Prepare for holy war

The content of today’s passage is prophesied in detail in Revelation 16:12-16. It is a prophecy concerning the battle of Armageddon. (1) During the Great Tribulation, two-thirds of the Jewish people will perish, and in order to destroy the remaining one-third, the nations of the world will launch the final war. (2) The one who summons the nations is the Antichrist. He cries out, “Prepare for holy war; stir up the warriors! Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!” Calling a war to destroy God’s people Israel a “holy war” is a demonic deception. (3) The nations response to that summons with fervor. They will make weapons from peaceful tools (such as plowshares and pruning hooks) and will rush into the battle that the Antichrist has called. In the battle of Armageddon, peaceful tools are forged into weapons, but in the Messianic Kingdom (the Millennial Kingdom), the exact opposite will occur. As it is written, “And He will judge between the nations, and will mediate for many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war” (Isa. 2:4; ref also Micah 4:3).

The judgement seat of the Lord

On the surface, this battle appears to be a human war, but in reality it is “the Lord’s battle to judge the nations.” (1) There is a prayer that says, “Bring down, Lord, Your warriors.” “Your warriors” refer to the angels who are sent by God. (2) The armies of the nations will gather at a place called “Armageddon” (Rev. 16:16), and from there they will march south to attack Jerusalem. “Armageddon” refers to the Valley of Jezreel. (3) The armies that advance against Jerusalem will be gathered in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (a part of the Kidron Valley), where they will encounter the Lord’s judgment. The above is the content of this prophecy as interpreted in comparison with Revelation chapter 16. How tragic it is if a war is proclaimed as a “holy war,” while in reality it is a battle against God. Even today, many people walk in opposition to God without realizing it. We too, sometimes walk in ways that oppose God through our own judgments. When we study the Bible and understand God’s will, it is important to put it into practice. Let us now ask the Lord for the wisdom to understand the Bible and the strength to carry them out.