Armageddon

     In 1988 a booklet was circulated predicting the so-called rapture on September 11, 12 or 13 of that year.  In effect, this was to signal the beginning of the end of the world.  By the way, we identify this as the "so-called rapture" because the whole idea of a rapture is man-made and foreign to the Bible.
     Obviously, the 1988 prophecy was entirely false.  However, those who were looking for a rapture and a millenial reign continued to promote their doctrines.  Most of these centered on an association of Russia with prophecies from Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation.  When the communist world fell apart last year and the Russian threat vanished almost overnight, there was at least the hope that these false ideas would be silenced.  Unfortunately, these people quickly shifted their attention to the crisis in the Middle East.
     It seems to make no difference to them that their theories have not held up along side world events.  It is almost as if they do not want to be confused with the facts.  They want to believe what they want to believe regardless of what happens.  If their predictions are false, they simply search for another way to apply their ideas.
     There was a letter of endorsement in the 1988 booklet that contained a statement reflecting the attitude of these people in an incredible way.
     "If for some reason these events do not happen," the letter states, "I cannot see how any honest person could say anything but good about someone who would sound the alarm when (he) smells smoke."
     Is this true?  Isn't it more reasonable to assume that any honest person would be totally "turned off" by anyone who proves himself to be a false prophet?
     Believe it or not, though, these false prophecies about the end of the world continue.  And the most amazing thing is that the false prophets continue to find people to follow them.
     Before going on with this discussion, we should set the record straight about the "Battle of Armageddon" being predicted for the Persian Gulf region.  Quite simply, there is no such thing.
     The term "Armageddon" appears only one time in the entire Bible, in Revelation 16:16.  It simply means the mound ofMegiddo.
     "And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;" we read in Revelation 16:13-14, "for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty."
     "And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon," verse 16 adds.
     But, as the next verse points out, there is no battle.  A voice simply comes from heaven stating, "It is done."
     The same occurance is mentioned at least two other times in Revelation 19:19-21 and 20:7-10.  The scene is always the same.  The enemies of God's people gather for a battle which never takes place.
     The message in Revelation is really quite simple;  God will easily deliver His people from seemingly undefeatable foes.  This becomes even clearer when we examine the origin of the symbol used in Revelation.
     In the fourth chapter of the Old Testament book of Judges, the Israelites are confronted by the mighty army of Jabin, king of Canaan, under the leadership of the general Sisera.  The armies meet for battle and God routs the enemy.  It's that simple.  And guess where the battle is fought.  It is on the plain of Megiddo.  This same area is the site of many other battles throughout history.
     The point in Revelation is spritual, not physical.
     "If God is for us," Romans 8:31 asks, "who is against us?"
     "But in all these things," verse 37 affirms, "we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."
     But, does it matter?  Modern thinking seems to support the idea that it is great to believe what we want to, regardless of what God has said.  There is no harm, is there, in basing our religious beliefs on predictions that never come true?  Think about this.  And then we'll see what the Bible has to say.

     "But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptiously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak," God says in Deuteronomy 18:20-22, "or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die."
     "And you may say in your heart," the passage continues, "'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'
     "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken.  The prophet has spoken it presumptiously; you shall not be afraid of him."
     "And I say to you," Jesus states in Matthew 12:36-37, "that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
     "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren," James 3:1 warns, "knowing that as such we shall incur stricter judgment."
     Is it really such an innocent thing to continually mislead people through false prophecies?  If we take the time to give honest consideration to what is going on, the situation begins to become more important.
     Of course, we support the right of everyone to believe what he wants.  But, just because someone believes the world is flat, it doesn't make it so.  Anyone has a right to believe that two plus two equals five, but that doesn't change the facts of mathematics.  And this becomes critical when we begin to discuss ideas about salvation.  Just because someone says something will or will not help us get to heaven, it won't change a thing on the judgement day.
     What can we say about someone who has proved himself to be a false prophet in a given area?  Should we really be inclined to believe anything he says about something else?  What about God's requirements for salvation?  Is it any wonder that those who are mistaken about the end of the world are also wrong about God's plan of salvation?
     And what about the effects of false prophecies on people in general?  Those who are seeking to follow God are being misled and disillusioned.  Those who reject God are being provided with fuel to use in ridiculing Christianity.
     "Now I urge you, brethren," Paul writes in Romans 16:17-18, "keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hinderances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
     "For such men are slaves not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
     Let's do some serious talking.  And then it is up to you to do some serious thinking.
     What is the most dangerous and distructive thing going on in the world today?  Is it not the philosophy that we can do anything we want to and God will be satisfied?  Think about it for a minute.  If we have no respect for the authority of God and for the clear nature of His instruction, how to we react to other forms of authority and law?
     We live in a world of disfunctional families, a world controlled by drugs, crime and immorality.  Even worse, we live in a world with no regard for God's instruction.  How long will we continue to allow ourselves to be deceived?  How many more predictions about the end of the world will come and go while we follow blindly along?  And how long will we continue to listen to religious teachers who tell us, "Yes, that is what the Bible says, BUT..."
     "Therefore be careful how you walk," Ephesians 5:15-17 urges, "not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
     "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception," Colossians 2:8 cautions, "according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
     "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you," Galatians 1:8-11 warns, "let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
     "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?  Or am I striving to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
     "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man."
     Now would be an ideal time for you to visit our Sunday morning Bible study and worship.  We are just beginning a series of lessons about the character of Jesus.  And you can be sure that these lessons will come from the Bible.
     Reflect on one thing in the next few weeks.  When all is said and done in the Middle East, there will not have been a battle of Armageddon.  Shouldn't this motivate you to listen closely to those whose teaching follows the instruction of 2 Timothy 2:15?
     "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed," Paul tells Timothy, "handling accurately the word of truth."
     Or will we insist on continuing to fulfill Paul's warning of 2 Timothy 4:3-4?
     "For the time will come," the apostle writes, "when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths."
     Which will it be?  Will we continue to pursue myths, or will we turn to the truth that will set us free?

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."