| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | June 1991 |
Armageddon, the Climax of History
IN A GENERAL way, those who are at all acquainted with the Bible think of the Battle of Armageddon, as being a final and decisive struggle of the nations, a struggle from which God and his principles of righteousness will emerge victorious. This is true. And undoubtedly the present chaotic state of the world, with the distress of nations resulting from two global wars and many more localized wars in a generation, are the preliminary skirmishes, so to speak, which are rapidly moving toward the climax culminating in the battle which the prophecies of the Bible describe as Armageddon.
Armageddon is a Hebrew word signifying the hill of Megiddo, or the Mount of Destruction. Megiddo occupied a very marked position on the southern edge of the Plain of Esdraelon, commanding an important pass into the hill country. This locality was the great battleground of Israel on which were fought many of the famous battles of Old Testament history. This ancient battleground has recently come into prominence again, because the children of Israel once more are fighting their enemies on, and near, this ancient site. This time it is not the Amalekites, nor the Hittites, nor the Jebusites, who are their enemies—but the Arabs. The Jews are fighting to retain possession of the land which God gave to their fathers—the land which, according to the promises of God, is to be theirs as an everlasting possession.
It was the nature of the battles fought at Armageddon by the ancient Israelites that gave this name its prophetic significance and importance. There was a great fact concerning these battles that has not been true since, with respect to the battles fought by any of the nations of the earth. This fact is that God took a hand in them. When the Israelites were victorious, it was because their God had helped them. When they were defeated, it was because God saw that they needed to be punished or to learn a lesson of trust in him, and not to depend upon their own strength.
It was at Armageddon that Gideon and his little army of 300, frightened and defeated the huge army of the Midianites. In this instance the Israelites did practically no fighting. They simply followed the strategy outlined for them by the Lord and led by Gideon. Their enemies became extremely frightened, and in their confusion destroyed one another as they took flight. In the prophecies concerning the larger, antitypical Armageddon struggle with which this present Gospel Age will end, we are informed that, similarly, God will turn every man’s sword against his neighbor. In other words, the selfish nations of the earth will all but destroy one another, and thus the way will be open for the Lord to establish his rulership over the earth. Christ will emerge victorious from that struggle, and ultimately be recognized as “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”—Rev. 19:16
It was on the ancient Armageddon battlefield that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines. In this instance, God permitted Israel to meet defeat because of their sin and that of their wicked king, Saul, who had been rejected by God. Also at this same place, King Josiah was slain by Pharaoh-Necho in one of the most disastrous conflicts in the history of Israel.
However, God did not always permit his people to be defeated at Megiddo. When they were faithful to him he fought for them, bringing them victory over their enemies. So, whether in defeat or in victory, God took a hand in the conflicts of his people on that ancient field of Megiddo. For this reason it typically represents the last great struggle of mankind under the reign of sin, when the nations will learn that Jehovah is Lord. In the providences of God, this battle will result in the complete routing of all the forces of sin and unrighteousness. From it will emerge the kingdom authority of the divine Christ.
While the Scriptures use the term ‘Armageddon’ only once (Rev. 16:16), they abound with allusions to this prophetic struggle which brings the “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) to an end. The Prophet Daniel describes it as “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” (Dan. 12:1) Jesus referred to it as “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time,” and adds, “no, nor ever shall be [again].” (Matt. 24:21) In this same connection, Daniel declared that God’s representative, Michael, which means ‘Christ’, “shall stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people [Israel].” He will ‘stand up’ for the salvation of God’s people and for the rectification of error and wrong. He will stand for the establishment of righteousness and truth. He will bring to the world of mankind the great kingdom of God which has been preached from the days of Abraham.—Gen. 12:2,3
The Apostle Peter indicated that the antitypical Armageddon will be a great ‘conflagration’ in which the present self-seeking institutions of earth are swallowed up. (II Pet. 3:7,10) Elsewhere in the Scriptures this devastating time of trouble is pictorially represented as a ‘storm’, as a ‘whirlwind’, as a ‘fire’ which will consume everything evil. In the prophecy of Revelation pertaining to Armageddon, we are told that in preparation for this final struggle of a selfish and dying world, the nations of earth are gathered, or united. (Rev. 16:16) Joel’s prophecy refers to the same assembling of the nations and describes it as a gathering into the “valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14) It will be a warlike gathering in which the nations beat their plowshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears. This is an apt symbol of the manner in which the nations have been, and are even now, diverting so much of the natural resources of the earth into the sinews of war. The verdict to be rendered in this ‘valley of decision’ will be one of condemnation against all selfishness and sin. These prophecies indicate that all nations will be weighed in the balances and found wanting in those qualities of righteousness, justice, and truth, which would make them suitable to participate as co-rulers with Jesus in his kingdom, which will replace them.
The Jews will, according to the prophecies, be prominently associated with the final phase of the great Armageddon struggle. The Scriptures indicate that before this battle occurs, God’s ancient people will be securely settled in the Promised Land. They will suddenly discover that a mighty armed force from the north, joined by satellite nations from other countries, have attacked them. It will be then, according to the prophecies, that God will fight for his people as he did in the days of old. It will be then, that the great power of God will be demonstrated in his exercise of kingdom authority over the Jews in Israel and over the Gentile nations throughout the whole earth. While the Battle of Armageddon is not yet in progress, it is well for us to focus our attention on what is occurring in and around Israel. Prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes, and from that Holy Land, the holiness of the kingdom of Christ will soon be manifested by the blessing of all mankind with joy and everlasting life.
The Apostle Peter prophesied that at the end of the age there would be scoffers who would say that all things continue as they were. (II Pet. 3:4) They would say, “Where is the [fulfillment of the] promise of his coming [presence)?” But at this time there are also many who have no desire to scoff. There are many who realize the tremendous significance of world events and trends, and believe that the world situation is moving toward history’s greatest climax—and they believe that this climax is not far away.
Only the Bible reveals that the great catastrophe now so universally feared is not just the climax of a struggle between the existing forces of this world today. Rather, it is the final and inevitable result of the 6,000-year reign of sin and selfishness. Throughout all the ages evil has caused untold suffering in human experience. But until our modern era of rapid communication and travel, and instruments of mass destruction, the cruelties imposed by fallen human selfishness have been, to a great extent, only local in character. Therefore, they have not been of sufficient magnitude to lead to the climactic crisis which is now threatening the destruction of the entire human race—“all flesh,” as Jesus stated it.—Matt. 24:21,22
It was our modern era of knowledge and invention which made possible the First World War. Prior to that, and from the early days of the Assyrian Empire, governments and nations had risen and fallen. But through all of these changes, most of the world continued to be governed by their hereditary ruling houses, or royal families. There were exceptions, but this was the general situation. But the war that started in 1914, began to change this arrangement.
Who, living at that time, could have predicted what would happen to the hereditary ruling houses of the old Roman world, as represented in the divided states of Europe? Before World War I, it seemed that they were entrenched in power and wealth forever. They had owned and ruled Europe for centuries. They boldly proclaimed that God had appointed them to this position. None of them realized the adventures and disasters which were about to befall them and their families.
After a few years that war ended, but the world has never been the same. There followed 21 years of fluctuation and change of governments. Dictators replaced the most powerful ruling families in Europe, and their greed plunged the world into another devastating war. In World War II, the European fascist dictators were overthrown, but Europe was left prostrate and bleeding. Communism emerged from this conflict stronger than ever. But for the economic and military aid from the United States, the communistic philosophy would have run rampant over all Europe. For several decades the world was divided into these two armed camps—democracy vs. communism—and both persuasions feverishly endeavored to line up the nations and peoples on their side. Frantic preparations were being made for a third world struggle which would make World War II seem, by comparison, like child’s play. Atomic and hydrogen bombs with long-range jet bombers and rockets to deliver them on their targets around the globe; ballistic weapons which can hurl missiles of destruction across oceans, are some of the awesome weapons designed, improved upon, and ready for global destruction.
Both sides insist that these weapons were built to prevent war. It is hoped that the dreadful contemplation of what full-scale war means will frighten the other side into keeping the peace. This method of keeping the peace has never succeeded in the past, and there is no reason to suppose that it will do so now. While the dreadful threat of another global conflict has subsided somewhat in recent times, people are keenly aware that stockpiles of nuclear weapons, in our volatile world, could be employed with lightning speed at almost any time, from almost anywhere, to almost anywhere on earth.
But is it not possible that the problems of the world could be solved through negotiations? This, of course, is the hope of all peace-loving peoples of the world. Intense negotiations have been continuing since the close of World War II—more than four decades ago—yet problems in many places on the globe continue to worsen—South Africa, Ireland, the Russian provinces, etc. Not a single one of the major situations which did erupt into war found solution by negotiation in all those years. Most problems and conflicting interests have become even more complex and baffling. Many countries had hoped that the Gulf War, Desert Storm, could have been avoided by talking instead of shooting, but negotiations proved fruitless.
We certainly are not pessimists. We are simply trying to be realistic in our appraisal of the world situation as it can be seen by every right-thinking person today. This climax of Armageddon, toward which the world is rapidly drifting, does not mean the end of human existence. Man will indeed be saved out of their dilemma, despite the fact that he, himself can find no way to solve his problems. Pyramiding human selfishness shouts out to us in trumpet tones that the time is near for divine intervention in the affairs of men.
In the nearly two thousand years which have elapsed since Jesus was born, when the angel announced, “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” most professed followers of the Master have given up expecting that the promised Messiah will ever do anything about the problems of human selfishness. In their zeal to establish a better world, they have brought to bear their united influence upon lawmakers to establish better laws, imagining that in this way they are being used by the Lord to establish his kingdom for him. It never seems to dawn on the religionists of today that the Lord will ever do anything for the people, except perhaps to bless their feeble efforts.
But the unbelief of those who profess to believe, will in no way hold back the divine plan for the establishment of the long-promised kingdom of the Messiah. The world is indeed moving swiftly toward the greatest climax of history, but only those who have confidence in the prophecies of the Bible and in the promises of God contained therein, know how great this climax will be. Worldly minds visualize it as an unavoidable destruction of civilization, with the remnant of mankind later building a new and better social order. But we see it as the end of the failing efforts of man to rule himself, and the establishment of divine control over the affairs of the human race.
“In the days of these kings,” said the Prophet Daniel, “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” (Dan. 2:44) This declaration of the prophet sums up the meaning of an illustrated prophecy which spans 2,520 years of human history. The illustration was the human-like image which King Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. It had a head of gold, a breast and arms of silver, thighs of brass, legs of iron, while its feet and toes were of iron and clay mixed. A stone cut out of the mountain without hands smote the image on its feet and destroyed it.
Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar that he, as king of Babylon, was represented by the head of gold. He was told that three successive world powers or kingdoms would follow Babylon. The last of these was Rome. Then came the divisions of Rome, as shown in the feet and toes of the image. These were smitten by the stone, cut out of the mountain without hands. Daniel explained that this dream represented the fact that “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”—vs. 44
The long period of time spanned by this prophecy has ended. The divisions of the Roman Empire—the monarchical governments of Europe—came to an end soon after World War I. Since 1914 they have largely been destroyed in a revolutionary overthrow of governments such as the world has never before experienced. We are still in the throes of the chaotic, changing times of the days when the God of heaven is preparing to set up his kingdom. The complete downfall of human authority and rulership in the earth is the great climax toward which “this present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) is now madly rushing.
But, thank God, the new world will not be another experiment by fallen man to better his own condition. Instead, it will be a government set up by the “God of heaven.” The responsibility for the success of that government will rest upon the shoulder of none other than he who is described in the prophecies as “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”—Isa. 9:6
The 6,000-year rule of sin and selfishness will have reached its terrible climax in the time of tribulation which will threaten the destruction of the human race itself. It will require a thousand years for the new government of righteousness to completely eradicate sin and selfishness from human hearts, and restore the sin-sick and dying race to health and life everlasting.
But right from the beginning, there will be marked progress, and those who desire peace and justice, righteousness and life, will rejoice and be glad. The Prophet Malachi likened the coming into power of the messianic kingdom authority as the rising of the “Sun of righteousness,” and he declared that there will be “healing in his wings.” As the warming, healing rays of the new government begin to penetrate into the lives of the people, sickness will vanish, pain will be destroyed—both physical and mental, and finally there will be “no more death”!—Rev. 21:4
“The inhabitant [of that day] shall not say, I am sick,” wrote the Prophet Isaiah. (Isa. 33:24) The fulfillment of this promise will change the conversational habits of the people. Instead of commiserating with each other over their many pains and ills, they will rejoice together that their sicknesses are vanishing, and that each day they are feeling younger, and stronger, and happier!
Finally, death itself will cease; for the promise is that the Lord will “swallow up death in victory,” or as one translation states it, he will “strike down death in victory.” No longer will that great monster, Death, stalk up and down in the earth felling its victims and causing the hearts of the survivors to fill with anguish and sorrow. Death itself will be “struck down,” and the Lord will wipe away tears “from off all faces.”—Isa. 25:8
Nor will the countless millions of casualties of Death which have resulted from the long reign of sin and selfishness be forgotten. The promise in the Scriptures is that these will be awakened from the sleep of death and given an opportunity to obey the laws of the kingdom, and to enjoy its blessings of everlasting health and life. Yes, “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.”—Acts 24:15
What a glorious climax it is, then, that the world is approaching! For a moment—compared with eternity—it will be distressing to mankind. But when the people realize its meaning and its effects, they will rejoice. We cannot hasten the coming of this climax in any way, but we can and do pray daily, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in, heaven.”—Matt. 6:10