Armageddon

Much has been said over the years about Armageddon. With the frightening imagery in Revelation, it can be understood why there have been so many horrific depictions by Hollywood and from church pulpits. Portraits of a god that is so angered by the evil deeds of mankind that he is one day going to return in wrath and destroy them. And as if annihilation wasn't enough, he is then going to cast those who have displeased him into eternal torture of hell fire.

This imagery, as frightening as it may seem, is not what it appears on the surface. Like the parables of Jesus with its imagery depicting a message through simple stories, Revelation does the same, revealing a hidden message within.

To understand what this imagery is depicting, it is required to understand the back story as explained in the Old Testament histories and prophets.

In Isaiah, God said He has "declared the end from the beginning," in other words everything God has said in Revelation must be consistent with what He said from the beginning and by the prophets.

God laid out His plans to Abraham, from the beginning, saying to him "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

God set up his kingdom Israel in the land of Canaan, as he promised. But Israel was a stiff-necked people who chased after false gods. God sent prophets to cast judgement on them so that they would correct their ways. The prophets warned them of the ramifications if they refused. But Israel did not heed the warning and as a consequence Israel was overrun by their enemies and went into captivity.

With Israel, the seed to bring blessing to all the families of the earth, in captivity, God's plan could not move forward. God's plan had become a crashing train wreck and the earth was cursed, set on a pathway to destruction.

The prophets of old not only passed judgement on Israel, they also spoke in great detail of how God was going to save them from their enemies, restore them and bless them, keeping the promises He made to them.

Isaiah 54 is a great example of Israel's punishment and restoration.

To bring the restoration of Israel about, for the blessing of all the earth, it was going to take something stronger than the blood of bulls and goats. God sent his son to be the perfect sacrifice.

Israel had been in captivity since the Assyrian invasion 740 BC. With the sacrifice of his son completed, God was now able to continue his plan. Christ was the perfect sacrifice. There was now no need for any other sacrifices thereafter; thus, enabling God to restore Israel, requiring no input from them of any kind. The captivity finished with the barbarian tribes who were totally ignorant of who they were, destroying Rome and migrating to the British Isles and becoming the greatest company of nations the world has seen - The British Empire

Ever since the late 18th century the British Empire, now the British Commonwealth Including the USA, have expanded. They have come a long way since their terrible rule over the colonies and slavery. Even though more needs to be done, it is these nations who have become the vanguard of the earth, bringing democracy, freedom of speech and human rights, welcoming people of all backgrounds and ethnicity, commanding respect and equal rights for all. These nations will only go on to improve, and it is through them that God will “bring blessing to all the families of the earth.”

God has spent a millennia working on his plan. If He sent his son to die for his people Israel, and spent over a thousand years restoring them out of a cruel captivity. Why would He then destroy them in a cataclysmic event called Armageddon? It would go against everything God has been working on for the past six thousand years. Jesus said he came to finish the works of the father not to destroy them.

What are the judgments of the seven trumpets in Revelation?

Revelation 8:2-6 is about the prelude to the sounding of the seven trumpets (the judgements), explaining their purpose.

The censer filled with the incense was for the prayers of the saints from Revelation 6:9-11. The censer was then set on fire and thrown to the earth to commence the judgement of the trumpets for justice for the saints. The censer thrown to the earth is not a judgment against the saints that they should fear, but rather a judgment of protection and freedom.

When scriptures describe the saints, particularly in the Old Testament; they are referring to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:2). The burning censer is not just calling for justice for the persecution of the Church, it is also calling for justice against the enemies of Israel.

So, what is Armageddon all about?

Like all of God's judgements in Revelation, Armageddon is no different. Armageddon is not a moral judgment on the Church or the earth but rather a judgment on those who get in the way of His plan’s fulfilment. Armageddon is about the displacement or destruction of any nation that tries to prevent the fulfilment of His plan. Armageddon is about God protecting his people, not destroying them. Armageddon is about God protecting His promises that he made in the beginning to Abraham and the prophets, to bring blessing to all the families of the earth.

If it was not for the Anglo-American alliance the world would be ruled by swastikas, rising suns and hammer and sickles - and as of the year 2023, yellow stars.