Battle to the Death

An asteroid, “about the size of Texas,” hurtling toward Earth, that’s Armageddon—the movie version, anyway. But the term Armageddon is usually associated with the end of the world.

Some think it’s a political battle centring in Palestine. It’s a biblical term that occurs just once (Revelation 16:16) in a passage dealing with the seven last plagues (chapters 15 and 16). The seventh plague symbolises God’s judgment on Babylon, or false religion.

1 To what event does Armageddon refer?

(Revelation 16:13-16) “I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole earth, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty” (vv 13, 14).

A recurring theme in Revelation is war against God’s people and their deliverance at Jesus’ second coming. Armageddon is an allusion to Megiddo, in Palestine, where some decisive battles were fought. It’s used to portray the final struggle between good and evil. A worldwide religious coalition, “ Babylon,” joins with secular powers to oppress God’s people. Just as God has the three angels’ messages as a last warning for the world (Revelation 14:6-12), so the devil has three evil spirits (frogs) bearing a counterfeit gospel to gather “the kings” for this final battle.

2 Who are Satan and his followers making war against?

(Revelation 17:11-14) “They will make war against the Lamb [Jesus] . . . and [His] chosen and faithful followers” (v 14).

3 How are God’s followers described?

(Revelation 12:17) “Those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” They are the faithful remnant. The world is divided into two groups—the saved and lost—according to who they choose to follow. The choice is reflected in obedience or disobedience to God.

dragon,beast, prophet Revelation 13 enlarges on Satan’s attempt to make war on God’s faithful.

In verses 1-10, a beast appears from the sea and receives power from the dragon. It has seven heads and 10 horns, symbolising the nations who persecute the people of God— Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, imperial and medieval Rome. It is portrayed as making “war against the saints” because they won’t worship the beast.

Verses 11-18 gives the clearest portrayal of the issues involved in the final crisis: A lamb, speaking like a dragon, uses deception and economic sanctions to cause the world to conform. It finally condemns to death all nonconformists.

true worship versus false

4 How do we know this battle is spiritual rather than political?

(Revelation 13:12) “He . . . made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.”

5 How does the antichrist cause the world to worship the beast?

(Revelation 13:13, 14) “He performed great and miraculous signs . . . [to deceive] the inhabitants of the earth.”

6 What will happen to those who refuse to follow a false system of worship?

(Revelation 13:15-17) “He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed” (v 15).

mark of the beast

7 What do they receive?

(Revelation 13:16, 17) “A mark on his right hand or on his forehead” (v16).

The last great battle is not a war of tanks and missiles for land, but one fought for the mind using deception, economic boycott and persecution.

Spiritualism and New Age mystic deceptions could also be involved.

8 With what other mark is the mark of the beast contrasted?

(Revelation 7:1-4) “A seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God” (v 3).

9 What other term is used for the “seal of God”?

(Revelation 14:1) The “Father’s name.” Bible names represent character. In declaring His name to Moses (Exodus 34:5-7), God gave a description of His character. When people accept Jesus, they receive the Holy Spirit as a seal, guaranteeing their inheritance (see Ephesians 1:13, 14). Those who have the seal possess a godlike character. By accepting the gift of salvation and following Jesus, we become like Him. In contrast, those who follow Satan’s false gospel and worship the beast receive the mark of the beast, and, in doing so, become like Satan.

The people of God will show their love and loyalty by observing His commandments, including the fourth—the Sabbath command—God’s “banner” (Exodus 31:13, 17). It tells us why we should worship and honour God: “The Lord made the heavens and the earth (v 17).”

Articles of interest: