The Battle of Armageddon Summarized

  1. Revelation 16:13-16. The gathering for the battle. A confederation of religions, controlled by evil spirits, unites with the kings of the earth, in opposition to God.
  2. Revelation 19:19, 20. When Jesus comes, the united powers of earth are gathered together to make war against Him. They are destroyed at His coming, and become supper for the birds which have also gathered for the occasion (verses 17, 18, 21).
  3. Revelation 20:7-15. A thousand years later, all the wicked are resurrected, and they pick up right where they had left off. They re-assemble themselves for battle. They see the holy city, new Jerusalem, which has just descended out of heaven (Revelation 21:2, 10), and they begin their attack against it. "And they went up on the breadth of the whole earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city." But before a single shot is fired, they are stopped in their tracks. They look up, above the city. A great white throne is set up (Revelation 20:11). As they gaze upon the One whom they have rejected, their lives pass in review before them (Revelation 20:13). Every individual sees as never before the steps he or she has taken in turning away from salvation. Every knee bows, and every tongue confesses, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10, 11). It is not a confession unto salvation (Romans 10:10), but that of one who acknowledges defeat. And when "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth" has given glory to God (Revelation 5:13), then, fire comes down from heaven, and completely destroys the wicked. The battle of Armageddon has ended.