Everyone has heard about Armageddon; it's the war of wars. But it's
actually Israel's final war. Let's probe the war at the end of time a
little more closely; again some background...
The signing of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty on march 26, 1979, marked
an emotional moment in the history of the Middle East. After years of bitter
animosity punctuated by military conflict, an Arab nation and Jewish nation
embraced each other with promises of peace.
What did it signify for the little poscker of Zionism whose struggles for
survival have drawn United States approval and support? Sadat, before his
death, was unable to provide the security and permanent peace which has
eluded Israel's dilemma is clearly revealed in the fantastic prophecies of
the Bible.
According to the Word of God, Israel will not find true deliverancy from
her enemies until is is secured for her by the kings of the east. Her last
last war has not yet been fought. The book of revelation describes an
alliance with some powerful defenders who finally destroy the oppressors of
Israel and establish her in eternal security. Those allies are given the
enigmatic title "kings of the east" in Revelation 16:12. The actually
intervene to deliver Israel during the war of Armageddon, described in the
Bible as the final conflict to take place on this planet. All nations will
be involved in this battle, but Israel will be the only victor.
Our purpose is to answer a number of questions. What is the nature of that
final war of Armageddon? How can all the countries of the world be involved
in it? How is it possible for only one group, the people of Israel, to
survive this holocaust? who are the mysterious kings of the east that
effect her victory? And finally, how is Israel delivered from her enemies
by the drying up of the Euphrates River, as described in Revelation 16:22?
First of all, we need to find out if the present nation of Israel is the
same Israel which is designated in the book of Revelation as the people of
God. Some tremendous prophecies are found in that book, most of them
concerned with saving the embattled remnant group of faithful followers
of Jesus Christ. Those followers are sometimes referred to as the "tribes
of Israel" and spoken of in the Jewish customs. Does this mean that the
literal nation of Israel -- the one which is fighting with tanks and bombs --
will completely reverse itself and become Christians? Will they lay aside
their Zionist ambitions to kill their attackers and espouse the peaceful
principles of the sermon on the mount -- the one about loving the enemy and
turning the other cheek?
Millions of Bible students believe that this kind of spectacular conversion
must take place in order for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. They base
their belief upon the prophecies found in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc.,
regarding Israel's restoration and final triumph. Are they correct? It is
true that the prophets painted glowing word pictures of Israel's future and
recorded scores of promises about her authority over other nations. But is
the Israel of the Old Testament the same Israel of the book of revelation?
Were the promises unconditional and irrevocable? Will the literal, fleshly
descendants of Abraham turn en masse to the Messiah, be restored as a nation,
and saved as a people?