Our hot subject for this section of the notes on chapter 16 is titled "Armageddon." Keeping in mind that most everything spoken of in Revelation is of symbolic language more so than the first 65 books in the Bible. So without further ado we shall get into our subject, which we shall break up as it is lengthy.
Armageddon:
In the symbolic language of the book of the Revelation of Christ people's perception of the world is four dimensional: heaven, earth, the oceans, and the deep underworld [including under the ocean, Eze. 28:8, Rev. 5:13. The idea of all earth dwellers of the time was that the planet was flat and square! So the four corners of the earth were not factual but merely to communicate a symbolic picture and principle within their perceptions - as also the idea of an under world. The book is filled with mysticism and superstition language of old world beliefs. See the four spheres already referenced in Gen. 1:2, and the earth being without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the waters. Also in Ps. 135:6, Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and the Abyss. Or in the LXX it is Ps. 134:6.
Armageddon pictures the battle between the lower, earthbound thought patterners and the elevated heavenly thoughts of GOD. Col. 3:1-3, Rev. 17:8.
The "earthbound-dilemma" of mankind is addressed in the Incarnate Christ Redeemed person.
Revelation 16:16 "And the frog demons worked as one, gathering the kings of the earth together in a place with a Hebrew name, Armageddon." (The natural Topography and history of the land are used symbolically to describe a significant spiritual principle. "Bounded as it is by the hills of Palestine on both north and south, it would naturally become the arena of war between the low-landers who trusted in their chariots, and the Israelites highlanders of the neighboring heights. To this cause mainly it owes its celebrity, as the battle-field of the world, which has, through its adoption into the language of Revelation, passed into an global proverb. If that mysterious book proceeded from the hand of a Galilean fisherman, it is the more easy to understand why, with the scene of those many battles constantly before him, he should have drawn the figurative name of the final conflict between the hosts of the good and evil, from the 'place which is called in the Hebrew tongue Harmagedon'" (quoted from: Stanley, "Sinai and Palestine.")
The scene of a struggle of good and evil is suggested by that battle plain of Esdraelon, which was famous for two great victories, of Barak over the Canaanites, and of Gideon over the Midianites; and for two great disasters, the deaths of Saul and Josiah. Hence in Revelation a place of great slaughter, the scene of the triumph of the Lamb over every definition of an enemy in mankind's minds. The RSV translates the name as Har-Magedon, i.e. the hill (as Ar is the city) of Megiddo. Thus Armageddon picture the battle between the lower earthbound thought pattern and the thoughts of GOD in the Redeemed of humanity. Har, mountain or a range of hills and megiddon - a gathering of a crowd - a rendezvous.)
Revelation 17:8 "The brutal Beast you saw is a [1] "has been" form the beginning - it indeed has no real existence - yet it seems to make "a come back" as if emerging out of the Abyss only to dissolve again into perdition. Meanwhile the minds of those blinded by their [2] earthbound perceptions continue to be mesmerized by its apparent relevance. They are the ones whose identities are not [3] based upon the Lamb's Book of Life. They do not yet see that their original identity was redeemed in the Lamb." (The words, [1, G2258, G2532, G3756, G2076 ] en kai ouk esti, means, to be and not to be; with the verb en being the Imperfect Indicative of eimi, I am - another meaning of the imperfect indicative is to refer to unreal (counterfactual) situation in present or past time.
This is total contrast to the One who is I am; Who always was and will continually be the accompanying One. An antithesis to "ho en kai ho on" of Rev. 1:4.)
Revelation 11:16-18 "At that moment, the twenty four elders who were seated on their thrones face to face with GOD, fell down prostrate before Him in adoration and exclaimed: "Our hearts are flooded with gratitude and the affection of Your favor! We salute Your Lordship oh GOD! You are the Supreme Authority over all things; Your I-am-ness defines time - present, past and future. The [1] due dynamic of Your [2] Royal-reign is forever established! (The word translated due, [1] eilepsas is from (G2983) lambano, is in the perfect active tense which suggests the continual effect of an action already completed in the past. The word lambano means to take what is one's own, one's due. Then the word esbasileusas is from basileuo, to reign, is in the Aorist active tense which speaks of a completed act. Both of these tenses emphasize the permanence of GOD'S rule. There was never a time where GOD'S royal rule was in question. In giving Himself as our scapegoat to be murdered by His own creation (creatures) assumes a weakness that does not compromise His authority at all! In the genius of His wisdom He defeats the entire system of judgment under the Law of performance, governing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The seeming frailty of the slain Lamb never compromised the authority of the Lion of Judah! 1Cor. 1:25, It seems so foolish that GOD should die humanity's death on the cross; It seems so weak of GOD to suffer such insult; Yet mankind's wisest schemes and most powerful display of genius cannot even begin to comprehend or compete with GOD in His weakest moment on the cross.) The culmination of humanity's wrath collided with Your passion oh GOD - this is the critical moment where judgment is met in death! (Jesus said, 'When I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw all judgment unto Me!') This is the anticipated moment and prize of Your bond-friends, the Prophets, the Saints and everyone who were awed by Your Name - both the insignificant and the prominent - this is the destruction of the corruption virus in the earth! ( In the symbolic language of the book of Revelation, the judgment of the Dragon, the beast and the Whore; The counterfeit Trinity, is not a judgment against an entity, but against a corrupt mindset-system. a virus doesn't have a life of its own - it needs a host!
Microbiology Professor, Vincent Racaniello writes. "Life is 'an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction.' Vituses are not living things. Viruses are complicated assemblies of molecules, including protiens, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, but on their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. Therefore, viruses are not living things.") (The Mirror, with editing.)
We shall begin again in our next visit the LORD willing in these day of virus fear. Until then may the LORD inoculate us all from this virus by Himself being ramped up within us all.
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