The Battle of Armageddon

The wedding day has come and Christ has returned to earth. The first time Jesus came to earth, He said in John 3:17-18
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God..
This time Jesus is returning to condemn all those left who do not believe in Him. After defeating Satan in heaven, God has allowed Satan to gather his armies here on earth. Now Jesus will destroy Satan’s armies here. In a series of battles, Jesus will totally destroy Satan’s minions.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. (Rev 19: 17-21)
These verses give us an overall account, and the result of the battle, but more detailed accounts can be found elsewhere in the bible. In Isaiah, we find that Christ goes first to Edom.

Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. (Isaiah 63: 1-4)

This passage is a prophecy of “the Lord’s day of vengeance”. In these verses, the Lord has come from Edom. Edom is the ancient name for the region inhabited by the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (Israel’s) brother. The city of Petra, where many bible scholars believe will be the place of protection that Israel will flee to, is located in Edom. Apparently, Satan and Antichrist will send an army to attack the Israelites hiding in Petra. It is here Jesus will go first to rescue them. From Edom, Jesus goes to the valley of Meddigo, also known as the valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel 3: 12-14 says

Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

This is the battle described in Revelation 14: 14-16

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.



The battle winds up in Jerusalem, Zechariah 12: 1-9 says;
The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’ “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem. “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
At Jerusalem, Satan will try to destroy God’s city and those who haven’t fled to Petra. It is here that the final battle will be, the remainder of Satan’s armies will be destroyed and Satan and Antichrist will be captured. Jesus is now ready to set up His throne here to reign on earth.