“HIS story - our story” “Armageddon and the Return of Christ” part 22

The Revelation of Jesus ChristPastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, Jan

25, 2015

The Startling Future…

• The rapture, when millions of Christians vanish from earth

• Antichrist revealed, seven years of global tribulation

• Great wickedness, great revival, great persecution

I. Countdown to the Battle of Armageddon Begins…

Overview of the seven year tribulation period:

1. White Horse represents the Antichrist/Beast, Rev 6:2

Overview of the seven year tribulation period:

1. White Horse represents the Antichrist/Beast, Rev 6:2

2. Red Horse represents global Warfare, Rev 6:4

Overview of the seven year tribulation period:

1. White Horse represents the Antichrist/Beast, Rev 6:2

2. Red Horse represents global Warfare, Rev 6:4

3. Black Horse represents horrible Famine, Rev 6:5

Overview of the seven year tribulation period:

1. White Horse represents the Antichrist/Beast, Rev 6:2

2. Red Horse represents global Warfare, Rev 6:4

3. Black Horse represents horrible Famine, Rev 6:5

4. Pale Horse represents unprecedented Death, Rev 6:8

II. God’s Final Alignment of the Nations on Earth

1. Armies of the NORTH - Russia and her allies, Eze 38-39

(Meshech & Tubal… modern countries of Iran, Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, etc.)

Note: God destroys Russia near the middle of the tribulation

2. Armies of the WEST - Antichrist and his allies, Dan 7:7-25

(Revived Roman Empire/European Union, America, Canada, Australia, Central & South America… Generally “Christian countries & cultures)

Note: Antichrist sets up his headquarters in Jerusalem middle of Tribulation

3. Armies of the EAST - China and her allies, Rev 16:12-16

(China, Korea, India, Cashmere, Viet Nam, Burma, many smaller Asian countries)

Note: Two great barriers to Israel: Euphrates River and the Himalaya mountains

Israel

China

India

Euphrates River

Iran

AfghanistanHimalayas

Pakistan

Note: Two great barriers to Israel: Euphrates River and the Himalaya mountains

III. God gathers the last two armies into the Plains of Megiddo

Zephaniah 3:8 8 Therefore wait for me," declares the Lord, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I

have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on

them-- all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

III. God gathers the last two armies into the Plains of Megiddo

Joel 3:13-14 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the

winepress is full and the vats overflow-- so great is their wickedness!' 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is

near in the valley of decision.

III. God gathers the last two armies into the Plains of Megiddo

Acts 17:31 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has

appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

III. God gathers the last two armies into the Plains of Megiddo

Revelation 16:16 16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called

Armageddon.

IV. The Battle of Armageddon…

• End of mankind “Mutually Assured Destruction” - BUT God intervenes

Matthew 24:22 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of

the elect [Jew & gentile believers] those days will be shortened.

IV. The Battle of Armageddon…

• God brings “eerie blackness” while earth continues to rotate (all to see)

Matthew 24:29-30 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon

will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' 30 "At that

time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky,

with power and great glory.

3. King Jesus returns from Heaven with His armies

Revelation 19:11-14 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider

is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his

head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is

dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were

following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

4. Jesus slays the wicked, confining the Beast, False Prophet & Satan

Revelation 19:15 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the

nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath

of God Almighty.

4. Jesus slays the wicked, confining the Beast, False Prophet & Satan

Revelation 19:19-21 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make

war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of

them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all

the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

4. Jesus slays the wicked, confining the Beast, False Prophet & Satan

Revelation 20:2 2 He (God’s angel) seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or

Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Be Making a Difference…

Expedient Living! Powerful Praying! Courageous Witnessing!

BEHOLD HE COMES!

Next Week: “HIS story – OUR story”

Eternity