The Hometown Treasure December 2012 | Page 37

Spiritual Treasure by Bert Smith, Pastor at King’s Fellowship I Armageddon n the last few years there has been an increasing rise in the news about what the world calls Armageddon. They liken it to: the last great battle between nations, some universal disaster, or nuclear catastrophe, the end of the world or selfdestruction of civilization. They refer to Nostradamus, Mayan calendars, a scientific dooms day clock, collision of planets, holocausts, etc. Be advised, teaching the bible with worldly wisdom is like the blind leading the blind. Matt 15:14, 1Cor 3:19. Jesus Christ came to this world to be a Savior and a King. 48 prophecies were fulfilled at His first coming, but Israel rejected Him as their Messiah King John 19:15. He was then crucified and became a savior for every lost son of Adam who would repent and receive Him. Israel was then cast out of their land in 70 AD and scattered among the nations. The Kingdom of Heaven, that Jesus preached to Israel (Romans 15:8, Matt 10:5-7, Matt 15:24) was postponed (Acts 1:6-7) until His second coming (Rom. ch. 10 & 11). There are more than 500 verses in the scriptures that describe the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ to set up his earthly kingdom. The focal point of these prophecies is Armageddon. It is the high ground in the valley of Megiddo in Northern Israel. This is where the world’s bloodiest battle will take place Rev 16: 14-16, 14:20. Troops from every nation will be gathered to fight against God and Israel Zech 14:1-4. It is the place God has chosen to grind the gentile nations to dust Daniel 2:34-45. The harlot church (gentile religions) will go up in flames Rev 17, right along with bundled tares Matt 13:30, and Sodomites who want to remove God from their knowledge Romans 1:24-28, 2 Peter 2:6, Jude 7. It takes place near the end of the Great Tribulation Matt 24:21, Dan 12:1. It is called Jacob’s trouble Jer 30:7, for here God will settle the controversy of Zion Isaiah 34:1-8 i.e. (who does the land of Palestine belong to). God’s purpose of Armageddon is to rid the world of all things that offend, in preparation for setting up His kingdom Matt 13:41, just as Israel was supposed to do when they first entered Canaan Land Deut 20:16-18. A new age will not be ushered in by missionaries spreading a social gospel; Armageddon is a battle between the armies of this world and the supernatural armies of God. Rev. 19:11-15 The 2nd Psalm has 12 verses that divide naturally into a 4 fold division of 3 verses each and describe how the Godhead treats Armageddon. Verses 1-3 declare the nations united worldwide rebellion against God and His Son. Their raging begins with tumults, set-ins, marches, demonstrations, mob violence, wars and rumors of wars that will quickly escalate into great tribulation Matt. ch. 24. Verses 4-6 God the Father laughs at their wicked imaginations, in thinking that they can stand against Him with their puny armies. He then declares in their face that He is going to set His Son on His throne in Zion. Verses 7-9 God the Son declares that He is going to do His Father’s will. He had never prayed for the world John 17:9 and He is ready to bear His flaming sword against it Rev 19:11-16, 2 Thess 1:7-8. As soon as He removes His bride from among the gentiles 1 Thess. 4:14-18, He will return and destroy the enemies of Israel Acts 15:14-16, plant His feet on the Mount of Olives Zech. 14:1-4, and sit down on the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem Luke 1:32. Bingo! Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19:16 Verses 10-12 God the Holy Spirit pleads with men to serve The Lord with fear and trembling, for the Great Tribulation and Armageddon are but a little wrath of God compared to eternity in Hell. If you were never born again John 3:7, you missed being a part of the spiritual Kingdom of God Luke 17:20-21. When the beast demands your worship, Rev. ch 13 & 14, kiss the Son and put your trust in Him, it may be your door into Christ’s Kingdom of Heaven here on this earth. Rev 20:1-6 All the Old Testament prophets saw the great day of the Lord and the terrible judgments that will befall mankind at Christ’s second coming. Isaiah 34:1-10 & 63:1-6, Jer 23:19-20, Joel 3:1-17, Amos 5:18-20, Obadiah 1516, Micah 1:2-4, Habakkuk ch 3, Zeph 1:14-18 & 2:1-3, Haggai 2:22, Zech 14:12-15, Mal. Ch. 4. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Our thanks to the local pastors for writing this column on a rotating schedule in return for a free listing for their church in our Hometown Church listing. As such, views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect that of The Hometown Treasure. — Editor The Hometown Treasure · December ‘12 · pg 35