Armageddon: Man vs. God

 

For years, the conventional wisdom among those who study bible prophecy is that Armageddon is a human war in which Christ intervenes, rather than a war during which human beings aggressively attack Jesus Christ.  Yet, the latter is more in line with the Word of God, so why has this interpretation flourished?  Certainly the widespread spiritualization of the scriptures bears some responsibility, but it might well be that the concept of man physically attacking the Creator of the universe is so beyond reason that we’re incapable of accepting it.

 

Nevertheless, the bible testifies to this human desire to physically assault the Lord.  In almost every instance in which the rebels of this world rejected Christ and His ministry, they weren’t merely content to refute Him verbally.  They also sought to physically harm Him.  The Gospel of John illustrates a number of these instances:

 

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”  John 5:18 (KJV)

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.”  John 7:1 (KJV)

“Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me.”  John 7:19 (KJV)

“Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?’”  John 7:25 (KJV)

“I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.”  John 8:37 (KJV)

“But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.”  John 8:40 (KJV)

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”  John 8:59 (KJV)

“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.”  John 10:31 (KJV)

“Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”  John 11:53 (KJV)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke recount additional instances of human attempts to physically harm Jesus.  Each of them failed until Satan and his children succeeded (so they thought) in physically assaulting and overcoming Christ at the crucifixion.  Fallen man experienced the complete fulfillment of his basest desires on the day of the crucifixion.  Yet little did they know that their actions would open the door for many to be counted as righteous.

 

Knowing this, one must logically conclude that if Christ was physically assaulted following His First Coming, then it stands to reason that His Second Coming will elicit nothing less than a similar response from Satan, his fallen angels, and the humans who have joined them in rebellion.

 

Spiritual AND Physical Rebellion Against God

 

Perhaps because the notion strikes people as utterly preposterous, Christians throughout history have spiritualized prophecies which clearly point to a day when men will engage in physical battle against the Lord Almighty. 

 

All around us, people are living in open spiritual opposition to God.  They mock His laws, and live their lives independent of His Word.  However, the idea that a person would be arrogant enough, much less capable of, physically assaulting God is outside the boundary of an average person’s thought process.  Therefore, many people simply dismiss the idea.

 

Yet the bible is filled with instances of those who have done just that.  Aside from the Gospel accounts, the Old Testament also mentions individuals rebellious enough to physically confront God.  For instance, Jacob – Abraham’s grandson – dared to take on the King of kings.  Genesis 32:22-32 catalogues his wrestling match with God.  Therefore, it’s a grave mistake to simply spiritualize prophecies which clearly and plainly state that mankind will one day set out to wage open war against God Almighty.

For the day will come when mankind will attempt to cast off every restraint of God’s authority:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:1-4 (KJV)

Let there be no mistaking the purpose of this rebellion.  Its timing provides us with great insight.  It occurs in the aftermath of Satan being cast down to earth:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”  Revelation 12:7-12 (KJV)

Satan, indwelling the Antichrist, will lead the world’s kings and people against the Lord and His Anointed One:

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14 (KJV)

“he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes.” Daniel 8:25 (KJV)

The purpose of this battle is no secret.  Long ago, Lucifer’s intentions came to light:

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”  Isaiah 14:13-14 (KJV)

This isn’t Satan’s desire alone, but also that of the angels who joined his rebellion and a multitude of humans who have been co-opted to his purpose:

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (KJV)

Humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden was the direct consequence of a human desire to be “just like God.”  Yet, despite eating the forbidden fruit, mankind is not like God.  Despite the overwhelming desire of many, God is the Alpha and the Omega – man is not.  This fact is the cause of great hatred within those who reject God.

One day it will result in humanity launching a physical war against God Himself, because they desire only pleasure and not righteousness:

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:1-3 (KJV)

Human beings, like Satan, want what they can’t have – God’s power and authority.  So they conspire to take it.  This desire is rooted in the same arrogance which prompted the fall of Lucifer.  Every human being has a desire to reside in heaven, but many only harbor this desire because of the physical pleasure it will bring them.  They otherwise disdain God and cannot fathom humbling themselves in order to receive His mercy.

Nevertheless, the Word of God is clear.  Only one gateway into heaven exists – the blood of Jesus Christ.  Without it, no human is cleansed of sin and capable of entering heaven.  But this doesn’t mean that many won’t try.  Human history offers a long list of false religions, false prophets, and futile human attempts to circumvent God’s gateway, but all these efforts lead to the same destination – eternal destruction:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:1-10 (KJV)

In the future, the hubris of mankind will reach such epic proportions that some will attempt to physically leap over the walls of heaven.  God can only laugh at such foolishness, and He will not tolerate the illegal entry of those who do not belong in His presence – not when the front door is wide open for anyone who chooses to enter legally.

Conclusion

The bible prophesies that one day men will plot against God, planning a campaign to overthrow His authority, thus prompting Christ to bring the Lord’s vengeance:

“Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.”  Zechariah 14:3-4 (KJV)

These prophecies have much to teach today’s believers.  It’s instructive to note the grave danger inherent in pride.  God created Lucifer to be the Anointed Cherub, yet pride transformed him into the antithesis of everything which God created him to be.  Likewise, when pride rears its ugly head in human lives, destruction and ruin soon follow.

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.”  Isaiah 30:1 (KJV)

What joy, however, awaits those who humble themselves before the Lord.  Those who accept the free gift of Christ’s sacrifice as payment for their sins will have their robes washed clean and counted among the righteous:

“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:14 (KJV)

But those who reject the free gift of Christ will die in their sins.  At the end of this age, a great number of them will rise up in physical opposition to the Prince of Peace.  Rather than having their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb, their own blood will stain the robes of the conquering Messiah as He executes “the Day of God’s anger against His enemies” (Isaiah 61:2):

“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.”  Isaiah 63:1-6 (KJV)

God has given you free will to choose your own eternal destiny.  Will your blood stain His garments, or will His blood cleanse you of sin and bring you eternal life?  The choice is yours alone, but make no mistake – He is Coming!  And when He comes, there will be nowhere to hide.  He will come to bring judgment, and there will be no escape:

“Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!”  Isaiah 64:1-2 (KJV)

Britt Gillette is founder of BrittGillette.Com, a website examining the relationship between bible prophecy and emerging trends in technology. For more information or to sign up for his email alerts, please visit http://www.brittgillette.com.

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