Book of the Revelation, the 16th chapter, and of course, other places in God's Word. So you'll want to get one of these outline sheets and follow along as we find our way in God's Word tonight on the theme of Armageddon, Revelation, the 16th chapter, Revelation chapter 16. We're coming to the end of our series on piecing together the prophetic puzzle. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll have the privilege of looking at what God's word has to say about the millennial kingdom and then the uprising of rebellion in that millennial kingdom as we look at the residents there and the promises of God regarding that thousand year reign on a recreated earth. What a day that will be. And amazingly, the Bible tells us that the mortal inhabitants of that kingdom will rise up in rebellion. And we'll look at that together and then on into the eternal state. I think this is our Sixteenth thematic study on the topic, piecing together the prophetic puzzle. One of the best ways to study prophecy is to study it thematically, discovering from book to book and from chapter to chapter these various themes that I trust by now with me, you've become familiar. You ought to be able, as we've discovered along the way, to chart in your mind a prophetic timeline. before you this evening is something of a simplified timeline. The next event for which we are looking, and I trust eagerly, is the rapture of the church. The Bible tells us, The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up. The Latin word there is the word from which we get our word, rapture. The rapture is the next event, and of course, following the rapture, have discovered in God's word that there is a seven year period of time in which the inhabitants of the earth go through awful tribulation. This time is often called the time of Jacob's trouble, the time of great sorrow, the middle of that tribulation. There are ramifications of what transpires there. But this evening we're going to be focusing on Armageddon, which in truth is the event that we would call the second coming. There are sometimes people think the rapture is the second coming, but no, it's not the rapture. We meet the Lord in the air. The second coming, as we discover this evening, the book of Zechariah tells us his foot will stand on the Mount of Olives. That is a great time of terrible destruction will come to discover in God's word this evening called Armageddon. Some of you are old enough to remember when President Ronald Reagan dared to speak publicly on the theme or converse publicly on the theme Armageddon. Many people were up in arms that we would have a president that would even dare to think that some prophecies in God's word could be literally interpreted. We're going to discover this evening that they ought to be literally interpreted. They're very clear. The book of the Revelation, the 16th chapter, beginning in verse 12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." This sixth bowl or sixth vial poured out is preparatory. The Euphrates River now dried up. The kings of the east are prepared for what? Well, the thirteenth verse, I saw three unclean spirits, demonic 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 the great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Now listen and see if you can't See in your mind's eye something of a nuclear holocaust. I can't say for sure if that's what will transpire. But as we look at Armageddon through the lens of Scripture tonight, it certainly sounds like something very nuclear. For the Bible says, And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. And there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne, saying, It's done. And there were voices, thunders, and lightnings. And there was a great earthquake such as not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." You want to talk tsunami, here it is. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Let's ask the Lord to bless as we look into his word this evening. Father, now I pray that as we come before you, that we would come with minds ready, tenderness of hearts to realize that that about which we study this evening could be a mere seven years away. that those who are round about us, friends and family members and lost ones ever so close may indeed not read these things in the pages of Scripture, but may live to see them. So, Lord, may we be tender. May we be motivated to go out from this place as witnesses in a lost and dying world. For it's in Christ's name we pray. Amen. So we focus on the theme of Armageddon. We really focus on what some may call the dark side of prophecy. The history of mankind is not a history of peace. In fact, when you think about the United States of America, though our nation has known great prosperity and perhaps because our nation has not had a war on its soil for so long, we often think of America as a land of peace, but that's totally untrue. Virtually every 25 years since the founding of this nation, there's been some form of war that's been devastating. We move from the Great Revolutionary War of 1776 to a war in 1812, from a war in 1812 to a war in 1845, the Mexican-American War, from the Mexican-American War to 1861 to 1865, which you of course know to be the Civil War. 1898 finds us embroiled in the Spanish-American War. And then the war to end all wars, 1914 to 1918, World War I. But it didn't end all wars. In fact, it led to another terrible war, World War II, 1941 to 1945. And some people will call Armageddon and the things about which we discussed this evening World War III. And I'd hesitate to call it World War III because we don't know. There might be another world war before the Lord comes. But we do know that World War II was not the end of our nation's battles. We have Korea. We have Vietnam. We have the Gulf War. We have a war going on even today for Iraq and Afghanistan. And so it goes. Treaties, international conferences on peace, organizations being placed together, the United Nations, foreign aid, and yet no peace. Why? Jesus said in Mark chapter 8, as you focus in on the end times, there will be wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes and famines and pestilence in diverse places. Then He says, these are the beginning of sorrows. Literally, He pictures birth pangs. And those who know birth pangs understand that birth pangs increase in intensity and they increase in frequency. Is it an accident that only recently one of the Largest earthquakes in the history of the world was measured on the scale, some nine plus on the Richter scale, and they say it was the top five, this earthquake recently experienced in Chile. Is it an accident? Well, as we look in God's Word, we realize that though mankind speaks often of peace, he has known little of it. But here's the good news. The Bible speaks of a day of peace that is certain. God's Word tells us that He will bless His people with peace. God's Word tells us in Psalm 72 and verse 3 that the mountains shall bring peace to the people. Now understand that these texts have their primary fulfillment in the land, can you believe this, of Israel. Right now, that would be very hard to believe. Even recently, Vice President Biden was over in Israel and I picked up the paper this week. Vice President Biden is talking to the Israelis about not allowing them to do any more settling in certain places, and certainly not allowing them to build any more buildings in Jerusalem. A day of peace is coming, for Isaiah 54 says in verse 13, great peace shall be to thy children. And the prophet Jeremiah reminded the children of Israel, I know the thoughts that I have towards thee, thoughts of peace and not of war. Haggai 2 and verse 9, in this place will I give peace. But understand, folks, peace requires a person. Without the Prince of Peace, there will be no peace. The Word of God reminds us that Christ is that Prince of Peace. For unto you, a child is born. Unto you, a son is given. And the government should be upon his shoulder, and his name should be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. When he comes, he'll bring peace. When he came the first time, the angels cried out, Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. But unfortunately, the Prince of Peace was not received by those to whom he came. Instead, he was rejected. Tonight our focus comes to His second coming. He came the first time as a lamb. He comes again as a lion. He came the first time as a Savior. He comes the second time as a warrior. He came the first time humbly, meek and lowly. He comes the second time nobly and strongly. For he comes the second time in this place called Armageddon. The greatest war in the history of the world has yet to be fought. We're on your outline sheets now. The Bible locates this battlefield in the valley of Megiddo. This valley of Megiddo, this battlefield, this time of destruction is spoken of in Isaiah 10, Isaiah 34, Isaiah 63. Ezekiel 37, 38, Daniel 11, Zechariah 10, 13, 14, Revelation 16, 19, Revelation 14. Over and again, you're going to read of this tremendous conflagration at the end of the age. This historic place, this place called Armageddon, is a place where battles have been fought in days gone by. This was the place where Deborah and Barak fought their battle. This was the place where Saul and Ahaziah and Josiah were involved in battle. And over again, as you look at God's Word, you discover that there has come no peace in this world because the world has rejected Christ. There is no peace, saith the Lord to the wicked. When we look in God's Word, the way of peace, the Bible says, regarding those who have rejected Christ, they have not known. Someone estimated that people who have died in warfare over the. Time of recorded history would perhaps amount to some 600 million. Staggering number. When we come to this time of Armageddon in God's word, we come to a time in which all of the battles of the world collectively gathered may not equal the number of people who die in this singular campaign. They have rejected Christ. They will be gathered into a place called the Valley of Jezreel. This is a picture of it. The mount, this small mountain that overlooks the valley, is the Mount of Megiddo. When you break down the Hebrew word, the word is har, which means mountain. Har-Megiddo. And Megiddo means slaughter. This is the Mount of Slaughter, the Valley of Jezreel. And the Bible describes Armageddon, really, we think of a battle because we hear it talked of, the battle of Armageddon. And we read it here even in the book of Revelation, the 16th chapter, where the Lord has brought them all together into this battle of the great day. That word battle there could literally be translated campaign. It's a campaign. There are movements. Within a brief period of time, a war unlike any war the world has ever known, all converging, geographically converging. The Bible speaks of miraculously converging into this valley of decision, this awful place. As we look at the Valley of Jezreel, this great plain of Ezdrailon, the center of Palestine, Napoleon said, as he looked out over this great plain, he said, this is the most natural battleground in all of the world. The Bible says there will be a military campaign there. God has appointed a time and God will gather the nations. And as He gathers them, He gathers them to an area that is some 200 miles by 100 miles. The plain of Megiddo, Armageddon, the Valley of Jezreel, the Valley of Great Weeping is a place on our globe right now that God has already prepared and already spoken to us about. Who are the countries that are involved? Well, the Bible says all the points of the globe will be coming from the north, from the east, from the south, from the west. They will all be coming. And as they come, it's important for us to remember. That there is always an epicenter. When it comes to God's geography in the Bible. The epicenter of geography in the Bible is always Jerusalem. And the Valley of Megiddo, not far from Jerusalem, but Dr. John Walbert clearly said the prophecies about Jerusalem make it clear that the holy city will be in the center of world events, and we're going to see this this evening. It will be the center of world events in the end times. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs will focus more and more attention on Jerusalem. In all of these situations, Jerusalem is the city to watch. As the city of prophetic destiny prepares to act out her final role, the total world situation may be expected more and more to be cast into the mold as prophecy indicates. It seems that the stage and the actors are ready for the final drama in which Jerusalem will be the key. They're going to gather toward Jerusalem. Who will? Well, if you look at the globe, you'll come to discover as we look in our Bibles this evening that God speaks of the kings of the East, the kings from China and Japan and the Orient. This is the first time that the Bible really speaks to us of those who are living in these far-off lands. Oh, there are the wise men from the East, but those were those who lived in the Mesopotamian Valley. Now the Bible introduces us to the Far East. The Bible talks to us of those who come from the North, who come from the land of Gog and Magog, Russia, Germany, and their allies. The Bible speaks of those gathering from the West. It seems that the Antichrist is the one who leads the multinational confederacy representing the new and revived Roman Empire, the West. And then there are the countries of the South, The Bible describes them as coming up from Egypt. Why? That's the northernmost tip of the continent of Africa. And so all converging in this land, there'll be four great powers representing the geographical divisions of the earth, says Herman Hoyt. And as they come, the battle is being set. The tribulation period, you'll recall, begins with a time of peace. It begins with a time of peace. Revelation 6 reminds us that the first horse was white. Remember how the Bible describes the rider on the first horse? He has a bow but no arrows. He comes conquering and to conquer, but he's shooting no arrows and shedding no blood. Why? Daniel chapter 9 reminds us that he strikes a covenant for seven years for one prophetic week with the nation of Israel. The tribulation period begins with peace and they will say peace, peace, but there is no peace. Every time I see Israel drawing closer to signing a major peace pact with Western allies, I get cold chills. I think how much closer this day that the word of God speaks of must be coming. In the middle of that seven years, 2 Thessalonians tells us very clearly in chapter two that that peace is going to be violated. We're going to talk about that this evening. What is it that happens that violates the peace? 2 Thessalonians says he will set up an image that makes desolate in the very temple of God. Yes, there's going to be a third temple. Yes, the Temple Mount is going to have a temple dedicated to the God of Israel once again. But let's see these nations as they converge in the pages of prophecy. Looking at the nations and the boundaries that are involved in this battle, in this campaign of Armageddon, we have to the north, Megiddo. We're going to read about the northern allies in Ezekiel 38. To the east, they're coming from the King's Highway, to the south from Edom. They're all together converging, the West coming from the Mediterranean, from the sea. And the passages that are before you on the PowerPoint this evening, if you can see them, are passages that speak of all these various geographical nations represented as they come together. We start where we've been before with the northern alliance, the northern powers. Come back with me to Ezekiel chapter 38. Ezekiel chapter 38. Studying Bible prophecy requires that we move from book to book and from page to page. Ezekiel chapter 38. In Ezekiel 38, the northern alliance of Gog and Magog, Russia and her satellites, and you recall how we looked at these very carefully, being introduced to us beginning in verse 2. Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog. the chief prince of Meshach and Tubal, and prophesy against them, and say, Thus saith the Lord God. Behold, I am against thee, O God, and the chief prince of Meshach and Tubal. And I will turn thee back and put hooks into thy jaws. I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet. Gomer, that's Germany and all her bands, the house of Togarmah and the northern quarters and all of the bands with many people with thee, verse 8, and after many days thou shalt be visited and the latter years thou shalt come into the land, what land? Well, the land that is brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many people, that's Israel. Until 1948, she was not a nation. She was dispersed. But she's been gathered as surely as Ezekiel 37 is in the Bible. The dry bones are back in the land and the wind has yet to blow through them and give them spiritual life. Here comes the northern army. And as the northern army comes, she's gathering against the mountains of Israel which have been always waste. But he says, but it is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell safely, all of them. Israel dwelling safely. Why? That's the desire right now. Look at verse 11. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to them that are at rest and dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls. Now, Israel today is not a nation without walls. In fact, they are building walls on every side. to give boundaries between themselves and the Palestinians. But there's going to come a day where Israel, regathered, will be without walls. And why will they come? Verse 12, while they come to take a spoil. This northern power has a plan. The plan of the Northern Alliance. We want a spoil. The picture that I have in front of you is not a picture of a wave in the ocean. That's a picture of a sediment deposit in the Dead Sea. Until very recently, when Bible students were asked, why would anyone want to come and take a spoil from Israel? What kind of wealth is there in Israel? They didn't point to oil fields only recently discovered. They pointed instead to the to the Dead Sea. And when they pointed to the Dead Sea, they pointed to calculations of the value of the minerals in that singular place. Back in the 1930s, in the midst of the financial depression, Estimates of the value of the deposits in the Dead Sea were given. Ready for this? This is the 1930s. So put on your calculator and try to bring out what it would be today. They noted there were 1.3 billion tons of potash in the Dead Sea valued at $70 billion. That's in the 1930s. They noted there were 853 million tons of bromide, valued at $2.6 billion. There were 11.9 billion tons of salt, valued at $27.5 billion. 85 million tons of gypsum, valued at $120 million. 6 billion tons of calcium chloride, valued at $85 billion. 22 billion tons of magnesium chloride, valued at $825 billion. Total value of the Dead Sea, 1930s, one point three trillion dollars. Where is it today? That's just the Dead Sea. The value of the oil deposits today in Israel far exceeds and what's being found off the coast of Israel far exceeds. Why do they come? Well, the Bible tells us in verse 12 very clearly, they come to take a spoil. They want the wealth that is represented there. And the Bible tells us, beginning in verse 18, of their peril. The northern army coming shall fall. For in verse 18, it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God that my fury shall come up in my face, for in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken. Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel. Here we are with the shaking again. So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground, And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord. Every man's sword shall be against his brother, and I will plead against him with pestilence, with blood, and rain upon him with bands, and upon many people that are with him an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, and fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am God." As we read of this northern army converging on the land of Israel, if you come with me to the book of Daniel, you'll discover that this becomes the trigger point. This becomes the trigger point of the end. Come with me to the book of Daniel, the 11th chapter. The book of Daniel, the 11th chapter. Daniel chapter 11 focuses on the great power of the Antichrist. We've been in this chapter before when we introduced the Antichrist in our considerations. Daniel 11. Daniel chapter 11. We come to the 36 verse. The king shall do according to his will. He will exalt himself. This is the Antichrist and magnify himself above every God and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished for that which is determined shall be done. And then we read, beginning in verse 40, And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots. We know the end of the king of the north. With horsemen, didn't Ezekiel speak of horsemen? And with many ships, and shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass over. And he shall enter also into the glorious land, That's Israel. And many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of His hand, even Edom and Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon. Now we have in verse 40 the king of the south pushing, the king of the north coming against him. Verse 44, but tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him, troubling the Antichrist, who is, remember, entered into a covenant of protection for seven years with Israel. Tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him. Therefore, shall he go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to take away many. He shall plant the tabernacles of the palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him. The northern power is coming. Their calamity is certain. But what about these other points? Come with me to the book of the Revelation, the 13th chapter. Revelation 13. Here we're introduced to the Western power. The Western power is a coalition of nations. Revelation 13. The Western power, it seems, is the revived Roman Empire. Revelation 13. We begin in verse one, and I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea. When you read in prophecy of the sea, it's always the Gentiles. When you read of the land, it's always Israel. Here comes a beast rising up out of the Gentile nations, having seven heads and 10 horns. Daniel introduced us to a beast with 10 divisions, even 10 toes representing the various parts of the Roman Empire. Seven heads, ten horns upon his horns, ten crowns upon his heads, the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, his feet were the feet of a bear, his mouth was the mouth of a lion." He is the convergence of all the terrible governances of the past. And he has great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death. His deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the beast. The leader of this coalition is none other than the Antichrist. He is the ten-horned beast. And the league from which Antichrist draws his power is a ten-nation alliance. This leader Antichrist and these lands that he represents seem to be the Western power, the resurrected Roman Empire. They have entered into a covenant, Daniel 9 tells us in verse 27, with the land of Israel. The Western powers. Interesting. The western powers in a covenant of protection and peace with Israel. The northern powers disrespecting it and coming for a spoil. The southern powers pushing. The eastern powers becoming prepared. All the world is gathering. Revelation chapter 16. The text from which we read this evening. Revelation chapter 16. Revelation chapter 16, for the very first time in the Bible, the Far East is represented. God hasn't forgotten anyone on this globe. The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the Great River Euphrates, east of Israel, verse 12. The water was dried up, why? That a way for the kings of the east might be prepared. Now why would the kings of East come down into Israel? We know why the North is coming. The North is coming for a spoil. We know why the West is there. The West is there in pretense of keeping peace. Why are the nations of the East coming? Oh, verse 13 tells us. They're being led of demons. The Bible says the unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the dragon. That's the Antichrist. Out of the mouth of the beast. out of the mouth of the false prophet, or Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and the whole world. Why? To gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. They're all being gathered, these armies, and in the 16th verse, where are they gathered? They're coming to that place called Armageddon. Let's see them getting there. Come back with me to Revelation chapter 9. Look at Revelation chapter 9. It's amazing how descriptive the Bible is when we look at end time movements. Revelation chapter 9, look at verse 13. The sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before the Lord. Revelation 9 verse 14, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed which were prepared for an hour and a day and a month and a year to slay the third part of men and the number of the army of the horsemen. Two hundred thousand. I'm sorry, two hundred thousand thousand two hundred million, and I heard the number of them. Thus, I saw the horses in the vision and then that sat on them having breastplates of fire adjacent and brimstone, the heads of the horses and all the heads of the lions out of their mouths issued for smoke and brimstone. And by these three was the third part of the men killed by the fire of the smoke, the brimstone which issued out of their mouth. Where are they coming from? Isn't it interesting to see the Euphrates there again referenced in verse 14? To see this huge 200 million man army assembling? Who but China and the East could assemble a 200 million man army? And did you see what happened in verse 18 as this army converges? A third part of the men were killed. If you know anything about modern warfare and have studied anything about the military of the East, you'll come to remember very quickly that the military of the East has been known for its awful cruelty. There are in this room this evening those who survived World War II. Talk to those who fought the great battles of World War II, especially those who fought the battles of the Pacific and I'm sure there are very, very few survivors today of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima was perhaps one of the bloodiest, most despicable battles ever fought. With whom? Where did the Kamikazes come from and what kind of warfare was this? My son and I were in Cambodia a couple of years ago. We visited the killing fields of Cambodia. For three awful years, the Khmer Rouge, a people who had trained for battle, young people, children, who trained for battle and were terribly brainwashed in the land of Vietnam, for three awful years, the Khmer Rouge overran Cambodia. A nation of seven million lost two and a half million of her citizens in three years. When you walk the killing fields, there's a tree in the killing fields. On one side of the tree, there's no bark. It's hard to even tell the story as the guide shares with you that this is the tree in which infants were taken and little children were taken by the heels and their brains were beaten out. And that's why there's no bark here. As you walk the killing fields, every storm rinses up more human bones. They've erected a monument in the midst of the killing fields. It's in glass. It's a monument, a pyramid of skulls, and it's as tall as the roof of our auditorium. The atrocities of the East are well known, and even so, we read in God's Word, that this 200 million man army will be responsible for the death of a third of the citizens of the world. Now, what about that Southern army? The Eastern power, I believe, China, India, Japan. But the Southern army is identified as Egypt and her allies, the king of the South, which pushed against him. Why are all these armies coming? What will cause the armies of the world to gather against the land of Palestine? What will draw them there? Quite simply, there are three reasons given. Three catalysts for the battle in the Word of God. Politics is involved. As I've referenced often, there's a treaty that's been signed. Let's come and see that treaty in Daniel 9. One of the most intricate, necessary, Keystones of biblical prophecy. Daniel chapter 9. The 27th verse. Daniel chapter 9. The 26th verse introduces us. To the time when Messiah is cut off, that's his crucifixion. Isn't it interesting that verse 26 tells us in Daniel chapter 9 that when the Messiah is cut off, when Christ died, it was not for himself. No, it was for us that He bore our sins to the cross. And the people of the Prince that shall come, why, that would be Rome. For in 70 A.D., just a few years after Christ's death on the cross, the Prince that would come destroyed the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the sanctuary. Titus and the Roman armies destroyed that great wonder of the world, Herod's temple, not Solomon's. And the end thereof will be with a flood, and upon the end of the war desolations are determined." Now watch it. This prince that will come. Rome was the prince that destroyed the city. Rome was the prince that destroyed the sanctuary. The Antichrist represents the Western powers, and watch what he does in verse 27. He confirms a covenant with many for one prophetic week, seven years in Daniel's prophetic scheme. And in the midst of the week, he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. And for an overspreading of abominations, he will make it desolate. In the middle of that seven years, three and a half years into it, twelve hundred and sixty prophetic days, this sacrificial system that's set up in the tribulation time is going to stop. Even until the end of the consummation, that determined will be poured out. Now we're talking Armageddon. Now we're talking the end. Politics have brought them there. The northern armies determined to invade Israel and Antichrist has signed a treaty. Antichrist knows that the kings of the south are pushing. Antichrist hears that the kings of the east are on their way. And Antichrist stands as the protector. Remember, he's a false Christ. He's a protector of the very children of Abraham. While God destroys the northern armies, the Antichrist defeats the southern armies. We read of that and have read of it in Daniel chapter 11. The Eastern Alliance is now coming across the Euphrates to join in the conflict. Why are they coming? Well, we know politics is involved, but we also know that providence is involved. God is drawing them there. It's the God of heaven who's allowed these demonic forces about which we read in the book of the Revelation For God works after the counsel of his own will. John Wolbert said, although from their point of view, they're gathered to fight it out for world power. The armies of the world will actually be assembled by Satan in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. The entire armed might of the world will be assembled in the Middle East, ready to contend with the power of Christ as it returns from heaven. The armies of the world are by no means equipped to fight the armies of heaven. Still, Satan will assemble the nations for this final hour, and in fact, the nations will choose to side with Satan and oppose the second coming of Christ. That will be the best that Satan can do. Providence has brought them there, demonic influences, and they come, though they say they come, to preserve peace. Oh, there's persecution coming against the children of God. Take your Bibles and go to the book of Zechariah in the Old Testament, the book of Zechariah. So many places you can go to read of Armageddon. But Zechariah certainly pictures it in great detail, Zechariah, the 12th chapter, and we're going to read rather rapidly, so follow along, please. Zechariah, chapter 12. Zechariah, chapter 12, beginning in verse two, remember the epicenter? Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people round about, when they shall be in the siege, both Judah and against Jerusalem. In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone, watch it, for all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. All the people of the earth will be gathered together. Look at verse eight. And in that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem, and I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication. Watch it. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced. and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one is in bitterness for his firstborn. Yes, there'll be a revival in Israel, and they'll look upon him whom they've pierced. Chapter 14 in verse 2. Chapter 14 of Zechariah in verse 2. I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle. The city will be taken, the houses rifled, the women ravished. and half of the city should go forth into captivity and the residue of the people should be cut off from the city then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations as when he fought the day of battle here's the second coming And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem in the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east, toward the west. There should be a very great valley. Half of the mountains shall remove toward the north and half toward the south. Verse six, And it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear, neither shall it be dark. Sound nuclear? If you don't think it does yet, look at verse 12. And this shall be the plague were with the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem. Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet and their eyes shall consume away in their holes and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. What's going to happen? The Lord is going to come to the rescue. The conclusion of it, the Lord himself coming as lightning from the east to rescue his people. The heavenly conqueror, He will come. We read of that in the book of the Revelation, the 19th chapter, how He will come with a great sword of His fury. He will come with the armies of heaven. Yes, the Lord will come. For in verse 11 of Revelation, chapter 19, the one who is faithful and true and righteous comes making war in His eyes, there is a flame of fire in His head where many crowns. He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God and the armies which were in heaven followed after him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goes a sharp sword. And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The conclusion? A place of heinous carnage. If you come back with me to the book of the Revelation, the book of the Revelation, the 14th chapter, let's conclude by looking there. Revelation chapter 14. Revelation chapter 14, the Bible tells us in verse 19, "...And the angel thrust in a sickle to the earth and gathered the vine of the wrath of God in the great winepress. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress even unto the horses' bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." It's going to be a time of awful destruction, of awful death, of awful devouring. From what we've read, no wonder people would say millions, perhaps as many as 600 million people will die. Satan's leaders will be taken. We've read already how they'll be cast into the lake of fire. And the devil will be bound for a thousand years. How many have stood in Gettysburg? Let's see your hands. How many have visited Arlington? When you visit Arlington or Gettysburg or any of the national monuments for the war dead, perhaps some of you have been to the Punchbowl of the Pacific and seen the names after names, the crosses, and you're staggered by it. While they're buried under crosses, we understand that many of the men who died in the battlefields had no sure knowledge of salvation. They screamed out in horror as the bombs fell or as the machine gun bullets ripped through them or as their planes fell from the sky. They clutched to the plate work of their ships as they were going down to the ocean, unprepared to meet their God. Thank God that some of them. Sons of America, sons of faith, sons of Britain and sons of faith and sons of Germany and sons of faith, some of them are in heaven. Folks, do you understand that when this huge army, 200 million just from the east alone converge in the campaign of Armageddon, There's no one saved. This is an army of the blasphemers. This is an army of the damned. This is an army that has been deceived by Satan. Now, pause. Tonight, we're sending out care packages to United States servicemen. I hope that we'll always honor them and encourage them. and be a family of faith and a family of prayer for them. But do you understand that in the voluntary army of America today, there may be those who represent this country who will be gathered on that field of destruction? When we talk about Armageddon, we're not talking about something that may be a millennia away. It could be as close as seven years away. And when our sons and when our daughters Sign on to involve themselves in the military. History ought to tell us that Nebuchadnezzar had soldiers. And Alexander had soldiers. And every great dictator, including Hitler and Stalin and Lenin, had soldiers. We thank God for the liberty and the freedom that we enjoy this evening as we gather in this place. We ought to consider with great care when we see a uniform something beyond patriotism. We ought to consider prophecy. We ought to understand that the word of God tells us of an awful day of battle that could be just around the corner. Father, I pray from this service this evening, you would help us to go out better prepared to witness tender of heart to realize that your coming is nigh. It's even at the door. Lord, I pray that the people who have gathered here would be wise as serpents and harmless as does. ever prepared for the trumpet and the coming of the Lord which draws nigh.