they could end the battle IF they would let the Lord help them. (Newsweek, 1974).