Premillennialism 2

The Period of Tribulation & The Battle of Armageddon

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98021

SUBJECT:  Premillennialism

Preached Originally: 04/12/98 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.    We continue with our study on premillennialism.  Remember, last month we began a new series of lessons on this important subject.  Over the next 5 Sunday evenings we will continue to study what many in the religious world profess to believe & then compare it with what the Bible teaches.

B.    3 weeks ago we discussed whether or not there will be a rapture.  We determined that the Bible does not support such a theory.

1.    What we wish to discuss tonight is whether or not there will be a period of tribulation & a great battle of Armageddon.

2.    As we will see, there are many that believe in many of these things.  Often they sprinkle little bits of Scripture here & there to try to give their argument more "authority."

C.   Often Matthew 24 is the favorite place proponents of this theory go to cite proof for their theory.

1.    Rev. 16:16; 19:14-21 are the two passages that are referred to as proof for the "last great battle."

2.    Often people try to make very "compelling" arguments concerning these things. 

3.    Many people in world fall for it because they are looking for "excitement in religion."

D.   We should have an attitude of "what does the Bible say?"  Does the Bible teach such?  If the Bible teaches/supports such a theory, then we need to believe it/teach it to others. 

1.    If not, then we need to expose the teaching as false doctrine and to let people know what the Bible actually teaches on the matter.

E.    Hope you will enjoy the lesson, pay attention & take notes.  We will hear much of these things in the next few years as we approach the turn of the century.  Be prepared to defend the truth of the matter!

 

II.  The Period of Tribulation.

A.    Read/go over handout….

B.    Matthew 24 is perhaps the most prominent passage that is used in an effort to prove the tribulation.

1.    important in ALL Bible study:  keep things in the proper context!

2.    Matthew 23:  Jesus pronounces "woes" upon the Jewish authorities of His day.

a.    23:2-5 - do works to be seen of others.  Hypocritical.

b.    23:14 - woe to them b/c of they way treated those who were around them (widows, poor, etc.)

c.     23:23 - woe to them b/c of their binding traditions and not the weightier matters of the law.

d.    23:27 - on the inside they were filled w/all uncleanness.

e.    23:38 - see your house is left to you desolate…  Jesus then leaves the temple area (24:1)

3.    Later at the Mount of Olives, the Disciples being perplexed by what Jesus was teaching ask Him two questions.  Refer to 24:3

a.    Tell us, when will these things be?

b.    What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?

c.     Throughout ch. 24, Jesus answers their questions.

1.    first He deals w/the destruction of Jerusalem - 24:1-35

2.    second, He deals with His second coming. 24:36-44

3.    Notice v. 34 - the things Jesus talks about in the first part of His chapter would take place within THAT generation!

4.    There is NO way to get around this verse!

C.   Before the destruction of Jerusalem: Many would come promoting themselves as the Christ, and would deceive many!  Look at V. 5…

1.    Josephus says that right up to the fall of Jerusalem - many false prophets arose hoping to be able to liberate the Jews from the Romans.

2.    Mt. 24:6 - says that they would hear of wars & rumors of wars. Numerous wars were engaged in by the Romans as they continued their quest for worldwide domination.

a.    the end in v. 6 refers to the "end" of the temple:  Not the end of the world….

b.    V. 7 - everytime there is a great flood, e'quake, etc. someone says the end of the world must be near.  Often go to this passage to cite proof.

1.    Josephus & other historians note that during the years b/for destruction of Jerusalem many famines/earthquakes occurred.

2.    Jerusalem itself was shut off from the rest of the world for months b/for it's fall.

3.    Hunger so great thousands died of starvation.

4.    E'quakes took place in Crete, Rome, Apamaea, Laodicea during this time.  Thus the events in 24:7 have already come to pass!

3.    These are the three main things which have caused many people to look for a near return of Jesus & the end of the world…

a.    The doctrines of false teachers

b.    Political turmoil

c.     Natural disasters.

d.    The things mentioned in the first part of Mt. 24 did not signify the nearness of the end of the world.  It marked the events preceding the destruction of Jerusalem.

4.    When Mt. 24 is taken in it's proper context one can see that the period of tribulation theory does not hold water.

D.   One other note concerning the destruction of Jerusalem:

1.    Jews suffered greatly when they were destroyed by Romans.

2.    Josephus:  neither did any other city suffer such miseries…from the beginning of the world.

a.    Jesus mentioned how they would suffer in Mt. 24:21-22…

b.    Notice words of Jesus in 24:23-27…when people try to seduce us into believing that the Lord's final coming is eminent, Jesus says not to believe it!  Why?

c.     24:27 - when Jesus returns EVERYONE is going to know it!

d.    2nd coming of Christ will be as visible & as evident as a blinding flash of lighting that covers the sky!

3.    read 24:34 again…the generation that lived while Jesus lived would see these things come to pass!

a.  if they have not come to pass yet, then we must have some 1900 year old people walking around some where!

E.    24:36 we have the 2nd part of the chapter where Jesus explains His answer to the disciples 2nd question…

1.    from here to the end of the chapter Jesus talks about the end of time!

2.    Notice: there will be absolutely no signs to alert men of the second coming of Christ.  This is said clearly & unmistakably!

3.    Life on earth will be going on as normal when He returns!  Notice v. 38-39…  To believe as premillennalists makes the Bible inconsistent even in the same chapter!

F.    Christians warned of tribulation in the world.

1.    2 Tim. 3:12 - all who live godly will suffer persecution!

2.    Acts 14:22 - we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.

3.    We will always have & have to endure tribulation.

4.    World may experience WW III.  Horrible atrocities may well be unleashed upon humanity.

5.    Christians need to understand that such future events will in no way result as the fulfillment of biblical teaching.  The things in Mt. 24:1-35 have already been fulfilled.

III. The Battle of Armageddon.

A.    As we mentioned earlier, Rev. 16:16 & 19:14-21 are the two passages that are referred to as proof for the "last great battle." 

1.    In summary, this is supposed to be a battle between East & West.  Battle supposed to start with a war on earth like man has never known.

2.    War supposed to make WW I & WW II look harmless.  (10-20 yrs. ago premillennialists were absolutely sure that Russia would be great enemy of the forces of good.  By '92 many believe that China will be the great enemy.)

3.    Battle of Armageddon is supposed to take place in the valley of Megiddo.

a.    while battle is raging, Jesus will "rip" open the skies and put a quick end to the struggle.  Once He puts an end to the struggle, He will set up His kingdom here on earth & reign for 1000 years.

B.    What is Armageddon?  (Where is it?  What is the significance of it?)

1.    Hebrew:  Armageddon (Har-Magedon) means Mount Megiddo.  Interesting that there is no such place mentioned in all of the old testament.  Only found in NT in Revelation.

2.    Megiddo means a "place of troops" -- a walled city in the Carmel Mountain range where many important battles were fought in Old Testament times.

3.    Area of Megiddo overlooked the plain esdraelon - which was strategically located in N. central Palestine.

a.    on the main road between Egypt & Mesopotamia.

b.    Geography: valley 15 x 20 miles in size.  There are 5 passes leading into the valley of Megiddo. 

c.     It guarded the northern entrance to the land of Israel.

4.    Many historical battles between great nations took place in this valley.

a.    Josh. 12:21 - Joshua & Israel defeat king of Megiddo.

b.    Judg. 5:19 - Deborah & barak defeat kings of Canaan.

c.     Battle between Gideon & Midianites took place at eastern entry of the plain of Esdraelon.

d.    1 Sam. 28-31, Saul slain there.

e.    Megiddo became a place of decisive battle, and not for future reference, a place of victory for the Lord.

f.      In every battle here, the Lord was glorified.

C.   What are the passages in Revelation talking about?

1.    foundation of this theory lies in the fact of how one perceives the book of Revelation.

a.    to believe in such a theory causes the Bible to contradict itself.

b.    Notice Rev. 1:1 - things which must shortly take place.  Notice the word signified…

c.     The things that were written in the book of revelation were to come to pass SHORTLY!  It is clear from this verse that John is writing to the people of his day!

d.    The things that were made known to John were done so by the use of symbols.  This is the key to understanding the book of Revelation!

2.    Book of Revelation written to give the seven churches of Asia hope & encouragement. 

a.    lived in middle of a world full of oppression & persecution brought on by the Roman government.

b.    Goal of the book was to strengthen their weak areas (E.g., the church at Sardis & Laodecia - Chapt. 3) and to give them comfort throughout their struggles as Christians.

3.    Events & Symbols in this book HAVE ALREADY PAST!

a.    Ultimately they needed to know that Christ is the ultimate victor in battle against good & evil.

b.    No reason to apply them to the present day, almost 20 centuries later.

c.     God said these things would SHORTLY come to pass!  God means what He says.

4.    Valley of Megiddo was know as the battlefield of the Lord - a place of decisive victory for Him. 

a.    the idea of what is written in the passages which we read in Rev. is to prove the Lord would achieve victory for His people.

b.    Applying the text to the era, the enemy was Rome.

c.     The battle of Armageddon was a symbol of the overthrow of Rome & paganism - the enemies of God.

d.    It is NOT a literal battle that will take place some time during the distant future.

 

IV.  Conclusion.

A.    Based upon the facts we have studied in this lesson tonight I hope we can all understand that there is not going to be a great period of tribulation and a great battle of Armageddon.

B.    Remember as we have looked at this evening much of Jesus' discourse in Mt. 24 was pertaining to the dest. of Jerusalem.

C.   Remember that the name Armageddon means Mount Megiddo, which is never mentioned in OT prophecy.  Geography does not identify a literal mountain with this name. 

D.   Remember that the Bible does not support such things when kept IN PROPER CONTEXT! 

E.    Let's always seek to study the Bible in it's proper context and seek Biblical truth each time we possibly can.