Judgment of the Beasts
Judgment of the Beasts
What is the real battle of Armageddon?
The latter visions in Revelation portray the forces of Satan making war on Christ (Rev 12:7-12, 14:19-20, Rev 16:14-16, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:19-21, Rev 20:7-10)
Some people think of these visions as describing physical battles, one between the Satan and Michael in the long distant past, and the other between Satan and Christ in the very near future. In fact, these visions symbolise a spiritual battle (but a real battle nevertheless) being waged in everybody's present life and experience, including yours and mine.
"Be alert! Your adversary the devil, prowls like a lion roaring, seeking someone to devour" (1Pe 5:8).
Paul spoke of the spiritual battle represented in these visions. He warned us of "the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms". He tells us to "therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground" (Eph 6:12-13).
Many a day in our lives is "the day of evil". However if we stay in solidarity with Jesus Christ our King, Satan's "flaming arrows" cannot touch us, even though in this real battle he gets to fire them —unlike the non-battle of Armageddon in the vision.
That the war will not go on indefinitely. A day is coming when the age old conflict between Satan and Christ will be over once and for all. Will you then be celebrating victory with the followers of the Lamb?
The battle of Armageddon in the vision was a battle in which the evil armies never got to fight. They were destroyed before they fired a shot or thrust a single sword. This non-battle of Armageddon signifies that although there is a very real spiritual battle going on, and we are in it, our enemies will be ineffectual, we will not be harmed, and we will win decisively, so long as we stay firmly on the Lord’s side.
Satan and the powers that he manipulates in this world will be crushed by the wrath of God. The Christians in Rome were promised, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom 16:20)
These battle visions signify the solid truth that Christ in Heaven is supreme. "You are of God little children, and have overcome [the spirits of antichrist] because greater is he who in you than he who is in the world" (1Jn 4:4).
The Battle of Armageddon Didn't Happen