Seven Last Plagues
Now see what prophecy has in store for this ancient battlefield. The book of Revelation describes a dramatic series of catastrophic events to precede the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to restore the government of God and to bring world peace. (Request our free booklet The Book of Revelation Unveiled At Last for full details)
Among these events is the sounding of seven prophetic trumpets (Rev. 8-10), symbolizing God's direct intervention in human affairs.
The seventh and last of these trumpets will announce the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish his rule on earth (Rev. 11:15; I Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:16). This trumpet will also initiate on a rebellious world a series of divine punishments known as the "seven last plagues" (Rev. 15 and 16).
These seven last plagues, designed to bring humanity to repentance, are pictured symbolically as seven vials, or small vessels holding liquids. These vials are "poured out" upon a corrupted earth by seven angels. Tragically, mankind as a whole will still refuse to repent of sin!
The sixth of these vials or plagues is described in Revelation 16:12 and introduces us to Armageddon:
"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."
It is important to understand the geography involved here. The Euphrates River rises in Turkey and flows southeastward for some 1,700 miles through Syria and Iraq, ultimately emptying into the Arabian or Persian Gulf.
Across this river bed will come the "kings of the east" and their armies — a prophesied communist-dominated Eurasian confederacy.
This confederacy will have certain geopolitical goals motivating their military offensive. But an unperceived, behind-the-scenes influence will be the ultimate motivation underlying their actions. Notice:
Revelation 16:14 reveals that it will be demonic spirits that will influence "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" to gather for battle. These spirits are fallen angels who followed Lucifer (Satan) in his rebellion against God (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-17; Rev. 12:4).
They will stir up this world's leaders to prepare for war. The world's armies will unknowingly become their pawns.
The God of heaven will allow these seducing demons to marshal the armies of the kings of the east and the whole world (the United Nations, too!) at Armageddon, as we earlier saw in Revelation 16:16.
But the battle will not be fought at Armageddon!
In the meantime, another great military power and its allies will be in force in the Middle East to oppose the oncoming "kings of the east."
This power is referred to in the Bible as the "beast" — a powerful union of 10 European nations or groups of nations to arise in the closing days of this world's civilizations (Rev. 17:12-14). This European power — led by a military super-dictator also referred to in prophecy as the "beast" — will be the final, end-time revival of the medieval Holy Roman Empire.
Working with the beast will be a great miracle-working religious figure called the false prophet (Rev. 13:13-14; 16:13; 19:20; II Thess. 2:3-4). This charismatic figure will preside over a great centuries-old false religious system labeled by the Bible "BABYLON THE GREAT" (Rev. 17:5).
Earlier, the beast will have conquered portions of the Middle East and established a foothold there (Dan. 11:40-43). The prophet Daniel refers to the end-time beast as "the king of the north."
"But," as Daniel continues, "tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him [the beast] . . ." (Dan. 11:44). The beast will be challenged by the might of the communist East!
The result?
". . therefore he [the beast] shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many" (end of verse 44).
The beast and his allies will move to confront the oncoming armies of the "kings of the east." The stage will be set for a desperate battle to determine who will rule the world!
(For the answer to why the armies of the United States will not be involved, write for The United States and Britain in Prophecy)
The world will stand at the brink of the most terrible battle in all of history! Were the enormous power of the world’s armies actually to be unleashed, global annihilation would be the result! No flesh would be saved alive (Matt. 24:22)!
Satan's goal of erasing all life from this earth would become reality!
Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty!
But no battle will be fought at Armageddon!
The seventh trumpet that set the stage for the confrontation at Megiddo also announces the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! He — Jesus Christ — will descend from heaven to the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11-12).
Notice Revelation 11:15: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever."
This world's two great military powers — ready to fight each other for world domination — will be suddenly confronted by what they conceive to be, in their deceived minds, a common "enemy" — the returning Jesus Christ! Jesus, in Jerusalem, will proclaim his dominion over the world!
How will the assembled forces at Megiddo react?
"And the nations were angry . . .” declares Revelation 11:18. Men will not want to submit to God's rule! Instead, they will seek to destroy Jesus Christ — whom they will regard, falsely, as the Antichrist — and his angelic armies from heaven who accompany him to Jerusalem.
Instead of fighting each other, the Beast and the kings of the east will join forces — to "make war with the Lamb" (Rev. 17:14).
From the staging ground or mustering area of Armageddon the world's armies will move to confront Jesus Christ himself.
Where will that climactic battle be fought? The prophet Joel provides the answer. Read it in Joel 3:1-2, 9-14.
The battle, involving "all nations," will take place in the valley of Jehoshaphat! This deep valley or ravine borders Jerusalem on the east, between the city and the Mount of Olives (see photo). Today it is more commonly known as the Kidron Valley.
Jehoshaphat means "judgment of the Eternal." The rebellious and unrepentant nations of this world will be judged there by God for their disobedience!
The world's armies will converge on Jerusalem to fight Jesus Christ. He will not go north to Armageddon to fight them; they will march south to engage him!
The ensuing confrontation is called in the Bible "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14). It is not the "battle of Armageddon" simply because it will not take place at Armageddon!
Zechariah 14:12-13 graphically describes this supernatural confrontation at Jerusalem with the world's armies. They will turn against each other in mistrust and fear as their very flesh decomposes and their eyes cease to see! "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord shall 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."
Read Revelation 19:11-21 for a further description of the climactic events to occur on that day.
The rebellious armies of this world will be utterly vanquished!
Then, Good News!
Jesus Christ, now returned in power and glory as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16), will intervene mightily to save a God-rejecting world from self-destruction. He will destroy those who would have destroyed the earth through nuclear war.
These climactic times lie just ahead!
But beyond the chaos and war at the close of this age is good news! Having decisively put down rebellion, Jesus Christ will establish his Kingdom on this earth — a millennial kingdom of peace and prosperity for all peoples!
From the destruction of war, the world will erupt into global peace!
For an in-depth look at this coming new age, request your free copy of The Wonderful World Tomorrow — What It Will Be Like. Discover what lies ahead for you personally in days just ahead — and your potential in the utopian World Tomorrow!