READING TIME: 4-6 MINUTES
December 20, 2019
Could you give a summary of the events toward the end of the future seven-year Tribulation?
Babylon is destroyed – Rev 16:19-21; 18:1-24
The Campaign (i.e., “a series of battles,” “an extended war or campaign,” in the Greek polemos) of Armageddon begins – see Dan 11:40-45; Joel 3:9-17; Zech 14:1-3; Rev 16:14-16
The following is a summary of this complex campaign:
(1) The Antichrist’s Allies Assemble (at the same time as the 6th bowl judgment) at the “Mountain of Megiddo” (i.e., Armageddon), in northern Israel. The counterfeit trinity (Satan, The Antichrist, and the False Prophet) summons these forces – Rev 16:12-16.
(2) Babylon Destroyed – at this point, the Antichrist hears that his capital city was attacked and destroyed by his enemies, which are an alliance of forces from north of Babylon (Jer 50-51; Zech 5:5-11). Jer 50-51 looks beyond its destruction by the Medo-Persian Empire on Oct 12 [16th of Tishri] 539 B.C. to this time period at the end of the Tribulation (Rev 18).
(3) Jerusalem Falls – the Antichrist will move southward against Jerusalem instead of eastward to protect his capital – Zech 12:1-3; 14:1-2. The Antichrist will initially prevail but will soon be destroyed by Christ.
(4) The Antichrist Moves South Against the Jewish Remnant. The Antichrist moves down to the desert and mountains, probably to a place about 80 miles south of Jerusalem; 25 miles SE of the lower end of the Salt / Dead Sea (Bozrah/Petra) – Micah 2:12 (God’s gathering and protection of this remnant)
(5) The National Regeneration of Israel — “All Israel” (i.e., the remnant; the third that are left from the original number of Jewish people living at the beginning of the Tribulation – see Zech 13:7-9) turn to the Lord and are forgiven and cleansed – Lev 26:40-42; Deut 4:29-31; 30:6-8; Is 53:1-9; 59:20-21; Jer 3:11-18; Ezek 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32; Zech 12:10-13:2; Matt 24:30; Rom 11:26-27; Rev 1:7. This cleansing is a “prerequisite” for Christ’s Second Coming (cf. Matt 23:37-39)
(6) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ with the armies of heaven (angels and the church – see Dan 2:44-45; 7:9-14; Zech 12:10; 14:1-15; Matt 13:41; 24:15ff.; 26:64; Mk 13:16; 14:62; Lk 21:25-28; Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; Col 3:4; 1 Thess 3:13; 2 Thess 1:6-10; 2:8; 1 Pet 4:12-13; 2 Pet 3:1-14; Jude 14-15; Rev 1:7; 19:8 with 14) – Zech 14:4-5; Matt 24:27-31; Rev 19:11-16. This coming will be accompanied by the appearance of signs in the earth and sky – Is 13:10; Joel 2:10, 30-31; 3:15; Matt 24:29.
(7) The Final Battle from Bozrah to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Earthly armies in Israel unite against Christ and the armies of heaven – Psalm 2:1-3; Joel 3:9-16; Zech 12:2-9; 14:1-6, 12-14; Rev 16:16; 19:17-19.
(8) The victory ascent upon the Mount of Olives — Zech 14:3-5.
Earthly armies destroyed by Christ and the armies of heaven – Rev 19:19, 21. For other passages referring to the Christ’s Second Coming, see: Is 63:1-6; Dan 2:44-45; 7:9-14; Zech 14:1-15; Matt 13:41; 26:64; Mk 13:24-27; 14:62; Lk 21:25-28; Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; 2 Thess 2:8; Rev 1:7; 22:7, 12, 20.
The nations that attack Jerusalem will be severely judged by God for coming against Jerusalem – Zech 12:9; 14:3, 12; Dan 2:44; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Rev 19: 11-13, 15, 17-18; cf. Gen 12:3; 27:29; Num 24:9. These nations will be judged because when you touch (i.e., to produce harm) Israel, you touch the “apple of God’s eye”, i.e., “the pupil, a delicate part of the eye that is essential for vision and must be protected at all costs” (Zech 2:8; cf. Deut 32:10). The pupil is “the part of the eye most easily injured” and is “the most demanding of protection”. This is a figure of speech and God does not have eyes, but the message is clear and it shows how extremely important Israel is to God!
(8) The Ascent to the Mount of Olives – Zech 14:3-4. “With the destruction of the Antichrist and his forces complete, the campaign will be over. Jesus will go and stand on the Mount of Olives in a symbolic victory ascent”.
God will destroy the armies of the nations gathered toward the end of the campaign of Armageddon for several reasons: (1) these nations are determined to destroy Israel, the apple of God’s eye (cf. Joel 3:2); (2) these nations have refused to repent of their sins (cf. Rev 16:9); and (3) God will judge these nations for their total abuse of the Earth and its resources (cf. Rev 11:18) (Jeffrey 1991, 280-1).
The “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) (the time beginning in 586 B.C. when Jerusalem was dominated and controlled by Gentiles) comes to an end at Christ’s return
An earthquake will split Jerusalem into two sections (Zech 14:4-5).
Jews fleeing Jerusalem is made easier by changes in its topography – Zech 14:5.
Sources Used
Feinberg, Charles L. Israel: At the Center of History & Revelation. Portland: Multnomah, 1980.
Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events. Tustin, CA: Ariel Press, 1982.
Ice, Thomas and Timothy Demy. Prophecy Watch: What to Expect in the Days to Come. Eugene, OR: Harvest, 1998.
James, Edgar C. Understanding the Prophecies of the Millennium. Chicago: Moody, 2000.
NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011
Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck (editors). The Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT and NT volumes. Wheaton: Victor, 1983 (NT), 1985 (OT).